Russian Ringleader of ‘Blue Whale Suicide Game’ Sentenced to Three Years Behind Bars

Russian Ringleader of ‘Blue Whale Suicide Game’ Sentenced to Three Years Behind Bars

MOSCOW — One of the ringleaders of the “Blue Whale Suicide Challenge” in Russia has been sentenced to three years behind bars after admitting his involvement in the suicide attempts of two teenage girls. Philipp Budeikin, 22, told police following his arrest that he thought he was ridding society of those he considered to be “biological waste.” […]

Churches Should ‘Embrace Gay Marriage,’ Says U.K. Equalities Minister

Churches Should ‘Embrace Gay Marriage,’ Says U.K. Equalities Minister

(The Christian Institute) — People want churches to “keep up with modern attitudes” and carry out same-sex “weddings,” Justine Greening has claimed. The U.K. Education Secretary and equalities minister said she did not want to “prescribe” how faith groups deal with the issue, but that “it is important that the church in a way keeps […]

July 30 Is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

July 30 Is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

India (Mission Network News) — This coming Sunday, July 30, is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The International Labor Organization estimates at least 21 million people are in forced labor and sexual exploitation today. The blight is widespread, not isolated to particular countries and communities, and is something several Christian ministries are combatting as […]

Charlie Gard, Infant at Center of Parental Authority Case, Dies in Hospice After Life Support Withdrawn

Charlie Gard, Infant at Center of Parental Authority Case, Dies in Hospice After Life Support Withdrawn

(Baptist Press) — Charlie Gard—the infant at the center of a battle over parental authority that gained international attention—has died, his parents announced today (July 28) in England. “Our beautiful little boy has gone. We are so proud of you Charlie,” his mother, Connie Yates, said in a statement, according to the British Broadcasting Corp. […]

Costa Rican Christians Reject Inclusion of Gender Ideology in Educational Programs

Costa Rican Christians Reject Inclusion of Gender Ideology in Educational Programs

(Evangelical Focus) — Pastors, evangelical leaders and Christian politicians gathered last weekend in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, to publicly express their rejection of the inclusion of gender ideology in the sex education classes that the Ministry of Education wants to put into effect. With the motto #aMisHijosLosEducoYo (I educate my children), thousands […]

Calling Worship ‘Unlawful Assembly,’ Police in India Arrest Six Christians

Calling Worship ‘Unlawful Assembly,’ Police in India Arrest Six Christians

HYDERABAD, India (Morning Star News) – Berating and slapping a pastor for reading the Bible instead of Hindu texts, police in Uttar Pradesh state, India last month detained six Christians under “unlawful assembly” laws for worshiping together, sources said. After traveling from Etah village to a church in nearby Pujaripurvah, the six Christians were detained for nine […]

Street Preacher Cleared of False Accusation of Making Abusive Comments to Homosexuals

Street Preacher Cleared of False Accusation of Making Abusive Comments to Homosexuals

(The Christian Institute) — A Christian street preacher has been cleared of all charges after being falsely accused of making abusive comments towards a homosexual couple. Andrew Frost had been preaching in Nottingham when two homosexuals reported him for verbal abuse. According to Rory Green, a friend who was preaching alongside him at the time, […]

Indonesia Bans Islamist Group Hizb ut-Tahrir

Indonesia Bans Islamist Group Hizb ut-Tahrir

(World Watch Monitor) — The Indonesian government has ordered the disbandment of the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir “to protect Indonesia’s unity,” according to Freddy Hari, director-general of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, as Al Jazeera reports. The decision follows a controversial presidential decree announced nine days earlier that gives the government more power to disband groups that […]