400 Ukrainian Baptist churches have been lost since war with Russia
Around 400 Ukrainian Baptist congregations have been displaced and lost since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, Church Leaders reports.
Worthy News
Uganda: Islamic extremists cut off hand of new Christian convert
A Christian convert and father of six in eastern Uganda has had his hand cut off by radicalized Muslim extremists enraged that he and his family had left Islam and had started attending church, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Christians in Uganda are increasingly vulnerable to attacks by Islamic extremists, even though Muslims are a minority group and Christianity is legal in the country.
Afghanistan: Christians facing extreme persecution, need international support
One year on from the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the International Christian Concern (ICC) advocacy group has published a report urging the International community to support Afghan Christians who are facing extreme human rights abuses.
Kenya Christians Pray Amid Disputed Election Results
Kenyan Christians were praying as William Ruto, Kenya’s former vice president, was declared the winner in the country’s presidential election though his rival rejected the results.
Residents in Drought-Stricken States to Face Water Cutbacks as Colorado River Under Serious Threat
For the second year in a row, Arizona and Nevada will face cuts in the amount of water they can draw from the Colorado River as the West endures an extreme drought, federal officials announced Tuesday.
Hundreds Of Ukrainian Civilians Disappear
As fighting raged Tuesday in Ukraine, news emerged that at least hundreds of Ukrainian civilians, mainly men with military experience or of fighting age, have disappeared since the Russian invasion began nearly six months ago.
Iran responds to ‘final’ nuclear talks proposal, after urging US ‘flexibility’
Iran has responded to the European Union’s “final” draft text to revive its 2015 nuclear accord with world powers, according to a European official, after Tehran urged the United States to be flexible in resolving three outstanding issues.
China’s worst heatwave in 60 years is forcing factories to close
China’s Sichuan province has ordered all factories to shut down for six days to ease a power shortage in the region as a scorching heat wave sweeps across the country.
Israel carriers to soon fly to Turkey, official says as ties continue to improve
Israel and Turkey are very close to understandings that will soon allow Israeli airlines to land in the country, a senior Israeli official told Ynet on Monday.
Biden signs $740 billion climate, tax and health care bill into law
President Joe Biden signed a $740 billion spending package into law Tuesday, the final step for the green energy, health care and tax hike bill after months of wrangling and controversy, in particular over the legislation’s hiring of 87,000 new IRS agents to audit Americans.
California church that was fined over $200K for defying COVID-19 restrictions gets fines dropped
A California church that continued to hold services in defiance of county health orders that it close down during the COVID-19 pandemic has had its fines dropped after a nearly two-year battle.
Housing starts plunge 9.6%, raising recession fears
The number of housing starts tumbled in July, an indication that the housing market is taking a hit and may be falling into a recession.
Judge declines request to block Georgia’s fetal heartbeat law that bans some abortions
A Fulton County Superior Court judge declined a request to block Georgia’s fetal heartbeat law that bans most abortions after six weeks.
Ohio churches create taxpayer-funded school, outraging state’s ACLU chapter
A religious organization has partnered with an Ohio church to create a pilot school that seeks to service the Columbus area’s low-income students by offering them taxpayer-funded scholarships.
Gallup: Most Americans oppose vaccine mandates for grade schoolers
Less than half of Americans support making elementary students get COVID-19 vaccines as they return to school this month, according to a new Gallup poll.
Israel: Archaeologists find church they believe was built over Biblical Peter’s house
Archaeologists excavating in Israel’s Galilee region have discovered what they believe is the lost Byzantine-era Church of the Apostles that was built over the home of Jesus’ first two disciples, Peter and Andrew, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. The site is located in the biblical village of Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee.
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.
Myanmar: Army restricts aid to civilians including Christians
The Refugees International non-profit organization reported last month that the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) in Myanmar has been restricting humanitarian aid to civilians, notably in areas with large populations of Christians, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
India: Pastor severely beaten by police
A pastor in southern India has been seriously injured by police officers who beat him up after accusing him of converting Hindus to Christianity, Open Doors USA reports.
U.S. airstrike in Somalia kills 13 al Shabab terrorists: Reports
A U.S. airstrike on Sunday killed more than a dozen members of the al Shabab Islamist terror group in what is believed to be the second such mission launched in a week to support the government of Somalia.