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2024-08-01

  • Authorities Prevent Church from Obtaining Land
    A view from Diclekent Boulevard, Diyarbakir.
    Diyarbakir, Türkiye
    Photo: Wikimedia / chansey (cc)

    The Diyarbakir Protestant Church Foundation began with members gathering in a home more than 20 years ago. In 2019, the congregants moved into a dedicated church building and became a legally recognized organization. Over the years, the ministry has grown to encompass more than 100 people – a number far too large for the limited space of the premises where they are currently meeting. As a result, these believers have been seeking suitable land so they can build a larger facility that will better accommodate their growing needs. Unfortunately, their efforts to obtain a potential property have been continually ignored or turned down by governing officials.

  • Bible Study Meeting Raided in Inner Mongolia
    Believers are singing hymns at the Xuan'en Church.
    Xuan'en Church
    Photo: ChinaAid

    On the morning of July 17th, several Christians from the Xuan'en Church in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, were gathered for a Bible study when the meeting was suddenly interrupted by a raid. The intruding officials, who were sent by multiple agencies, recorded the names and phone numbers of the attending Christians and ordered them to end the meeting – based on the grounds that they are not part of the government-sanctioned Three-Self church. Since this was considered a first offence, the believers were issued a warning.

  • Hope and Faith Demonstrated on Death Row
    Noman Masih is wearing handcuffs.
    Noman Masih
    Photo: Morning Star News

    A Christian who was sentenced to death for blasphemy in May 2023 has demonstrated that, even while in prison, he has been able to maintain hope for the future. Noman Masih was convicted on trumped-up charges of blasphemy for allegedly distributing sketches of Muhammad in 2019 (read more). In a display of endurance and strength, despite this terrible situation, the young Christian man was recently able pass his high school board examinations with a very high score.