An American tourist has been detained in North Korea for allegedly committing an unspecified crime, the country’s official news agency reported Friday. The Korean Central News Agency said that authorities were investigating the American for allegedly committing acts inconsistent with the purpose of a tourist visit. It did not give […]
Asia
China: How the Tiananmen Square massacre grew the Chinese Church
Originally published in Gospel Herald Twenty five years ago, on June 4, 1989, Chinese troops violently reclaimed the square in Beijing which pro-democracy protesters had occupied for weeks. The Tiananmen Square massacre left thousands of people dead and all but snuffed out the democratic movement. While the country has seen […]
India’s Christians fear rise in persecution under BJP
Originally published in Christian Today After the BJP’s historic election victory this week, Christians in India have mixed feelings about the future and how the country’s new leaders will impact on freedom of religion. The last week has been a massive turnaround for the once struggling opposition party that suffered […]
Gunmen kill Pakistan lawyer defending blasphemy case
Originally published in Reuters Gunmen posing as clients shot dead a prominent human rights lawyer defending a professor accused of blasphemy, officials said on Thursday, underscoring the danger facing those trying to put an end to religious intolerance in majority-Muslim Pakistan. Wednesday’s killing of Rashid Rehman in the southern city […]
Chinese destroy beautiful church building
Religious tensions exposed Originally published in Newsmax The destruction of a towering church by Chinese authorities has sown fear in a thriving Christian community and highlighted tensions between a rapidly growing number of worshippers and the Communist state. Massive slabs of concrete on a hillside were all that remained Wednesday […]
Hindu ‘snake goddess’ saw Jesus in dream and became His witness
Originally published in God Reports People in the community worshipped her as a snake goddess, brought her offerings, and prostrated themselves before her. But a powerful encounter with Jesus in a dream turned her away from black magic to follow the living, true God. “My father was a leading sorcerer […]
Will China be next world’s largest Christian nation by 2030?
Originally published in the Gospel Herald While European countries increasingly shy away from Christianity, Chinese citizens rapidly embrace the religion. In fact, China will soon be the most Christian nation in the world. According to a study conducted by Purdue University professor Fenggang Yang, Christianity has spread so rapidly in […]
Chinese Christians form human shield to protect church
Originally published in CBN Thousands of Christians in Wenzhou, China, have formed a human shield around Sanjiang Church after the government announced plans to demolish the building. On April 3, government authorities notified the church leadership their building would be razed within 15 days. With the deadline for demolition approaching, […]
Misuse of blasphemy laws increases
Originally published in Worthy News An increasing number of Muslim majority nations are strictly enforcing Islamic blasphemy laws in order to penalize Christians and other religious minorities, according to Barnabas Aid. All blasphemy laws are incompatible with international human rights standards, according to a recent report by the US Commission […]
Ukranians pray in city squares as Russian troops mass on border
Originally published in Christian Telegraph Prayer for Ukraine – over the phone between a U.S. Baptist leader and one in the beleaguered country – joined the intercession of Ukrainian believers in various city squares March 25, reports Baptist Press. Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, and […]