Eritrea Detains 15 Christians Curtailing Hopes Of More Tolerance
Eritrean authorities have detained 15 Christians during a series of raids on their houses in the capital city of Asmara, well-informed sources said Thursday.
Bible
Satanists Decry “Equal Rights” in Attempts to Fight Pro-Life Laws
Satanist groups have launched efforts to reverse the newly enacted pro-life laws in Texas, Ohio, and other states, including a Utah measure that would outlaw most abortions in the event that the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion.
Bible could be soon be available in 95% of the world’s 6,000 languages
The founder of the YouVersion Bible app has stated that 95% of the world’s population could have access to a full Bible in their own language by 2033, Premier Christian News (PCN) reports. Bobby Gruenewald said collaborative efforts using new translation methods and technologies are speeding up the pace at which the Bible could be soon accessible in thousands of languages worldwide.
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.
Survey: Majority of Americans identify as Christian, but many have unbiblical views
A new survey published in the American Worldview Inventory 2021 shows that 69% of Americans self-identify as “Christian” but many hold views that contradict the Bible, Christian Headlines (CH) reports.
Jerusalem: Archaeologists find “cheat weight” from First Temple era
Archaeologists excavating in Jerusalem’s Old City have unearthed a weight that was likely used to cheat traders some 2,700 years ago in the First Temple period, the Jerusalem Post (JP) reports.
Biblical Euphrates River Drying Threatening Humanitarian Disaster In Syria
Aid groups have warned of a looming humanitarian disaster in northeast Syria as one of the Bible’s most famous rivers is drying up fast. The Euphrates, which is believed to have flown through the Biblical ‘Garden of Eden,’ now barely runs for almost 2,800 kilometers (1,700 miles) across Turkey, Syria, and Iraq.
US President Biden Warns Islamist State After Kabul Blasts Kill 13 American Troops, 60 Civilians
A visibly moved U.S. President Joe Biden addressed the nation Thursday, saying it “is a tough day” after the bloodiest attack in Afghanistan in a decade killed 13 American troops and scores of civilians around Kabul’s airport.
Court upholds death sentence for white supremacist who murdered nine at South Carolina black church
The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld the conviction and death sentence of Dylann Roof, a young, self-confessed white supremacist who murdered nine members of a South Carolina black congregation in 2015, Voice of America (VOA) reports. The unanimous three-judge panel rejected arguments that Roof should have been ruled incompetent to stand trial for the killings at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.
Over 1,000 Afghan Christians Flown To Safety Amid Pressure On President Biden
More than 1,000 desperate Christians have been flown from Afghanistan after American radio host Glenn Beck and a group he founded raised millions of dollars to rescue them, organizers said Wednesday.
China Businessmen Jailed After Selling Audio Bibles, Christian Symbols Removed
China’s communist authorities have jailed four Christian businessmen for selling audio Bibles amid a government crackdown on Christians engaged in “illegal” faith-related activities, trial observers told Worthy News.
Canada Pastor Facing Prison Warns Of Communist Dictatorship In US, West
A Polish-born Canadian pastor who faces a four-year prison term in Canada for leading church services despite coronavirus restrictions says the “tyranny” of formerly communist Poland has reached the West.
Afghan Christians calling for prayer and advocacy
Afghan Christians are calling for prayer and international advocacy as they are now targets for intense, violent persecution by the new Taliban rulers of Afghanistan, International Christian Concern (ICC) reported Monday. The most recent call for prayer came through Mission Network News.
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.”
Coin with Scene of Golgotha Unearthed in Archeological Site Near Tel Aviv
According to reports by CBN News, a rare gold coin, minted in 638 or 639 AD by Byzantine emperor Heraclius, was found along with many other artifacts in an archaeological dig site in the Ramat Ha-Sharon region, near Tel Aviv, Israel. On one side of the coin is the image of the emperor and on the other side is an image of Golgotha with the three crosses spoken of in the Bible. The coin also contains an inscription in Greek and possibly in Arabic, which is most likely the name of the owner, as it would have been a highly valuable possession. This coin furthers the understanding of the influence of Messianic faith in that day.
New Survey: Majority of born again US Christians believe Jesus is not only path to salvation
A new study by Probe Ministries has shown that over 60% of born-again US Christians aged 18 to 39 believe that, in addition to Jesus, Buddha, and Muhammad offer paths to salvation as well, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Afghanistan persecution: Taliban have a “hit-list” of Christians to murder
The leader of the underground church in Afghanistan has given a first-hand ground report, explaining that believers are in grave danger and that the Taliban have a “hit-list” of Christians they are searching for to murder, the Christian Post (CP) reports. Known as “Pastor X” for security reasons, the church leader gave his report to the Global Catalytic Ministries non-profit organization.
Iran’s Internet Restrictions Threaten Underground Church
Christians in Iran meeting mostly in secret house groups to avoid detection by police face new challenges as the Islamic government seeks more internet restrictions, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Sudanese officials detain shipment of Bibles
Sudanese government officials have detained a shipment of Bibles by demanding customs fees from which it is exempt, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. The officials’ actions are cause for concern in light of the new government’s pledge to allow religious freedom in Sudan following the ouster of dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
Urgent request for prayer for Haiti; specific requests include prayer for strength of the Haitian church
Haitian Christians have issued an urgent call for prayer after another deadly earthquake violently shook their already-embattled island nation at the weekend, killing nearly 2,000 people and injuring and displacing thousands more, Christianity Today reports. Saturday’s 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck as Haitians were still processing the assassination of their president Jovenel Moïse last month, an act of violence that illustrates the long-term death-grip that violence, poverty, and corruption have had on Haiti.