Persecuted Christians

In recent years, Christians are facing increasing persecution across West Africa, as Islamic extremism has spread. Countries where attacks had been infrequent are suffering at the hands of Boko Haram, Fulani militants and others. Often women are particularly vulnerable to the long-term effects of such attacks: even if they aren’t killed, they can find it very difficult to earn a living if...
Čítaj ďalej o THE IMPACT OF YOUR SUPPORT IN WEST AFRICA »

Mother’s Day is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the mothers in our lives, whether biological, adopted or spiritual. Motherhood is not easy – and for some persecuted Christian women, becoming a mother has required extraordinary courage and faith.  Ijanada from Nigeria is a 20-year-old mother of two. When she was just 14 years old, Boko Haram kidnapped her and took her to a camp,...
Čítaj ďalej o A CAPTIVE MOTHER'S COURAGE: IJANADA'S STORY »

When people think about Christian persecution, they usually think of the Middle East or perhaps China. Kenya isn’t exactly on their radar.  Many are surprised when we bring them news of persecution in Kenya or talk about our work there. They picture safari rides and tourist venues – the picture of stability in Africa. Those things exist, but there is a darker side to Kenya.  ...
Čítaj ďalej o Persecution of Christians in Kenya nowadays »

03/05/2020 Egypt (International Christian Concern)  – An unknown Egyptian woman and man are making serious attempts to target vulnerable Christian women and girls, according to local media. The individuals pose as a nun and priest, prompting Pope Tawadros to make a statement denying that they have any affiliation with the church. Their real identity remains unknown. The individuals...
Čítaj ďalej o Pair Targets Egyptian Christian Girls »

02/28/2020 India  (International Christian Concern) – According to Morning Star News, three Christians from northern India have been released from prison after more than two months of imprisonment on false charges. According to the freed Christians, their time in jail was a “ nightmare ”, but they were still able to share the Gospel with other prisoners. On November 26, 2019,...
Čítaj ďalej o Indian Christian Pastors Describe “Nightmare” Imprisonment on False Charges »

Our brothers and sisters in North Korea are facing a new kind of danger in the form of the coronavirus – please pray for their protection and for the provision of the right medical treatment.  North Korean defector Timothy Cho knows just how dangerous viral diseases are to those living in poverty in the country. He says, “If there really are people infected with the coronavirus in...
Čítaj ďalej o THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN NORTH KOREA »

How many terrible things can happen to one person? And how many miracles? Hearing Eun Hye’s* story is a bit dizzying – because half the time, you’re wondering how a person can sustain so many appalling incidents and still keep going. And the other half of the time, you are marvelling at God’s interventions and His plan for Eun Hye. Eun Hye’s grandmother had told her a little bit...
Čítaj ďalej o ONE WOMAN’S EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF ESCAPING NORTH KOREA »

In Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday more than 250 people, 45 of them children, were killed in attacks on three churches and hotels; more than 500 people were injured. • Bombs killed 20 at a Catholic church in Jolo in the southern Philippines. • In China, state-sanctioned and ‘underground’ churches have been harassed or shut down in at least 23 provinces. In Xinjiang, at least one...
Čítaj ďalej o From sub-Saharan Africa to China, Christians experience ‘high’ levels of persecution »

Three things held centre-stage in Nadhir’s* life: marijuana, clubbing and rap music. Although he had grown up in a Muslim family, Nadhir later rebelled. He dropped out of attending the mosque and joined the local rap scene. Then, in his late teens, a friend and fellow rapper handed him a Bible and everything fell into place. “I read this Bible and when I’m reading, I’m feeling like...
Čítaj ďalej o WORLD WATCH LIST CASE STUDY: NADHIR »

Think of your phone. All that technology in the palm of your hand. It listens out for your voice commands, it knows where you are, it can recognise your fingerprints or even your face.  And some governments are very interested in technology like that.  Persecution is going digital. Among the trends discovered in the analysis of the data for the World Watch List 2020 is the...
Čítaj ďalej o WORLD WATCH LIST: PERSECUTION IS GOING DIGITAL »

01/06/2020 Nigeria  (International Christian Concern) – On December 26, 2019, the same day that Boko Haram’s affiliate, Islamic State West Africa Province, beheaded eleven hostages on film, they also killed 3 bridal party members who were heading to a wedding in Adamawa State. This attack killed the bride and two of her close friends who were supposed be in the wedding that would take...
Čítaj ďalej o Boko Haram Beheads Bride and Bridal Party Members on the Way to Wedding »

Three Coptic churches in the Upper Egypt region were hit by fires in the last three weeks which, the Copts say, is “not a coincidence”. On Friday morning 1 November  a fire started in an adjacent hall of the Mar-Girgis (St George) al-Gyoushi Church  in the Shubra district of the capital Cairo; it was extinguished before causing severe damage and no-one was injured. However,...
Čítaj ďalej o Egypt: Series of fires in their churches ‘not a coincidence’, say Copts »

