American Pastor Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison in Iran for Planting House Churches

American Pastor Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison in Iran for Planting House Churches

An Iranian-born American pastor, who has dual citizenship in both the United States and Iran, has been sentenced to eight years in an Iranian prison for planting Christian house churches in the predominantly Muslim country. As previously reported, 32-year-old Saeed Abedini of Idaho was taken into custody last September while visiting his homeland of Iran […]

Ten Christian Leaders Arrested in Eritrea in Effort to Eradicate Underground Church

Ten Christian Leaders Arrested in Eritrea in Effort to Eradicate Underground Church

Eritrea — Ten Christian leaders have been arrested in the East African country of Eritrea. The persecution watch group Open Doors USA states that there have been several systematic arrest efforts in recent years, but this instance is particularly concerning to citizens as they believe that the government is seeking to “eradicate the underground church […]

Hymn-Singing Christians Hospitalized After Being Pepper-Sprayed at Mississippi’s Last Abortion Mill

Hymn-Singing Christians Hospitalized After Being Pepper-Sprayed at Mississippi’s Last Abortion Mill

Jackson, Mississippi — Three Christians in Mississippi were hospitalized this morning after being incapacitated with pepper spray by a guard as they sang hymns outside of the last abortion facility in the state. The incident took place at approximately 8:30 this morning as the Christians stood on the public sidewalk outside of Jackson Women’s Health […]

Christians Killed in North Korea for Their Faith

Christians Killed in North Korea for Their Faith

The persecution watch group Open Doors USA has confirmed that two Christians in North Korea have been killed for their faith. While their identities have not been released, the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the Christians, apparently both males, have been explained. The first man had been visiting China on a number of occasions in […]

African, Middle Eastern Nations Most Cited on 2013 ‘World Watch List’ of Christian Persecutors

African, Middle Eastern Nations Most Cited on 2013 ‘World Watch List’ of Christian Persecutors

Santa Ana, California — The persecution watch group Open Doors has released its 2013 World Watch List of the 50 countries where Christians are most persecuted, indicating a surge of persecution throughout the continent of Africa and continued hostility throughout the Middle East. Open Doors has created the list for a number of years in […]

Year in Review: 2012 Sees Rise in Christian Persecution, Battles Over God, Guns and ‘Gays’

Year in Review: 2012 Sees Rise in Christian Persecution, Battles Over God, Guns and ‘Gays’

As the year comes to a close, many like to reflect on the significant stories that shaped the past twelve months. A number of major events affected Christians throughout 2012, from the increasing persecution of believers nationwide, to the atheistic war to eradicate God from government and society, to the fight in the courts over […]

Youcef Nadarkhani Arrested and Imprisoned Again by Iranian Authorities

Youcef Nadarkhani Arrested and Imprisoned Again by Iranian Authorities

Youcef Nadarkhani, who was acquitted of apostasy and released from an Iranian prison this past September, has been arrested again by Iranian authorities and put back in prison to serve another 40 days. Reports state that the director of Lakan Prison explained that Nadarkhani was released too early because his attorney Mohammed Ali Dadkhah was […]

American Pastor Imprisoned in Iran for Planting House Churches

American Pastor Imprisoned in Iran for Planting House Churches

An Iranian-born American pastor, who has dual citizenship in both the United States and Iran, has been imprisoned for planting house churches. Reports state that 32-year-old Saeed Abedini was taken into custody in late September by Iranian officials, but news about the matter did not break until recently. Abedini had been visiting his family in Iran, […]

Professing Witch Threatens to Burn Church, Kill Pastor and ‘Fill the Seas With Christian Blood’

Professing Witch Threatens to Burn Church, Kill Pastor and ‘Fill the Seas With Christian Blood’

St. Charles, Missouri — A Missouri man who identifies as a male witch is behind bars after he placed several threatening phone calls to a Christian church, stating that he was going to burn down the building and kill the pastor. Derek Ficik, 26, of Maryland Heights is accused of calling Matthias Lot Church in […]