“Lilly” escaped from Boko Haram. The Nigerian jihadists massacred her brothers, abducted “Lilly” and held her captive in their forest headquarters. They planned to force her – a Christian wife and mother – to marry an Islamist fighter. By the time she escaped nearly a year later, her village – those who survived Boko Haram’s … Read more
While we celebrated Christmas, these reports came in: Burma/Myanmar Burma’s military announced they will shoot on sight anyone seen bringing food or supplies to people living in certain Karen State areas. They also imposed a curfew at 6:00 p.m. banning travel between certain villages. Christian Freedom International’s Bible school just finished mission trips to spread … Read more
Iran’s regime started arresting Evangelicals last week, Dabrina Bet-Tamraz told Al Arabiya. “Christmas celebrations make it easier for Iranian authorities to arrest a group of Christians at one time,” Tamraz said. She escaped Iran nine years ago, after her family was arrested for their Christian beliefs and she witnessed the arrest, torture and murder of … Read more
Time magazine saw it coming. Before millions of protesters took to Hong Kong’s streets, Time noted the coming storm – and the threat to Christians. In 2018 it reported on “Guerrillas for God: How Hong Kong’s Pastors are Delivering the Message to China’s Christians.” Hong Kong is a launching pad for evangelizing and equipping the … Read more
Sri Lanka voted for a new president in 2019 – and Christians are tackling their fear with prayers that he will not allow another wave of persecution against churches. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was the Secretary of Defense when his brother was president from 2005 – 2015 during a time when Buddhist monks aggressively attacked churches with impunity. Rajapaksa won … Read more
President Trump has been a champion of global religious freedom and persecuted Christians. But his announced withdrawal of U.S. troops from Kurdish-controlled regions of northeastern Syria puts Christians in grave peril and may lead to a resurgence of ISIS. The U.S.-backed Kurds are loyal allies and were the front-line in defeating ISIS. They control much … Read more
A state in India has approved a law with harsh penalties against religious conversion by deception, coercion, or marriage. Under the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 2019, anyone convicted can face one to five years in prison, seven if it involves the conversion of Dalits, women and minors. “Anti-conversion laws are a tool to harass … Read more
The suppression of religious minorities in Egypt is commonly committed by local, especially rural, authorities and largely ignored by the national government. New churches are denied building permits by officials. Existing churches are burned or damaged by local Muslims, and then repair permits are denied. Christian visitors to the desert monastery of St. Samuel in … Read more
“Myanmar: Monsoon rains there led to a landslide, killing at least 51 people and reportedly leaving dozens more missing. It’s believed to be the deadliest natural disaster to hit the country’s southeast in decades.” World Magazine Across the border in Thailand, refugee students at Christian Freedom International’s school swung into action. A village in … Read more
Christians in Bartella, a predominantly Christian town in the Nineveh Plains, east of Mosul, face growing threats from ethnic militias. Christian Freedom International provided aid to Bartella as hopeful Christians were returning in 2018. Middle East Concern reports: Bartella was among the towns from which thousands of Christians were forced to flee in August 2014 … Read more