Kevin Zeller, Mission Network News

A fire broke out at Evin Prison in Iran on Saturday night, killing at least eight.

The prison is notorious for holding political prisoners, including many people arrested during the recent nationwide protests. The government of Iran claims it was part of an escape attempt, but a witness inside the prison denied it.

A missions organization is praising God after finally getting a shipping container filled with thousands of Bibles and Christian books for churches and seminaries out of customs in the Philippines.

Protests are continuing in Iran after a woman was killed for wearing her hijab improperly.

On September 16, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was arrested by morality police in the northern Tehran region of Iran for wearing a hijab improperly. Later, her family shared that she died after allegedly being hit multiple times in the head. This has caused people to protest for more rights. 

Why would Christians advocate for violence, especially against other Christians?

It happened recently in Ethiopia, where self-proclaimed prophets (many of them holding positions of leadership in evangelical churches) claimed God supported the Ethiopian government’s attacks on the Tigray region.

A centre for theological education that was "obliterated" by a Russian tack in the early days of its war on Ukraine is bouncing back, determined more than ever to train up preachers and teachers of the Gospel.

The Slavic Gospel Association's seminary in Irpin, Ukraine, was hit by mortar fire during heavy fighting in late March of 2022.

Chinese officials have cracked down on several unregistered churches in recent weeks.

On August 14, police raided a branch of Zion Church, the largest house church in Beijing. They confiscated several computers. On September 7, officials banned the House of Light Church in Jilin province. And authorities liquidated a 30-year-old house church in Xi’an.

In Saudi Arabia, a woman has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for social media posts. A terrorism court said she used the internet to tear the fabric of society and violate public order.

Her posts criticized leaders in the country. But independent investigators say nothing in the posts included violent material.

A new media law went into effect on March 1 in China, putting broader restrictions on digital Christian communities. With COVID lockdowns continuing, believers turned to online resources to do ministry.

The military of Myanmar continues to bomb civilian targets. The junta has burned down over 28,000 homes since a February 2021 coup.

As order breaks down in the country, soaring food prices have caused a hunger crisis. Many people are fleeing the country if they get a chance.

This summer, rains and flooding have killed over 900 people in Pakistan. That number comes from Pakistan’s Minister of Climate Change. The worst damage happened in the southern portions of the country, specifically in the Balochistan region.