In 2019, the Lebanese pound began to lose its value, in November, the Lebanese lost their savings in the banks, and in March 2020, as the pandemic settled in, the situation worsened exponentially. And then, the Beirut explosion.
Beirut is still recovering, in the midst of an economic crisis. “Churches are on the streets, helping those in need, praying with them and giving free bibles”.
A quarter of the Bibles distributed were in a digital format. Most downloaded scriptures were in Spanish and Portuguese.
The agreement suspends Israeli annexation plans in the West Bank and normalises the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Evangelical ministries and churches help providing for basic necessities, cleaning churches and rebuilding houses.“Pray that the church in Lebanon will be light amid the destruction”.
Many inside and outside Israel raised their voices against the plan. Israeli evangelicals “do not see as part of our call to make political statements of any kind”.
Lebanese president says explosion was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate unsafely stored in a port warehouse. Christians in Beirut call on to “pray for Lebanon”.
Agents of the Revolutionary Guard raid homes looking for Christian literature. Seven Christians were falsely sentenced last month for “spreading propaganda against the state”.
The World Evangelical Alliance admits there are “wide-ranging views” on the issue, but believes Netanyahu’s plans are “detrimental for Israelis and Palestinians alike”.
Tom Albinson (International Association For Refugees) analyses the 2020 refugee crisis. He believes churches are key “to open the door” and help asylum seekers integrate in a new culture.
Children of the refugee camps in Lebanon who do not have access to schooling, are the main focus of the Christian NGO Together For the Family.
The release of imprisoned Christians was part of the regime’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus, not an indication of a change of policy.
The High Court of Koblenz tries two former officials of the Syrian government, accused of crimes against humanity. “The torture system has been used to crush civil society”.
Pastor Andrew Brunson challenged Christian media to reach Muslims with the gospel. “God wanted someone weak, to be an encouragement to other weak people”, he said about his time in prison.
The proposal has been rejected internationally. “It is not a peace agreement, but just a ‘vision’ or ‘plan’, and that does not mean much to Israel”, a Israeli professor of international relations says.
Growing pressure on Christians in China, Algeria, Burkina Faso, according to the 2020 Open Doors World Watch List. Christians face severe persecution in 73 countries.
The “aggressions and hostile rhetoric” threaten the presence of the Christian minority, says the global evangelical body. “Pray for and end to the cycles of violence and death that beset the Middle East”.
The Prime Minister resigns after large demonstrations against political corruption and the precarious economic situation. More than 400 people died in the last 2 months.
As part of a larger prison sentence delivered in 2013, Ebrahim Firoozi, 33, was sentenced to two years in exile in Sarbaz, a frontier town on the Iranian-Pakistani border known for its isolation and prevalence of Islamic militant groups.
Turkey attacks Kurdish territories after the withdrawal of US forces. The move could lead to “one more tragedy to the Christian presence in Syria”.
It is the second visit of a group of leaders who support Israel and US President Donald Trump. In a meeting with Mohamed bin Salman, they addressed human rights, politics and religious freedom.
“Blasphemy law should be reviewed, with proper investigation mechanisms”, Asia Bibi told The Sunday Telegraph in her first interview since she left Pakistan. The Christian woman and her family are expected to move to Europe soon.
According to a Pew Research survey, “52 countries impose high levels of restrictions on religion, up from 40 in 2007”. Social hostilities have grown even more.
The biggest region of the United Arab Emirates starts a process of regularisation. Christians in the country see the initiative with good eyes but “precaution” is needed.
The Iranian government “prefers to be destroyed dragging the people with them before giving in”, says a Christian source in the country. “Pray for an integral transformation of the nation”.
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