Church in Algeria Fends Off Authorities’ Attempt to Close It

Church in Algeria Fends Off Authorities’ Attempt to Close It

TIZI-OUZOU, Algeria (Morning Star News) – A brigade of gendarmerie showed up at an evangelical worship site in Algeria on Monday (Aug. 26) to execute the latest of several church closure orders from provincial authorities, but Christian leaders thwarted the attempt. When Akbou gendarmerie parked their vehicles at 9:30 a.m. at the church courtyard in […]

One Pastor Killed, Another Kidnapped in Separate Attacks in North-Central Nigeria

One Pastor Killed, Another Kidnapped in Separate Attacks in North-Central Nigeria

JOS, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – Muslim Fulani herdsmen killed a Pentecostal pastor and abducted a Baptist pastor in a spate of kidnappings this month in Kaduna state, Nigeria, sources said. “The herdsmen, about 20 of them, shot into our house and broke the doors of the house,” said Emmanuel Noma, who along with his father, 60-year-old […]

Mexican Pastor Shot to Death in His Car After Church Service

Mexican Pastor Shot to Death in His Car After Church Service

(Christian Solidarity Worldwide) — A pastor from the Fraternidad Cristiana church was shot and killed in Oaxaca, south-west Mexico, on Aug. 18. Alfrery Líctor Cruz Canseco was waiting in his car after a church service at the Fraternidad Cristiana church in the municipality of Tlalixtac de Cabrera when he was shot and killed. His attacker […]

More Than 400 Religious Places Attacked in Northern Ireland in 3 Years

More Than 400 Religious Places Attacked in Northern Ireland in 3 Years

(Evangelical Focus) — According to the British charity Christian Action Research and Education (CARE), 445 churches and religious buildings in Northern Ireland have been attacked over the past three years. On average, a crime against religious buildings, churchyards and cemeteries happens almost every other day. The figures also show that attacks have happened in every […]

Kazakhstan Authorities Harass Church Members in Attempt to Block Registration

Kazakhstan Authorities Harass Church Members in Attempt to Block Registration

Kazakhstan (Mission Network News) — Trouble’s brewing in Central Asia. Sources note increasing efforts to restrict religious freedom in Kazakhstan. Forum 18 counted more than 100 cases between January and June this year. In the latest incident, officials began interfering with one church’s attempts to follow the law. “The New Life Pentecostal Church [was] just […]

Early Rain Covenant Church Pastor and Deacon Continue to Face Significant Legal Challenges

Early Rain Covenant Church Pastor and Deacon Continue to Face Significant Legal Challenges

(China Aid) — Two leaders of Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC) continue to face numerous legal challenges as they grapple with authorities. According to new information, the defense lawyer for Pastor Wang Yi was barred from meeting with his client several weeks ago. More recently, officials said Deacon Tan Defu hired two lawyers in his […]

‘I Will Not Leave My Faith’: Pastor in India Left for Dead but God Shocks Persecutors

‘I Will Not Leave My Faith’: Pastor in India Left for Dead but God Shocks Persecutors

(Open Doors USA) — The Church in India is growing at an unprecedented rate, with village church pastors forging a burgeoning movement. Increasingly, the leaders of these churches are bearing the brunt of persecution in India, often finding themselves the first target of Hindu extremists, especially when extremists begin to see the impact of these […]

Chinese Government Continues to Dismantle House Churches in Fujian

Chinese Government Continues to Dismantle House Churches in Fujian

(Bitter Winter) — Since the new Regulations on Religious Affairs came into effect in February last year, the CCP has been focusing its crackdowns on those religious groups that are unwilling to be controlled by the government. Designated as unauthorized organizations, they have been subjected to harsh suppression and persecution. Wang Yi, a well-known Chinese […]

Report: China Counting Its Christians, Pastors Shifting Strategy to Avoid Shutdown

Report: China Counting Its Christians, Pastors Shifting Strategy to Avoid Shutdown

(Mission Network News) — Rumors that China’s Central Government ordered its towns to monitor and count Christians appear to be true. More specifically, Asian Access’ Joe Handley says, “What we’re hearing is they’re following up and wanting to get actual names of those who believe in God. And it’s not just Christianity. It also includes [non-theistic […]

Mexican Evangelicals Persecuted, Forced to Participate in Catholic festivals

Mexican Evangelicals Persecuted, Forced to Participate in Catholic festivals

(Evangelical Focus) — Neighbors from several indigenous communities in the municipalities of Tlanchinol, Huejutla and Huazalingo, all located in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico, denounced that they have suffered extortion, unjustified fines, prohibition of entry to towns and others sanctions by the authorities, who also force them to participate in Catholic holidays, just because they […]