A post-Christmas reflection on Arab Christianity and the challenge of presence.

The father of four young children had been sentenced to five years in prison and fined 100,000 dinars. “That this story goes back three years and only now it’s resurfacing – it’s hard to digest”, says the church that supports his family.

General Sigit Prabowo, a Pentecostal Christian, was unanimously approved by the parliament, despite opposition of Islamic groups. He promises to create “a trustworthy police and fight extremism”.

The parliament of Victoria makes any individual practice that aims to “change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity” illegal. Faith groups believe the law restricts religious freedom.

Evangelical churches increasingly worried about unfair attacks of the government. “They should not throw suspicion on faith groups and believers”.

Italy negotiates a new government as the third wave of the pandemic hits the country. The Evangelical Alliance calls on Christians to avoid “conspiracy narratives”.

Some say a ban would restrict religious freedom, others believe the equality of women and certain security issues are at stake.

The apostle Paul would probably have included the disputes about the right Christian way of dealing with the current pandemic in his list of differing opinions in Romans 14.

The library has been established by the Bible Society Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City. “We hope it will be a symbol of Christian unity and learning”, they say.

After 55 years of work, the pandemic has aggravated the crisis of the ministry in Spain. The impact of the internet and the secularisation of Europe are a challenge for the entire sector.

An evangelistic association has been sharing Christian content through paid adverts since the 70s, but some parties now say religious content offends users of public transport.

Traditionalist Catholics in San Cristobal (Mexico) destroyed the houses of 5 evangelical families and arrested two believers.

A Korean Christian and three nationals have been accused of fraudulent conversion attempts while distributing food to people in need.

A new law aims to control the teaching of radical Islamic groups but evangelicals say it “will have negative consequences for many religious groups”.

“We thought Covid-19 was going to minimize the effect of persecution, but it has been the opposite. Persecution has increased”, says the director of Open Doors Spain. The organisation releases its annual World Watch List.

“Philosophical and religious convictions” will be described in records of thousands of people who are seen as a threat to the state. Evangelicals worried about the “fragility” of fundamental rights.

“Christ, Mary and Spain – Get out, Protestant and Lutheran rats”, read one of the signs hanging on the windows of an evangelical church in Santander. The bishop of Cantabria and several parties expressed their condemnation.

Since March, the searches for words like fear, peace, hope and faith in Bible apps increased. “People are seeking God as they wrestle with what they faced in 2020”, You Version founder says.

Evangelicals condemn forced therapies but say the will of same-sex attracted people who seek spiritual support has to be respected.

There were 78 Jihadist attacks or attempted attacks in the EU between 2017 and 2019. “The biggest failure in Europe is the failed integration of Muslims”, the World Evangelical Alliance Director of Public Engagement says.

The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka publishes a report analysing messages in social media against religious minorities.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has analysed the effects of blasphemy laws worldwide between 2014-18. 11% of the blasphemy-related incidents took place in Europe.

"It will send a clear signal to those responsible: there will be consequences", says the representative of Foreign Affairs. Christian Solidarity Worldwide applauds the decision.

The religious freedom report of the Protestant Association of Churches in Turkey goes to the government, politicians and media.  Foreign embassies, EU, UN, Christian partners and human rights NGOs also receive copies.

A report of the Korea Future Initiative (KFI) presents well-documented violations in North Korea. Investigators conducted 117 interviews with survivors, witnesses, and perpetrators.