American evangelist Franklin Graham has urged believers to pray for the "thousands of people desperately trying to escape from Afghanistan," including Afghan Christians and up to 15,000 Americans as well as their allies. Graham, son of the late legendary preacher Billy Graham, appealed "after the country's fall to the Taliban" group, which he called Islamic extremists.
...continue reading this storyChristians in Iran meeting mostly in secret house groups to avoid detection by police face new challenges as the Islamic government seeks more internet restrictions, according to sources familiar with the situation.
...continue reading this storyIn addition to being continually attacked by Islamic terrorists, Christians in Nigeria are persecuted by the government as well: a pastor’s son was shot to death in Borno state last week by government officials sent to demolish a church building, Christian Today reports.
...continue reading this storyIslamist Taliban militants ruling Afghanistan have begun executing Christians who refuse to renounce their faith, a well-informed Christian broadcaster said Tuesday.
...continue reading this storyThere was fresh hope Tuesday that Christian students kidnapped seven years ago in northeast Nigeria will be found after Islamist militants released two young women.
...continue reading this storyRights groups, including Release International, are warning that the persecution of Christians in Afghanistan will likely intensify now the Taliban have taken power and the US and NATO have withdrawn, Christian Today (CT) reports. The Afghan church had been driven underground by Islamic apostasy laws even before the Taliban takeover, but the situation is now reported to be “dire.”
...continue reading this storyThe Taliban have taken over Afghanistan and local Christian pastors facing the threat of intensified bloody persecution are standing in faith while calling on the worldwide Body of Christ for prayer. "God has a purpose and a plan,” an Afghan pastor told International Christian Concern (ICC).
...continue reading this storyThree elderly “semi-retired pastors” have been arrested in Eritrea’s capital Asmara apparently, for their faith in Christ, an advocacy group said late Thursday.
...continue reading this storyAround two-thirds of Syria’s Christians have had to escape the war-torn country over the last 10 years, Kurdish news outlet Rudaw reports. Prior to the start of the civil war in 2011, Christians constituted between 8%-10% of Syria’s population; they now make up about 3%.
...continue reading this storySuspected Islamic kidnappers in northern Nigeria have released dozens of Christian school students, but parents remain concerned about scores of others still missing, Christian officials say.
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