Islamist Militants Kill, Kidnap Nigeria Christians
Islamist militants killed and injured numerous Christians in a church and towns in central and northern Nigeria, Christians confirmed Thursday.
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Doctors may be forced to perform transgender surgeries under new Biden policy
Following the Biden administration’s reversal of a Trump-era health policy on Monday, doctors may now be forced to perform transgender medical procedures, including surgery, against their professional opinion, conscience, and faith, Christian Headlines reports.
Evangelical Lutheran Church of America selects first transgender person as Bishop
In the first such move by any major US Christian denomination, the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) has elected a transgender person to serve as Bishop, Christian Headlines reports.
Nigeria: Muslim Fulani continue slaughter of Christians; Nigeria’s Fulani President has done “virtually nothing” to stop it
The years-long onslaught of attacks against Christians in Nigeria by Muslim Fulani herdsmen continues with almost no resistance from the government, and 15 more believers were murdered last month, Morning Star News reports. At 3,530, Nigeria saw the world’s highest number of Christians killed for their faith last year.
Nigeria: Christians continue to be kidnapped Islamic terrorists
As Islamic terrorists continue to kidnap Christians in Nigeria’s Kaduna state, in April a pastor’s wife was abducted from her home, two Christian nurses were taken from a hospital and around 70 residents were kidnapped from a single village, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. According to the Open Doors persecution watch group, 990 Christians were kidnapped in Nigeria last year – the highest number anywhere in the world.
Texas House passes bill to ban abortion once heartbeat is detected
The Texas House of Representatives has passed a Republican-sponsored bill that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected at around six weeks gestation, Christian Headlines reports. Senate Bill 8 passed 83-64 in the House on Thursday and is expected to be signed into law once the state Senate has reviewed changes made.
Somali Christian Couple Facing Death For Faith; Prayers Urged
Christians have urged prayers for a couple who could face the death penalty in Somalia on Tuesday for abandoning Islam and “spreading Christianity” after in the Sunni Muslim nation.
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.
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.