Dutch Prime Minister Rutte Wins Election
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was heading towards a fourth term in office as one of Europe’s longest-serving leaders in elections overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Christian
Iran House Church Couple Facing Prison
Iranian Christians requested prayers Wednesday for Homayoun Zhaveh, 62, and his wife Sara Ahmadi, 42, as they were due to be summoned to prison for house church activities, Worthy News learned.
Saudi Arabia Prosecutes Christian Convert
A former Muslim who converted to Christianity in Saudi Arabia faces two court cases and threats of violence against him and his family, trial observers say.
‘Militants Massacre 24 Christians In Ethiopia’
Christians in western Ethiopia fear for their lives after dozens of believers were reportedly massacred by armed militants.
Christian Women Suffering Increased Persecution
Christian women worldwide face the worst persecution and attacks in years, according to a new study obtained by Worthy News.
‘Uganda Christians Raped Over Imam’s Wife’s Conversion’
The leader of a mosque in western Uganda reportedly ordered men to rape three female relatives of a church pastor because the imam’s wife converted from Islam to Christianity.
Myanmar Army Kills Over 100 Protestors
Myanmar’s military rulers declared martial law in a large area of the country’s largest city Yangon after security forces killed more than 100 pro-democracy protesters since Saturday.
Netherlands Holding Elections Overshadowed By Pandemic Tensions
The Netherlands faces the first significant test of a European Union government’s COVID-19 policies this year. This week the nation is holding parliamentary elections amid one of the strictest lockdown measures in Europe.
Thousands Of Kenya Christians Face Locusts Invasion
Thousands of Christians are among those struggling to survive in northern Kenya after locusts invaded the region, aid workers said Sunday.
Persecuted Iranian Christians Receiving Shelter In Hungary After International Pressure
An Iranian Christian father and his young son, who were detained on the Hungarian-Serbian border for 527 days, have been moved to a home in northwest Hungary following international pressure. A Baptist church helped Abouzar Soltani, a convert from Islam to Christianity, and his 12-year-old-son Armin to find an apartment in the Hungarian city of Győr, Worthy News learned.
India Christian persecution: Violent mob attacks prayer meeting in private home
A violent mob of around 70 people attacked a prayer meeting in a private home in India’s Chhattisgarh state Monday, destroying property, assaulting those gathered, and hospitalizing at least six believers with serious injuries, CSW reports. Chhattisgarh is one of nine states with controversial anti-conversion laws that are often used to harass and intimidate religious minorities from sharing their faith.
Judge Rules Texas Can Defund Abortion Giant Planned Parenthood
A judge on Wednesday sided with pro-lifers and Texas officials when she ruled the state followed the law in withdrawing Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood.
Evangelist Luis Palau Dies At 86
Luis Palau, the international evangelist who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to more than 1 billion people through media and evangelistic events, has died, his family confirmed. The 86-year-old preacher, a close friend of the late evangelist Billy Graham, passed away after a decision to stop all treatment for his incurable lung cancer.
India Persecution: Tribal animist relatives persecute Christian mother of four
Enraged by her new faith in Christ, the tribal animist relatives of a mother of four in central India have banished her from their village and barred her from harvesting the crop she needs to feed her family, Morning Star News reports.
Satanic Temple member sues Texas for hindering “Satanic Abortion Ritual”
A woman who belongs to a satanic cult has filed suit against Texas, arguing that state pro-life laws interfere with her group’s “Satanic Abortion Ritual,” Christian Headlines reports. The suit was filed in February in federal court.
SCOTUS rules in favor of Christian student banned for preaching Gospel on campus
Explaining that a violation of rights imports damages, the US Supreme Court ruled 8-1 Monday that a former student at a Georgia college could seek nominal damages for being barred from preaching the Gospel on campus, even after the school changed its policy, the Christian Post reports. Chief Justice John Roberts authored a dissenting opinion on various grounds, including that the school had changed its policy and the plaintiff had not alleged actual damages.
Christian persecution in China: House church raided, believers arrested
Five Christians were arrested Sunday morning during a police raid on a house church in China’s Chengdu, International Christian Concern reports. The Spring of Life Church (East Hall) was in the middle of a service when authorities arrived and took away the elder Cha Changping, who leads the church, his wife, and three others.
Pope Prays For Iraq’s Persecuted Christians
Pope Francis has visited Iraq to reassure the nation’s dwindling Christian community of his prayers after years of Islamic attacks and persecution.
Texas Gov. deploys National Guard to Mexico border in ‘Operation Lone Star,’ slams Biden policies
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the state’s Department of Public Safety will deploy the Texas National Guard to the United States-Mexico border as part of “Operation Lone Star” to prevent Mexican cartels and traffickers from smuggling people and drugs into the state.
Nigerian pastor freed by Boko Haram hours before execution: ‘I thank God’
Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria freed a Christian pastor on Wednesday evening who had been held captive since Christmas Eve, just hours before the ransom deadline expired and he was to be executed.