Malaysian human rights commission concludes police responsible for disappearance of pastor and Muslim activist
Malaysia’s human rights commission has concluded that police were behind the “enforced disapperances” of Christian pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat, a Muslim social activist. The finding – that the two men were “targeted by religious authorities and the police on allegations that they were involved in matters against Islam in Malaysia” – came after […]
Pastor of underground church in Kenya beaten unconscious, sources say
Nairobi, KenyaMorning Star News The Somali pastor of an underground church in Kenya near the Somali border suffered a broken thigh bone and other injuries after Muslim extremists beat him with wooden clubs on Friday night, sources said. Pastor Abdul (whose surname has been withheld for security reasons), a 30-year-old father of three, had finished […]
Tributes paid to Indian pastor beheaded by suspected Maoists
World Watch Monitor The body of a pastor was found beheaded on the shore of a reservoir in eastern India on Wednesday, hours after he was abducted by around 25 masked men whom police believe to be Maoists. Residents of Kubasal village, in the Tamar area of Jharkhand state, identified the body lying on the […]
US says there is ‘no evidence’ Pastor Brunson guilty of any crime
Just days before jailed US pastor Andrew Brunson is to stand trial accused of espionage and terrorism against Turkey, a senior US official in Ankara declared last week that months of strained relations between Ankara and Washington have “started going to a positive direction…amid accelerated cooperation.” The optimistic comments on 12th April follow months of steadily worsening […]
Date set for trial of US pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey
World Watch Monitor Imprisoned US pastor Andrew Brunson is set to stand trial before a Turkish criminal court on 16 April on espionage and terrorism-related charges that could jail him for up to 35 years. Seventeen months after the pastor’s arrest in the port city of Izmir, a formal indictment accepted by the Izmir 2nd […]
Key Bible translator jailed In Islamic nation, says Bible translation group
BosNewsLife US-based Bible translation group Wycliffe Associates says it is concerned about the security of Bible translators in Islamic nations where at least one of its contacts has been jailed for his Christian work. “The humble imprisoned pastor has been physically removed from the presence of the people he loves – from the people who […]
Pastor in Punjab state, India, shot dead
Morning Star News A pastor in northern India’s Punjab state was shot dead in front of his church premises two months after Hindu extremists took offence at a Gospel event celebrating his church’s 25th anniversary, sources said. Pastor Sultan Masih of the Temple of God was found shot dead at Peer Banda Mohalla in the Salem Tabri […]
Two weeks on, police say ‘no leads’ on kidnapped Malaysian pastor
World Watch Monitor A Malaysian church leader is still missing two weeks after he was abducted. Raymond Koh Keng Joo, 62, was taken by masked men in the city of Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, on 13th February. No-one has claimed responsibility for his kidnapping, nor have there been any ransom demands. Witnesses reported that […]
SYRIA: A VOICE FROM THE FRONTLINE IN ALEPPO
Aleppo has been in the headlines this week as Syrian Government forces and its allies have taken the city and, following the agreement of a ceasefire, an evacuation of the eastern part of the city gets underway. Representatives of persecuted church advocacy and support organisation, Open Doors, recently spoke with one of the pastors left […]
CHAPLAINS: A “FRIEND TO ALL” AMID THE PRESSURES FACING DEFENCE FORCE PERSONNEL
In the latest in an occasional series looking at Christian chaplains, LAUREN MUSCAT speaks with Australian Defence Force chaplain Ralph Estherby about how he came to be in the job and its challenges and joys…