A summary of the thanksgiving service of the European Evangelical Alliance at the Chapel of Europe in Brussels.

EEA Hope for Europe Prayer Network writes a prayer for 2019.

According to World Watch List, released today by Open Doors International, 4,305 people died in 2018 because of their Christian faith. Christian persecution has drastically increased.

“After the European election, we will work hard to identify the MEPs who have a heart for human dignity, human rights, and Freedom of Religion or Belief”, says the European Evangelical Alliance Brussels officer Arie de Pater.

An interview with Julia Doxat-Purser, the socio-political representative of the European Evangelical Alliance. “Our main working style in Brussels is behind the scenes and face to face influence, in personal conversations with the people who are shaping the ideas”.

Jan Wolsheimer (Director of Missie Nederland) analyses the controversy surrounding a document on homosexuality signed by many evangelical pastors. “Dutch Christians are not very keen to import culture wars from the US”.

“Today I am far from my family, my wife, and my two daughters, without work or home”, he said. “Such is the lot of a Muslim who converts to Christianity in Algeria today”.

Around 250 Protestant leaders of the Netherlands, including pastors and politicians, signed the document on marriage and sexuality. Pro-LGBT groups denounced it.

Under the law, animals have to be stunned before being killed. “It is a sad day for religious freedom in Europe”, the president of the Conference of European Rabbis says.

The Director General for Prison Affairs announced that ‘Ahok’ will be released on January 24, four months ahead of schedule, by virtue of good conduct.

The UK government has ordered a review “to map Christian persecution worldwide, and make recommendations on the practical steps it can take to support those under threat”.

Hundreds of Hong Kong worshippers attended church services on December 23 and 30 dressed in black, “to pray for both the persecuted and persecutors”.

The draft law seeks the independence of any religion, and to optimize the times and procedures for the granting of legal entity to churches and religious evangelical entities.

“Until my Lord provides us a building, we will continue serving the Lord. It is fine even if we do not have shelter, we will not stop worshipping Him. We are ready to die for Christ”, a pastor in the Tamil Nadu state says.

On its last work day of 2018, the Bulgarian Parliament voted amendments in the nation’s Religious Denominations Act. A number of problematic provisions were pulled out of draft following local protests and international pressure.

According to the government, 508 Coptic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Catholic churches have received its approval since February. At the same time, eleven churches were shut down.

Christians in Sofia expressed relief after very important changes were introduced in the proposed law after a key meeting of the Parliament's Committee for Religion and Human Rights with evangelicals and other religious groups. Parlamentarians will vote the rest of the law on Friday 21.

Eighty journalists were killed this year. “The hatred of journalists is voiced, and sometimes very openly proclaimed, by unscrupulous politicians” and “amplified by social networks”, a RSF report says.

Amid Advent worship services, Bulgarian evangelicals ended their civic rallies with a workday vigil on Thursday and a snow-flurry street protest on Sunday.

“I encourage companies, businesses, to promote religious freedom and diversity at the workplace”, says the EU Special Envoy for the promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief.

We should defend the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For, if we do not stand up against their erosion or redefinition, we will be consenting by default to enormous injustice.

Protests and prayers continue in Bulgaria for the sixth week.

Pastor of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengd, Wang Yi, was  detained for allegedly “inciting subversion of state power”.

The Intergroup on Freedom of Religion or Belief shortlisted 30 countries in the world where basic rights are violated. “We must do whatever is in our power to cherish, defend and promote this freedom”.

An interview with Pastor Vlady Raichinov, Vice President of the Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance.