Pastors Shot In Vietnam Amid Crackdown
A pastor in Vietnam’s Central Highlands was recovering from his injuries Thursday after being shot in his left knee with a rubber bullet while riding a motorbike home, Worthy News learned.
Christian Persecution
India: Hindu Nationalists Attack Christians Across India During Christmas Season
Amid an ongoing surge in the persecution of Christians in India by Hindu nationalists, Hindu extremists carried out violent assaults against believers celebrating Christmas in many states across the country last month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Uganda: Christian Father Murdered for Leaving Islam
A Christian father was murdered by Islamic extremists in eastern Uganda earlier this month, after he and his wife received death threats for leaving Islam and putting his faith in Christ, Morning Star News reports.
Sudan: RSF Paramilitary Group Attacks Church Service
While fighting each other for the power to rule Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been killing and attacking civilians, not least Christians, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Hungary Concerned About Mounting Persecution Of Christians
Hungary has expressed concern about mounting “Anti-Christian sentiments and the persecution of Christians.”
India: Christian Group Calls For Government Inquiry Into Unprecedented Level of Persecution Against Believers
The United Christian Forum (UCF) has called on India’s Hindu nationalist-led government to open a national inquiry into the exponential surge in incidents of violence against Christians in the country, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Nigeria: 11 Christians Murdered in Benue State Christmas Day Attacks, “A Trail of Grief and Trauma”
In keeping with similar attacks during major Christian holidays, Islamic militants in Nigeria slaughtered 11 people on Christmas Day during murderous raids in Christian communities in Kwande County, Benue state, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Nigeria: “14 Christians murdered after church carol service,” “A trail of grief and trauma”
Three days before Christmas on December 22, suspected Fulani Islamic terrorists in Nigeria’s Plateau state ambushed and murdered 14 Christians, including a pregnant woman and her 1-year-old daughter, shortly after a carol service at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
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.
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.