Racism and aspirations of self-determination sparked demonstrations in Indonesia’s Papua province. “Papuan churches are wrongly too focused on internal issues”, says a missionary who knows the island well.

Drug cartel suspected in the killing of one pastor. The head of an evangelical shelter for refugees was kidnapped while interfering with a drug ring’s efforts to kidnap Cuban immigrants.

Protests in Hong Kong are “more and more violent”. “Pro-Beijing and pro-democracy sides taking communion together is a declaration to the world”, a pastor says.

Police officials assured church leaders that they were aware of Hindu extremist opposition to Christianity, but they gave no indication of investigating and putting an end to it.

August 22 is the International Day commemorating the victims of acts of violence based on religion or belief. More than 4000 Christians were killed in 2018 because of their faith.

Christian charity CARE reports 445 attacks since 2016. In a letter to all political parties they call for “immediate action and a fund to help churches”.

Local authorities in the state of Hidalgo “prohibit the entry of Protestants”. Those who refuse to fund Catholic festivities are threatened with big fines and water cuts.

The “Passport to indicators of trafficking”, translated to 9 languages, aims to help victims find a way out, and encourages citizens to report possible crimes.

“The number of violent attacks against Christians has alarmingly increased in the three years of President Rodrigo Duterte’s government”, Christian organisations in the Philippines say.

“Armed groups, guerrillas, militamen, criminal gangs and drug cartels see the church as an enemy to be eradicated”, a pastor says.

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.

Three months after the attacks that killed more than 200 people, “tensions between the Buddhists and Muslims continue”, Christians warn.

Hundreds of thousands took the streets again. “We urge the Chief Executive to respond to the strong demands of the public to withdraw the Bill”, Hong Kong Christian Council said.

After protesters stormed Hong Kong’s legislative building, Christian leaders wrote a letter asking to “boycott any act that harms peace, and to express their views in a rational and peaceful manner”.

Christians in these rural areas often find themselves in the middle of two armed groups fighting each other for territory and for corridors through which to traffic their illicit goods.

Rev. Iftikhar Indryas, founder of the New Covenant Christian School, explains the issues the educational project is facing. He calls to pray for the “spiritual, physical and intellectual well-being” of Pakistani Christians.

Despite the decline of crimes, these organisations still are very influential in Southern Italy. Christians should “face Mafia with the Biblical responsibility that it deserves”, says Giuseppe Rizza of the Italian Evangelical Alliance.

Research in Spain fuels the political debate about limiting the power of the porn industry. Christian activists have long been alerting about the damaging effects on children and youth.

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

The resolution, approved by consensus, hopes to “help combat hate crimes and acts of violence related to religion or belief, and further strengthen inter-religious dialogue”.

Citing a law that requires authorization for non-Muslim places of worship, authorities in North-central Algeria ordered the closure of the church and its Bible school.

According to the Observatory for Religious Freedom and Conscience, these incidents grew by 20% in 2018.

The Sri Lanka Evangelical Alliance calls upon the public to “refrain from engaging in hateful discourse, turn away from violence and work towards de-escalating tensions in our country”. 

The 2019 European Freedom Network conference will be held in Italy. “God has used many instrumental Christians over time to address the issue of slavery”, says Leanne Rhodes.

A pastor, two of his sons and three other worshippers died. “Europe must stand united against the persecution of Christians in Africa”, said Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament.