China Closes House Church And School
Chinese authorities closed a house church and its Christian school in Shanxi province after detaining church members amid a crackdown on unauthorized worship in China, Christians confirmed late Thursday.
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India: Newly Christian man beaten unconscious left for dead after refusing to renounce faith
A former Hindu who gave his life to Christ just four months ago was beaten unconscious and left for dead after a mob of Hindus attacked a gathering of believers at a house church in India’s Odisha state earlier this month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
China: Government officials detain Christian house church leaders and members on false charges
Chinese government officials are continuing a campaign of surveillance and detention against the Linfen Holy Covenant Church in Shanxi province, holding church leaders and members on false charges, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Two Christians suddenly released from jail after convictions for leading churches
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei unexpectedly ordered the release of two church leaders imprisoned in the notoriously harsh Evin Prison in Tehran a few days after a fire broke out at the jail on October 15, Morningstar News (MSN) reports. Christian advocacy activists have said they do not know the reason for the Supreme Leader’s decision.
Iran: Concerns raised for Christian couple jailed in harsh prison for house church activity
There has been increasing concern for the well-being of an Iranian Christian couple who were imprisoned in a notoriously harsh Tehran jail in August following their convictions for leading and belonging to a house church, the Christian Post reports.
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.
China: Christian online content now heavily restricted
Christians in China are suffering under regulations rolled out this year, which impose heavy restrictions on online sharing of religious content, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
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.
China: Police raid historical house church in crackdown on Christians
China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is continuing to crack down on pastors and members of house churches on August 10, police officers raided the homes of members of the historical Church of Abundance (Fengsheng) in Xi’an, Shaanxi, Bitter Winter reports.
China: House church fined over $5 million
As Chinese authorities continue to crack down on churches that refuse to join the state-approved Three-Self Patriotic Church denomination, the Royal Wedding Church in Zhuhai, Guangdong province is facing a fine of over five million USD, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Iran: Christian converts convicted of house-church membership
Four Christian converts in Iran have been convicted of criminality due to their membership of house churches, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Iran: Pastor and two Christian women jailed for leading house churches
A pastor and two Christian women in Iran have been sentenced to jail terms ranging from 6 to 10 years because they are leaders of house churches, Article 18 reports. Iran’s Islamic regime considers Christianity a threat to its power, and has had Christian leaders imprisoned on false charges of violating national security and of disseminating anti-government propaganda.
Iran Pastor 10 Years In Jail After Losing Appeal
An Iranian pastor has lost his appeal against a ten-year jail term for running a “house church” at his home in Iran’s capital, Tehran, trial observers confirmed Tuesday.
India: Christians suffer arrest and imprisonment in Uttar Pradesh, ”Our lives are in danger”
At least 30 Christians were imprisoned on false charges in India’s Uttar Pradesh state last month, as Hindu nationalists continue to abuse the state’s harsh anti-conversion laws and accuse believers of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India: Christian pastors ordered to cease all ministry
Christian pastors in India’s Uttar Pradesh state were summoned to a police station earlier this month and ordered to cease all house church gatherings and religious activities unless they had a permit from the District Magistrate, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India: Christians wait for authorities to investigate policeman who burned down church building
Christians in India’s Chhattisgarh state are waiting expectantly for authorities to take action against a Hindu police officer who they believe burned down their church building earlier this year because he did not like their worship services, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. As persecution against Christians by Hindu extremists continues to intensify, believers report that obtaining justice is difficult because police officers are being radicalized by Hinduist hardliners.
Iran Jails Pastor 10 Years For House Church
An Iranian pastor has been sentenced to ten years in prison for running an “illegal” house church in Tehran, the capital, Worthy News learned Thursday.
Iran: Another Christian woman imprisoned for involvement in house church
A second Christian woman has begun a two-year prison sentence in Iran because of her involvement with a local house church, Article 18 reports.
China Bans Popular Christian Website In Crackdown
One of China’s most popular Christian websites has been closed down by the ruling Chinese Communist Party as part of its ongoing crackdown on Christianity, well-informed Christians confirmed Thursday.