Real-time updates on incidents, legal cases, policy changes, and testimonies from the persecuted Church.
Christian in Lebanon Goes on Trial
Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2003
The trial of Bruce Balfour, a Canadian missionary seeking to plant cedar trees in Lebanon, began Wednesday in a military tribunal. He is charged with spying for Israel.
Is Haiti Facing a Voodoo-Christian Showdown?
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2003
In late April, Haiti’s President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a former Catholic priest, declared voodoo an officially recognized religion. The decision means, among other things, that marriage ceremonies conducted by voodoo priests now have equal standing with Catholic ones.
Chinese Officials Continue Campaign Against Underground Christians
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2003
The spread of the SARS virus has not distracted Chinese officials from their campaign against unregistered churches. At least 52 key house church leaders have been arrested in recent months. Police also arrested and fined hundreds of "ordinary"…
Iraq’s Revival: Christians Risk Their Lives for Church
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2003
BAGHDAD, IRAQ (ANS) -- Iraqi Christians who have become targets of attacks by Muslim extremists and bandits are risking their lives to attend church services, ASSIST News Service (ANS) has established.
Vietnamese Officials Hold Informal Talks with House Church Leaders
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2003
HO CHI MINH CITY, March 19 (Compass) -- In what may be a small breakthrough for religious liberty, Vietnam’s religion authorities invited five leaders of Protestant house church organizations and non-denominational missions to Hanoi for “informal talks†in…
Israel Honors Her Fallen; PM Pledges to Seek an End to War
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2003
Jerusalem (ICEJ) -- Israelis stood for two minutes of silence on Tuesday as sirens wailed throughout the nation in memory of more than 21,000 soldiers and civilians who have given their lives for their country over the last…
Bangladesh: Systematic Persecution of Religious Minorities
Posted on Sunday, August 17, 2003
AUSTRALIA (ANS) -- On 1 October 2001, as U.S. and coalition forces were assembling in Pakistan in preparation for the bombing campaign in Afghanistan, Bangladeshis were heading off to vote in their national elections.
At least 11 Killed in Iraq Church Explosions Blamed on Al Qaeda
Posted on Sunday, August 17, 2003
BAGHDAD, IRAQ (ANS) -- At least 11 people have died and dozens were rushed to hospitals following the largest ever terrorist attacks against Iraq's minority Christians since the insurgency began, 15 months ago, reports said early Monday, August…
Bali Bombing Brings Unity to Indonesian Churches
Posted on Sunday, August 17, 2003
LONDON (Compass) -- Following last October’s bombing of a Bali nightclub, Christians and churches have made an effort to unite in their response to the tragedy.
Missionaries to the Gond People
Posted on Sunday, August 17, 2003
November 24, 2003 (Gospel for Asia) -- Deep in the forests of India, there lives an illiterate, isolated people group called the Gond. They consult witch doctors and worship the gods of nature. They have never heard of…
Bush: ‘Dismantle Terror Before Fence’
Posted on Sunday, August 17, 2003
Jerusalem, Israel (ICEJ) -- It was all smiles at the White House Tuesday as US President George W. Bush toned down expected criticism of Israel's seam-line security fence and repeated his call for the Palestinian Authority to “dismantle 
