China Frees Jailed Preacher To Care For Father
A Chinese Christian evangelist jailed for more than half a year on charges linked to his work has returned home to care for his father, who suffers from COVID-19, supporters told Worthy News.
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Nepal Releases Jailed Pastor On Bail
A pastor who served a one-year jail sentence in Nepal on charges linked to evangelizing has been released on bail, Worthy News established Monday.
Church anti-abortion organization to pay Planned Parenthood $960,000 in settlement of suit
An organization called The Church at Planned Parenthood has agreed to pay a settlement of $960,00 in legal fees and damages for conducting what it described as “worship services at the gates of Hell” at a local Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Washington state, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Myanmar: Christian persecution has increased “exponentially” since military coup
The Free Burma Rangers Christian aid organization is warning that the persecution of Christians in Myanmar has “grown exponentially” since the military coup of February 2021 ended the troubled country’s fragile democracy, the WNG.org news outlet reports.
A third of UK adults more interested in Jesus after talking with a Christian, survey shows
A new report shows that while just 6% of adults in the United Kingdom identify as practicing Christians, a third of Britons were interested in learning more about Jesus after talking to a Christian, Evangelical Focus (EF) reported. Titled “Talking Jesus,” the report was released by the UK Evangelical Alliance (EAUK), Alpha, HOPE Together, Luis Palau Association, and Kingsgate Community Church.
Ukraine: Russian troops target Evangelical buildings in hundreds of attacks on religious sites
The Kyiv-based Institute for Religious Freedom (IRF) has reported that Russian forces have caused “immense destruction” in attacking hundreds of religious buildings in Ukraine, with a grossly disproportionate emphasis on properties belonging to Ukrainian evangelical Christians, Christianity Today (CT) reports.
UK: Pro-life activist arrested for silent prayer inside buffer zone is left in legal limbo
A UK pro-life activist who was arrested for allegedly praying silently within an abortion clinic buffer zone has been left in a state of “significant uncertainty” after Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service dropped its charge against her but said the indictment may yet be reinstated, Christian Today (CT) reports.
Cash-Strapped Russia Fines Evangelical Christians
Evangelical Christians in Russia were forced to pay a “tax on faithfulness” in 2022, which will likely increase this year as part of a government crackdown on non-Orthodox faiths, rights investigators tell Worthy News.
Nigeria: Christian orphanage director finally acquitted of abduction/forgery charges
The Christian founder of an orphanage in Nigeria’s Kano state has finally been acquitted of abduction and forgery after spending two years in jail pending trial, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Nigeria: Beloved pastor slaughtered by suspected Islamic State terrorists in Adamawa, “he fought a good fight”
Christian communities in Nigeria’s Adamawa state are deeply mourning the loss of Pastor Jerry Hinjari of Christ Nation International, who was murdered by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on Thursday, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. The slaughter of tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria at the hands of Islamic terrorists has gone unchecked by the Nigerian government and the international community for many years now.
Sudan: Christian ministry team murdered by suspected Islamic extremist
A church pastor was among a ministry team of four Christians who were murdered by suspected Islamic extremists in Sudan last week, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. Rights groups have reported worsening conditions for Sudanese believers since the 2021 military coup, which overthrew the transitional government installed after brutal dictator Omar al-Bashir was ousted in 2019.
Thousands of Christians worldwide were murdered for their faith last year, new report shows
At least 5,621 Christians around the world were murdered for their faith last year, a new report by the Open Doors persecution watchdog reveals. Ninety percent of the Christians murdered last were in Nigeria, Open Doors said in its report.
Eritrea: 44 Christians arrested, imprisoned for unknown reasons
A group of forty-four Christians, most of whom are women, have been imprisoned in Eritrea since their arrest for unknown reasons at the beginning of the year, Voice of the Martyrs Canada reports.
13 Faith Leaders Sue, Claim MO Abortion Ban Violates Separation of Church and State
Thirteen clergy from six faith traditions filed a lawsuit against the State of Missouri on Jan. 19, claiming that the state’s ban on abortion constitutes an imposition of a Christian belief and thus violates the separation of church and state. The clergy also stressed that the abortion ban violates their religious beliefs.
Nigeria: 17 more Christians murdered amid ongoing slaughter; “violations are carried out with impunity”
As rights advocates raise questions about the silence of world powers in the face of the ongoing years-long devastating slaughter of Christians in Nigeria, 17 more Christians were murdered by suspected Fulani militants in Nigeria’s Bauchi and Benue states between Friday and Sunday, Morning Star News reports.
UK: Christian teacher may be banned from teaching for his views on transgenderism and same-sex marriage
A Christian teacher in England may be permanently prohibited from teaching in the UK after referring to a female transgender student as a “girl” and telling another student he is opposed to same-sex marriage, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Christian persecution sweeping across Africa may result in “vast humanitarian catastrophe,” report says
A new report by the international aid organization Open Doors shows that persecution against Christians in sub-Saharan Africa is now so intense that the continent is in danger of suffering a “vast humanitarian catastrophe,” the Washington Times reports.
Nigeria: Five women abducted, pastor shot and wounded in Katsina church terror attack
Five female church members were abducted, and their pastor shot and wounded during a terrorist attack on their church in Nigeria’s Katsina state on Sunday, Morning Star News reports. The attack is just one more of tens of thousands of attacks, murders and abductions, maimings, and displacements of Christians by Islamic militants since 2015.
Northern Chinese Church Leader Sentenced To Two Years Imprisonment
A prominent Chinese church leader has begun serving a two-year prison sentence for what his family and friends view as trumped-up charges of “illegally holding materials promoting terrorism and extremism,” Worthy News learned Wednesday.
Report: ‘360 Million Christians Persecuted For Faith; North Korea Most Hostile’ (Worthy News In-Depth)
One Christian out of seven in the world suffers high levels of persecution and discrimination for his or her faith, and North Korea appears again as the most dangerous place for devoted believers, an annual report showed Wednesday.