Persecution update

"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body." (Hebrews 13:3 ESV)

Persecution report, update: November 22, 2025. Prepared by Chris Faith.

Nigeria, Nov 20, yesterday morning, fifty-two Catholic school students were kidnapped by armed terrorists. Just this Wednesday, gunmen attacked the Christ Apostolic Church, killing at least two people and abducting the pastor and 38 worshippers, over 50,000 believers have been martyred, and millions displaces since the violence began.

India, Oct 23, a group of about ten people reportedly violently assaulted a bus carrying missionaries. Eight police officers stood by, doing nothing. They have been suspended.

UK, Nov 18, Britain's highest court has ruled that current Christian religious education in Northern Ireland's state schools is unlawful because it "breaches" children's human rights.

India, Nov 18, several advocacy organizations have called for a national convention of Christians this month to raise concerns about Christian persecution to the government.

Syria, Nov 17, Syria's Christians Face "Ethno-Religious Cleansing," since the installation of the new Islamic government.

Sudan, Nov 16, the minority Christian population believers are caught in the cross hairs as the civil war intensifies with escalating persecution amid mass killings, rape, abductions, and other atrocities.

Turkey, Oct 16, more than 350 foreign Christians have been expelled since 2020, labeling many as "national security threats." Christian organizations say hate crimes and religious discrimination have intensified under President Erdogan's rule, as Turkey continues to restrict Orthodox and Protestant communities.

China, Oct 13, China detains Pastor Ezra Jin and dozens of Zion Church leaders in coordinated raids across six provinces, as a part of the most widespread persecution in 40 years.

Mozambique, Oct 7, more than 30 Christians have been brutally executed in northern Mozambique in a wave of attacks carried out by Islamic State-affiliated terrorists targeting Christian villages, churches, and homes.

Pakistan, Sept 23, Pakistan. Christian children in government schools throughout the country face serious oppression. Teachers often take it upon themselves to preach Islam, declare the Bible as "corrupted," mock the Trinity, and call Christians blasphemers for believing Jesus is the Son of God.

Niger, Sept 17. Islamist gunmen on motorbikes have killed at least 22 people in Niger, including about 15 at a baptism ceremony and seven more nearby.

DR Congo, Sept. 9, the Allied Democratic Forces (An Islamic terrorist group) used machetes and guns to kill at least 61 civilians at a funeral in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Monday night. They later also torched 30 homes.

Indonesia, Aug 20, a prayer house/church has been burnt down (for the seventh time) by radical M. leaving believers nowhere to worship together.

Eritrea, Aug 20, seven church leaders have been held without trial for more than two decades. Many are calling for their release.

clement quotes hebrews

Clement of Rome wrote to the church in Corinth around AD 90. This is perhaps the same Clement, companion of Paul, mentioned in Philippians 4:3. Many hold him to be the first bishop / pope in Rome, aka St. Clement I. Clement quotes from the letter to the Hebrews. Origin suggested that Clement was in fact the writer (as transcriber or amanuensis) of Hebrews. Perhaps this letter began as a "word of exhortation" given by Paul at the synagogue (Heb 13:22; cf Acts 13:15) which then became a circular letter for the churches. Other possible authors of Hebrews include Luke, Barnabas, or Apollos. The theology is Pauline, but the transcriber is obviously second-generation (Heb. 2:3-4). At any rate, this early church leader in Rome, is already quoting Hebrews in his letter in AD 90: CHAPTER 36 ALL BLESSINGS ARE GIVEN TO US THROUGH CHRIST This is the way, beloved, in which we find our Savior, even Jesus Christ, the High Prie...

a brief history of bcf

Blacksburg Christian Fellowship, or BCF as it is popularly known, was founded in November 1969. Prior to this time several families had been meeting for Bible study and prayer, with a particular concern that the Lord raise up an effective biblical ministry to the students of the Virginia Tech campus. Growing from these meetings, the Lord led them to begin a public ministry on Sunday mornings. The Wesley Foundation agreed to the rental of their facilities, and the first meeting was held in November 1969, with about 30 people in attendance. Since the first meeting BCF has been greatly blessed by the Lord and has seen a steady growth in ministry and in numbers. Two other local churches were formed in part from BCF. In 1974 the Lord led Houston Couch, who at that time was an Elder in BCF, to leave and start Dayspring Christian Fellowship. In 1980 Max Harris, who was a regular attender at BCF, was encouraged by the Elders and members to start a ministry which has now become Grace Cov...

evangelicalism over the next decade

I've been contemplating Michael Spencer's blogs on the future of evangelical churches in America ( iMonk blog ). His three articles on his predicted collapse of evangelicalism are found here . It is important, I believe, to read all three articles. I find myself in agreement with much he has to say. Here are a few quotes... The determination to follow in the methodological steps of numerically successful churches will be greater than ever. The result will be, in the main, a departure from doctrine to more and more emphasis on relevance, motivation and personal success….with the result being churches further compromised and weakened in their ability to pass on the faith. ... For some time, we’ve been at a point that the decision to visit a particular evangelical church contained a fairly high risk of not hearing the Biblical Gospel. That experience will be multiplied and expanded in the years to come. Core beliefs will become less and less normative and necessary in evangelic...

my burg

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