Pastor Ezra Jin safe in U.S. after China frees him in July 4 ‘goodwill gesture’
LOS ANGELES (BP) – Wrongfully imprisoned Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri arrived safely in Los Angeles July 4 after China freed him in what is described as a ‘goodwill gesture’ coinciding with America’s Independence Day, ChinaAid and others announced.
Southern Baptists encourage prayer on June 29 Day of the Christian Martyr
BARTLESVILLE, Ohio (BP) – Centuries ago, a young mother who defied social order by converting to Christianity was martyred in a public execution engaging a rabid cow and a soldier’s sword. While imprisoned, Perpetua recorded her joy and faith in a journal yet preserved.
Venezuela earthquakes leave dozens dead, hundreds injured as Venezuela Baptists begin response
CARACAS, Venezuela – A lethal pair of earthquakes struck Venezuela late in the evening of Wednesday, June 24. Initial reports indicated that 164 people lost their lives. Hundreds more were injured while others were reported missing.
Social hostility against religious groups spreading globally, Pew reports
WASHINGTON (BP) – The Hamas attack on Israel and rioting against Ahmadi Muslims in Bangladesh were among rising social hostilities targeting religious groups globally in 2023, Pew Research Center said in releasing its latest numbers in the trend, while Russia’s war on Ukraine elevated such incidents in Europe.
Fulani militants killed most Christians in Nigeria in past year, USCIRF says
WASHINGTON (BP) –- Militant Fulani killed more Christians in Nigeria over the past year than any other aggressor, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said May 8 in naming the militants a nonstate violator of religious freedom.
Antisemitism spurs Millennial to help young evangelicals grasp biblical view of Israel
RUCKERSVILLE, Va. (BP) – Aaron Evans was fresh from viewing an Auschwitz exhibit at the Reagan Library on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched the deadliest attack on Israel since the Holocaust.
Russian Orthodox church complicit in kidnapping, housing Ukrainian children, expert tells USCIRF
WASHINGTON (BP) – The Russian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate (ROC-MP) is helping the Russian government kidnap, house and falsely indoctrinate Ukrainian children, according to expert testimony before the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
Baptist pastor could be removed from Russian-occupied Ukraine
Vladimir Rytikov, a pastor in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine, could be forced to leave his home country for “illegal missionary activity.”
Nigeria convicts nearly 400 on terrorism charges as murders of Christians continue
ABUJA, Nigeria (BP) – A Nigerian federal court convicted nearly 400 individuals on terrorism charges this month in what persecution watchdog International Christian Concern (ICC) said is one of the largest criminal crackdowns in the nation’s history, but none appeared to face murder charges.
Russia’s deadly strike on busy Ukraine Baptist church ‘wasn’t an accident,’ advocates say
ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (BP) – Russia’s deadly strike on a Baptist church in Zaporizhzhia during an April 16 prayer meeting was a targeted atrocity against Christianity and benevolence, religious freedom advocates including those associated with the church told Baptist Press.
