Systemic persecution and its implications.

The Greek forward thanked God after receiving the NBA Most Valuable Player award. “My motto is ‘Walk by faith, not by sight’”, he says.

Suspected Fulani herdsmen killed several Christians, kidnapped 19 and burned at least 12 houses throughout Nigeria in May.

Analysts have detected ties between Muslim Fulani herdsmen and Islamic extremist groups.

Christian leaders file suit alleging 1,000 people killed in the past three years. “The affected Christian communities have been completely overwhelmed and are now desolate and devastated”.

According to Amnesty International, Boko Haram attacked the northeastern Nigeria border town of Rann, almost destroying it. Christian leaders are calling for urgent prayers for peace in this troubled region.

The presidential vote has been postponed one week, to February 23. Analysts say the Nigerian political future belongs to the ethnic group of the Fulani Muslims.

After one year in captivity, “the least we can do is to stand with her, to protest and to pray until we see her released”, says Mervyn Thomas of Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

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.

The terrorist group has killed a cooperant aid worker and says it will kill three other hostages, including Leah Sharibu.

A boy died and eleven other worshippers were hurt in a Catholic church in Adagbrassa. In 2016, another building collapsed during a celebration, killing 27.

An Assemblies of God Nigeria pastor, his wife and son were among were among the victims. There has been incessant attacks on Christians in the state by armed Fulani herdsmen.

The 630 people from 32 nationalities were received by interpreters, psychologists and medical doctors. Women in danger of being trafficked will receive special support.

Leah Nathan Sharibu remains hostage for refusing to renounce Christ.

The Nigerian Information Minister says that 101 of the 110 girls abducted have been freed. Reports say that a Christian girl is still in captivity because she refused to convert to Islam.

A short film shows the work of Pastor Gennaro Chiocca among victims of trafficking in Italy, the European country with the highest rate of prostitution.

Intolerance against Christians is highest in Central and Southeast Asia, after North Korea. The situation worsens dramatically in Africa. In Europe, two people were murdered bacause of their faith last year.

Fulani militants gunmen attacked Christian carollers while they were singing in a church of Southern Kaduna, Nigeria. Ten are still injured.

One aim of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition is that extremists no longer “tarnish our beloved religion”.

Rebeca, a Nigerian Christian, was kidnapped for 2 years, raped and got pregnant with the son of a terrorist. Her faith made her strong to endure the terror.

Salama Baptist Church in Ancha lost 19 of its members in the massacre, nine children. “We found that those killed were from three households”, a survivor said.

“This demolition was done out of injustice and discrimination”, said Rev. Musa. Six more churches are due to be demolished.

Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders said 21 aid workers died. Air Force admits the original target was a Boko Haram camp in the region.

Thousands attended the ordination of a well-known Pentecostal leader. The President of the State is among the survivors.

I ask the Lord - who bore our griefs and pains - to erase the scars of the wounds and the pain of our Nigerian girl. And to show her that, for him and for all of us, she is a precious stone.