China’s Zhejiang Bans Religious Activities in Public Hospitals

China’s Zhejiang Bans Religious Activities in Public Hospitals

A public notice posted at the Central Hospital in Zhejiang’s Wenzhou, a city that has been dubbed “China’s Jerusalem” because of its high concentration of christians, made patients and their visitors unequivocally aware of the new rules this week. “Religious activities are banned in this hospital,” the notice said. The Wenzhou Central Hospital was originally […]

Algerian Christian’s Blasphemy Sentence Reduced to Three Years

Algerian Christian’s Blasphemy Sentence Reduced to Three Years

(World Watch Monitor) — After an appeal, Algerian Christian Slimane Bouhafs has had his five-year jail sentence for committing blasphemy against Islam and its prophet on social media reduced to three years. A fine of 100,000 dinars (US$900) was also dropped. Bouhafs, 49, had appealed against the five-year sentence, which was the maximum possible punishment […]

Uzbek Pastor and Family Granted Asylum in U.S. After Nine-Year Ordeal

Uzbek Pastor and Family Granted Asylum in U.S. After Nine-Year Ordeal

(World Watch Monitor) — Finally, their journey is over. Three years since fleeing Uzbekistan—following four years in a labor camp, house arrest and death threats—Pastor Dmitry Shestakov has arrived in the United States, where he and his family have been granted asylum. It’s been almost 10 years since Shestakov was first detained, after a raid […]

Herdsmen in Nigeria Kill Pastor, Others as Policy to Settle Cattlemen Decried

Herdsmen in Nigeria Kill Pastor, Others as Policy to Settle Cattlemen Decried

JOS, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – As farmers lamented policies designating land for cattlemen in northern Nigeria, suspected Muslim Fulani herdsmen killed a pastor and four other Christians in Kaduna state on Aug. 19. Pastor Luka Ubangari of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at Angwan Anjo village, near Godogodo in the Jema’a Local Government […]

Church Demolitions in Cuba on the Rise

Church Demolitions in Cuba on the Rise

Cuba (Mission Network News) — Over the last few years, United States and Cuban relations have improved — to an extent. But it turns out what we see in the United States isn’t the whole picture. Patrick Klein of Vision Beyond Borders says while there’s an outside perception of growing freedom, there is actually growing religious […]

China Releases Christian Detainees Ahead of G20 Summit

China Releases Christian Detainees Ahead of G20 Summit

WENZHOU, Zhejiang (China Aid) — Five Christian detainees in China’s coastal Zhejiang were suddenly released on Aug. 28 after four months in prison. Local sources believe the release came because of a government order in preparation for the upcoming G20 summit meeting in Hangzhou. Ji Qingcao, Ji Qingcou, Ou Jinsi, Mei Xueshun, and He Lijing are […]

Chinese House Church Rejects Orders to Stop Religious Activities

SHANGQIU, Henan (China Aid) — Amid escalating pressure to join state-run churches, a house church in China’s central Henan province rejected a government order to stop its religious activities by July 20. On July 15, the Zhecheng County Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau issued a notice to Proclaiming Christ Church, citing provincial religious affairs regulations […]

Persecution of Christians in India Increases Dramatically in First Half of 2016

Persecution of Christians in India Increases Dramatically in First Half of 2016

UDAIPUR, India (Morning Star News) – At least 134 incidents of violence against Christians in India were carried out in the first half of 2016 alone, compared with 147 incidents in all of 2014 and 177 in 2015, according to an independent report. The Evangelical Fellowship of India’s Religious Liberty Commission (EFIRLC) notes that cases chronicled […]

Indonesian Christians Stand Strong Despite Violent Threats

Indonesian Christians Stand Strong Despite Violent Threats

Indonesia (Mission Network News) — Despite facing threats of violence in the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, a group of Christians in Indonesia is standing strong. According to Bruce Allen of Forgotten Missionaries International, a group of believers, led by FMI-supported church planter Pastor Yudianto, was holding a meeting when about […]