These articles were first published in our June edition of the newspaper, click here for more.
Assyrian Christians have been attacked by a man with an axe at an annual parade to celebrate New Year in the Babylonian-Assyrian calendar in Iraq. The attacker, alleged to be a Muslim extremist, injured three of the 5,000 people in attendance before being stopped by others there.
Barnabas Aid reports that a 17-year-old and a 75-year-old woman were both hospitalised with skull fractures following the attack, while a member of the local security forces was also injured.
Six Christian families have been evicted from their homes in India for failing to reconvert to the indigenous faith of their area. Local village councils in Sukma District, Chhattisgarh State accused them of undermining the long-held beliefs and traditions of the area, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports.
At least 25 people were evicted and the families had no choice but to spend the first night following the decision in a forest, while villagers loaded their belongings onto a tractor to be taken away.
Seven Protestant church leaders and active church members have not returned from meetings which they were summoned to by an illegal armed group weeks ago in Guaviare Department, Colombia.
Families have also been warned to stop looking for them after seeking contact with the group and some are considering fleeing the region, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Fabian Cárdenas, president of the Evangelical Alliance of Colombia Denomination (DEAC), has called on the national government to help search for the missing believers, while affected churches have held daily prayer vigils crying out for their safe return.
A Christian, accused of writing blasphemous content that sparked violent riots in Jaranwala, Pakistan in August 2023, has been sentenced to death.
Morning Star News reports that Pervaiz Masih was arrested and charged under Pakistan’s blasphemy statutes. He has now been found guilty of conspiring to falsely implicate another Christian, Umair Saleem, in a blasphemy case to settle a personal vendetta. The court acquitted two other Christian suspects, Shahid Aftab and Dawood William, giving them the benefit of the doubt. Masih has the right to appeal the ruling.
Christians in Nicaragua are being subjected to a continued crackdown on their religious freedom, with activities forbidden over the Easter weekend. Some argue that this is a culmination of an increasing trend of restriction since the start of this year.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that religious leaders were cautioned against praying publicly about prisoners or exiles, and were warned not to go outside or set off fireworks. Police vehicles were present at various Easter events to enforce these restrictions.
Officials recently closed a prayer hall near Jarkarta, Indonesia, with a banner on its door stating that the building is “no longer in use”. They blame church officials for its closure due to their failure to obtain a permit to use the building, but church members claim they have not received a reply to an application for one after it was originally submitted in 2023.
Morning Star News reveals that the church had applied for a permit several times over the last year but never received a response. They have subsequently secured a new location for Sunday worship.
An anti-Christian demonstration led by local officials which saw believers threatened and a Christian’s grave vandalised has taken place in Sélibaby, Mauritania. Christians reportedly faced intimidation online throughout the duration of the protest and were referred to as “infidels” and “apostates”.
The gathering, given the go-ahead by city leaders, saw the deceased Christian’s body taken out of his grave and reburied 20km outside the city, Middle East Concern reports. Security leaders in the area have been fired following an investigation.
Actor Jim Caviezel has revealed that he is studying the works of evangelical writer C.S. Lewis as he prepares to reprise his role as Jesus in next year’s The Resurrection of the Christ. The film, directed by Mel Gibson, will be a sequel to The Passion of the Christ, and will focus on the aftermath of the crucifixion, so brutally portrayed in the first film.
Caviezel, 56, who will be digitally de-aged to look like the 33-year-old Jesus, told the Arroyo Grande show that playing Jesus is intensely challenging, saying: “I’m not going to play Jesus. I need Him to play me.”
Several evangelical organisations have called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to improve the protection of religious freedom in Bulgaria.
According to Evangelical Focus, the report, commissioned by the World Evangelical Alliance and the United Evangelical Churches, which includes churches and organisations across the nation, claims that the country’s political landscape harms religious freedoms and that the national Prosecutor’s Office has abused its legal powers.
Almost half of Germany’s population now regard themselves as non-religious, outnumbering those who identify as Protestant or Roman Catholic for the first time, according to new research.
Those identifying with no religion represent 47%, with just 45% saying they follow either of the nation’s biggest churches, Evangelical Focus reports. The survey also reveals that while both churches are losing members, the Catholic church remains the largest religious group with 24% of the population identifying with it. However, the Protestant church is not far behind, with 21%, a long away ahead of Islam, with just less than 4%.
Christian TV station, SAT-7 Arabic recently aired a devotional programme during the 30 days of Ramadan to promote the North African church. The show, called Evening Gatherings, featured Christians in a “traditional living-room setting”, and sought to promote Christian fellowship and belief during a time of high religiosity in the region.
The series, which was primarily filmed in Tunisia, with additional scenes from Algeria and Morocco, featured different languages from across North Africa, and producers hoped it would make an impact on Christians and non-believers alike.
New reports of sectarian violence in Syria have surfaced, with armed groups aligned with the new government believed to have attacked towns near Damascus, most of whose residents are from Druze and Christian minorities.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that dozens have been killed as local Druze people were overrun by their Sunni attackers. Amidst the instability, Israel, who have a strong Druze population, have carried out airstrikes against the Sunni fighters. Peace talks are reportedly underway between government figures and Druze community leaders to ease tensions.
A church in Canberra, Australia has been kicked out of its denomination due to its refusal to take a conservative position on gay marriage. A vote saw 65% of the New South Wales (NSW) and ACT Baptist Association in favour of removing Canberra Baptist Church from the denomination at its annual assembly in Sydney, according to ABC News Australia.
The Association said in a statement that while they stand by their decision, they “don’t hold any animosity” towards the church and “still respect and love them as churches and people”.
The Southern Baptist Convention has experienced good and bad news, with an increase in the number of baptisms in 2024, but a decrease in membership figures.
The number of baptisms taking place in the convention’s churches increased by 10% last year to more than 250,000, but the total number of church members that it represents decreased to 12.7 million, marking its lowest number since 1974, reports Premier Christian News. However, despite the decrease in members, the number of weekly worshippers has increased.
China’s Communist authorities have tightened their grip on Christianity, introducing new laws that prevent foreign missionary work.
Open Doors reports that foreigners must now gain government approval for preaching or participating in services, bringing in Bibles or Christian literature beyond personal use. They are also prohibited from recruiting Chinese citizens, running Bible schools and accepting donations from Chinese Christians.
Luke Randall