The Gem State Brief

Curated by Locus Lectorum

October 02, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

Couple arrested for threats against Treasure Valley churches and leadership

Boise | September 26 | KTVB

In what has been an ongoing case for the past 3 months, prosecutors have finally charged Jon and Jolene Harms with a combined 120 criminal charges, including felony stalking and witness intimidation.

Nampa pastor arrested for sexual exploitation of a child

Nampa | September 26 | Idaho News

Matthew Masiewicz, senior pastor at Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Nampa, was arrested on September 23rd for multiple counts of distributing and possessing child pornography, as well as for altering an image with AI.

Idaho financial audit finds numerous issues

State Capitol | September 25 | Idaho Capital Sun

The latest statewide audit of financial reporting--covering Fiscal Year 2024--found several serious faults in the financial system. These included lack of cash reconciliation process, duplicate Medicaid payments, incorrect accounting of SNAP benefits, untracked payments to schools, and more. The errors were primarily attributed to Luma, a cloud-based business management suite implemented across State agencies in 2023. The errors found by the report were corrected, but the number and magnitude of some of the failures leave room for concern.

Treasure Valley teen speaks about his kidnapping and torture in the Eagle foothills

Eagle foothills | September 23 | KIVITV

Jordan Carillo spoke with Idaho News 6, telling the story of how at the beginning of September he was lured to the foothills for a motorcycle photography session but was tased, restrained, and beaten for 4 hours by two men whom he knew. Both suspects are now in custody and facing kidnapping charges.

Ammon Bundy's debt to St. Luke's continues to rise

Salt Lake City | September 30 | Idaho News

A judge ruled in August that Ammon Bundy owes $52 million to St. Luke's and their employees for defamation after he stated that the hospital system was trafficking children for profit. That number has been raised this week to just over $60 million as Bundy continues to claim that he was simply exercising his First Amendment rights.

This story is the latest in a series, view the full thread here → 🧵


Highlights & Insights

"The Three Worlds of Evangelicalism" - First published in 2022, this seminal article by Aaron Renn has effectively set the table for political discourse within Evangelicalism through incisive observations paired with a helpful heuristic.

🏛️ Apologetics Fact

Population III Stars: A recent study (yet to be peer reviewed) claims to have found population III stars in a distant galaxy. Population III stars are hypothetical stars that contain only hydrogen and helium, which are believed to be the only elements present at the Big Bang. The study posits the discovery of these stars to be evidence for the Big Bang, however it ignores the fact that the stars found are dated by the theory at approximately 900 million years after the Big Bang, whereas heavy element galaxies have been discovered that are dated by the same theory at 300 million years from the Big Bang. If heavy elements were already forming 300 million years post Big Bang, the discovery of population III stars dated much later does not provide evidence the original stars in the galaxy were population III stars.

🗣️ Quote

"Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it." — George Orwell

🏅 Person: Voddie Baucham (1969-2025)

One of the most popular evangelical pastors of the 21st century, Baucham came to faith while studying at New Mexico State University. He preached widely and pastored several churches with a trademark style of direct and engaging preaching. His sermons were enjoyable to hear while also powerfully convicting. Baucham was one of the most well known faces of reformed theology, particularly Baptist reformed theology, and was a favorite at many of the largest reformed conferences in the United States. Baucham died suddenly last week from an unexpected emergency medical incident.

📕 Book: The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses

Locus Lectorum's latest group read, here are our thoughts on this collection of essays from C.S. Lewis:
• Caleb: 10/10 -- Some of the most insightful literature ever written--Lewis brilliantly explores some of the deepest questions of Christianity.
• Isaac: 10/10 -- C.S. Lewis boils down fascinating topics to a simple understanding with mastery, and these essays are no exception.
• Josiah: 10/10 -- C.S. Lewis proves his place as one of the great masters of the English language in these insightful and convicting addresses for Christians.
• Zach: 10/10 -- Good for both the mind and the soul.
• Mark: 9.5/10 -- C. S. Lewis's eloquent style of writing captures your mind and inspires you to live better tomorrow.
• Lane: 9/10 -- C.S. Lewis delivers 5 incredible topical sermons that are more applicable now than ever. Learning in Wartime in particular melts away the dreary mental winter so many find themselves in today.
• Calvin: 8.5/10 -- These C.S Lewis addresses are timeless. So much practical wisdom and truth conveyed so simply.
• Sam: 8/10 -- Weight of Glory is a typical Lewis masterpiece, thought provoking yet accessible with concepts that challenge not just the mind but our daily actions. This sermon helps orient our perspective correctly towards our fellow man by reminding us that there are no mere mortals among us.

Non-AI Generation Disclaimer: All elements of the Gem State Brief (headlines, summaries, highlights, insights, original articles/videos, etc.) are produced exclusively by members of the Locus Lectorum book club (learn about each member here), not AI. This is news by humans for humans.