Kim Sang-Hwa* knows God is with her at all times, including when she met secretly with other Christians in North Korea. What she didn’t know was whether one of the other secret Christians would betray her. “We have a saying in North Korea,” says Sang-Hwa. “‘When three of us are meeting, one of us is a spy and will report to the government.’” DISCOVERING THE HIDDEN BIBLE Many North...
Čítaj ďalej o WHEN TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED IN MY NAME… ONE COULD BE A SPY »

At Christmas, we see Bethlehem – a small, then-backwater town in the Middle East – take centre stage for one of the most significant events in the Christian calendar. We sing carols about it, set up Nativity scenes, and reflect on it as a place of great peace and blessing. But what is Christmas like for believers in the Middle East 2,000 years after the birth of Jesus? Nadia* lives...
Čítaj ďalej o WHAT IS CHRISTMAS LIKE IN THE MIDDLE EAST? »

German version Ende 2018 hatten wir zu einer Ermutigungsaktion für Eldos aus Kirgisistan aufgerufen. Der damals 25-Jährige war im Oktober 2018 Opfer eines Angriffes von drei extremistischen Muslimen geworden. Bei einem nächtlichen Einbruch in das Haus seiner Familie prügelten die Angreifer brutal auf Eldos ein. Sie wollten ihn zwingen, zum Islam zurückzukehren. Neben Knochenbrüchen und...
Čítaj ďalej o ELDOS UND NURZHAN SAGEN DANKE »

Christian converts from Islam   The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”...
Čítaj ďalej o Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe, the part of report 2019 »

The Jharkhand police raided the missionary house in Dumka. Two other complaints about child trafficking. The bishop asked for an inquiry into the state commission that deals with adoptions. "They want us to lose credibility, but our faith is strong."
Čítaj ďalej o Bishop Mascarenhas: Attacks on Sisters of Mother Teresa continue »

Gonila Gill is married to Husnain Jamil, a Muslim. Neither the man nor his family ever imposed her conversion to Islam. This is why everyone is persecuted. "I ask the government to protect mixed faith families like ours." Lahore (AsiaNews) - Persecuted for her faith by colleagues and insulted for not having converted to Islam after marriage with her Muslim boyfriend. This is the story...
Čítaj ďalej o Lahore, a Christian journalist, persecuted at work, resigns »

Churches have been shut down in Jiangxi and Fujian. Underground priests have been driven from their parishes. Young people under 18 have been dragged away from churches. Religions’ subordination to Chinese culture closely resembles the policy of Qing emperors. The Pope's authority must be subservient to that of the emperor. the Church must be part of the structures of the state and obey political authorities
Čítaj ďalej o Sinicisation crushing official and underground communities »

Tired of poverty, famine, and deprivation in North Korea, one man escaped to China to find a better life and entered into an unexpected journey with God. “After 46 years of constant hardship I made my way to China,” Seo-jun* recounted to Cornerstone Ministries. “There I met a fellow Korean and heard from him about God.” The Christian man gave Seo-jun a Bible, which he began to read....
Čítaj ďalej o North Korean found Jesus in China, returned to homeland and paid a price »

10/15/2019 Washington D.C.  (International Christian Concern)  –  “ There is absolutely no rule of law, whatever the Hindu radicals say, the police execute. ” This is the unfortunate reality for many Christians in India’s northeastern state of Jharkhand. Since Jharkhand’s pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government ratified the state’s anti-conversion law in...
Čítaj ďalej o Attacks Become the “New Normal” for Christians in Jharkhand »

“Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones”  Jeremiah 50:17 The continuous and relentless attacks led by Boko Haram and Fulani militants have pushed Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region to the brink. Responsible for hundreds of attacks and deaths every year,...
Čítaj ďalej o Nigeria’s Scattered Flock: Manasa Family »

09/28/2019 India (International Christian Concern)  – On September 8, Hindu extremists and Indian authorities jailed church leaders and their families after hardline Hindus disrupted a worship service, beat individuals, and live-streamed the events on Facebook. The assailants, from the youth militant group Bajrang Dal, led the attack in Domchanch villa of Koderma District in Jharkhand...
Čítaj ďalej o Hindu Radicals Live-Stream Assault on Christians »

09/12/2019 Washington D.C.  (International Christian Concern)  –  A question mark follows Lina wherever she goes. She doesn’t know who kidnapped her husband the first time. She doesn’t know who threatened to kill her son. Her husband’s second disappearance remains a mystery. She doesn’t recognize the man stalking her. But there is one thing she does know—life is...
Čítaj ďalej o Lingering Questions Follow an Escape from Syria »

While only a boy growing up in a Muslim family in Morocco, Yassine started having recurring dreams of a bright, bright light and a voice coming from the light saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” “This was definitely not a normal dream to me because I had never heard this phrase before. I had no idea it was from the Bible,” Yassine told Ride Nature, an action sports mission...
Čítaj ďalej o Bright light appeared to Muslim boy in dreams, said ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ »