Asia Bibi death sentence overturned! Update: Unrest in Pakistan
After eight years of unjust imprisonment, we rejoice to hear Asia Bibi is no longer on death row but free to leave prison. Under immense pressure of mobs calling for her death and threatening riots, the judge did what his office demanded, overturn a sentence in a case where there was no evidence and procedures had not been followed. However,
Continue ReadingChildren’s camp raided in China
Summer is the season we send our children to Bible camps to boost their spiritual life and have fun. However, in China this privilege can no longer be taken for granted. A group of children between the ages of 10-14, found their campsite in Tianjin raided by police and had their leaders taken away. Children have been of particular concern
Continue ReadingCaught between politics and persecution
How do you become world famous as a pastor? Apparently, getting arrested by the right people can help. Andrew Brunson now shares in the unsought fame of other believers, falsely accused and held as political pawns by dictators who needed a good bargaining chip in their dealings with the US. Andrew Brunson was arrested almost two years ago, in October
Continue ReadingPastor Abel is Free
On Tuesday we received the joyful news that Pastor Abel Yang (Yang Hwa) was freed from prison. He spent two and a half years behind bars facing torture, threats to his family, and severe health issues. He is now back with his wife and son, although physically he is in bad condition. In December 2015 pastor Abel Yang was arrested
Continue ReadingGet your prayer in gear for Ramadan
In urban areas in the UK, Muslims have a strong and visable presence. This means Christians in the UK cannot ignore Ramadan as an exotic cultural expression of far-away nations. Muslims are their neighbours, their teachers, their class-mates, their collegues, their doctors and their friends. In this article, one British sister shares about her desire to make this time or
Continue ReadingChina Bans Online Bible Sales
China continues to persecute Christians. On April 4, 2018, China produced White Papers, a list of new legislation that clarifies existing laws. This move is very unique. The first publication of this kind was produced in 1997, but that was more than 20 years ago, and China is a different place today than it was when these were first produced.
Continue ReadingPulled from the digital shelves, what is next?
Is the Bible available in China? According to the Chinese government, upwards of 160 million Bibles have been published in the country, in over one hundred languages; this includes 80 million in Chinese, as well as a number of ethnic minority and braille publications. Various international news sources report that up to half of the Bibles published have been exported,
Continue ReadingSocial Credit to Discredit Christians
In a horrific display of persecution with online data as its primary weapon, the Chinese government has reached a sinister level of oppression. This approach is geared toward essentially paralyzing Christians who operate outside the Three-Self Movement church structure. What are they doing? Employing new laws. Such new laws impose fines on anyone who would host a Christian gathering;
Continue ReadingWhite paper speaks of freedom?
“We want to protect religious freedom.” This is the premise of the latest white papers the Chinese government released in early April. On the surface, we can all get on board with protecting religious freedom. But further investigation of the recent papers tells a completely different story. In fact, this “protection” includes such acts as removal of crosses from over
Continue ReadingChina’s Crackdown on Christians
Last year BTJ was among the first to report about new Chinese laws that persecute Christians. Several Christian organizations working in China were skeptical, and even openly challenged the reports. By the time the Communist Party met together in Beijing in October of 2017 however, it was clear that the new laws were real, and they were being pushed by
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