Calls for prayer as U.S. and Israel strike Iran, face retaliation
JERUSALEM (BP) – A group of Southern Baptist pastors and their spouses, including former Send Relief President Bryant Wright, sheltered in place in Jerusalem Saturday morning (Feb. 28) as the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran. Within hours, Iran responded with strikes on U.S. and Israeli targets across the Middle East.
450 Baptist churches among 737 houses of worship Russia has attacked in Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine (BP) – The priest led an Orthodox church with the Moscow Patriarchate. But when Russia invaded, soldiers stripped the priest naked, knocked out his teeth with the butt of a rifle, and paraded him through the streets, taunting “Where is your God now?”
Lausanne Jewish evangelism consultation calls Christians to fight antisemitism
ATLANTA (BP) – Battling rising antisemitism, Messianic leaders at the 2026 North American Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism (LCJE-NA) called on Christians to demonstrate courageous love in speech and action.
At 4 years, ‘pure miracle’ Ukraine still standing against Putin’s war
IRPIN, Ukraine (BP) – For Christians in Ukraine, the battle is existential, a spiritual onus to spread the Gospel where they are planted as darkness tries to snuff their witness.
Pew: U.S., Nigeria most religiously diverse among largest populations
WASHINGTON (BP) – The United States and Nigeria are the most religiously diverse nations among populations of at least 120 million people, Pew Research said Feb. 12, based on 2020 numbers dividing belief systems into seven religions.
France raids X offices, U.K. probes X for possible deepfake sex exploitation
PARIS (BP) – France and the United Kingdom are the latest countries to announce advances investigating social platform X for possible offenses including the proliferation of Grok-generated deepfake sexual exploitation images.
Boko Haram commander said to be among dozens of terrorists killed by Nigerian Army
KADUNA STATE, Nigeria (BP) – The Nigerian Army killed a key Boko Haram commander, at least 10 Boko Haram terrorists and more than 70 terroristic bandits in ongoing defensive maneuvers in northeastern Nigeria since Jan. 11, ABC News and others reported.
Israel’s recovery of the last hostage’s remains in Gaza opens the way for next ceasefire steps
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel said Monday (Jan. 26) it had recovered the remains of the last hostage in Gaza, closing a painful chapter for the country and clearing the way for the next and more challenging phase of its ceasefire with Hamas.
167 Christians abducted during worship in Nigeria after dozens killed since new year
KADUNA STATE, Nigeria (BP) – Nearly 175 worshippers were abducted Jan. 18 from three churches in Kaduna State in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, Christian advocacy groups reported, after at least 35 were killed in separate attacks on villages in the Middle Belt and eastern Nigeria.
World Watch List 2026: Christian persecution at all-time high in 15 nations
SANTA ANA, Calif. (BP) – Violence against Christians is at an all-time high in 15 nations including Nigeria and Syria, Open Doors International said Jan. 14 in releasing its annual World Watch List of the 50 most dangerous countries for believers.
