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 2015, from the U.S. Supreme Court decision opining that states should legalize same-sex “marriage,” to the struggle that resulted to uphold rights of conscience—such as the […]
Bangladesh (Mission Network News) — The U.S. Department of State warns that travel to Bangladesh is especially dangerous right now. The alert notes, “There is reliable information to suggest that terrorist attacks could occur against foreigners in Bangladesh, including against large gatherings of foreigners.” Additionally, groups like Barnabus Fund, Open Doors USA, and the Voice […]
JUBA, South Sudan (Morning Star News) – The head of discipleship at a North Khartoum, Sudan church has been arrested, sources said. Agents of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) went to the home of Telahoon Nogose Kassa, 36, one night the second weekend of December and told him to report to their offices, the […]
NAIROBI, Kenya (Morning Star News) – A pastor in eastern Uganda was hacked to death on Wednesday (Dec. 23) as he and other church members resisted an effort by Muslims to take over their land, area church leaders said. In Nansololo village near Mazuba, in Namudumba District, Muslims erected a boundary fence with poles and barbed […]
NEW DELHI (Morning Star News) – Police hostility toward Christians continued this year as officers in Tamil Nadu, India reviled two Christians for their faith and seriously injured them, sources said. The two Christians, A. Rethinakumar and C. Nova of Jesus Redeems Ministry, were traveling by motorcycle in Thomas Nagar on Nov. 3 at about 2:30 […]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Islamic State has sanctioned the harvesting of human organs in a previously undisclosed ruling by the group’s Islamic scholars, raising concerns that the violent extremist group may be trafficking in body parts. The ruling, contained in a January 31, 2015 document reviewed by Reuters, says taking organs from a living captive to save […]
TEHRAN, Iran (BosNewsLife) — Iran has freed evangelical pastor Farshid Fathi after he spent five years in prison for his faith, fellow Christian workers said early Tuesday, December 22. “We are overjoyed and celebrating!” about Monday’s release, added David Yeghnazar, executive director of Christian mission group Elam Ministries. His group, founded by Iranian church leaders, […]
JERUSALEM — Archaeologists have uncovered a rare marble slab near the Sea of Galilee that some believe provides evidence of a city mentioned in Scripture where Jesus cast a legion demons out of a man who lived among the tombs. The 1,500-year old slab was found in what is believed to have once been a […]
MANDERA, Kenya (CNN) — Their M.O. is a tried and terrifying one: Launch a raid, single out Christians, and then spray them with bullets. But when Al-Shabaab militants ambushed a bus Monday, things didn’t go according to plan. A group of Kenyan Muslims shielded the Christian passengers and told the attackers they were prepared to […]
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario (CBC) — A prayer service was held Sunday night aimed at keeping spirits high for friends and family of the Canadian minister facing a life sentence in a North Korean jail. Hyeon Soo Lim, who is in his early 60s, is pastor of the Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Mississauga, Ont. He was […]