SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Muslim leaders have filed complaints of blasphemy against a leading Christian pastor in Indonesia. After Pastor Gilbert Lumoindong of the Indonesia Bethel Church (Gereja Bethel Indonesia, GBI) mentioned Islamic prayer and alms-giving in comparison with biblical tithing in a video of his comments from a Sunday sermon, attorney Farhat Abbas […]
Pastor in Indonesia Accused of Blasphemy
Muslims in two regions file complaints.
April 25, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
Vietnamese Churches Demand Investigation of Christian’s Death
Petition demands full, fair inquiry.
April 22, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – Relatives of Y Bum Bya, a member of the Evangelical Church of Christ of the Western Highlands (ECCWH), on March 8 found his battered body hanging from a tree with a rope around his neck. Police, saying they were coming to return a cell phone that they had confiscated from him, […]
Muslims in Indonesia End Church’s Meetings in Home
Local residents object to use of house for worship.
March 22, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Muslim residents objecting to house-church worship in western Indonesia on Sunday (March 17) compelled the pastor to discontinue using her home for services, sources said. On the western tip of Java Island, dozens of Muslim residents gathered outside the house after worship ended in Saga Bunar, Balaraja Sub-District, Tangerang […]
Islamic Extremists in Indonesia Targeting Youth, Women
‘Active intolerant’ teenagers increasing, official says.
February 29, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – The head of Indonesia’s counter-terrorism agency said officials are focussing on protecting teenaged children and women from Islamic radicalization as they have become the most targeted groups. Citing a report by the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, Rycko Amelza Dahniel of the National Counter-terrorism Agency (Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme, […]
Ominous New Decree 95 Confirms Vietnam’s Intent to Control Religion
Shutting down churches will be easier, raising and receiving funds much harder.
February 28, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – Two millennia ago, Jesus of Nazareth said, “Yes, what sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease their burden.” (Luke 11:46, NLT). What Jesus said about the religious zealots of His day could also be said […]
A Year of Bumpy Ups and Downs for Religious Liberty in Vietnam
Despite all efforts, the country again lands on the U.S. Special Watch List.
January 31, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – Vietnam improved from 24th to 35th place in Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List (WWL) of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, but the U.S. government was not so generous regarding its religious freedom record, placing the country on its Special Watch List on Jan. 4 […]
Blasphemy Law in Indonesia Faces Criticism as Cases Grow
Charges based on fatwas and mob pressure, rights advocates say.
December 21, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – With an increase in blasphemy cases in Indonesia and arrests based on Islamic fatwas and mob pressure, rights advocates are calling for laws to be amended or ended. The number of charges registered under Indonesia’s blasphemy law increased from 10 in 2021 to 19 last year, according to rights group […]
Officials Vow to Withdraw Permit for Christian School in Indonesia
Foundation says it has authorization to build.
October 12, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Bowing to pressure from Islamic protestors, local officials in South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia have vowed to withdraw permission that had been granted to build a Christian school, sources said. In the town of Parepare, the district representative council had granted permission for the construction of the school as the […]
Local Officials in Laos Stop Worship, Expel Christians
Family barred from returning to village.
October 3, 2023 By - 1 Comment
(Morning Star News) – A month after a Christian family in Salavan Province, Laos lost their home and were expelled for their faith, officials in another province on Sunday (Oct. 1) disrupted the worship service of a house church and threatened to arrest them, according to a rights group. In Savannakhet Province’s Khampou village, Assaphone […]
Muslim Mob Forces Christians Out of Building in Indonesia
Protest results in agreement to temporarily leave worship site.
September 20, 2023 By - 1 Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A Muslim mob protesting a church site outside Jakarta, Indonesia on Saturday (Sept. 16) has forced the congregation to temporarily move worship services online, sources said. The Indonesia Bethel Church (Gereja Bethel Indonesia, or GBI) reached a police-brokered agreement to forego worship services at their building in Depok, just south […]