The disappearance of an Italian Jesuit priest on July 29th, following the kidnapping of two other clergymen in April, reflects the dangers Christians are facing in this war-torn country. Rev. Paolo Dall'Oglio, who spent three decades in Syria before the government deported him last year for helping victims of President Bashar al-Assad's military crackdown, re-entered the country in late July. The reverend's disappearance comes three months after the kidnapping of the Greek Orthodox and Syriac Orthodox archbishops of Aleppo.
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Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is concerned about a crackdown on unregistered Christian meetings in Xinjiang, northwest China, in the last five months, amidst high levels of tension and outbreaks of violence in the region. According to reports from China Aid Association, a number of unregistered Christian groups have been closed down, fined or had their members detained by police in Xinjiang in the last five months. Here’s the promo reel for the new show on the Oxygen Network Preachers of L.A. I don’t have anything to do with it, but I’d be curious about your thoughts. Is this going to help the cause of engaging the culture? Will this be a move forward or a setback for the church? One big question is: Why did they pick these guys? Let me know what you think. Mostafa Bordbar, a Christian convert, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for being part of an “anti-security organization” and “gathering with intent to commit crimes against Iranian national security”. The verdict was delivered to his lawyer on 31 July by a Judge from Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran, following his trial on 9 June. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has been informed that Mr Bordbar is currently being held in Evin prison. |
Walter Blackwood
Associate Pastor with The Bridge Community of Faith in Kelowna BC Canada. Archives
May 2017
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