Constitutional reforms approved in a referendum on 30 July have created concerns in the African island nation of Comoros. Opposition leaders called on people to boycott the referendum, believing that it was not legitimate. Along with extending the power and term of the president, one
Thirty families turned back to Islam after facing intense community pressure, said local church planter Sujen, who became a believer through a Bible correspondence course several years ago. After becoming convinced Jesus was the Way, the Truth and the Life, he began gradually sharing with
Ramesh and his son Rahul were brutally attacked by a mob of 30 Hindu radicals while returning from a prayer meeting in Pipplipara village, Madhya Pradesh state on 10 July. They were both hospitalised due to serious injuries from the attack. “The attack took place
SPECIAL REPORT FROM MINDANO, PHILIPPINES In an historic move in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte, has signed an agreement in Mindanao to give local rebel groups a new autonomy with the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). Numerous administrations have conducted peace negotiations with rebel groups including
On 2 August, Vishal Masih, an 18-year-old Pakistani Christian, was severely beaten by a group of Muslims after winning an arm-wrestling match in Nabipur village. Located in Sheikhupura District, Nabipur has become the latest site of religiously motivated violence in Pakistan. Waris Masih, Vishal’s cousin,
Christian villagers in a rural district of India’s Maharashtra state have been told that one church will be closed down every week because they have been “destroying” local tradition and culture by “luring” others to convert to Christianity. Since June, over a dozen houses belonging
In a surprising move, 35 prisoners of faith were released on bail from the Mai-Sirwa prison on 17 and 18 July, after serving more than four years. The 11 women and 24 men, all members of unregistered Christian churches, were mostly young people not in
Aye Nan was fifteen when her father, U Aih Cum, was killed for his faith after a house church meeting in Myanmar. U Aih Cum was passionate about reaching others with the true Gospel message. His feet and hands were removed, he was stabbed and
Daw Cherry, her husband U Zaw Aung and their two small children lived in a small village in Kachin State North Myanmar. As Christians Daw Cherry and U Zaw Aung ran Bible study group meetings and witnessed to the surrounding Buddhist community, winning people to
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been detained following a violent raid on his home in Rasht by the police on the morning of 22 July. Police smashed the front door of the pastor’s home, punched the pastor and his teenaged son Daniel, and used electrical batons
House churches in Beijing issued a statement on 23 July expressing their dissatisfaction with the Chinese government. The churches, which include the Beijing Achievement Church and the Beijing Holy Mountain Church, convey three main points in the statement. The first point detailed the constitutional legitimacy
Following the June election, the president issued several decrees that will affect Christians in Turkey. According to a Turkish pastor, meetings in homes are now illegal. Though the law may be intended to hinder Islamic sectarian meetings, it will definitely hinder Christians meeting as well.
International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Leah Sharibu is still being held by the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram. It has been 120 days since the release of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls. Sadly, Leah Sharibu, the only Christian girl among them, is still in
Several houses belonging to Coptic Christians in Minbal village in the Mattay region of Minya governorate in Upper Egypt, were attacked by a mob on 9 July, following the publication of a Facebook post which was deemed to be offensive to Islam. The mob threw
American pastor Andrew Brunson’s hopes of being released from jail in Turkey have been dashed yet again. Yesterday, a judge ordered Pastor Andrew to remain behind bars, despite intense international lobbying raising hopes he would be freed. Turkey has just declared an end to the
Asim and Zarah followed separate paths to faith in Christ, but when their paths converged in Cairo, Egypt, they became one in service to the Lord. The science lectures Asim was hearing at university didn’t seem to agree with his family’s Muslim faith. Doubtful and
Walid hated his Christian co-worker so much that he planned to kill him. But a bold act of love set him on a new course — directly to Christ. Listening to his co-worker Haytham sing Christian worship songs for several days while painting a house
Duhra was born into unhappiness. Abandoned by her father at birth, and resented by her mother, Duhra was left with her devout Muslim grandmother while her mother went overseas to work. Feeling abandoned by her parents, Duhra prayed to Allah for help: “I need a
Recently with the help of our supporters we were able to distribute Christian books and Bibles to people from various areas in Mindanao, Philippines. Our distribution contact reports that 225 copies of the book Tortured for Christ were distributed, along with 225 copies of the
Recently with the help of our supporters, VOM supplied a motorbike to a Christian outreach team in Indonesia. The motorbike will benefit a team of five members. The team have been receiving threats, including the threat of being burned alive, from their Muslim neighbours. The
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