Pope Cancels Meeting With Russian Patriarch Over Ukraine War Concerns
Pope Francis has canceled a summit with the leader of Russia’s Orthodox Church amid diplomatic wrangling over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Worthy News learned.
Christian
Conservative congregations to break away from United Methodist Church over LGBT stance
The United Methodist Church (UMC) is in crisis as dozens of theologically conservative congregations are set to break off into a separate group over the denomination’s support of same-sex marriage and homosexual clergy, the Washington Times reports.
Iran Christians Concerned About Jailed Convert
Iranian Christians have urged prayers for a house church leader who they say remains detained after being arrested at his home in Anzali on April 18.
International Christian ministry center destroyed, Bibles burned, in Ukraine fighting
The Mission Eurasia Christian ministry had one of its training centers in Ukraine destroyed, and a stockpile of Bibles burned, during fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces last month, CBN News reports. In a social media post about the incident, Mission Eurasia confirmed that all of their members were safe, although their field headquarters in Irpin was destroyed.
Sudan Jails Pastor For ‘Disturbing Peace’
A pastor in east-central Sudan has been sentenced to one-month imprisonment for “disturbing the peace” after an attack by Islamist extremists, Christians said Tuesday.
Egypt Frees Nine Christians Detained At Rally
Egypt has released nine Christians detained after protesting against the Egyptian authorities’ refusal to permit their church to rebuild, Christians told Worthy News.
‘US Religious Freedom Report May Harm Christians’, Charity Warns
A leading Christian charity warns that a report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) “may do more harm than good” for persecuted Christians.
Conservative SCOTUS majority appears to favor school football coach dismissed for public prayer
At the end of oral arguments in a case involving the constitutionality of allowing overt prayer and religious expression in public schools, the US Supreme Court’s conservative majority on Monday appeared to sympathize with the plaintiff, a Christian football coach whose employment contract at a public school was not renewed after he prayed on the 50-yard line following games, USA Today reports.
New poll: Less than half of lay Christians think missions are mandated for all believers
A new survey shows that while almost all pastors believe missions are a mandate for all believers, less than half of practicing lay Christians believe this is true, Christian Headlines (CH) reports. Conducted by the Barna polling organization, the results of the survey were published on April 20.
Twitter Accepts Elon Musk’s $44 Billion Takeover
Multibillionaire Elon Musk clinched a deal to buy Twitter (TWTR.N) for $44 billion on Monday in a move that conservatives and Christian influencers hope will bring back freedom of speech to the platform.
North Korean Christian radio station works to reach more people with the Gospel
A North Korean Christian radio program supported by International Christian Concern (ICC) is working to reach more North Koreans with the Gospel by integrating news and other secular content into its Bible-based programming, ICC reports.
Iran: Christian woman begins jail term for leading evangelical church
Christian convert Fariba Dalir has begun a two-year prison sentence handed down to her by an Iranian court because she started an Evangelical Christian church in Iran, Article 18 reports.
China: Authorities trace and harass baptismal party
Authorities in China used technology to trace and harass members of the Shenzhen Trinity Gospel Harvest Church after they carried out Easter baptisms in the sea by Shenzhen city earlier this month, the Christian Post reports.
Myanmar Army Raiding Churches
Christians in Myanmar gathered for worship Sunday after troops raided churches and news that the junta did not include political prisoners to mark the Buddhist new year.
Muslims Kill Two In Pakistan Pastor’s Home
A Pakistani pastor and his family have fled their home in Pakistan after Muslim shooters killed his sister and her husband, missionaries said.
Egypt Registers Hundreds Of Churches Amid Hostilities
Egypt has registered its largest single batch of churches and church-affiliated buildings in a move that Christians hope will reduce hostility towards them in the Muslim-majority nation.
Pastor: ‘Pakistan Evangelicals Expand In Lahore Despite Hardships’
A pastor in Pakistan’s second-largest city says his evangelical congregation is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and he wants to expand despite the persecution faced by Christians in the Islamic nation.
Musk Secures $46.5 Billion Funding to Buy Twitter Raising Hopes Of Free Speech
Multibillionaire businessman Elon Musk has secured $46.5 billion to buy Twitter, a move conservatives hope will bring back freedom of speech to the American microblogging and social networking service.
20 Million At Risk Of Starvation In Africa
More than 20 million people, including many Christians, face suffering and death from a lack of food in the Horn of Africa due to worsening drought in several nations, relief groups warn.
Islamists Kill Scores Of Christians In Nigeria
Islamist militants killed a Nigerian Christian and kidnapped his sister and five other Christian girls in Nigeria’s North-East after scores of Christians were massacred in the country’s central area, aid workers say.