There is a viral message being circulated about 22 missionary families in Afghanistan being executed among Christian bloggers and people on Twitter. The typical message is to pray for the 22 missionary families in Afghanistan that have been kidnapped and will be executed for their faith.

What many of these bloggers don’t realize is that this message has been circulating since February 2007 via email and is a hoax. I have not found any stories from American or International news agencies about 22 missionary families in Afghanistan being kidnapped or killed at all in the last eight years- since the start of the war in Afghanistan.

The power of messages like this to be spread throughout online communities is fascinating especially among tight knit groups such as Christians. I’m sure many received the email/ text message/ tweet and felt they wanted to avoid any guilt in not praying for a fellow Christians in need.

Marcos Chavez Gonzalez was arrested for murder after police learned of his location around 2:30am this morning.

Gonzalez was on the run from police after shooting 4 people Sunday evening at Woods TV store in northwestern North Carolina, near the Virginia Border.

Marcos was arrested without incident at a Henry Virgina Hotel, about 50 miles from the crime scene.

The 29 year old did not give any clues to why he slaughtered 4 innocent people with an assault rifle.

Alex Christopher Mercado’s body was discovered in his neighbor’s clothes dryers in Mendota California, nearly 24 hours after he went missing.

Community and family members searched the neighborhood feverishly after Alex did not come home Friday afternoon. A 14 year old boy from the neighboring residence has been arrested for the murder.

The name of the suspect has not been released.

This is a truly bizarre and shocking crime.

40 people aboard a boat headed for Australia were faced with a life threatening situation today when their boat sank near the Cocos Islands.

Nearby ships replied to distress signals from the ship and were able to rescue 17 people. Search and rescue teams are still attempting to locate the other survivors.

Australian officials have said the boat was much too small to carry 40 people, and was likely a group of asylum seekers from the middle east.

Human Trafficking activity from areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan have been on the rise this year, with nearly 2000 refugees arriving on Australia shores aboard rogue crafts.

Marcos Chavez Gonzalez is being sought by police in connection with a deadly shooting rampage in northwestern North Carolina that left four people dead this afternoon.

Police say Marcos used an Assault Rifle to kill the customers inside Woods TV store, located near the Virgina boarder.

The names of the victims haven’t been released. Marcos Chavez Gonzalez is considered armed and dangerous.

Melody Ross, a 16 year old honor student from Wilson High School, was killed near the Long Beach California school a few hours ago.

Gunfire erupted around 10pm PST as several hundred people were filing out of the homecoming game against Polytechnic High.

Just as students were entering the dance, between 5 and 7 gunshots were heard. 2 other males were hospitalized.

There is a memorial being setup on Ross street near the school.

Nehemiah Gomez, a 26 year old American missionary in Mexico, was kidnapped Thursday afternoon by a gang of thugs.

Nehemiah father, Jose Gomez, said that the kidnappers called him Thursday night and told him he had until the end of the day on Friday to deliver the ransom money.

The kidnappers are reportedly asking for $30,000.

The eyesontheusa.com PR detailing the ransom amount has been removed at the request of the family, however, multiple copies of the press release were reposted on various forums

As of today, no ransom has been delivered. The father said he did not have the capabilities to come up with the money.