LOS ANGELES (Morning Star News) – China’s shuttering of more than a dozen unregistered congregations in Hainan Province is evidence of a plan to do away with house churches, according to the China Aid Association (CAA). Besides the church closures on Hainan Island off China’s southern-most coast in the past several weeks, officials have threatened to […]
Rash of Church Closures Evidence of Plan to End Unregistered Congregations, CAA Says
More than a dozen churches in Hainan Province ordered to stop meeting .
June 4, 2013 By -
Pastor Gong Shengliang Suffers Stroke in Chinese Prison
Former leader of banned house church movement denied medical treatment, daughter writes.
May 27, 2013 By -
LOS ANGELES (Morning Star News) – Gong Shengliang, imprisoned in China since 2001 for his leadership of a large house church movement, is suffering from lack of medical treatment after suffering a stroke, according to his daughter. In an open letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping published on the Websites of China Ministries International and China […]
Church Closures, Demolition Spark Protest in Indonesia
Pressured by Islamists, officials crack down on Christians in West Java.
April 12, 2013 By -
NEW DELHI (Morning Star News) – Hundreds of Christians hit the streets of Indonesia’s capital this week to urge government action after local officials demolished a church building and threatened to close others at the behest of Islamist forces. Christian protestors, joined by minority Ahmadiyya and Shia Muslims, held a shared prayer service and sang the […]
Officials in Vietnam Claim Christian Who Died in Police Custody Committed Suicide
Stunned family refutes declaration, citing signs of savage beating.
April 9, 2013 By -
LOS ANGELES (Morning Star News) – Vietnamese officials are calling the death of a Christian in police custody a suicide – a claim family members of the severely beaten Christian strongly refute. Hoang Van Ngai, previously identified by his Hmong name of Vam Ngaij Vaj, died on March 17 in custody in Gia Nghia, Dak Nong […]
Hmong Christian Leader in Vietnam Beaten to Death in Police Custody, Sources Say
Electrical shock torture suspected; autopsy report claims he stuck hand in electrical outlet.
March 28, 2013 By -
LOS ANGELES (Morning Star News) – A Hmong church leader in Vietnam has been beaten to death in police custody, area sources said. Police beat Vam Ngaij Vaj around his neck and shoulders and likely used electric shock on him, resulting in his death on March 17, said a church leader who spoke with those who […]
Amid Reforms in Burma, Killing of Christian Civilians Continues
Report documents rapes, destruction of church buildings and homes.
March 14, 2013 By -
CHIANG MAI, Thailand (Morning Star News) – Days before Burmese President Thein Sein was reportedly nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize last week, a report revealed his government troops had killed and raped dozens of civilians and burned hundreds of churches and homes. At war with rebels in predominantly Christian Kachin state, government troops killed […]
Ethnic Families in Vietnam Ransacked, Beaten for their New Faith
Recently converted Christians in Central Highlands suffer nights of terror, beating by day.
February 26, 2013 By -
DANANG, Vietnam (Morning Star News) – Newly converted Christians of the Sedang ethnic minority in Vietnam’s Central Highlands were terrorized last week – their homes and personal property badly damaged or destroyed in four consecutive night raids, and some of the faithful seriously injured from beatings in broad daylight, sources said. Since becoming Christians in […]
Persecution Rises in China as Plan Begins to End House Churches
Communist government starts eradication of ‘unofficial’ Christian congregations.
February 16, 2013 By -
NEW DELHI (Morning Star News) – China’s Christians felt a noticeable rise in persecution in 2012 as the Communist government began the first of a three-phase plan to eradicate unregistered house churches, a new report says. Cases of persecution of Christians rose by about 42 percent last year compared with 2011, according to the report by […]
Vietnam’s New Religion Decree Termed a Step Backward
Legal recognition will now take at least 23 years; decree aims to end house churches.
January 24, 2013 By -
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (Morning Star News) – Protestant Christians and leaders of other faiths in Vietnam are criticizing a new decree on religion that went into effect this year as a significant step backward, with one Christian activist saying it could put an end to the house-church movement. In a Jan. 18 […]
Will We Be Their Voice?
Bill would create special envoy for religious minorities in the Middle East/South Central Asia.
January 17, 2013 By -
(Morning Star News) – Christians worldwide just celebrated the birth of Jesus. For many in the West this was a festive season marked by worship services, gift-giving and time with family and friends. But for the church in the Middle East, fear of persecution cast a long, dark shadow over the Christmas holiday. Oppression […]