CENTRAL NIGERIA (BP) – At least 54 Christians were killed early Easter in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, many during worship, with dozens more abducted from Evangelical Church Winning All Souls and other sites, International Christian Concern (ICC) reported. Murders and abductions in several communities in Benue, Kaduna and Nasarawa states were reported, but authorities had not released the total casualty count, ICC said April 6. Violence against Christians in Nigeria was the most severe as … [Read more...]
Baptist denomination banned in Nicaragua as religious persecution grows, CSW reports
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (BP) – The Nicaraguan government stripped an entire Baptist denomination of its legal status, banned the entry of Bibles and revoked the citizenship of various religious leaders in escalating religious persecution, CSW said March 30 in a new report. The Association of Independent Fundamentalist Baptists is one of 18 religiously affiliated organizations the government banned in 2025, including 15 Protestant and three Catholic groups, in addition to hundreds of civic … [Read more...]
Religious persecution continues in Venezuela despite Maduro’s capture, CSW reports
CARACAS, Venezuela (BP) – Religious persecution and human rights violations continue in Venezuela under a firmly entrenched authoritarian regime, CSW reported March 9 as captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores await trial in the U.S. The Maduro regime under the Socialist Union of Venezuela Party has persecuted Christians there for more than a decade, religious freedom defenders have said. “With or without Maduro at the helm, the Socialist Union of Venezuela Party … [Read more...]
FIRST-PERSON: Persecution and protection of Iranian Christians
With the present war involving Iran, the United States and surrounding countries, a closer look at the history of Christianity in Iran may help place these events in context and guide believers in how to pray for Christians living there. Throughout Iran’s history with Christianity, there has been sporadic discrimination against and persecution of believers. When outside forces threaten Iran, the relationship between Iranian Christians and the ruling government has often changed. Beginnings … [Read more...]
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. Nigerian soldiers killed Abu Khalid, a Boko Haram commander in the Sambisa Forest, and 10 Boko Haram terrorists in a night raid Jan. 30 in Borno State in northeastern Nigeria, army spokesman Sani Uba told ABC News. AdditiAdd Postonally, … [Read more...]
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. Approximately 163-167 Christians remained captive today, Jan. 20, according to reports from CSW and International Christian Concern, with witnesses and others attributing the abductions to bandits and Fulani militants, … [Read more...]
2000 Christians call for religious freedom protections amid rising violence in India
NEW DELHI (BP) – Two thousand Christians gathered in India in November to urge the government to protect religious freedoms as violence and legalized discrimination increase in the world’s most populous country. Representatives of more than 200 Christian denominations including evangelicals advocated for religious freedoms at the day-long National Christian Convention Nov. 29, spotlighting a 500 percent increase in targeted attacks against Christians from 2014-2024, religious persecution … [Read more...]
Nov. 2 Day of Prayer for Persecuted Church uplifts endangered Christians globally
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – Southern Baptists have joined the global community, Nov. 2, in uplifting the estimated 380 million Christians who endure danger because of their faith. Recognized globally as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, the Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on the Southern Baptist Convention calendar aligns Southern Baptists in a worldwide prayer call on behalf of Christians who suffer evils including criminalization of worship and evangelism, as … [Read more...]
USCIRF condemns Chinese religious persecution as jailed pastor’s U.S. family urges prayer
WASHINGTON (BP) — Chinese Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, among 22 pastors jailed this week in China on erroneous charges, lived in the U.S. with his wife Chunli Liu and their children before returning to China in 2007 to plant Zion Church. His wife, who has remained in the U.S. to raise their children, U.S. citizens, is appealing for prayer as the U.S. advocates for her husband’s release. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) noted Chunli’s comments Oct. 16 among … [Read more...]
U.S. urges release of jailed Chinese pastors
BEIJING (BP) – China falsely claimed Oct. 13 to protect religious freedoms after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged the country’s government to release several pastors arrested in house church raids. “The Chinese government governs religious affairs in accordance with law, protects the religious freedom of the citizens and the normal religious activities,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Monday at a regular briefing, MSN reported. “We firmly oppose the U.S. interfering in … [Read more...]
Nik and Ruth Ripken encourage believers to follow Jesus, no matter the cost
by Leann Callaway LOUISVILLE , Ky. (BP) – As retired International Mission Board missionaries Nik and Ruth Ripken speak in a variety of small group settings, churches and conferences, they desire to share practical insights with prospective missionaries about what to expect mentally, physically and spiritually. They especially want to prepare people for those areas where believers face extreme persecution and suffering. That’s a story they know all too well. Originally from … [Read more...]
New bill would require U.S. to flag, sanction Nigeria for religious freedom violations
WASHINGTON (BP) – A new congressional bill would require the U.S. to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), indicating egregious, systemic and ongoing religious freedom violations in the country that is the deadliest for Christians. The Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), echoes a longstanding call by many religious freedom organizations including the bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom … [Read more...]
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