01.04.2025

SAVE THE DATE: Standing with the Silenced - Leveraging the Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List

More details on this event will be available soon.

ICC Releases 2025 Global Persecution Index

 International Christian Concern (ICC) has released its renamed and revamped annual report for the new year. 

Christmas week massacres kill nearly 50 Nigerian believers

A cluster of attacks on Christmas week kills nearly 50 people from Christian communities in Nigeria. 

Pastors Shot In Vietnam Amid Crackdown

A pastor in Vietnam’s Central Highlands was recovering from his injuries Thursday after being shot in his left knee with a rubber bullet while riding a motorbike home, Worthy News learned.

India: Hindu Nationalists Attack Christians Across India During Christmas Season

Amid an ongoing surge in the persecution of Christians in India by Hindu nationalists, Hindu extremists carried out violent assaults against believers celebrating Christmas in many states across the country last month, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Millions face food shortage in war-ravaged Myanmar

A new report from International Christian Concern suggests millions are at risk of starvation in Myanmar, where a humanitarian crisis has been unfolding since a military coup in 2021. 

Radio broadcasts get Scripture into the hearts of North Korean Christians

Imagine tuning into a new channel on the radio and suddenly hearing these slow words: 

“For …

“… God … 

“… so … 

“… loved … the … world.” 

Uganda: Christian Father Murdered for Leaving Islam

A Christian father was murdered by Islamic extremists in eastern Uganda earlier this month, after he and his wife received death threats for leaving Islam and putting his faith in Christ, Morning Star News reports.

Sudan: RSF Paramilitary Group Attacks Church Service

While fighting each other for the power to rule Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been killing and attacking civilians, not least Christians, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Indian state of Rajasthan considering anti-conversion laws

Anti-conversion laws are coming to the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. A newly proposed law would make so-called “forced conversions” illegal and demand that anyone who seeks to convert notify officials at least 60 days in advance. 

Hungary Concerned About Mounting Persecution Of Christians

Hungary has expressed concern about mounting “Anti-Christian sentiments and the persecution of Christians.”

India: Christian Group Calls For Government Inquiry Into Unprecedented Level of Persecution Against Believers

The United Christian Forum (UCF) has called on India’s Hindu nationalist-led government to open a national inquiry into the exponential surge in incidents of violence against Christians in the country, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Nigeria: 11 Christians Murdered in Benue State Christmas Day Attacks, “A Trail of Grief and Trauma”

In keeping with similar attacks during major Christian holidays, Islamic militants in Nigeria slaughtered 11 people on Christmas Day during murderous raids in Christian communities in Kwande County, Benue state, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

USCIRF Releases Report on the Abuse of Extremism Laws in Central Asia

Central Asian governments’ legislation, including extremism laws, has been influenced by decades of Soviet rule of the region.

Watch and wait as Syria and other nations take first steps into its future

Syria’s de-facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, may be making the right promises. But the world is still watching closely. Some nations are taking first steps into an unknown future. 

Nigeria: “14 Christians murdered after church carol service,” “A trail of grief and trauma”

Three days before Christmas on December 22, suspected Fulani Islamic terrorists in Nigeria’s Plateau state ambushed and murdered 14 Christians, including a pregnant woman and her 1-year-old daughter, shortly after a carol service at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Pastor and Family Members Killed In Colombia

A Protestant pastor in northern Colombia was killed, along with two family members, after being attacked while having lunch following a church service on Sunday, Christians told Worthy News.

Christian Leaders in India Issue Stern Appeal to Government

Prime minister faulted for not condemning persecution.

Church Prayer Service Attacked in Sudan, Injuring 14 Christians

Paramilitary RSF militants seriously injure congregation members.

India: Rajasthan delays vote on anti-conversion bill

India’s northern state of Rajasthan delays a controversial vote until mid-to-late January.

Sri Lanka: Evangelicals Warn Government Proposal May Restrict Religious Freedom

A national evangelical association in Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka has raised concerns that a new government proposal may restrict freedom of religion or belief for minority faith groups in the country if enacted, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports.

Pakistan: Middle-Aged Christian Woman Jailed for Blasphemy

A 50-year-old Christian woman in Punjab Province, Pakistan has been jailed after being charged with committing blasphemy by allegedly burning books containing Islamic scripture, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Pakistan: Hope for Christian Youth Jailed on Blasphemy Charges

A 17-year-old Christian youth who is incarcerated in Punjab Province, Pakistan has been granted bail in one of three cases against him of blasphemy – although he will remain in prison over Christmas because of the remaining two cases, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Baby, 13-Year-Old Child among 15 Slain in Central Nigeria

Fulani herdsmen launch assault on village in Plateau state.

Herdsmen Kill 33 Christians in Nigeria on Christmas Day

Dec. 25 massacre targets five villages in Benue state.

Mozambican Christians request audio Bibles during national chaos

Mozambique has come to a standstill as deadly post-election violence grips the nation. 

