Extremists attack Nigerian church on Christmas
On Christmas Day, religious extremists attacked a church service in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Attackers drove up on motorbikes, killing one Christian and kidnapping 53. A week earlier, Fulani herdsmen killed 40 Christians and burned down 100 houses.
Is the West ignoring persecution?
Has the West turned a blind eye to increased persecution against Christians internationally?
We asked Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA. He says the U.S. State Department has placed less emphasis on these issues in recent years. “I was very disappointed with how the CPC report was issued this year. It’s Friday afternoon. It’s a written statement. There’s no press conference; there’s no effort to draw attention to the report or to draw attention to the countries which are persecuting religious minorities.”
Persecution of Christians on rise in 18 countries
A new report says persecution against Christians has increased in 18 countries since 2020. The report comes from the Catholic charity aid to the Church in Need.
Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA says much of this persecution is happening in Africa.
Lebanon celebrates Christmas despite economic crisis
The country of Lebanon has been in economic crisis for months and yet a ministry is bringing Christmas cheer, a little more like the first Christmas, to the people in need.
Christmas finds Lebanon in a dire economic situation. Corruption in the government has created what the World Bank calls a “deliberate depression.”
Algeria closes more churches
The Algerian government has stepped up restrictions on non-Muslim religious organizations and activities.
It’s already against the law to evangelize or even challenge the teachings of Sunni Islam. But Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA says, “What we have seen in the last couple of years is a lot of churches being closed down.”
Somali Christians adapt to severe persecution
In Somalia, Christians face harsh persecution if they convert away from Islam, the state religion. Many Christian converts eventually flee the country.
How can the Somali Church grow when society treats believers so poorly? Jacob is a partner with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada.
Ukrainian pastor starts bus stop church
What’s the unlikeliest place for a church? A Ukrainian pastor started one at a lonely, open-air bus stop.
Eric Mock of the Slavic Gospel Association tells the story. “He took an old broken-down wooden table, some instant coffee, a few tea bags, and a hot kettle and went out with a few cookies to set up the table. He talked to those people at the bus stop who were maybe just wanting a cup of coffee or a few minutes of conversation. It was there that his church was begun.”
Myanmar military attacks seminary
Myanmar’s military attacked a Kachin Baptist seminary in Shan State on November 3. Shrapnel from artillery rounds injured four men. The seminary is not located in an active combat zone.
Peace deal declared to end Ethiopian civil war
Last Wednesday, the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front agreed to end the two-year-long civil war. Negotiations took place in South Africa.
The war has devasted the Tigray region, killing hundreds of thousands. Millions of people lost their homes, and a blockade has largely cut the region off from communication and aid.
Roughly 5.2 million people need aid in the region. The United Nations says the Ethiopian government has used starvation as a weapon of war.
Seminary numbers drop in China
Across China, churches are growing. But the same can’t be said of seminaries. The number of church leaders attending seminaries has dropped in recent years.