Iran Releases Mistreated Christian Men
Four devoted Christian men mistreated while in detention in Iran have been temporarily released due to the coronavirus pandemic, activists confirmed Thursday.
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Pakistan “Blasphemy” Youngster Freed; Other Christian Remains Jailed
A young Christian man who was falsely accused of blasphemy was released on bail after four years of solitary confinement in a Pakistan jail. Still, another Christian faced prosecution for blasphemy, activists told Worthy News.
Muslim Herdsmen Kill Dozens Of Christians In Nigeria
Muslim Fulani herdsmen have reportedly killed dozens of Christians in central Nigeria in recent weeks amid ongoing anti-Christian violence in the volatile African nation.
Laos Frees Pastor Jailed For Church Services
A pastor who was jailed in Laos for more than a year after refusing to end his church services has been released, supporters confirmed Thursday.
Pakistan persecution: Another Christian nurse accused of blasphemy
In the third such incident this year, a Christian nurse has been hounded and threatened into hiding by Muslim colleagues who accused her of blaspheming against Islam last week, Morning Star News reports. Pakistan ranks 5th on the US Open Doors Watch List of countries where Christians are persecuted.
China Christian persecution: Two preachers arrested and detained in Beijing
On April 28, two Christian preachers in China were arrested and placed in detention, in what has been described as the Chinese government’s effort to root out house churches in the country, International Christian Concern reports. No reason has yet been given for why Preachers Qie Jiafu and Huang Chunzi have been detained: both preachers were part of Zion Church, a large Beijing house church that was founded in 2007 and shut down by authorities in 2018.
Indian Christians suffering greatly in COVID-19 wave; “Please Pray for India”
The International Christian Concern organization has called on the global Church to pray for Christians in India who are suffering greatly, fighting to survive amid a devastating wave of COVID-19 that is tearing through the country. “As members of the global Church, we must bear this burden as our own. Please join ICC in praying for India and all those suffering due to the current COVID-19 crisis,” ICC said in a report.
Nigeria: American Pastor and Nigerian lawyer commended for rebuilding church destroyed in 2016 massacre by Fulani militants
The governor of Nigeria’s Benue State has commended American missionary Pastor William Delvin and Nigerian human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe for rebuilding a church that was destroyed during the 2016 massacre of civilians in the Agatu municipality by Fulani militant herdsmen. After visiting the devastated Agatu community in 2020, Delvin and Ogebe raised necessary funds and organized the rebuilding of the area’s Methodist church in time for its opening on Easter Sunday this year.
Pastor arrested in the UK for preaching Biblical values in public
A 70-year-old British Pastor was arrested in London last month for publically preaching on the Biblical view of marriage and sexuality, Christian minister Peter Simpson reported in an article for the Conservative Woman. Pastor John Sherwood was arrested on April 23 while preaching from the Bible in the center of Uxbridge (PM Boris Johnson’s constituency).
Philippines Christian school leader arrested and detained in government crackdown on human rights
Police in the Philippines has arrested and detained the administrator of a Christian school in Bicol region, in what rights advocates have described as a spate of “questionable operations” designed to crack down on human rights in the island nation, International Christian Concern reports.
Nigeria: Islamist Fulani militants murder 33 Christians in one week; “please pray”
Thirty-three Christians were killed in just one week of attacks by suspected Islamist Fulani militants in Nigeria’s Benue state last month, International Christian Concern reports. The murders were among the latest in years of deadly attacks on Nigerian Christian communities by Fulani militants who want to eliminate Christianity and impose Islam in the country.
Uganda: Muslim arrested for murdering Christian pastor
A Muslim man has been arrested for the April 5 murder of a Christian pastor in eastern Uganda, Morning Star News reports. Pastor Yolonim Oduchu died of poisoning in Pallisa District after he refused to sell a piece of land to Aliasa Opeduru, one of a group of Muslims who wanted the land to build a mosque.
Finnish MP charged with “hate speech” for sharing Biblical views on marriage and sexuality
Finnish lawmaker Päivi Räsänen faces imprisonment after being charged with three counts of “hate speech” because she publically shared her Biblical views on marriage and sexuality, ADF International reports. Räsänen was subject to lengthy interviews and a year of waiting before the Finnish Prosecutor General finally decided to bring charges against her.
Tunisia Grants Asylum To Algerian Christian, But Persecution Remains
A Christian man who escaped from Algeria after being jailed and persecuted for “blasphemy” against Islam has received temporary asylum in neighboring Tunisia, Worthy News learned.
Nigeria troops rescue Christian schoolboy abducted by Fulani herdsmen
Government troops in Nigeria’s Plateau state have rescued a boy who was one of four students kidnapped from their Christian mission school by Muslim Fulani herdsmen last month, Morning Star News reports. Kelvin Eze of King’s School was rescued on April 30; the other three students had managed to escape the day before.
Christian man tortured by police in Pakistan, held in custody
A Christian man in Pakistan was tortured by police into confessing to a false allegation of blasphemy, and then illegally held in custody for two months before being presented to a judge, Morning Star News reports. Salamat Mansha Masih was arrested, tortured, and detained in Lahore after Muslims heard him reading the Bible in a park on February 13.
China government shuts down Bible Apps and WeChat Christian accounts
As part of its ongoing campaign to suppress Christianity in China, the Chinese communist government has now closed down Bible Apps and Christian WeChat public accounts, International Christian Concern reports.
China Detains Over 100 Christian Worshipers, Including Children
Chinese police have detained more than 100 Christians, including minors, for attending unauthorized worship and Christian education in southeastern China, several sources confirmed.
Study: Trauma-Informed Bible Reading Reduces Depression, Anxiety, Anger
A recent ABS-commissioned study by Baylor University researchers found that combining education about mental health best practices with Bible reading can have a significant benefit. In their study, this reduced the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and increased forgiveness, compassion, and sense of purpose.
Pastor Denied Permit to Hold National Day of Prayer Event at the U.S. Capitol Building
This year’s National Day of Prayer event at the U.S. Capitol appears to have been canceled after one evangelical leader was denied a permit to hold the prayer gathering at the building.