Global church body condemns 'vicious attack' in Egypt
It described the incident as a "vicious attack on innocent worshippers" attending the New Year's midnight mass at Saints Church in Alexandria, Egypt. WCC general secretary, the Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, sent general condolences and prayers on behalf of the ecumenical body to the families of the victims..
-
India's Christians suffer spike in assaults in past decade
Christians in India faced a spike in attacks in the past decade, suffering more than 130 assaults a year since 2001, with figures far surpassing that in 2007 and 2008.
-
Vietnam grants last-minute permit for Christmas event
Granted permission only five hours before a scheduled Christmas event, house church leaders turned an empty field into a rudimentary stadium and welcomed some 20,000 people for a time of worship and evangelism on Sunday (Dec. 26) in Vietnam's largest city.
-
Lao officials destroy rice paddies, expel more Christians
Officials and residents of Katin village in Ta Oih district, Saravan Province, on Sunday (Dec. 26) destroyed rice paddies farmed by 11 Christian families previously living in the village. The destruction followed the expulsion of another seven families last Thursday (Dec. 23).
-
Rebel group in Bangladesh prevents Christmas worship
One of the two main political parties of the indigenous people in Bangladesh's southeastern hill tracts prevented Christians from celebrating Christmas, sources said.
-
Tensions High in Nigeria after Christians Killed in Bombings
Tensions continued to mount in the Christian community in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state in northern Nigeria, following the killing of a Baptist pastor and five other Christians on Christmas Eve.
-
Pray for Christians under threat this Christmas
Barnabas Fund is calling for urgent prayer over the Christmas and New Year period for Christians living in persecution hotspots in light of a series of threats and attacks against them.
-
Vietnam authorities move to stop Protestant Christmas events
HANOI, Vietnam (Compass Direct News) – In what appeared to be part of a central government crackdown on Protestant Christianity in Vietnam, hundreds of Christians from 10 northern provinces were locked out of a Christmas celebration that was supposed to take place here on Sunday.
-
Theology students in Indonesia still seek facilities, compensation
Two and a half years after an Islamic attack on a seminary here left hundreds of students without facilities, they are still in temporary shelters and the government has not compensated the loss of eight buildings.
-
Indonesian churches wary of Islamist offer of 'Protection'
In the wake of several attacks on worship services by Indonesia's notorious Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), several Jakarta area church leaders rejected the FPI's offer to help protect them over Christmas.
-
Human rights group gravely concerned for two Iranian pastors charged with apostasy
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is deeply concerned by reports that two Iranian pastors have been charged with apostasy, and that one of them currently faces a death sentence. Their cases come at a time when religious minorities in the country are experiencing an increase in persecution, including detention and imprisonment.
-
Links between murders in Turkey and 'masterminds' expected
Attorneys prosecuting the murder of three Christians in southeastern Turkey are making progress linking the knifemen who slayed them to the masterminds who put them up to it, an attorney representing the family of one of the victims said Friday (Dec.17).