More than 3,000 people prayed in Sofia in the third Sunday of rallies. The bill that would severely restrict religious freedom has not been passed yet.

Bulgarian lawmakers concede some restrictions in a new Religion Denominations Act after international pressure and intensive protests. A new constraint however threatens the legal existence of many denominations.

Christians rallied in Sofia on November 18 to defend their rights. It is the second Sunday of peaceful demonstrations against a new religion draft law that could severely restrict religious freedom and rights of minority faith confessions.

“We highly appreciate all the letters you sent to our government officials. We pray that they will consider them carefully”, says the President of the Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance, Rumen Bordjiev.

The Spanish Evangelical Alliance denounces “the erroneous imposition of political authority in the religious life” of Bulgarians, in a letter to Members of the European Parliament.

Bulgarian evangelicals protested peacefully on November 11 against a draft law which could severely restrict religious freedom of faith minorities. Churches rallied in Sofia and other cities after the Sunday worship services.

A Pew Research report shows that Christian affiliation has declined in Western Europe, while substantial shares in Central and Eastern Europe believe in God and have greater religious commitment.

There have been repeated raids on churches by the Luhansk People's Republic. Authorities announced the ban of the “destructive activity of the extremist Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Churches”.

With the new legislation, the state is implementing strong restrictions over international donations for religious purposes, and is placing itself in a position to control the training and the activities of ecclesiastic ministers.

Just 20.96% of registered voters cast ballots, less than the 30% needed for the result to be valid.

University lecturer Emanuel Tundrea explains why he will vote ‘yes’ this weekend in the referendum to protect marriage as “a union between a man and a woman”.

Christian alienation is not, by definition, a negative consequence of being Christian or an unintentional aspect of Christian life.

“There is an inexhaustible marketplace until the church throughout Europe courageously takes up its responsibility to take missional risks for the kingdom”, says Andy Stevens.

Romania’s senators voted to change the country’s constitution so that it defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The national referendum will be held in October.

Škripek is a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and a convinced Christian. To him, praying for a seemingly hopeless situation as there is in Syria is a logical thing to do.

All ministers of faith minorities representing less than 1% of the population “would be required to be Bulgarian citizens, having graduated theology in this country”, explains Vlady Raichinov, Vice President of the Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance.

The Belgian city of Ostend will convert an abandoned hangar into a brothel. “Many prostitutes think they are protected, but they are not”, says a Christian social worker in the region.

Volunteers working with the Christian association Valoare Plus set up support groups in secondary schools to mentor teenagers in risk of being trafficked for pornography and prostitution.

The Eurosceptic party Fidesz gets two thirds of the parliament’s seats. The Prime Minister will now be able to make deep constitutional changes.

The REA wants to be a lay movement of church people concerned about inter-denominational cooperation.

The Bulgarian Orthodox Church agreed “to intercede and advocate” for the Macedonian Church in its hopes for canonical independence.

World Evangelical Alliance Secretary General Efraim Tendero and national evangelical leaders meet the Kosovan Head of State. Thaçi underlines his commitment to religious freedom and inter-faith dialogue.

Belarusian print newspaper “Kolokol” works to bring the gospel to regions with no access to internet, including prisons and nursing homes.

The 2017 European Leadership Forum gathered hundreds in Poland to celebrate the Reformation and connect to better share the gospel in diverse national contexts. See picture gallery.