Central Europe Leaders: ‘Migration No Answer To Falling Birthrate’
Leaders of several Central and Eastern European nations have warned the European Union that they will not accept immigration as an answer to the bloc’s falling birth rate.
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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.
Ex-Vice President Pence Hopeful Supreme Court Will End Abortion Rights
Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is “hopeful” that the new conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court will soon end abortion rights and “restore the sanctity of life.”
Nigeria: Gunmen storm church, kill one, abduct three
Over 3,000 Christians in Nigeria were killed in the first 200 days of 2021, and yet another was killed on Sunday as five gunmen attacked a church service in Kogi State and abducted three people, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
China: Authorities harass believers celebrating Church’s 5-year anniversary
Police from China’s ruling Communist Party (CCP) descended on the fifth-anniversary celebration of the Shenzhen Trinity Harvest Gospel Church in Huizhou earlier this month, harassing congregants and trying to prevent them from attending the event, China Aid reports.
Iran Releases Two Jailed Christians, But Concerns Remain
Iranian Christians are “thankful” that Iran has released two jailed Christians on bail but remain concerned about the whereabouts of their friend, Worthy News established Wednesday.
Baptist youth minister shot dead by military junta, UN official says world must act, Myanmar is “living hell”
A Baptist youth pastor was shot dead by soldiers while trying to save a congregant from a home set on fire by the military junta in Myanmar on Saturday, the Christian Post reports. Highlighting the killing, UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar Tom Andrews said the international community must take action with regard to the “living hell” Myanmar civilians have been in since the February 1 military coup.
Al-Shabab suicide bomber kills 11 in Somalia; Christians in danger
A suicide bomber from Al-Shabaab, a terror group affiliated with Al-Qaeda, killed at least 11 people in the Somalian capital city of Mogadishu on September 14, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Posing a major threat to Christians in Somalia, Al-Shabaab is a jihadist terror group whose goal is to overthrow the internationally-supported government and impose its violent brand of extremist Islam on the whole of Somalia.
Dutch King Unveils Holocaust of Names Memorial
Dutch King Willem-Alexander has unveiled the Holocaust Memorial of Names, more than 75 years after the mass killings of Dutch Jews and others caused an open wound in the Netherlands that has proven difficult to heal.
Scientists Given $15 Million to “De-Extinct” Wooly Mammoths
According to a report by CNN, genetic scientists have been interested in bringing back the wooly mammoth for many years, and with a $15 million investment in bioscience and genetics company, Colossal, it looks as though they’ll be able to succeed within the next 6 years.
Contact with Christians in Afghanistan is being lost
Reports are emerging that underground ministries are losing contact with Christians in Afghanistan who are now living under the violent rule of the Islamic extremist Taliban, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The Taliban are violently opposed to anyone who converts from Islam to Christianity and, as most believers in Afghanistan are former Muslims, they face death, torture, and abduction if found.
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.
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America installs first transgender bishop
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) on Saturday installed its first openly transgender bishop, DW reports. Reverend Megan Rohrer, who goes by the pronouns “they” and “he,” was installed as bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod during a ceremony at the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.
Controversial Dutch Evangelist Jan Zijlstra Dies Of COVID-19 At 82
Dutch evangelist Jan Zijlstra, known for his controversial healing services, died of COVID-19 at 82, his foundation confirmed.
Mexico: Protestant families persecuted by Catholic community leaders
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is calling on Mexico to address a “culture of impunity” that has allowed two Protestant families from the First Baptist Church in La Mesa Limantitla to be threatened with forced displacement on account of their faith by Catholic community leaders, CSW reports.
Iran: Three more Christians arrested from persecuted community
Another three Christian men from a heavily persecuted believing community in Iran were arrested by Iranian intelligence authorities on September 5 and taken to an unknown location for interrogation, International Christian Concern reports.
Afghan church is thriving and hopeful: “Please pray for God’s work to continue”
While in grave danger under the new rule of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Afghan church is understood to be standing firm in the faith and hopeful for spiritual revival in their country, Global Catalytic Ministries (GCM) has reported on its Facebook page. GCM is a Christian organization dedicated to “Discipling Muslims in Restricted-Access Nations to Jesus Christ,” and is in close contact with the underground church in Afghanistan.
Dozens of Louisiana churches destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Ida; “we need all the help we can get”
Dozens of churches in Louisiana were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ida last week, the Christian Post (CP) reports. The devastating hurricane has also left 600,000 people in Louisiana without electricity and has killed 63 people nationwide.
Nigeria persecution: Congregation holds first service after vicious Fulani attack, thanks God for their lives
A Christian community in Nigeria’s Plateau state has held its first service since being attacked by Fulani jihadists in July, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Jebbu Miango gathered Sunday to thank God for sparing their lives during the attack which displaced 5,000 people.
Dozens Injured As Montenegro’s Serbian Church Installs New Leader
The U.S. government has expressed concern after dozens of people were injured in clashes as the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro installed its new leader.