SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Two local officials in Indonesia joined Islamist organizations’ call to block construction of a Christian church, triggering objections nationwide the past two months, according to published reports. In western Java Island’s Banten Province, Cilegon Mayor Heldy Agustian and his deputy, Sanuji Pentamarta, were among those who signed a petition to ban […]
Officials Join Opposition to Church Construction in Indonesia
Government interference comes into the open in western Java.
November 2, 2022 By - Leave a Comment
China ‘Liquidates’ House Church as Part of Crackdown
Pastors and other workers arrested.
August 26, 2022 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – Authorities in China on Aug. 19 officially “liquidated” an historical house church in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, as part of a crackdown on churches that refuse to join the state-controlled Three-Self Church, rights advocates said. The Church of Abundance, which began about 30 years ago, had been targeted as a “cult” that […]
Hmong Christians in Vietnam Suffering Severe Persecution
Federal authorities do nothing as local officials violate religion law.
July 25, 2022 By - 1 Comment
(Morning Star News) – Severe persecution of Hmong Christians is underway in Nghe An Province in Vietnam. In the central Vietnam province, officials vying with each other to create “Christian-free zones” operate “with no conscience or humanity,” as if they were in a different country than the one whose religious freedom measures they are violating, […]
Vietnam Floats Draconian New Religion Decrees
Proposed high fines, shutdowns and onerous regulations submitted for feedback.
June 14, 2022 By - Leave a Comment
HANOI, Vietnam (Morning Star News) – When the “Government of Vietnam” posted two draft religion decrees the first week of June, even ranking staff members of the Government Bureau of Religious Affairs were taken by surprise and encouraged religious leaders to strongly object. The decrees with ancillary documents were posted online for input by government departments […]
Online Crackdown Threatens Christians in China
Draconian measures contravene constitution, attorney says.
February 14, 2022 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – Unregistered house churches that have relied on online gatherings and teaching to survive the COVID-19 pandemic and persecution will have that option taken away under draconian measures taking effect on March 1, sources said. Churches, seminaries and other ministries have been shaken by the government announcement on Dec. 20 that all […]
Christians Questioned in Criminal Investigation of Church in Vietnam
Attorney says intent must be shown for violation of law.
November 8, 2021 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam have questioned a pastoral couple and 11 congregation members in the criminal prosecution of a church facing wild accusations of starting a COVID-19 outbreak, sources said. Police in Go Vap District questioned the Rev. Vo Xuan Loan and her husband, the Rev. Phuong Van […]
Mixed Messages in Vietnam amid COVID-19
Following prior anti-church hype, communist government reacts responsibly to outbreak at Bible school.
July 30, 2021 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – When several students at the Evangelical Church of Vietnam South’s (ECVN-S) Institute of Bible and Theology in Ho Chi Minh City developed coughs and fevers on July 20, church authorities immediately called the government health department. In rapid tests, some 290 of the 306 students and staff on the campus in […]
Criminal Investigation of Church in Vietnam over COVID-19 Confirmed
Official urges media to make corrections of misleading statements.
June 23, 2021 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – The threat of investigating a church for possible criminal activity in the spread of COVID-19 in Vietnam was confirmed in a letter on Friday (June 18) from officials to a recently formed house-church alliance, sources said. In the letter of reply to the Vietnam Evangelical Alliance, made up of 40 house-church […]
Evangelicals Take Brunt of COVID-19 Collateral Damage in Vietnam
Christians fear lasting effects of vilification of REM church.
June 15, 2021 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – The vilification of the Revival Ekklesia Mission church in Vietnam has somewhat quieted, but its linking of evangelicals with COVID-19 is feared to have done long-lasting damage. State media, government agencies and the public in social media all reviled the church following the positive COVID-19 tests of two members of the […]
COVID-19 Leads to Prosecution of House-Church Group in Vietnam
Organization’s registration suspended.
June 2, 2021 By - 1 Comment
(Morning Star News) – A house-church organization in Vietnam is facing government prosecution and community hate due to COVID-19, sources said. A couple who attended the meeting place of the Revival Ekklesia Mission (REM), an independent, charismatic house-church organization headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, went to the Gia Dinh General Hospital on May 26 […]