More Ukrainians Are Requesting Bibles Amid War Against Russia

(Worthy News) – The US-based Eastern European Mission (EEM) Bible distribution ministry recently reported that, amid the continuing devastating war against Russia’s invasion, Ukrainians have requested an increasing number of Bibles to be sent to be delivered in their language, The Christian Post (CP) reports.

Sudan: Religious Freedom Largely Vanished Since Onset of Civil War, Another Church Bombed

Since their power struggle launched Sudan’s current civil war in April 2023, the Sudanese National Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have destroyed the tentative steps that were taken toward securing religious freedom after the ousting of dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019, Open Doors reports.

Nigeria: USCIRF Welcomes the Acquittal of Rhoda Jatau

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) applauds the December 19 decision of a court in Bauchi State, Nigeria, to acquit Christian nurse Rhoda Jatau.

Last door closes on women’s education in Afghanistan

The Taliban in Afghanistan recently came out with another harsh restriction.

Draft bill threatens Christians in northern India

India’s northern state of Rajasthan recently passed a draft bill that could lead to prison sentences of up to 10 years for people accused of “forcing” religious conversions.

Sign language app increases Scripture access for the Deaf

About 70 million people in the world are deaf. Yet, most Deaf are still considered unreached by the Gospel.

German Christians in Mourning Over Christmas Market Attack

Christian churches in Germany are mourning with the loved ones of those who lost their lives or suffered injuries during the terrorist attack on a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg on Friday, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports.

Congo (DRC): 60 New Believers to Be Baptized in Christmas Day Service, “A Christmas Miracle”

A beacon of light and hope in a country devastated by war, dozens of newly Christian believers were to be baptized at a special Christmas Day service in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Christian Today (CT) reports.

Vietnam: Christians Arrested Ahead of Christmas, “Following Jesus Can Bring Intense Hostility”

Multiple ethnic Montagnard Christian leaders in Vietnam’s Central Highlands region were arrested on December 21 after they began preparing to celebrate Christmas and led congregations in unauthorized worship services, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Sudan: Abused Christian Mother Stands Firm in New Faith

 A Sudanese refugee and Christian mother whose husband stabbed her for leaving Islam and putting her faith in Christ is reported to be standing firm in her new faith despite her family’s ongoing hostility and the challenge of living in a camp for displaced people, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Christians Shot in Christmas Attack on Pastor’s Home in Pakistan

Gunfire leaves one church member in serious condition.

Uganda: Muslim Extremists Kill Christian Who Received Death Threats

Evangelist returned to area in eastern Uganda that he had fled.

'Dark world': These nations are the biggest persecutors of Christians in 2024

'It is so important for the United States to continue working with Israel, the only truly pluralistic nation in the Middle East that offers full religious freedom'

The “Joy to the World” of Jesus hasn’t reached the whole world yet

This Christmas, we remember the gift of Jesus Himself, our Prince of Peace who brought true joy to the world. But not everyone has the gift of knowing this message today.

Nigeria: Christian Woman Acquitted After Imprisonment for Alleged Blasphemy

A Christian woman who was jailed in northern Nigeria’s Bauchi state in 2022 for allegedly insulting Islam was acquitted last week, Morning Star News (MSN) reported on December 20.

Jailed Church of Iran Leader Released

A leader of the Church of Iran, one of the Islamic Republic’s largest evangelical house church movements, was free Monday after being released from Minab prison in Hormozgan province in southern Iran, Christians told Worthy News.

Christian Mother Jailed on Blasphemy Charge in Pakistan

Another case of alleged inadvertent burning of scripture, attorney says.

ICC Global Digest: Stories from Syria, the U.S., Nicaraua, Nigeria, and Vietnam

With children’s ministry in China restricted, opportunity lies in diaspora

Across America this Christmas, children are singing carols, lighting Advent candles, and sporting angel wings or shepherd staffs for church pageants. 

Indonesia: Hundreds of Christians Flee Papua Violence

Hundreds of displaced Christian residents will likely celebrate Christmas outside their homes in an area of Indonesia’s conflict-stricken easternmost Papua province unless Indonesian security forces withdraw there, a bishop says.

Sudan Christians In Crossfire; Prayers Urged

With Christmas approaching, Christians urged prayers for their community in war-stricken Sudan, saying they are in the crossfire as a bishop and a pastor were among those being attacked.

Nigerian pastor shares personal story one year after Christmas tragedy

You’ve heard the stories from Nigeria… Another Christian village attacked, another family murdered by Islamic militants.

Christian in Pakistan, 17, to Spend Christmas in Jail

Blasphemy suspect granted bail in only one of three cases.

Another Church Building Bombed in Sudan

Air strike by Sudanese Air Force hits homes and worship site.

Please pray for Sudan

Sudan was a hostile place for religious minorities even before the war began.