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.

“Dozens of letters arrive in support to this cause, millions support us”, says the Bulgarian Evangelical Alliance. Prayer vigils planned for the next days.

A CSW reports shows that Colombian Christians are suffering “restrictions on religious activity, threats, extortion, assassination and forced displacement”.

Up to 50 Christian schools and hospitals have been affected, and the military has kidnapped four churches. “We need peace and the UN intervention”, a Cameroonian Christian says.

The European Christian Political Movement adds pressure to the Bulgarian government. Christians across Bulgaria have been praying and protesting for the last four weeks.

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.