Trey’s Law Momentum
Plus, Costi Hinn speaks, Christian refugees, Fat Bear Week
EDITOR’S NOTE: “Signs and Wonders” is a column that shares thoughts on news items that either do not rise to the level of a news story for MinistryWatch or are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” My goal is to be punchy, opinionated, and not to worry much about being slightly off brand. If that is not for you, no hard feelings. But if it is…read on.
Momentum for Trey’s Law. On Oct. 1, non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in civil settlements pertaining to sexual abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking claims in Alabama are void and unenforceable. Trey’s Law (SB 30), signed by Gov. Kay Ivey earlier this year, applies to civil settlement agreements signed on or after Oct. 1, 2026. This new Alabama law now ensures survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking cannot be lawfully silenced in its state’s civil courts.
Trey’s Law is named for Trey Carlock, a victim of child sexual abuse at Kanakuk Ministries, a summer camp operation based in Missouri. The new Alabama law is part of a growing national movement, joining Texas, Missouri, Georgia, and Louisiana in implementing versions of Trey’s Law in 2025 and 2026. Similar protections for minor victims of sexual abuse and trafficking already existed in California and Tennessee. Alabama’s law applies to survivors of any age.
Costi Hinn Speaks. I have mentioned Costi Hinn recently, but I cannot resist directing you to a new Business Insider video interview with him that is “must see TV” as far as I’m concerned. He lays out his upbringing as a nephew (and one-time personal assistant) of Benny Hinn. The video has been out only two weeks and already has more than a million views. Hopefully, Costi’s truth-telling about his uncle and about the Prosperity Gospel will penetrate the noise of the media ecosystem and make a difference.
No Christian Refugees. On Oct. 5, the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration released the refugee arrivals data for the last month of Fiscal Year 2026, confirming that no Christian refugees were resettled in the U.S. from the top countries identified as the worst offenders for persecution of Christians by Open Doors’ World Watch List. Aerlande Wontamo, senior vice president of U.S. programs at World Relief, issued the following statement: “September’s refugee arrival numbers confirmed what we believed and feared to be true: Fiscal Year 2026 was the first year on record in which the U.S. failed to resettle any Christian refugees fleeing persecution.”
Convene Names New CEO. Convene, a national community of Christian CEOs and business owners, announced this week the appointment of Dr. Ben Peays as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective Oct. 2. His experience includes senior leadership in healthcare mergers and acquisitions with GlorTex, global private equity with Trivium Global, and the development of franchise brands including Summer Moon Coffee and Waterloo Turf. He also founded BlackBox, a full-stack technology firm, and Carpenter Hill, a commercial real estate design and development firm.
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Alongside his business career, Peays has served in senior Christian ministry leadership roles, including Executive Director of The Gospel Coalition, Chief Operating Officer at 100Fold focused on ultra-high-net-worth philanthropy, and managing director of BLESS, a foundation funding gospel work among unreached people groups.
Founded in 1996, Convene brings CEOs and business owners together in confidential peer advisory teams led by experienced business leaders known as Chairs. Through facilitated team meetings, executive coaching, practical resources, and biblical perspective, members address real business challenges while growing as leaders.
Fat Bear Week. People who know me as a writer for MinistryWatch, The Colson Center for Christian Worldview, and WORLD are sometimes surprised to learn that my first job out of college was managing Brooks Lodge, a fishing lodge in Katmai National Park in Alaska. Brooks becomes semi-famous this time every year because of Fat Bear Week, an online contest to name the fattest bear at Brooks. This year, the winner is a bear named Backpack. He is probably the great grandson of some of the bears I saw at Brooks more than 40 years ago. To read more about Backpack and Fat Bear Week, click here.
Upcoming Webinar. We will be doing another online seminar next week. This one is on “How To Find And Read A Form 990. It is absolutely free, but you do need to register to attend. You can register here.
New on the Podcast. We do a reader survey twice a year, and one of the findings that continues to astound me is that the vast majority of our readers do not know we have a podcast. Not only do we have one, this week we dropped our 650th episode! So, if you are just discovering it, you have a lot of great content to listen to. This week, we dropped a new interview with Bonnie Kristian, author of the new book “In Defense of Evangelicalism.” I strongly recommend this conversation, which you can find here.
