Tearful Ukrainian Refugees Enter Hungary; Prime Minister At Border
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán rushed to his nation’s border with war-torn Ukraine Saturday after warning that as many as 600,000 people may seek refuge in Hungary.
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Christian Broadcaster TWR Forced To Flee Kyiv As Battles Rage, Urges Prayers
International Christian broadcaster Trans World Radio (TWR) said late Friday that its affiliate in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv was “cut off from its office and studio” while battles raged between government forces and Russian troops attacking the city. In a statement to Worthy News, TWR confirmed that the local “director and staff” of its broadcasting partner initially thought they gathered safely outside Kyiv “to set up makeshift broadcast facilities in a house basement.” However, “before a day had passed, our colleagues heard small-arms fire nearby. They were considering whether to relocate farther from the battlefront,” TWR added.
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.
Russia Keeps Punishing Evangelicals in Crimea
Since Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014—one of the central points of conflict in the current clash between the two countries—Protestant Christians in the territory have faced greater government penalties for practicing their faith.
US religious freedom chair demands Finland to stop Christian prosecution
The United States’ commission in defense of religious freedoms has condemned Finnish efforts to prosecute Christians for intolerant speech against homosexuality.
‘Christians Suffering In East Ukraine As Russian Forces Move In’
With Russian forces entering eastern Ukraine, there is mounting concern about the plight of devoted Christians worshipping outside the Moscow-backed Orthodox Church.
Myanmar: Burmese army continues to attack churches
The Burmese army is continuing to target and destroy churches in predominantly Christian areas of Myanmar, amid an increasingly volatile and violent situation in the conflict-wracked country, UCA News reports.
Nigeria: Christian schoolgirl still in Boko Haram captivity after 4 years
This month marks the fourth anniversary of the abduction of Nigerian Christian schoolgirl Leah Sharibu, who was kidnapped together with 109 other girls by the Boko Haram terror group in northeastern Nigeria on February 19, 2018, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Leah is the last remaining captive of the 110 girls abducted from Nigeria’s Government Girls’ Science and Technical College in 2018.
Uganda: Muslim family members violently assault new Christian
A young man who had just come to faith in Christ in Kadama, Uganda was violently assaulted and severely injured by Muslim relatives enraged that he has left Islam, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Assaults by Muslim family members against Christian converts have become an increasing concern in Uganda.
China: Female pastor sentenced to 8 years for refusing to join state-run church
A female Christian pastor in China has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment because she refused to join Three-Self Church, a Chinese Communist Party state-controlled body that regulates Protestant churches, UCA News reports.
India: Hindu extremists destroy churches
Hindu extremists on February 5 destroyed two church buildings in separate states in India, Voice of the Martyrs Canada (VOM) reports. Persecution against Christians in India has intensified greatly since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014.
Cuba: Government gives no information on imprisoned pastor
Cuban authorities have still not responded to a written request by five United Nations advocates for information on Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo of the Monte de Sion Independent Church in Palma Soriano, who has been in prison since his July 2021 arrest during a peaceful protest against the communist government, Christian Headlines (CH) reports.
Uganda: Evangelist violently attacked by Muslim extremist relatives
Christian evangelist Malingumu Bruhan was violently attacked and nearly burned to death in Nawaikoke, Uganda earlier this month by Muslim relatives who accused him of being an infidel, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Christianity is legal in Uganda but believers have come under increasing attack by minority Muslim extremists, particularly in the eastern part of the country.
Detained Pastor Denied Bail In Canada
A prominent Poland-born pastor has been denied bail as Canadian authorities appear increasingly worried about his opposition to coronavirus restrictions.
Furious Hungary and Poland To Lose Billions After EU Court Ruling
Hungary and Poland have condemned the European Union’s top court for approving a mechanism under which they lose billions of euros in aid over rule of law concerns.
Nigeria number one in the world for jihadist murders of Christians
Nigeria ranked number one in the world last year for the number of Christians murdered by Islamic jihadists: 3,462 Nigerian Christians were slaughtered in what rights groups have described as a “killing field” for Christians. In its 2021 annual report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) warned of a “Christian genocide” if the Nigerian government does not protect its Christian communities.
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.
Russia’s Putin Says ‘We Don’t Want War in Europe’ But Doubts Remain
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday, “we don’t want war in Europe,” but doubts remained despite Moscow announcing a partial pullback of forces near Ukraine.
China to implement internet ban for house churches
hina’s Communist Party is imposing an oppressive new measure that will isolate Christians by prohibiting unregistered house churches from the online gatherings and teachings that have sustained them through the COVID-19 pandemic, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Iran: Believers to begin prison sentences for “spreading Christian Zionism”
Three Christians convicted of spreading “Zionist Christianity” in Iran have been ordered to begin serving their prison sentences of between two and five years at the end of this month, Christian Persecution reports.