Texas pastor forgives church vandal; Christmas services continued despite damage

The pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas has extended forgiveness to a vandal who caused between $100,000 – $300,000 damage to the church building on Christmas Eve, CBN reports. Pastor Eric Borchers said the attack would not stop his congregation from enjoying Christmas services as parishioners rallied to clean up the damage.

US Missionaries At Christmas After Haïti Escape

Seventeen U.S.-based missionaries kidnapped in Haiti could celebrate Christmas in freedom after most of them miraculously escaped the street gang 400 Mawozo, who held them for two months, a spokesman said.

Missionaries Face Two Months Hostage Crisis

A U.S. mission group has thanked for prayers as it remembers that precisely two months ago, 17 American and Canadian missionaries were kidnapped in Haiti.

Three more abducted missionaries released by Haiti gang

Three more Christian Aid Ministries hostages in Haiti were released Sunday by the Haitian 400 Mawozo gang, which had abducted 17 of the US organization’s missionaries (16 Americans and one Canadian) on October 16, the Washington Times reports. Few details on the new releases have been given for security reasons; two of the missionaries were previously freed on November 21.

U.S. Official States Some of 17 Missionaries Kidnapped in Haiti Still Alive

A senior government official saw proof that at least some of the 17 Christian Aid Ministries missionaries who were kidnapped in Haiti last month are still alive, Reuters reported on November 5. Christian Aid Ministries is calling for continued prayer for the safe release of 16 Americans and one Canadian, including five children, who were abducted by the 400 Mawozo gang on October 16.

No arrests in murder of California pastor shot dead in Los Angeles

No arrests have yet been made for the murder of 65-year old California evangelist Rev. Reginald Moore, who was shot dead in broad daylight outside his church in Compton county, Los Angeles on October 24, 2021. Pastor Rev. Reginald Moore was murdered outside the Upper Room Christian Center and was found lying dead in the street holding his Bible and walking cane.

Cuba Keeps Large House Church Closed

Cuba’s communist authorities refuse to allow a large “house church” to reopen for worship despite easing COVID pandemic restrictions for approved churches, activists say.

Kidnappers release elderly pastor in Haiti

Seventy-nine-year-old Pastor Jean Pierre Ferrer Michel has been released from captivity in Haiti after members of the 400 Mawozo gang dressed as National Police officers abducted him and a male parishioner on October 3, CBN News reports.

80-year old US Pastor abducted by gang in Haiti; “I’ve come to plead”

An 80-year old American citizen and pastor Jean Pierre Ferrer Michel remains in captivity after being abducted by gunmen in Haiti on October 3, nearly two weeks before 16 American missionaries and a Canadian were kidnapped together by a Haitian gang on the island, the Miami Herald (MH) reports. Both the US Embassy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have reportedly been contacted about Pastor Michel’s situation on account of his US citizenship.

Cuban government seeking 10-year jail term for Pastor, “My children and I plead for help”

Authorities in Cuba are looking to impose a 10-year prison sentence on a pastor who participated in nationwide peaceful protests against the government on July 11, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. Currently held at the Boniato maximum security prison, Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo of the Monte de Sion Independent Church in Palma Soriano has been charged with ‘public disorder,’ and ‘disrespect’ among other offenses.

Canada: Pastor spends second night in jail to stand for religious freedom

A pastor in Manitoba, Canada spent an additional night in prison last week after rejecting bail conditions that would have prevented him from preaching at his church, Fox News reports. Pastor Tobias Tissen who leads Manitoba’s Church of God Restoration was imprisoned for two days after violating a COVID-19 order which banned outdoor gatherings of more than five people.

Chile: Two more churches destroyed in ongoing wave of arson attacks

In the latest of a wave of arson attacks on churches in Chile, two churches in the Biobio region were burned to the ground on October 12, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. The attacks on both Protestant and Catholic churches in Chile began in 2015.

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