SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A state civil servant’s angry halt to her Christian neighbor’s home worship on Sunday (Sept. 22) near Jakarta, Indonesia led to an uproar that resulted in her apologizing, according to local media. The head of the Tourism Marketing Unit at the Bekasi Municipal Tourism Office, identified as Masriwati, stopped the […]
Attempt in Indonesia to Ban Church’s Worship Ends in Apology
Civil servant angrily halted service at house church.
September 27, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
Seven Arrested in Indonesia for Terrorist Threats against Pope
Bombings and burnings threatened.
September 10, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Counter-terrorism forces in Indonesia arrested seven suspects on terrorism charges before and during Pope Francis’ visit to the country Sept. 3-6, local media outlets reported. Special Detachment Densus 88, an elite counter-terrorism force, arrested the seven suspects from different parts of the country following their social media posts threatening to […]
Church Sealed, Pastor Dragged and Threatened in Indonesia
Shop-house worship site among other businesses ‘secured’ by authorities.
September 3, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – About 50 officials from Jombang Regency, Indonesia on Aug. 18 dragged a pastor from his worship site and sealed the shop where his church met, sources said. The sealing of the worship site was part of a Jombang government effort to recover dozens of shops the government says it owns […]
Opposition Emerges to Easing Worship Permits in Indonesia
VP warns against efforts to end role of Muslim-dominated body.
August 16, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Opposition has emerged to a proposal by Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs to do away with the role of a Muslim-dominated body that has complicated efforts by minority religions to build houses of worship. Indonesia’s vice president last week warned against the effort to end the role of the Muslim-dominated […]
Authorities in Indonesia Foil Plan to Bomb Churches
Student member of Islamic terrorist group and parents arrested.
August 5, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Authorities in Indonesia last week arrested a 19-year-old member of an Islamic extremist group and his parents, foiling a plan to suicide bomb two church sites, officials said. The high school student identified only by his initials, H.O.K, was arrested on Wednesday (July 31) at about 7:15 p.m. as he […]
Video of Halted Christian Worship in March Surfaces in Indonesia
Officials lament appearance of incident they say is resolved.
July 29, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Officials in Indonesia said they regretted the surfacing of a video showing Muslims halting worship of a church service in March, as authorities have since provided a temporary site for the congregation’s services. Soma Atmaja of the Tangerang Regency government said on the agency’s website that his administration had […]
Unknown Assailants Shoot Pastor Dead in Laos
Provincial leader of Lao Evangelical Church attacked at home.
July 28, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
HONG KONG (Morning Star News) – Pastor Thongkham Philavanh was feeding his chickens and ducks behind his house in Vanghay village, northwestern Laos, on Monday (July 22) when two men on motorcycles, faces covered, arrived. After a brief exchange, one of the gunmen fired seven shots into his head and body. The assailant’s gun was fitted […]
Wedding Disrupted, Worship Banned at Site in Indonesia
July 5, 2024 By - 1 Comment
SURABAYA, INDONESIA (Morning Star News) – Local officials in Indonesia on Sunday (June 30) stopped a wedding ceremony and banned the church from further worship meetings at the site, sources said. In Mergosari, Tarik District, Sidoarjo Regency of Java island, village head Eko Budi Santoso halted the wedding at the Pentecostal Church in Indonesia (Gereja Pentekosta […]
Pastor, Five Other Christians Arrested in Laos
Village officials detain them at prayer meeting.
June 27, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
(Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Village officials in central Laos on Saturday (June 22) arrested a pastor and five other Christians as they prayed in preparation for worship services the next day, according to a rights watchdog. Tahae village authorities arrested the church leader, identified only as Pastor Mum, and the other Christians in […]
Muslim Family Disrupts Christian Worship in Indonesia
Local official, wife and son yell bad names at house church members.
May 13, 2024 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A local official and his Muslim family last week disrupted house church worship in an area of Java island, Indonesia where it has never happened before. In East Java Province’s Betiting village, in Cerme Sub-Regency of Gresik Regency, the head of the citizen association (Ketua Rukun Warga, or RW) […]