India State Detains Evangelical Christians
Police in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state have detained dozens of evangelical Christians for allegedly violating a law banning “religious conversion” after complaints by Hindus.
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US City Bans Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers
A city in the U.S. state of Massachusetts has an ordinance banning “pro-life pregnancy centers” because they allegedly deceive clients about abortion, Worthy News learned Wednesday.
‘Christian Netflix Service Reaching Mideast Persecuted Believers’
“Isolated Christians in the Middle East,” including many struggling to survive, use their smartphones to connect with other believers through the “region’s first-ever faith-based video-on-demand service,” a Christian broadcaster says.
Russia Pounding East Ukraine, Terrifying Villagers
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says a long-awaited Russian offensive in the east has begun. As Russian forces are attacking Ukrainian positions, church charities stepped up efforts to welcome those fleeing the conflict.
Nigeria: Radicalized Fulani murder 80 Christians; government does nothing about “slow extermination” of Christians
Fulani terrorists murdered at least 80 people in raids on predominantly Christian villages in Nigeria’s Plateau state on April 10, the Barnabas Fund reports. The attacks are a continuation of a 20-year-long campaign of slaughter against Nigerian Christians by Islamic terrorists, especially radicalized Fulani militants.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury pushes for conversion therapy ban, says being transgender is “sacred journey”
The former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Rowan Williams has signed a letter asking the UK government to include trans people in a ban on conversion therapy, attesting that being transgender is a “sacred journey of becoming whole,” CBN reports. The ban that is currently set to become UK law covers only people with same-sex attraction, not transgender persons.
Israel: Scientists are planting date trees from 2,000-year old seed
Israeli scientists are growing fruit-bearing date trees using 2000-year-old ancient seeds from the Judean Desert and from Masada, Christian Headlines (CH) reports. Growing the trees and their fruit is part of a scientific experiment to determine how medicinal Israreli flora is, and to revive species that were available in Biblical times.
Canadian think tank: law must change after houses of worship treated ‘unequally’ during pandemic
A Canadian think tank has published a policy brief calling for a change in Ontario law, after concluding that houses of worship in the province were unequally and arbitrarily subjected to greater restrictions than retail businesses were during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Iran Christian Convert Starts Prison Term
Iranian Christian convert Fariba Dalir has begun serving a two-year prison sentence for “acting against national security by establishing and leading an Evangelical Christian church,” an advocacy group confirmed.
Philippines Struggles After Deadly Storm
The Philippines experienced an Easter overshadowed by the aftermath of tropical storm Megi, which authorities said killed at least 167 people and left 110 missing.
Russian Missiles Hit West Ukraine, Several Killed
Ukrainian officials say Russian missiles have hit the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, killing at least seven people. Moscow’s troops apparently stepped up strikes on infrastructure across Ukraine in preparation for an expected all-out assault on the east.
Nigeria: Christians slain in new Fulani attack, “Where is any action?”
The relentless slaughter of Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt by Fulani militants continues unchecked and, on April 11, the bodies of 17 Christians were found in the bush following a brutal attack on the community of Tior-Tyu in Benue state, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India:36 Christians arrested after Hindu radicals lock 100 congregants in church
Radicalized Hindus in India’s Uttar Pradesh state on Thursday locked a congregation of 100 Christians in their church and then had 36 of them arrested and jailed on alleged forced conversion charges, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Egypt: Coptic Archbishop stabbed to death, declared a martyr
A Coptic Archbishop who was stabbed to death on a street in Egypt earlier this month has been declared a martyr by the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Alexandria, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Archbishop Arsanious Wadidw was dressed in clerical attire and clearly identifiable as a priest when he was murdered by a lone knifeman as he handed out Ramadan gifts in Alexandria’s Maharam Bek District on April 7.
Ukraine Christians Celebrate Easter Despite Russian Shelling
After Pope Francis called for an Easter truce in Ukraine, many Christians in this war-torn land still faced Russian shelling as they prepared for Easter worship, including damaged churches.
Detained Iran Pastor Briefly Home For Easter
A detained pastor of Iran’s largest evangelical network of house churches spent Easter Sunday with his family but was due to return to prison Monday, Worthy News learned.
Algeria Christians Facing New Church Closures
Supporters of Christians in Algeria urge prayers saying Islamic authorities close worship places, including in the Mediterranean port city Béjaïa.
Indonesia Jails Christian YouTuber For 10 Years
Christians urged prayers Wednesday after a Muslim-background Christian was sentenced to ten years in prison for “blasphemy” and hate speech in Indonesia’s West Java Province.
Sri Lanka Christians Pray After Buddhist Attack
Evangelical Christians in bankrupt Sri Lanka were weighing their options Friday after new details emerged of a Buddhist mob storming a church and injuring one believer.
Vietnam Church Face Tense Easter After Raid
Devoted Christians in northwestern Vietnam faced a challenging Easter after government officials raided a Catholic Church service in the region.