Pastor in Tajikistan charged with “inciting religious hatred” released
A Tajik Pastor imprisoned for over 2 years for possessing a Josh McDowell book was released recently, 3 months before the end of his sentence.
Protestant
Family finds imprisoned Chinese pastor in deep distress, ‘brainwashed’ by unknown medication regimen and parroting communist propaganda
A once-loving Chinese pastor and family man imprisoned 6 years ago by the Chinese Communist Party was found under severe psychological duress by his family members on their last visit to him December 13, and his daughter is seeking to expose the brutal methods by which the regime quells dissidence.
Protestants face persecution in Mexico as government denies they are being singled out by communities for their faith
Eight Protestant families were denied access to drinking water by community leaders in Mexico in January for not signing a document renouncing their faith, and 4 more Protestants expelled from their village for refusing to participate in local Roman Catholic festivals in July, as the government denies that any religious persecution is taking place.
2019 saw attacks on houses of worship with alarming frequency worldwide
On December 1, a band of assailants opened fire on worshipers at a small-town Protestant church in Burkina Faso, an impoverished West African country where the Christian minority is increasingly a target of attacks. The victims included the pastor and several teenage boys; regional authorities attributed the attack to ‘unidentified armed men’ who, according to witnesses, got away on motorcycles.
Christians slaughtered in Burkina Faso as Islamism encroaches
Over a dozen Christians in Burkina Faso were shot dead as an Islamist insurgency with links to ISIS and Al Qaida sweeps through the country.
China fines church for owning ‘wrong’ version of the Bible
China is cracking down on Christianity and other religions as part of a campaign by the country’s Communist Party to ‘eradicate’ so-called ‘pornography and illegal publications,’ according to a Chinese persecution watchdog.
Impeachment threat hasn’t dented evangelical support for Trump
Evangelical support for Donald Trump has not wained despite the threat of impeachment hanging over the US President.
Pastors of larger churches more likely to prioritize counseling and discipleship, new study says
While a majority of Protestant pastors prioritize counseling and discipleship among their ministry meetings, pastors of larger churches are more likely to invest in these meetings, according to the results of a new study by LifeWay Research.
Survey: Christianity declining rapidly in US, down 12 percentage points in last decade
A new survey shows American Christianity is declining steadily, with young Americans increasingly identifying as unaffiliated with any religious group.
Christians in Algeria Hit with More Church Closures
Authorities today sealed shut a church building in Tigzirt, Algeria, two days after shutting another building serving two churches without prior notice, sources said.
Israel President Rivlin improvises as Gantz refuses to share power with Netanyahu
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has proposed a novel form of government to mitigate the power-sharing dispute between Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Benny Gantz.
Chinese government surveils communities with eye to catching believers
China is increasing its surveillance apparatus with a special focus on believers.
House Democrats call for stripping tax-exempt status from 60 ‘hate groups’
House Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee said on Thursday that over 60 alleged hate groups, mostly socially conservative organizations, anti-immigration entities, and religious groups should be stripped of their tax-exempt status.
Churches in Northern Ireland attacked almost every other day
Two decades after a landmark agreement eased sectarian and political tensions in Northern Ireland, a report finds churches and other places of worship are subject to frequent attacks.
Little Has Changed’: Pastor in Colombia Murdered Despite Peace Agreement
A pastor in Colombia was murdered in his home in Bajo Cauca Antioquia, following a protest for peace by Protestants and Catholics the pastor was thought to be a part of.
Study: Most churchgoers say they can walk with God alone
The majority of Protestant churchgoers believe they can walk with God without other believers — yet also say they need other believers to help them in that walk, a new study has found, highlighting the lack of discipleship in today’s churches.
Celebrating New Religious Freedom Law, Bolivian Evangelicals Push for More
After 183 years as a Roman Catholic nation, Bolivia officially became a secular country in 2009, when a new constitution, promulgated by the administration of its first indigenous leader, President Evo Morales, dropped any mention of the historic faith of its Spanish colonial rulers, bolstering the position of its pre-colonial religions.
5 More Chinese House Churches Shut Down in Campaign ‘Unprecedented Since the End of the Cultural Revolution’
A handful of new house churches have become casualties of the Chinese government’s ‘sinicization’ campaign since April, as the communist regime seeks to stamp out all remnants of unofficial Christianity.
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Faces Closure Due To Inexplicable Noise Pollution Complaint
An evangelical Protestant Church in Ethiopia received an eviction letter on May 15th citing noise complaints from local residents after operating peaceably for 10 years, according to World Watch Monitor.
Southern Baptists Down to Lowest in 30 Years
A boost in giving–up to $11.8 billion total–and major church growth in Texas was not enough to fend off more than a decade of declines among the Southern Baptist Convention last year.