Praise God, Morteza Mashhoodkari is now free after completing 2.5 years of his five-year sentence for participation in a house church. In April of 2022, he and two other Iranian Christians, “Youḥanna” Ahmad Sarparast and “Farzin” Ayoub Poor-Rezazadeh were arrested and sent to Lakan Prison in Rasht for activities contrary to Islam. (Article18, December 24)Continue reading “Christians Arrested, Released in Iran”
Tag Archives: Persecution
How Christians in Hard Places Spent Christmas
ISRAEL gave special permission for the head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, to visit GAZA for a pre-Christmas Mass at the Church of the Holy Family, where Christians have been harboring in the midst of this war not their own. As Israeli drones sounded overhead, he encouraged believers toContinue reading “How Christians in Hard Places Spent Christmas”
A Covering for the Persecuted, A Savior for the Persecutors
As we pray for believers in danger throughout the world this Christmas, I have been thinking on Mary and Joseph’s escape to Egypt in Matthew 2:13-15, when Herod set out to murder Jesus. What a threat to satan’s purposes of killing, stealing and destroying is this One who came to give us abundant life. JohnContinue reading “A Covering for the Persecuted, A Savior for the Persecutors”
Prayers for Suffering Christians This Christmas
As we gather with loved ones this Christmas and worship God freely in our churches, let’s take a moment to pray together as a family for persecuted Christians throughout the world who don’t have that freedom or who are in the midst of a war not their own. Lord, we ask You for Christians inContinue reading “Prayers for Suffering Christians This Christmas”
Syrian Christians Ask for Prayer
Christianity in Syria dates back to the Apostle Paul in the first century, and holds some of the world’s most ancient churches and monasteries. But in recent years, Islamic terrorists martyred vast numbers of Christians, dropping their population from around 10% in 2011 to less than 2% today in what some countries have termed aContinue reading “Syrian Christians Ask for Prayer”
Mayotte, Philippines, Syria, Palestine Headline Prayers
Category 4 Cyclone Chido, the worst storm to hit MAYOTTE (French territory in the Indian Ocean) in nearly 100 years, killed at least 11 people this weekend, but possibly hundreds. Entire neighborhoods, especially where people lived in shanties, were wiped out. Pray for families who have lost much, that God will meet them in powerfulContinue reading “Mayotte, Philippines, Syria, Palestine Headline Prayers”
Christmas in the Dark
What is it like to live in a country where celebrating Christmas is forbidden? Where Christians are persecuted? Where millions have never heard about the God Who loves them and gave His Son to die for their sins so they can be free? I can tell you. Because we’ve lived there. For most of theContinue reading “Christmas in the Dark”
Mass Kidnappings and Killings in Nigeria
During Thanksgiving week, Fulani herdsmen killed 48 Christians in Benue state — 30 on Sunday, November 24; and 18 on their way to church December 1. In total, some 106 Christians have been slain by Fulani and other Muslim extremists in Benue and Taraba states since October. Also during Thanksgiving week, Fulani attacked villages inContinue reading “Mass Kidnappings and Killings in Nigeria”
Fall of the Syria’s Assad Regime
With Russia, Iran and Hezbollah distracted by their own devastating wars with tremendous losses, the brutal Bashar Assad regime they had backed in Syria easily fell to rebel forces in just a few days, ending 50 years of rule by the Assad family and freeing prisoners from jail. But Syria could be trading one terroristContinue reading “Fall of the Syria’s Assad Regime”
American-Israeli Hostages Update
The IDF announced Monday that an American-Israeli hostage previously believed alive was actually killed in Nir Oz during the Hamas-led attack on October 7 last year. Omer Maxim Neutra, the 21-year-old grandson of Holocaust survivors, grew up on Long Island, New York, where he attended a Jewish high school. In 2020, he spent a gapContinue reading “American-Israeli Hostages Update”
