North Korea’s expected release of three American Christians comes during heightened prayer and attention on the brutal dictatorship. North Korea ranks as the world’s worst persecutor of Christians. The American Christians were charged with “hostile acts” of subversion against the country. “Having faith in God is an act of espionage,” explained a North Korean defector. … Read more
Burma/Myanmar released two Christian Kachin pastors last week who were jailed for helping journalists report that a church had been destroyed by an airstrike, the Telegraph reported. They were accused of defaming the military. “Everyone is praying for them and encouraging them,” said their attorney. “Now we are free and we feel happy,” said Pastor … Read more
“I am a Christian pastor. I did not join an Islamic movement. Their aims and mine are different,” Andrew Brunson told a Turkish court this week. The Evangelical pastor of a small church in Turkey is accused of espionage and links to terrorist organizations. But Turkey’s president let slip the motive behind the charges: Brunson … Read more
“President Trump is a hero for the Persecuted Church around the world…” Thousands of persecuted Christian women, men, and children from Pakistan are hiding in the shadows, living in the slums of Bangkok, Thailand… families who are scared, hungry, homeless, and tired. These Christian families fled persecution in Pakistan, escaping torture and death from the … Read more
Two more Christian teenage girls in Egypt are missing, according to CFI’s contact in that country. They are the most recent of hundreds of Christian girls reportedly kidnapped by Salafist Muslims to be forcibly converted to Islam and forcibly married. Mariam Magdy Roshdy, a 19-year old student, was last seen leaving her university after finishing … Read more
While world attention is drawn to Burma’s attacks on the mostly-Muslim Rohingya, the military is advancing into other territories inhabited by minorities, including Christians. Several students at CFI’s Bible Institute are sheltering at the school instead of returning to their villages inside Burma after their school year ended last week. As CFI’s students were celebrating … Read more
The struggle over religious freedom is oftentimes not straight-forward. Restrictions can come in tricky wording or bureaucratic regulations. If “freedom of religion” is changed to “freedom of worship” then, just like that, Christians would not be free to live their faith outside church walls and in their every-day lives. One back-handed method is happening right … Read more
A Christian leader expressed alarm this week at the arrest of two extremists in Bangladesh. The militants were tracking Christian converts from Islam to kill them. “I am afraid, not for myself but for my children,” the leader wrote, “If I would be killed by Islamic militants, what would happen to them?” The arrests took … Read more
Update: The U.S. Senate confirmed Gov. Sam Brownback today as the U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom. Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote as Democrats opposed Brownback for his Christian beliefs on the sanctity of life and marriage. The U.S. came one step closer to having an Ambassador for International Religious Freedom — … Read more
Egyptian Christians Celebrate Christmas Despite ISIS Attacks. Egyptian Christians will celebrate Christmas this weekend even as Islamic militants step up attacks and vow to “wipe them out.” “Pray for a safe and peaceful Christmas here, and for the protection of the Coptic Christians and the Egyptian church,” said Christian Freedom International’s s co-worker. Coptic Christians … Read more