Joseph Francis, Pakistani veteran minority rights advocate, dies at 81
Joseph Francis, a distinguished Pakistani minorities rights defender, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 11, after a prolonged illness. He was 81.
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Imprisoned freedom advocate Jimmy Lai rewarded with sweet joy and love
Hong Kong businessman and prominent pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai was sentenced to a horrendous twenty years in jail on Monday February 9th, 2026. For political reasons he is unlikely to die in prison. When released, we will do well to listen to what he has to say about his experience of sweet joy and love in a most unlikely place.
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House church invests in slow growth and nurtured faith
In this church planting testimony, what began as a three-person gathering has developed into a stable and flexible model: open homes for consistent meetings, and a focus on nurturing discipleship. Faith has become part of daily life, not confined to a church building. There is much to learn from this example of faithful service in the north west of China.
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Ghandi in alternate perspectives
Mahatma Gandhi is often known as India's father of the nation and a promoter of non-violence protest movements, but India has long since shifted from Gandhi's ideals. His popular influence on some Christians deserves to be critically assessed too. This retrospective considers Ghandi afresh.
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Advent celebrates God with the suffering, so we must be with them too
In many of India's states, Christians continue to struggle under increasing restrictions and persecution. While many thousands of Jesus' followers readily show up for celebratory events, very few are bold enough to stand with the suffering and against injustice. This is an indictment against the Church and the leader of the Evangelical Fellowship of India says we can do much better.
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China exporting repression of religion worldwide, Brownback says
By Edward RossChina is helping totalitarian regimes to repress religion around the world, even as the U.S. administration has cut or stalled programs vital for religious freedom globally, officials told a hearing of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.
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Two Christian nurses in Pakistan acquitted of blasphemy
A court in Pakistan has acquitted two Catholic nurses who have been in hiding for nearly four years after they were charged with blasphemy in 2021, rights advocates said.
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Muslim kidnapper of Christian girl in Pakistan given custody, sources say
A federal court in Pakistan on Tuesday (Feb. 3) gave custody of a 13-year-old Christian girl to a Muslim who kidnapped and forcibly converted and married her, sources said.
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Daughter of imprisoned pastor in China hopeful at International Religious Freedom Summit
By Edward RossThe daughter of a pastor imprisoned in China told the sixth annual International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C. on Monday (Feb. 2) that she may never see her father again but maintains hope and faith in God.
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Persecution high in India despite slight shift on World Watch List
India’s move from 11th to 12th place on an annual ranking of countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian may appear to signal marginal improvement, but church leaders and rights advocates say it masks historic highs of persecution in the country.
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Pastor in South Sudan refugee camp jailed after Muslim converts
A Sudanese family that expelled an 18-year-old relative from their home in a refugee camp in South Sudan for accepting Christ has dragged a pastor to jail on accusations of kidnapping, sources said.
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What is real love actually
Valentine’s Day arrives every year with remarkable self-confidence. It assumes love should be obvious, effortless, and permanently exciting. Real love, actually, is nothing like that.
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