Several Iranian Christians to Serve Time in Prison
Four Iranian Christians will soon begin serving ten-year prison sentences after a court ruled the Church of Iran members were "promoting Zionist Christianity" and running house churches.
house church
Beijing house churches investigated, shut down
Two house churches in Beijing reported that authorities in the past week have investigated churches and pressured landlords to cancel the leases on houses of worship.
House church pastor tried for leaking state secrets in China
A pastor of a now-closed house church in the capital of China’s inland Guizhou province was found guilty of 'intentionally disclosing state secrets' at a trial on April 26, but the announcement of the verdict was delayed.
UN Demands Iran's Islamic Regime Give Christians a Fair Trial
Four U.N. human rights experts have issued a joint statement, urging Iran to ensure 'a fair and transparent final hearing' at the country's Revolutionary Court for three Iranian Christians who have been sentenced for 'conducting evangelism' and 'illegal house church activities,' among other charges.
Through a War, God Brings Revival to Syria
For years, Syrian Christians had been praying for a revival. 'But never did we imagine it would come because of war,' said one church leader. Seven years of civil war has left Syria in ruins. Many of those who came from Christian families left early on in the war, a cause of great despair as church leaders watched their congregants slowly disappear.
Facebook Blocked Two Christian Ministry Pages This Month
Facebook shut down two Christian ministry pages this month, without warning or explanation, renewing fears about the social media giant’s ability to control access to an important corner of today’s public square.
Azerbaijan: ‘no fair trial’ for house-church leader appealing against fine
An Azerbaijani man fined for leading a 'house church' without state permission has not been treated fairly during his appeal against the fine, a local source has told World Watch Monitor.
Chinese House Church Leaders and Toddler Arrested After Singing in Public Park
A Chinese house church pastor, her daughter, and her young grandson have been arrested, weeks after being accused of overstepping the country’s newly tightened religious restrictions.
Christian women, three-year-old taken into custody for mission work
Provoked by the mission work of a local house church, officials detained a pastor and her daughter on Sept. 22, taking the daughter’s three-year-old son into custody as well.
China intensifies crackdown on churches with new plans to force registration with government
An organization with ties to the Chinese Communist Party has unveiled new plans on how the government can enforce its restrictions on churches, including forced registration with state-run Christian institutions.
China tightens its 'choke-hold' on churches, enforces ban on children worshipping
China has tightened its 'choke-hold' on churches across the country in recent weeks, according to the rights and religious freedom group China Aid.
Iran Burns Bibles, Jails House Church Christians
Five Iranian house church Christians were behind bars Wednesday, March 15, after being sentenced to one year imprisonment on charges of "crimes against the Islamic order" and there were reports that Iranian authorities have been burning Bibles.
China Court Case Against Officials Banning Worship Services
In a unprecedented move, a Chinese court has agreed to hear a case filed by a pastor against government officials who prohibited worship services in his house church, observers familiar with the trial said Wednesday, December 31.
China Christian Workers And Survivors Missing In Earthquake Zone
Several Christian volunteers and survivors of China's worst earthquake in a generation remained missing Sunday, December 28, after Christmas Eve police raids on homes under construction in the devastated Sichuan province amid anger among authorities over the involvement of churches in relief efforts, an advocacy group said.
Two Chinese Pastors Say Bye to Jail, Spend Christmas at Home
In a good turn of events, two Chinese pastors Wang Weiliang and Zhu Baoguo will be spending this year's Christmas at home after their miraculous release from jail by the authorities in China for medical reasons.
China Launches Christmas Crackdown On Christian Worship
Christians in several parts of China were behind bars on Christmas Day after a police crackdown on worship services and Bible study, a Christian advocacy group said Thursday, December 25.
Massive Arrests Of Christians In China
Over a dozen Christians will spend Christmas behind bars in China after police raided a Christian leaders gathering in Henan province, while in the capital Beijing two officials of the banned Chinese House Church Alliance were detained, an advocacy group and Chinese Christians confirmed Thursday, December 18.
Christian "Disappearing" in China
Four Christians remained missing Friday, December 12, more than a month after they were detained in China's Hubei province amid a police crackdown on believers, including missionaries, in the region, a house church network said.
China Sentences Christian To Labor Camp
Chinese authorities have sentenced Christian Mao Minzi to a forced labor camp for his involvement in organizing a worship service with other believers in a house church, an advocacy group confirmed late Thursday, December 11,
China "Abolishes" House Church Alliance; Major Crackdown Reported
There were concerns Wednesday, December 10, that Chinese authorities would launch a nationwide crackdown on the growing 'house churches, after the Ministry of Civil Affairs ordered the "abolishment" of a major umbrella group.