Dozens Injured As Montenegro’s Serbian Church Installs New Leader
The U.S. government has expressed concern after dozens of people were injured in clashes as the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro installed its new leader.
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Nigeria: 40 Christians shot, burned, hacked to death; “let her blood speak!”
As the sustained slaughter of Christians in Nigeria continues unabated, Fulani herdsmen and local Islamists hacked and burned to death 40 Christians in attacks in and near Jos, Nigeria on August 25 and August 15, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.
Hindu nationalists force Pastor into hiding; “Please Pray”
Having refused to renounce his faith in Christ, a pastor in India’s Uttar Pradesh state was forced into hiding after a mob of 100 Hindu nationalists accused him of forcibly converting people to Christianity, International Christian Concern reports.
Australia: Over 2,700 Church Leaders sign declaration against COVID-19 ‘vaccine passports’
More than 2,700 Church leaders in Australia have signed a declaration addressed to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, expressing their opposition to the proposed introduction of a COVID-19 ‘vaccine passport’ into Australian society. Titled, the Ezekiel Declaration, the letter attests that the passport policy is “untenable” and would “inflict terrible consequences” on Australia.
New Zealand Police Kill Islamist State Terrorist, Six Injured
New Zealand’s prime minister said Friday that police shot and killed a “violent extremist” of the Islamist State group after stabbing and wounded at least six people in an Auckland supermarket.
Diverse faith groups rally to help Afghan refugees
Diverse American faith groups, including Protestant and Catholic churches, Islamic organizations and Jewish agencies are helping Afghan refugees who were evacuated to the US after the Taliban took over Afghanistan last month, Just the News (JN) reports.
Nigeria Christians Mourn Scores Killed As Kidnappings Continue
Christians in central and northern Nigeria say they are mourning scores of fellow-believers killed in recent weeks by Islamic militants. They also remain concerned about ongoing kidnappings of Christian students, including in the nation’s troubled northeast, Worthy News learned.
Iran persecution: Court reduces prison sentences of three Christians
A court in Iran has reduced the five-year prison sentences of three Iranian Christians who were appealing against their convictions for engaging in anti-Islamic propaganda, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. Amin Khaki, Milad Goudarzi, and Alireza Nourmohammadi each saw their prison sentence reduced to three years, although their overall appeal was denied.
California church that refused to close for COVID gets $800,000 from state, county to settle suit
The state of California and Los Angeles County are each paying $400,000 to end litigation by Grace Community Church alleging that COVID-19 restrictions on in-person worship infringed on its constitutional right to religious freedom.
General: ‘Hundreds Of Americans Left Behind In Afghanistan’
The United States is potentially facing its biggest hostage crisis in decades Tuesday, with a key U.S. general confirming that at least hundreds of Americans are left behind in Afghanistan.
India persecution: Christian youth burned in acid attack
A Christian youth was horribly burned with acid in a suspected anti-Christian attack in northern India’s Bihar state last week, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. Christian persecution in India has intensified dangerously since the Hindu nationalist party Bharatiya Janata Party took power in 2014; India now ranks 10 on the US Open Doors 2021 Watch List of countries where Christians are persecuted.
Russian-Backed Separatists Ban Christian Books In Eastern Ukraine
There was mounting concern Friday about the plight of devoted Christians in eastern Ukraine after pro-Russian separatists reportedly banned more Christian books.
Indonesia Christians Urge Government To Halt Church Demolitions
Christians in Aceh, Indonesia’s only province governed by Islamic Sharia law, have urged the central government to help prevent the demolition of churches, Worthy News learned.
Thousands of Christians Fleeing Executions In Afghanistan
Many of thousands of Afghan Christians are fleeing through mountains and other challenging terrains to neighboring nations amid fears they will be killed by Afghanistan’s ruling Islamist Taliban group, according to multiple sources.
Australian church fined US $36,000 for COVID-19 breaches
The Christ Embassy at Blacktown congregation in Sydney, Australia has been fined nearly AUS $50,000 (USD $36,000) for breaching public COVID-19 orders on two occasions, ABC.Au reports.
Church in Wales to consider offering service of blessing for same-sex couples
The Governing Body of the Church in Wales will consider passing a bill that would allow a service of blessing for same-sex couples who are married or in civil partnerships, Christian Today (CT) reports. The Church is not considering allowing gay couples to marry in church, however.
Court upholds death sentence for white supremacist who murdered nine at South Carolina black church
The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld the conviction and death sentence of Dylann Roof, a young, self-confessed white supremacist who murdered nine members of a South Carolina black congregation in 2015, Voice of America (VOA) reports. The unanimous three-judge panel rejected arguments that Roof should have been ruled incompetent to stand trial for the killings at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.
China Businessmen Jailed After Selling Audio Bibles, Christian Symbols Removed
China’s communist authorities have jailed four Christian businessmen for selling audio Bibles amid a government crackdown on Christians engaged in “illegal” faith-related activities, trial observers told Worthy News.
Afghan Christian family evacuated safely to Italy
While thousands of Christians now live in grave danger of murder at the hands of the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan, an Afghan-believing family has managed to escape and arrive safely in Italy, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
China persecution: Heavily persecuted house church is raided again, members taken away
The heavily persecuted house church Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC) in Chengdu, China was raided by government authorities again on August 22, and 28 members were taken away during a worship service, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.