Pastor and Family Members Killed In Colombia
A Protestant pastor in northern Colombia was killed, along with two family members, after being attacked while having lunch following a church service on Sunday, Christians told Worthy News.
Christian Persecution
Sri Lanka: Evangelicals Warn Government Proposal May Restrict Religious Freedom
A national evangelical association in Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka has raised concerns that a new government proposal may restrict freedom of religion or belief for minority faith groups in the country if enacted, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports.
Pakistan: Middle-Aged Christian Woman Jailed for Blasphemy
A 50-year-old Christian woman in Punjab Province, Pakistan has been jailed after being charged with committing blasphemy by allegedly burning books containing Islamic scripture, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Pakistan: Hope for Christian Youth Jailed on Blasphemy Charges
A 17-year-old Christian youth who is incarcerated in Punjab Province, Pakistan has been granted bail in one of three cases against him of blasphemy – although he will remain in prison over Christmas because of the remaining two cases, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Sudan: Religious Freedom Largely Vanished Since Onset of Civil War, Another Church Bombed
Since their power struggle launched Sudan’s current civil war in April 2023, the Sudanese National Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have destroyed the tentative steps that were taken toward securing religious freedom after the ousting of dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019, Open Doors reports.
German Christians in Mourning Over Christmas Market Attack
Christian churches in Germany are mourning with the loved ones of those who lost their lives or suffered injuries during the terrorist attack on a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg on Friday, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports.
Congo (DRC): 60 New Believers to Be Baptized in Christmas Day Service, “A Christmas Miracle”
A beacon of light and hope in a country devastated by war, dozens of newly Christian believers were to be baptized at a special Christmas Day service in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Christian Today (CT) reports.
Vietnam: Christians Arrested Ahead of Christmas, “Following Jesus Can Bring Intense Hostility”
Multiple ethnic Montagnard Christian leaders in Vietnam’s Central Highlands region were arrested on December 21 after they began preparing to celebrate Christmas and led congregations in unauthorized worship services, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Sudan: Abused Christian Mother Stands Firm in New Faith
A Sudanese refugee and Christian mother whose husband stabbed her for leaving Islam and putting her faith in Christ is reported to be standing firm in her new faith despite her family’s ongoing hostility and the challenge of living in a camp for displaced people, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Nigeria: Christian Woman Acquitted After Imprisonment for Alleged Blasphemy
A Christian woman who was jailed in northern Nigeria’s Bauchi state in 2022 for allegedly insulting Islam was acquitted last week, Morning Star News (MSN) reported on December 20.
Jailed Church of Iran Leader Released
A leader of the Church of Iran, one of the Islamic Republic’s largest evangelical house church movements, was free Monday after being released from Minab prison in Hormozgan province in southern Iran, Christians told Worthy News.
Hundreds of Christians Flee Papua Violence
Hundreds of displaced Christian residents will likely celebrate Christmas outside their homes in an area of Indonesia’s conflict-stricken easternmost Papua province unless Indonesian security forces withdraw there, a bishop says.
Sudan Christians In Crossfire; Prayers Urged
With Christmas approaching, Christians urged prayers for their community in war-stricken Sudan, saying they are in the crossfire as a bishop and a pastor were among those being attacked.
Gunmen Attack Church In Syria; Suspects Detained
Christians expressed concern Thursday about the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Syria, a day after gunmen attacked an Orthodox church in the west-central city of Hama following other anti-Christian incidents.
Pakistan: Young Christian Girl Escapes From Man Who Forced Her to Marry Him
A Christian family in Pakistan’s Sindh Province is rejoicing over the return of their 15-year-old daughter after she escaped from the Islamist who abducted her and forced her to marry him earlier this year, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
10 More Christians Killed In Mozambique
The Christian community in northern Mozambique prepares for a violent Christmas after at least ten more Christians were killed by Islamists in the closing days of November, Worthy News learned Wednesday.
Vietnam: Two House Church Pastors Wounded in Separate Shooting Incidents
Two house church pastors in Vietnam have been wounded in separate shooting incidents they each believe are connected to their congregations not not being registered with the Vietnamese communist government, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Iran Frees Christian Converts Ahead Of Christmas; Concerns Remain
Three Iranian Christians, who were previously known as Muslims, have been released after ten days in detention just weeks after another Christian was freed after years in jail for his faith, Christians say.
Nigeria: Retired Anglican Archbishop and His Driver Go Missing, “We Earnestly Plead for Your Fervent Prayers”
Amid ongoing extreme violence by radicalized Fulani Islamic herdsmen and other terror groups against Christians in Nigeria, fears are growing for a retired Anglican archbishop and his driver who went missing in Anambra state on December 6, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Somalia: Christian Mother Forced Into Hiding After Husband’s Severe Beating for Leaving Islam
A young newly Christian mother in northwest Somalia has had to leave her children and go into hiding after her husband violently attacked her for leaving Islam, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Ruled by an oppressive extremist Islamic regime, Somalia ranks 2 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.