China Closes House Church And School

Chinese authorities closed a house church and its Christian school in Shanxi province after detaining church members amid a crackdown on unauthorized worship in China, Christians confirmed late Thursday.

Two Christians suddenly released from jail after convictions for leading churches

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei unexpectedly ordered the release of two church leaders imprisoned in the notoriously harsh Evin Prison in Tehran a few days after a fire broke out at the jail on October 15, Morningstar News (MSN) reports. Christian advocacy activists have said they do not know the reason for the Supreme Leader’s decision.

It is not safe to be Christian in China, report says

The International Christian Concern (ICC) advocacy organization has published a new Persecution Incident Report for China, attesting that the years-long persecution against believers by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has intensified to where it is no longer safe to be Christian in the country. The ICC report covers the period July 2021-June 2022.

Church in Afghanistan is growing amid harsh conditions

The house church movement in Afghanistan is slowly growing, despite a surrounding environment of brutal tribalism and Islamic extremist violence that forces evangelism and worship to be carried out in secret, Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) reports.

China: Police raid historical house church in crackdown on Christians

China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is continuing to crack down on pastors and members of house churches on August 10, police officers raided the homes of members of the historical Church of Abundance (Fengsheng) in Xi’an, Shaanxi, Bitter Winter reports.

China: House church fined over $5 million

As Chinese authorities continue to crack down on churches that refuse to join the state-approved Three-Self Patriotic Church denomination, the Royal Wedding Church in Zhuhai, Guangdong province is facing a fine of over five million USD, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Iran: Pastor and two Christian women jailed for leading house churches

A pastor and two Christian women in Iran have been sentenced to jail terms ranging from 6 to 10 years because they are leaders of house churches, Article 18 reports. Iran’s Islamic regime considers Christianity a threat to its power, and has had Christian leaders imprisoned on false charges of violating national security and of disseminating anti-government propaganda.

India: Christian pastors ordered to cease all ministry

Christian pastors in India’s Uttar Pradesh state were summoned to a police station earlier this month and ordered to cease all house church gatherings and religious activities unless they had a permit from the District Magistrate, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

India: Christians wait for authorities to investigate policeman who burned down church building

Christians in India’s Chhattisgarh state are waiting expectantly for authorities to take action against a Hindu police officer who they believe burned down their church building earlier this year because he did not like their worship services, Morning Star News (MSN) reports. As persecution against Christians by Hindu extremists continues to intensify, believers report that obtaining justice is difficult because police officers are being radicalized by Hinduist hardliners.

China Bans Popular Christian Website In Crackdown

One of China’s most popular Christian websites has been closed down by the ruling Chinese Communist Party as part of its ongoing crackdown on Christianity, well-informed Christians confirmed Thursday.

Worthy Christian News