Persecution & Prayer Alert

"Nothing tends more to cement
the hearts of Christians than
praying together. Never do they
love one another so well as when
they witness the outpouring of
each other's hearts in prayer."
~ Charles Finney

Featured

Zafar Bhatti Dies Shortly After Acquittal

Brother Zafar has an orange shirt on and is looking directly at the viewer. — Zafar Bhatti
Photo: Release International

Zafar Bhatti was imprisoned in July 2012, following accusations that he had sent blasphemous text messages from his cell phone. Over the years, at least 47 separate appeal hearings were held on behalf of the Christian believer. Despite repeated recommendations from prison authorities for his release on medical grounds, Zafar remained in custody. In 2019, he suffered two minor heart attacks, and doctors warned that a third could be fatal. (View previous reports on Zafar's case.)

Featured

Christians Blocked from Worshipping

A white church building with blue trim in Indonesia. — A church in Indonesia.
Photo: VOMC

For two consecutive Sundays, approximately 20 opposing Muslim residents in the village of Gerendeng Pulo have prevented a church congregation from gathering for worship. The opposition stems from concerns that the believers began meeting in a new location without the approval of local Muslim leaders.

Featured

Churches Continue to Await Registration

Open water is in the distance. A crowd on the beach can be seen between two tall buildings. — Sumgait, Azerbaijan.
Photo: Pexels / Smart World

In April, the leadership representing Peace Church in Sumgait, Azerbaijan, submitted a formal application for registration with the government, a legal requirement for conducting worship and other religious activities within the country. However, more than five months later, the church remains in legal limbo. The state committee responsible for processing such registrations is refusing to process the application. Instead, the church has been warned that any unregistered religious activity is forbidden and will consequently result in punishment.

Featured

Suspended Sentences Revoked for Two Believers

A group of people is standing on a small stage. — Elder Xue Shaoqiang and Sister
Wan Chunqin with some friends.
Photo: ChinaAid

In 2023, Elder Xue Shaoqiang and Sister Wan Chunqin of the Bengbu Living Stone Reformed Church were arrested on accusations of "fraud" – a charge frequently used by Chinese authorities to target members of unapproved churches. The believers were sentenced to 30 months in prison, followed by a four-year suspended sentence. After their release on January 8th, 2025, both Christians were subjected to strict conditions. However, upon allegedly failing to comply with what they described as "excessively harsh and unreasonable" measures, their suspended sentences were revoked.

Persecution & Prayer Alert

Archives