01.18.2025

USCIRF Welcomes Release of Wrongfully Imprisoned Religious Leaders and Adherents in Cuba

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the release of Cuban Santería practitioners Donaida Pérez Paseiro and Lisdiani Rodríguez Isaac as well as Christian Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo. 

Bible App Downloads Surge in Regions with High Levels of Christian Persecution

A Bible app is growing in popularity around the world, including in countries where Christians face persecution.

North Korea’s Troops Toughen Russia’s Offensive Against Ukraine (Worthy News In-Depth)

Once dismissed as “cannon fodder,” North Korean soldiers deployed in the Russian offensive against Ukraine are now being described by their Ukrainian adversaries as disciplined and formidable fighters.

Nigeria: New Islamic Terror Group Begins Killing Christians

A new Islamic terror group that is considered even more dangerous than Boko Haram, ISWAP and the radicalized Fulani militants has begun murdering Christians in northern Nigeria, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.

Sudan Christians Banned From Christmas Feast Amid Deadly Clashes

Christians in Sudan say believers displaced by war have been prevented from celebrating Christmas in a park where they had taken refuge.

‘380 Million Christians Persecuted Worldwide’

At least 380 million Christians — one in seven worldwide — faced high levels of persecution and discrimination in 2024, an increase of 15 million from the year before, investigators said Wednesday.

BELARUS: "Low status" prisoners denied prison church visits

Inmates the prison authorities have deemed "low status" are refused access
to the limited religious services held by the Orthodox and Catholic
Churches in prisons, a former political prisoner and Orthodox Christian
Vadim Yermashuk told Forum 18.

2025 World Watch List released: India maintains 11th spot

The 2025 World Watch List with Open Doors USA was released yesterday. 

Christians respond as Malawi hosts influx of Mozambican refugees

Peaceful Malawi has long been a pathway or destination for refugees. 

Alawite religious group targeted in Syria by militants

Keep this story in your back pocket as you sift the headlines on Syria. Despite the rhetoric of HTS leaders to the world about tolerance and protection of minorities, there’s more developing behind the scenes than is being widely reported.

Africa: Most Deadliest Region for Christians

Africa remains the deadliest region for Christians, with Nigeria ranking as the country where a Christian is most likely to be killed for his or her faith, according to a new report by the Global Christian Relief (GCR) charity and advocacy group.

Colombia: Christian Leaders and Family Killed in “Premeditated, Targeted Assassinations”

Two protestant Christian church leaders and three Christian family members were recently assassinated in two premeditated incidents in Colombia, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports.

Christian in Sudan Loses Wife, Home for Converting

Muslim family disowns him and compels divorce.

Ministries in Haiti face challenges as Cap-Haïtien sees population surge

Roseline DeHart works with the ministry For Haiti with Love, which is based in Haiti’s former capital, Cap-Haïtien. She remembers when her home was a quieter town. 

Lebanon’s new leadership seeks to normalize relationship with Syria

Answered prayers lead to a positive new chapter in Middle East relations. 

Nigeria: Two Kidnapped Church Pastors Released Amid Ongoing Violence

While Christians in northern Nigeria remain extremely vulnerable to killings and kidnapping by Islamic terrorists, especially Fulani militant herdsmen, two abducted pastors were released from captivity on January 5, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

India: Christian Couple Released on Bail Amid Surge in Persecution

Amid a surge in persecution against Christians in India, believers are rejoicing that a pastor and his wife were released on bail after 20 months in prison on false charges of forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity, Global Christian Relief (GCR) reports.

North Korea no longer tops global persecution

Nigeria replaces North Korea as the world’s worst persecutor of Christians, according to a new report from Global Christian Relief. 

A pastor in Morocco shares prayer requests for minority Christians

“I came to Christ because the Word of God touched my heart and God opened my eyes [to] the truth.” 

India: Christian Woman Stripped and Brutalized by Hindu Nationalists on Boxing Day

A Christian woman in India’s Odisha state is recovering after she was stripped naked and brutalized until she blacked out by Hindu nationalists enraged at her faith in Christ, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.

Dozens Of Christians Killed In Nigeria’s Christmas Season Attacks (Worthy News Focus)

Investigators demanded Friday that Nigeria’s government ends “the reign of terror” against Christian communities after scores of Christians were killed by Islamic fighters in the last days of 2024.

Authorities in Sudan Ban Christmas Service

Christians are told worship not allowed in ‘Muslim area.’

Islamists Collude with Pakistani Officials in False Blasphemy Cases

Five victims tortured to death in custody, rights attorneys say.

ICC Global Digest: Stories from Pakistan, India, Syria, and elsewhere

Newly elected Lebanese president promises new course for embattled country

Lebanese are confident that a new chapter is beginning as they celebrate the election of Joseph Aoun, commander of the country’s army. 

Hundreds of aftershocks and freezing temperatures follow Tibet’s 7.1-magnitude quake

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Tibet region last Tuesday, January 7.

Technology meets mission: Starlink’s role in Bible translation

The work of Bible translators can often be both dangerous and isolating.

US Churches Broken In Fires Keep Faith Amid Flames (Worthy News Focus)

Numerous Christians in and around Los Angeles were preparing to pray Sunday without a church building as many houses of worship were destroyed in the American city’s worst wildfires on record.

India Christians Reeling From Attacks (Worthy News Focus)

Nearly 400 Christian leaders and 30 church groups have urged India’s government to defend the Christian minority after hundreds of attacks against Christians, including more than a dozen around Christmas.

Nigeria: Christians Warned to Remain on High Alert as Fulani Militias Continue Murderous Rampage in Plateau state

Christians in Nigeria’s Plateau state have been warned to spend the next few weeks on high alert against attacks by Fulani radicalized Islamic herdsmen as three more believers were murdered on Monday (January 6), bringing the number of such killings to 11 since early December, Morning Star News (MSN) reports.