Belarus Pentecostals Appeal Against Liquidation
One of the largest Pentecostal congregations in autocratically-ruled Belarus has appealed against plans by authorities to “liquidate” the church after already destroying its building.
Christian Persecution – Europe
Russian Orthodox Church leaders support invasion, religious persecution in Ukraine
The US-based Global Christian Relief organization has warned that leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church support Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, including the persecution of Ukrainian Christians, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Belarus Destroys New Life Church As Part Of ‘Witch-Hunt,’ Christians Say (Worthy News In-Depth)
Christians say the “regime” of the autocratic president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has destroyed a church building in the capital Minsk as part of a witch-hunt against evangelical believers and churches seen as supporting the opposition.
Turkey “weaponizes” law to block Protestant missionaries from entry
According to a report by the International Christian Concern non-profit organization, Turkey’s government has been blocking Protestant missionaries from entering the country by “weaponizing” Turkish entry laws against Christians.
Scotland: Church leaders say proposed conversion therapy ban could criminalize Christians who teach that homosexual behavior is sinful
A group of twenty Scottish church leaders have written to Scotland’s Minister for Equality expressing their alarm that a proposed government ban on “conversion practices” could result in the criminalization of Christians who teach anyone, including their own children, that the practice of homosexuality is sinful, Christian Today reports.
Pastor Aiding Ukraine Town After Massacre
A Ukrainian pastor is carrying humanitarian aid from the Netherlands to Bucha, the Ukrainian suburban town where hundreds of people were reportedly massacred by Russian forces.
Ancient Biblical city of Antioch was devastated in Turkey earthquake
The ancient Turkish city of Antioch, where the Bible says followers of Jesus were first called Christians, has been devastated by the catastrophic 7.8-magnitude earthquake which hit Turkey and Syria on February 6 and killed 42,000 people, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Missionaries: ‘Ukraine War Has Orphans Crisis’
A U.S. Christian mission group warned Thursday of a significant orphans crisis due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Church of England considers referencing God in gender-neutral terms
The Church of England has confirmed it is examining the possibility of changing its liturgy to reference God in gender-neutral terms instead of as “Father,” “Him,” and “He,” the New York Post (NYP) reports. However, the denomination has said there are no plans to make changes to the current liturgy at present, and any future change would require “extensive legislation.”
Ukraine: Russian troops target Evangelical buildings in hundreds of attacks on religious sites
The Kyiv-based Institute for Religious Freedom (IRF) has reported that Russian forces have caused “immense destruction” in attacking hundreds of religious buildings in Ukraine, with a grossly disproportionate emphasis on properties belonging to Ukrainian evangelical Christians, Christianity Today (CT) reports.
UK: Pro-life activist arrested for silent prayer inside buffer zone is left in legal limbo
A UK pro-life activist who was arrested for allegedly praying silently within an abortion clinic buffer zone has been left in a state of “significant uncertainty” after Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service dropped its charge against her but said the indictment may yet be reinstated, Christian Today (CT) reports.
UK: Christian teacher may be banned from teaching for his views on transgenderism and same-sex marriage
A Christian teacher in England may be permanently prohibited from teaching in the UK after referring to a female transgender student as a “girl” and telling another student he is opposed to same-sex marriage, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Malta: Formerly gay Christian man faces jail accused of promoting ‘conversion therapy’
In the first criminal case of its kind, a formerly gay Christian man in Malta is facing trial and a possible prison sentence for allegedly promoting ‘conversion therapy’ that helps people dealing with unwanted same-sex attraction, the Christian Post (CP) reports. Malta banned all such counseling and therapy in 2016, becoming the first country in the European Union to institute such a prohibition.
Church of England: homosexual couples cannot marry in church but clergy can hold blessings for same-sex civil partnerships
The Church of England has announced it cannot change its doctrine to allow same-sex couples to be married in the church but proposes that clergy may voluntarily choose to hold blessing ceremonies for homosexual couples in civil marriages, the Guardian UK reports. The “historic plans” announced on Wednesday represent a form of compromise after decades of anguished debate within the Church of England over the acceptance of homosexuality.
UK street evangelist charged with public order offense after preaching on homosexuality
A UK Christian street preacher charged with a Public Order offense for telling a same-sex married couple that their union is against the Bible’s teaching has had his case dropped after the couple refused to engage with it, Christian Concern (CC) reports.
Ukrainian prison ministry is helping Russian POWs
A Ukrainian prison ministry has begun caring for Russian prisoners of war that were captured in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, Christianity Today (CT) reports.
500 anti-Christian hate crimes documented in Europe last year
Europe saw over 500 documented Anti-Christian Hate Crimes in 2021, the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians (OIDAC) says in its annual report available online. In addition to the incidents documented, OIDAC attests there is a “reasonable probability” of even higher numbers of incidents that were not reported on.
Russian army attacked 270 religious sites in Ukraine during first months of invasion
A new report by the Ukrainian-based Institute for Religious Freedom (IRF) shows that the Russian army destroyed or damaged 270 houses of worship, religious, educational institutions, and sacred sites in Ukraine in the first five months of the invasion launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February, Church Leaders (CL) reports.
Church of England Evangelicals reject Bishop’s proposal to allow blessing of same-sex marriages
Church of England Evangelicals have rejected a theological essay published by the Bishop of Oxford which argues Anglican clergy should be able to bless and marry same-sex couples if they choose, the Christian Post (CP) reports. The Church of England does not allow the blessing of civil partnerships or the marrying of same-sex couples.
US Missionaries Rush ‘Heat and Hope’ To Ukraine As Missiles Hit (Worthy News Radio)
A U.S.-based mission group said Monday that it is rushing generators and critical supplies of firewood, coal, and thermal blankets to local churches in war-torn Ukraine as “families face a brutal and potentially deadly winter.”