Ukrainian church driven underground in Russian-occupied areas
Russian soldiers have been shutting down churches in occupied parts of Ukraine forcing Ukrainian Christians to meet in secret, Christian Today (CT) reports.
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Hungary Urges More Support For Persecuted Christians
Hungary says persecuted Christians “need help to be given in their homelands,” while those who have fled “must receive help to return.”
Pastors Reveal Troubled US Economy Is Having Negative Impact on Churches
While some churches across the country are shaking off the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new survey of pastors reveals the troubled economy is now having an adverse financial effect on their churches as well.
It is not safe to be Christian in China, report says
The International Christian Concern (ICC) advocacy organization has published a new Persecution Incident Report for China, attesting that the years-long persecution against believers by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has intensified to where it is no longer safe to be Christian in the country. The ICC report covers the period July 2021-June 2022.
Ukraine: Baptist pastor and wife abducted by Russian military, still missing
A Ukrainian Baptist pastor and his wife are still missing after being kidnapped in Russian-occupied Mariupol on September 21 by armed men wearing Russian army uniforms, Church Leaders (CL) reports.
Nigeria: Christian woman on trial for blaspheming Islam in WhatsApp message
A Christian woman who was imprisoned without bail for blaspheming Islam in a WhatsApp message has gone on trial in Nigeria’s Bauchi state, Morning Star News (MSN) reported on October 5.
Belarus: Authorities ban Christian church congregation from holding worship services
Authorities have now ordered the congregation at the New Life Church in Minsk, Belarus, to stop even the outdoor parking lot meetings they were reduced to after city officials sealed their church building last year, Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) reports. Ideologically close and loyal to Russia’s President Putin, Belarus’ authoritarian regime has criminalized unregistered Christian activity.
Open Doors Founder Brother Andrew Dead At 94
Dutchman Anne van der Bijl, known as the “Brother Andrew” who founded Christian charity Open Doors and became a voice of voiceless persecuted Christians, has died, his group confirmed Wednesday. He passed away in the Dutch town of Harderwijk at age 94.
Chinese Christians seek refuge in Thailand after asylum denial from South Korea
A congregation of Christians escaping government persecution in China are applying for refugee status in Thailand after being denied asylum in South Korea, DW reports. In its efforts to impose “Sinicization” on the country, China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been engaged in a formidable crackdown on independent evangelical churches that will not register with the state-controlled Three-Self Patriotic movement.
Concerns Over 5 Jailed Christians in China’s Southwest
Concerns mount over the plight of five Christians detained since early August in a rural area of China’s southwestern Yunnan province as part of a broader crackdown, Worthy News learned Saturday.
48% of Evangelical leaders report being blacklisted over beliefs, ‘guilt by association’
Nearly half of Evangelical leaders said in a new survey that they have been disinvited, blacklisted or excluded because of their point of view or “guilt by association,” according to the National Association of Evangelicals.
Ireland: Christian teacher jailed for contempt of court following school row over transgender pronouns
A Christian teacher in Ireland has been jailed for contempt of court after being suspended from the school he taught at for refusing to address a transgender student by their preferred pronoun, Christian Today (CT) reports.
‘Indiana Supreme Court Just Protected all Religious Institutions to Be Free from Government Interference’
In 2017, Joshua Payne-Elliott, who taught at Cathedral Catholic High School in Indianapolis, entered a same-sex union in violation of both his employment agreement and Catholic teaching. After an extensive period of dialogue between the high school and the archdiocese, it was made clear to Cathedral that it needed to require teachers to uphold Church teaching to remain affiliated with the Catholic Church.
German Jewish Leader Warns of Potential ‘Antisemitic Scandal’ at World Council of Churches Assembly
As the World Council of Churches prepares for the opening of its General Assembly in the German city of Karlsruhe on Wednesday, a local Jewish leader has warned of the risk of antisemitic rhetoric at the event as delegates debate resolutions that are harshly critical of Israel.
Mississippi: 180-year-old Bible survives total destruction of historic church
A 180 year-old church Bible has survived an August 13 fire that destroyed the historic College Hill Presbyterian Church in Lafayette County, Oxford, Mississippi earlier this month, CBN News reports.
Court says California churches don’t need to cover abortion in health plans
A federal court has overturned a California state mandate that required churches to pay for employees’ elective abortions in their health insurance plans, ending a yearslong legal battle.
Evangelicals Pray For Ukraine As Rockets Take Toll
Two groups representing more than 600 million evangelical Christians urged prayers for an end to the war in Ukraine as territories still controlled by Kyiv observed Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Church in Afghanistan is growing amid harsh conditions
The house church movement in Afghanistan is slowly growing, despite a surrounding environment of brutal tribalism and Islamic extremist violence that forces evangelism and worship to be carried out in secret, Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) reports.
China: House churches raided, leaders taken away
Chinese authorities raided four house churches this month, taking their leaders away for questioning on false allegations, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Young Children Of Late Deacon Killed In Sudan
Sudanese Christians are mourning after suspected Muslim militants killed the three young children of a deceased Catholic Church deacon in Sudan’s Central Darfur region, Worthy News established late Tuesday.