Gallup: 31% of Americans Go to Church Every Week or Almost Every Week
A new survey shows that 31% of Americans go to church, synagogue, or mosque every week or almost every week. However, the same poll shows that 58% seldom or never go to church.
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Nigeria: Fulani jihadists slaughter 41 people in pre-Christmas attacks on Kaduna state Christian areas
Fulani jihadists in Nigeria’s Kaduna state murdered 41 people in a series of attacks on predominately Christian areas this month, Anglican Ink (AI) reports. The attacks have raised concern of even more intensified violence in these Christian areas during the run-up to Christmas.
India Releases Evangelical Leader On Bail
A jailed leader of more than 30 churches and congregations in northeastern India has been released on bail after International pressure, Worthy News learned Tuesday.
Over 400 hostile acts committed against US churches since 2018, increased incidents since 2021
A new study by the conservative Christian Family Research Council (FRC) shows there have been over 400 hostile acts committed against US churches since 2018, with the rate of hostile incidents increasing significantly from last year, the Christian Post reports.
Uganda: Evangelist severely beaten by Islamic extremists after leading Muslims to Christ
Islamic extremists in Uganda severely beat up a pastor and members of his congregation and demolished his church last month after discovering he led Muslims to Christ earlier this year, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Call to prayer for missionary pilot and volunteers imprisoned by Mozambique government
A call to prayer has been sent out for the release of an American Christian missionary pilot and two South African volunteers who have been jailed in Mozambique for a month since being arrested by government officials on suspicion of insurgents in the ongoing civil war, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
California Supreme Court says church cannot be forced to pay over $200,000 in COVID-19 fines
The California Supreme Court has determined that Calvary Chapel Church in Santa Clara County does not have to pay the $217,500 in fines imposed by the state for violating COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Jailed Church Leader Facing India Trial
A jailed leader of more than 30 churches and congregations in northeastern India faces a trial on charges supporters link to his Christian activities, sources told Worthy News late Thursday.
China: Crackdown and closure of house churches continues
China’s ruling Communist Party is continuing its crackdown and closure of evangelical house churches: earlier this month, the Covenant Home Church in Shanxi province was issued with an official notice that it has been banned and must close, reports Bitter Winter, a news outlet focused on religious liberty and human rights in China.
Israel: Ancient city in Golan was important center of Christianity
Archaeologists in Israel have recently discovered that the ancient city of Hippos in the northern Israeli region of the Golan was a major center for Christianity during the Byzantine period, Israel365 reports. Although Hippos was closely connected to Greco-Roman culture and was known as a religious center for the pagan Seleucids, archaeologists have discovered the remains of seven Byzantine-period churches there.
Nigeria: Parish priest kidnapped by Islamist gunmen in Enugu state
Suspected Fulani Islamic jihadist gunmen forced their way into a Catholic Church in Nigeria’s Enugu state on Saturday and kidnapped the parish priest, Vanguard reports. More than 2,300 Christians in Nigeria were kidnapped by jihadists in the first ten months of this year alone, according to the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law.
249 more congregations vote to leave United Methodist Church over homosexuality issue
As congregations continue to leave the United Methodist Church mainline Protestant denomination over division on LGBTQ issues, 249 North Carolina congregations disaffiliated from the UMC on Saturday, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Political divisions in church can drive pastors to burnout, poll shows
A new study by conservative Christian polling group Bana reveals that many pastors are so stressed out by political divisions and excessive identification with political parties in their congregations that they have considered leaving the ministry over it, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
58 US churches vote to disaffiliate from United Methodist Church over LGBTQ stance
As the US United Methodist Church continues to lose congregations over its acceptance of same-sex marriage and ordination of noncelibate homosexuals, 58 churches in Louisiana officially disaffiliated from the denomination at the weekend, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
Significant number of churchgoers have not returned to in-person services
A new survey shows that, although almost all churches have reopened since being placed in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, 15% of congregants have still not returned to in-person services, the Washington Times reports. Released on Tuesday, the survey was carried out by the Southern Baptist-affiliated Lifeway Research organization.
China: Government officials detain Christian house church leaders and members on false charges
Chinese government officials are continuing a campaign of surveillance and detention against the Linfen Holy Covenant Church in Shanxi province, holding church leaders and members on false charges, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Indonesia: Two government officials sign Islamist petition to block church building, violation of Indonesian constitution
In an apparent violation of Indonesia’s constitutional protection of religious freedom, two local officials in Java Island joined forces with Islamist organizations to block the construction of a Christian church building, the Christian Post (CP) reports.
China Christians Worried After President Xi’s Re-Election
Christians in Communist-run China faced potentially more difficulties Monday after China’s Communist Party on Sunday formally reelected Xi Jinping, the party’s general secretary, for another five years.
U.S. Judge Blocks New York From Banning Guns in Church
A federal judge on Thursday barred the state of New York, at least for now, from enforcing the part of a closely watched gun law that bans firearms from churches or other places of worship.
China: Christian man fined over $20,000 for illegal religious activity
A Christian man in China was fined $20,850 last month for allegedly “carrying out religious training without authorization,” International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
