India (International Christian Concern) – On Dec. 8, a pastor from India’s Jharkhand state was shot dead by unidentified assailants. Although the motive for the murder has yet to be officially established, the family of the slain pastor claims he was killed for his faith. According to local sources, the slain pastor was identified as […]
(Morning Star News) – A 38-year-old mother of three in eastern Uganda had secretly put her faith in Christ for three months before her Muslim husband found two Bibles in her suitcase. On that day, Nov. 21, in Bugiri District’s Matovu village, Zubeda Nabirye’s husband asked her why she had the two Bibles, one in […]
(Evangelical Focus) — The Hungarian Parliament has passed several amendments to the country’s constitution to better protect the definition of marriage. Changes in the Fundamental Law of Hungary (the official name of the Constitution) included a “de facto” ban of adoption of children by homosexual couples. The amendments put forward by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán […]
South Korea (Mission Network News) — The government of South Korea has officially banned the practice of launching balloons into North Korea. The resolution passed only after opposing politicians tried to stop the process with a filibuster. It’s the first law of its kind; South Korean activists often take advantage of favorable winds to get […]
(Christian Solidarity Worldwide) — A faction of the Boko Haram terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the abduction of students from their school in Katsina state on Dec. 11, while gunmen in Niger state who murdered a pastor and abducted his wife have demanded a large sum for her safe return. Both developments highlight rising […]
(Barnabas Fund) — Seven Christians in Laos, evicted for refusing to renounce their faith in Christ, were denied permission to rebuild their demolished homes in Pasing-Kang, Salavan province, after returning to their village early in November. The two families, forced to leave their homes on Oct. 10, spent a month living in two small huts […]
(The Christian Institute) — A man who was divorced by his wife is set to tell the High Court that England’s vaguely worded divorce laws make it too “easy” to obtain a divorce. Charles Ayeh-Kumi was divorced two years ago on the grounds of “unreasonable behavior,” because he “worked too much and never went on […]
Nigeria (Mission Network News) — Boko Haram is still on killing sprees in northern Nigeria, although it’s often overshadowed by other headlines. Christians often find themselves in the crosshairs. In the midst of horrific persecution, Nigerian Christians are urgently asking for more Bibles. Mission Cry recently sent shipments of free Bibles and Christian books to […]
ROME — The Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary has issued a decree granting special plenary indulgences, that is, full elimination of temporal punishment in Purgatory for a forgiven sin, during the “Year of St. Joseph.” The practice, which dates back to medieval times, has been deemed unbiblical by evangelicals. On Dec. 8, Jorge Bergoglio, also known as “Pope […]
(International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that the Lahore High Court has acquitted Imran Ghafur Masih, a Christian sentenced to life in prison under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. According to Imran’s family, they have moved into hiding following the acquittal due to potential threats from extremists. On Dec. 15, the Lahore High […]