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 […]
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 […]
(Morning Star News) – Five members of an Iranian house church are missing after government agents arrested them on Friday (Aug. 26) without a warrant and took them to an undisclosed location, according to a leading advocacy group. No information is available on the whereabouts of Ramiel Bet Tamraz, Amin Nader Afshar, Hadi Askary, Mohamad […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
GUIYANG, Guizhou (China Aid) — According to his lawyers, Yang Hua, a house church pastor charged with divulging state secrets, could stand trial as soon as this month. Yang has been detained in China’s Guizhou Province for more than eight months. Yang Hua, the commonly used pseudonym of Li Guozhi, served as a pastor for the frequently […]
ZUNYI, Guizhou (Mission Network News) — A local governing body in China’s central Guizhou province announced the termination of welfare for Christians who attend church activities on July 2, mirroring a similar incident that occurred two years prior. Mou, a house church member, said, “[Officials verbally] announced on July 2 that Christians could not have […]
Pakistan (Mission Network News) — A hospital in Quetta, Pakistan was attacked by a suicide bomber yesterday. The latest report from Monday evening says the explosion left at least 74 people dead, and 50 wounded. That death toll is expected to rise. The group of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar has claimed responsibility for the blast. They are a […]
(Morning Star News) – Two Christians were among four activists convicted under fabricated charges of “subverting state power” in China last week. The Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court sentenced house-church leader Hu Shigen, 61, on Wednesday (Aug. 3) to seven and a half years in prison on charges of “subverting state power” for his […]