Black Christian Refugees From Ukraine Abused, Discriminated
Non-white Christians trying to escape war-torn Ukraine are among refugees facing abuse by Ukrainian security forces, aid workers told Worthy News.
Christian Persecution – Europe
Hungarian Tax Authorities Raid Evangelical Church
Hungary’s main opposition parties have condemned a raid by armed tax authorities of an evangelical church and its charities for the homeless and other vulnerable people.
US missionaries in Ukraine ask for prayer
US missionaries in Ukraine have issued urgent calls for prayer for protection and for wisdom on whether to stay or leave as the current, dangerous Russia-Ukraine standoff continues, Christianity Today (CT) reports.
UK: Christian nurse wins discrimination case against hospital which told her not to wear gold cross at work
A UK Employment Tribunal has ruled that Christian nurse Mary Onuoha was discriminated against by a government-funded hospital which forced her out of her job for wearing a small gold cross necklace, Christian Concern (CC) reports.
Turkey: Churches vandalized as life becomes more difficult for Christians
As life for Christians in Turkey becomes increasingly difficult under the rule of Islamic nationalist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, three churches in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district were vandalized on New Year’s Day, International Chrisitan Concern (ICC) reports.
Britain: Prosecution withdraws case against UK pastor fined for carrying on ministry to homeless
A British pastor who was fined over £16,000 for running her ministry to the homeless during a UK lockdown was told this month that the prosecution has withdrawn the case against her, Christian Legal Centre reports. Pastor Chizumie Dyer, who runs her ‘Church on the Streets’ ministry in Nottingham, England, was issued fines by police in February 2021.
Hungarian Christmas Cheer In Shoeboxes
Hungarian churches and charities have begun distributing support to thousands of impoverished children, including those who lost parents amid the raging coronavirus pandemic.
Report shows 70% increase in hate crimes against Christians in Europe
A new study shows that hate crimes against Protestants and Catholics increased by 70% in Europe last year, the Christian Post (CP) reports. The Observatory on Intolerance Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC) presented its report amid concerns about an ongoing decline in religious, parental, and conscience freedoms for European Christians.
Franklin Graham wins UK legal case, will preach in Northern England
US preacher Franklin Graham has won a UK legal case brought by British LGBT activists who accused him of promoting homophobia, and will now be able to hold an event in Sheffield, England in May, the BBC reports. The parties agreed to a confidential settlement, with no admission of liability on either side.
Church of Wales evangelicals call for new bishop after vote to allow blessing of same-sex unions
Evangelicals belonging to the UK’s Church of Wales are requesting a new bishop to represent them in light of the church governing body’s recent vote to allow blessing services for same-sex couples, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
UK prosecution service drops charges against street preacher
The UK’s prosecution service has dropped charges brought against a street preacher who refused to stop his outdoor ministry during England’s first COVID-19 lockdown last year, Christian Concern (CC) reports. Christian street lay minister Mike Overd was due to appear in court this month after police issued him with a fine for preaching and offering prayer and Bibles in Somerset, southern England on April 2, 2020.
Dozens Injured As Montenegro’s Serbian Church Installs New Leader
The U.S. government has expressed concern after dozens of people were injured in clashes as the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro installed its new leader.
Russian-Backed Separatists Ban Christian Books In Eastern Ukraine
There was mounting concern Friday about the plight of devoted Christians in eastern Ukraine after pro-Russian separatists reportedly banned more Christian books.
UK court says Christian preacher has no case to answer
A UK court has dismissed the case against a female Christian street preacher who was charged with causing “harassment, alarm and distress” while preaching a message from the Bible outside a London subway station last year, Christian Concern (CC) reports. The Highbury Corner Magistrates Court ruled last month that preacher Hazel Lewis had “no case to answer.”
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association sends chaplains to England after mass shooting
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) has sent a team of chaplains to the English city of Plymouth to offer prayer and counseling to residents devastated by Thursday’s mass shooting there, Christian Today (CT) reports.
Christian Evangelist Stabbed In London For Preaching To Muslims
Christian evangelist Hatun Tash says she survived a knife attack by a suspected Muslim in London “thanks to God’s grace.”
Turkey Christian persecution: Report submitted to Human Rights Committee
A report has been submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee about the persecution of Protestant Christians in Turkey, and about restrictions imposed against foreign Christians in the country, International Christian Concern reported Sunday.
Pastor arrested in the UK for preaching Biblical values in public
A 70-year-old British Pastor was arrested in London last month for publically preaching on the Biblical view of marriage and sexuality, Christian minister Peter Simpson reported in an article for the Conservative Woman. Pastor John Sherwood was arrested on April 23 while preaching from the Bible in the center of Uxbridge (PM Boris Johnson’s constituency).
Another historic church plundered in Turkey
Another historic church was recently looted by treasure hunters in Turkey, International Christian Concern reported Saturday. The Byzantine-era Greek church in the north-coastal city of Samsun is just the latest in a growing long list of foreign religious sites that have been plundered and vandalized in Turkey.
UK court: Franklin Graham festival was discriminated against by local authorities
A British court has ruled that the 2018 UK Lancashire Festival of Hope featuring Franklin Graham was subject to discrimination by local authorities which removed festival bus advertisements reading only “Time for Hope,” Assist News reports. The Blackpool Borough Council and Blackpool Transport Services were found to have violated the UK’s Equality Act 2010 by discriminating against the Festival specifically because of Graham’s religious views on homosexuality.