Indonesia Pledges To Facilitate Church After Outcry
Indonesia’s government says it will facilitate a place of worship for Protestant Christians in West Java after the forced closure of their church by authorities provoked an international outcry.
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Uganda: Pastor murdered by Islamist relatives for refusing to denounce Christ, “We need prayers”
A 42-year-old pastor in eastern Uganda was dragged out of his house and brutally murdered on the street earlier this month by Muslim relatives enraged that he refused to renounce Christ, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. While Christianity is legal in Uganda, former Muslims who turn to Christ are frequently violently attacked by Islamic extremists in their communities or families.
Nigeria: Gunmen shoot dead the son of a Baptist pastor, abduct pastor’s wife and others, “we are fervently praying to God”
As the slaughter of Christians in Nigeria continues with minimal intervention by the government, gunmen in Kaduna state on Friday shot and killed the son of a Baptist pastor before abducting the pastor’s wife and three other people, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Iran: Pastor still faces 30 lashes and two years in exile after early release from prison
An Iranian pastor who converted to Christianity from Islam has been released after serving five years of a jail term he received for sharing the Gospel with Muslims, but still faces 30 lashes and two years in exile from his home, Article 18 reports.
DRC: Islamic State claims responsibility for murdering 35 Christians
Islamic State terrorists in the Democratic Republic of Congo have confirmed that they recently killed 35 people whom they claim are “Christian” in Mukondi village in North Kivu province, the Associated Press reports.
Nicaragua: Thousands flock to Somotillo to hear the Gospel and encounter God
Thousands of people gathered in a small town in western Nicaragua Saturday to hear the Gospel preached by US evangelists from Shake The Nations Ministries (STNM) to have a life-changing encounter with Jesus, GOD TV reports.
Pastor Aiding Ukraine Town After Massacre
A Ukrainian pastor is carrying humanitarian aid from the Netherlands to Bucha, the Ukrainian suburban town where hundreds of people were reportedly massacred by Russian forces.
Egypt Removes Adopted Baby From Christians
Christians have launched a campaign for a 5-year-old Egyptian Coptic boy who was reportedly taken away from his adoptive parents by Egyptian authorities at age four and forced to become a Muslim.
Suffering Churches Help Earthquake Victims
Suffering churches in one of the areas hardest hit by last month’s devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria are still “delivering aid and letting people know they are not forgotten,” a spokesperson said Thursday.
Indonesia: Church allowed to reopen after local Muslims shut it down
In a remarkable piece of good news for persecuted Indonesian Christians, a church in Bandar Lampung has been allowed to reopen after local Muslim village authorities and residents interrupted a worship service and forced it to close down last month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The Kemah Daud Christian Church had been in the middle of a Sunday service on February 19 when the disruption and subsequent closure occurred.
India: Pastor and his wife arrested/imprisoned under Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion laws
A pastor and his wife in India’s Uttar Pradesh state have been criminally charged and imprisoned under harsh local anti-conversion laws for allegedly luring Hindus into becoming Christians, Scroll reports. Ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party since 2014, India ranks 11th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
China: Church releases statement detailing torture of imprisoned leaders
An evangelical church in China has released a statement detailing torture and maltreatment inflicted on three of the congregation’s leaders who have been in detention since August last year, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. China ranks 16th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Uganda: Evangelist attacked after leading 37 Muslims to Christ
An evangelist in eastern Uganda is recovering after being hospitalized by Islamist extremists enraged that he ostensibly led 37 Muslims to Christ during an extended public debate on Islam and Christianity last month, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. While Christianity is legal in Uganda, followers of Christ – especially former Muslims – have come under intense violent attack by Islamic extremists who seek to prevent the Gospel from being shared in the country.
Iran Releases Church Leader Nadarkhani After Years Behind Bars
An Iranian pastor, who spent most of his time in prison since 2016, has been released as part of a national amnesty issued by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to commemorate the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Worthy News learned Wednesday.
Iran: Two Christians pardoned and released from prison
In a rare act of goodwill toward Iran’s Christian community, the Iranian Islamic regime pardoned and released two Christians imprisoned for “acting against national security by organizing house churches and promoting ‘Zionist’ Christianity,” International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The Christians’ release was part of the government’s annual tradition of pardoning prisoners commemorating Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Nicaragua Removes Citizenship Church Leaders And Many Others
Nicaragua has stripped more than 90 people of their Nicaraguan citizenship, including the bishop of Managua and a Catholic priest, as part of a crackdown on opponents of the country’s autocratic President Daniel Ortega.
Pakistan Christian Family Faces Deportation Despite Death Threats (Worthy News In-Depth)
A Christian family who fled Pakistan after angry Muslim crowds torched their home and one of them was nearly beaten to death, face forced deportation from Thailand, Worthy News established.
China: Government persecution of Christians worsened last year, report says
The US-based ChinaAid persecution watchdog organization attests in a new report that China’s ruling Communist Party intensified its notorious harassment and mistreatment of Christians in the country last year, the Christian Post reports.
Nigeria: Christian leaders mark 5th year in captivity of schoolgirl Leah Sharibu abducted by Boko Haram
Christian leaders gathered in Abuja, Nigeria on Sunday for a special prayer event that commemorated the fifth year in captivity of Leah Sharibu, a Christian school girl who was abducted by Boko Haram Islamic terrorists, and who remains in captivity because she refused to renounce her faith, Christian Persecution reports.
Iran Releases Another Jailed Christian Convert After Pressure
Iran has released another Christian convert from its notorious prison, just days after another jailed Christian was freed, Christians said Thursday.