World
Vietnamese families driven from their village for converting to Christianity
"We need to pray that Xong Ba Thong, his family, his relatives, and other Christians in Nghe An province will stand strong in faith, bold in their testimony, and become salt and light in their community despite challenges."
Share of self-identified Christians hits new low in Australia amid rise of the 'nones' - census
Australia's 2021 Census reveals that the percentage of people identifying as Christian has dipped below 50% for the first time, a drop of 17 percentage points over the last 10 years. At the same time, the number of people who describe themselves as "non-religious" has risen.
Pakistan: Christian man sentenced to death for blasphemy
Ashfaq Masih was accused of blasphemy in 2017 after allegedly saying that Jesus Christ was the only true prophet.
Technology is being 'weaponised' to persecute religious minorities - Open Doors
Religious minorities face being consigned to an "Orwellian existence" amid rising cyber persecution, Open Doors has warned.
Ukraine Christians harassed by Russian separatists
As the front lines of war in Ukraine keep shifting, a number of Protestant churches in areas now under Russian separatist control are reporting harassment from soldiers and officials. Some say they have been forced to leave their buildings. One Release International partner, who is based in Ukraine, has been describing what it's like to be a Christian in that country in areas under attack.
Religious freedom in Hong Kong is 'next on the hit list', warns former Cabinet minister
Former Cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken has expressed his fears for religious freedom in Hong Kong as Beijing tightens its grip.
There is 'heavy hatred against Christian values' in Western society, says MP prosecuted over sexuality beliefs
Finnish lawmaker Päivi Räsänen, prosecuted for voicing her traditional Christian beliefs about marriage and sexuality, believes that a "heavy hatred for Christian values" in Western society will cause many Christians to censor themselves for social acceptance.
Hope amid the rubble in Ukraine
Incredible courage is being shown by Ukrainian charity workers.
Afghanistan named worst country for Christian persecution
Following the US withdrawal and the Taliban's return to power, Afghanistan has been chosen as the worst country for Christian persecution by a religious freedom advocacy group.
Churches remember modern-day martyrs
Modern-day martyrs and persecuted Christians are being remembered by churches in the UK and Ireland today.
44-year-old quadriplegic man becomes first to die by assisted suicide in Italy
Italy has carried out its first-ever assisted suicide following a lengthy legal fight so that a quadriplegic man could end his life.
3 killed and 36 abducted in attack on churches in Nigeria
The militia men are demanding a ransom for the release of the abductees.
Islamic State claims responsibility for attacks on Christian villages in Mozambique
The Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in Mozambique's Christian villages that left eight people killed, including by beheading, and several houses burned.
UNICEF warns of millions more child brides in Africa - but the Church could help change that
An additional 45 million girls in sub-Saharan Africa will become child brides in the next decade if progress to stop the practice is not accelerated.
Christians are being 'strategically driven' from their homes
"The Church on the Run" report by Open Doors describes a "deliberate strategy" to weaken, silence or completely eradicate Christian populations.
Rejection and stigma - the painful reality for abducted Boko Haram 'wives' after they escape
Some of the women abducted by Boko Haram and forced into sex slavery manage to find freedom, but when they return to their villages, the trauma only continues.