Even though China’s economy has been severely affected by the coronavirus, and many residents suffer financial difficulties, the CCP threatens to take away the last means of survival from elderly believers—government-issued subsidies. To keep them, they must stop believing in God. A Catholic from Fuzhou city in the southeastern province of Jiangxi has been receiving monthly 250 RMB (about $ …
Alarming Global Religious Freedom Trends & Developments
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently released 2020 Annual Report is intended to focus the attention of U.S. government policymakers on the most severe violations of religious freedom globally. The report identifies countries that USCIRF finds meet the statutory criteria for the State Department to designate as “countries of particular concern” (CPCs) or include on its …
The Chinese Communist Party has Persecuted Falun Gong for 21 Years
On the 21st anniversary of the start of persecution by the CCP against citizens who practice Falun Gong, we share the story of a model Chinese citizen who was repeatedly jailed and tortured. I am Yu Ming and this is my story. With no formal education or funds from family or investors, I had become a successful businessman in the …
The Persecuted are Suffering in Magnitudes We Cannot Imagine
Today, the threat to international religious freedom is greater than ever as the virus pandemic is being used by governments and hate groups to justify and institutionalize repression. There is a vast number of ‘invisible’ people suffering for their religious identity, their faith, and or acts of conscience. The Coronavirus has not slowed religious persecution, but neither has it destroyed …
Coronavirus Does Not Slow Religious Persecution
The past three months have jolted the world out of complacency with regard to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s long record of poor governance and lack of consideration for humanity. Religious persecution has continued amidst the coronavirus outbreak, and the CCP has even gone so far as to brag about its misdeeds—though it surely hoped readers would fail to read between the …
Perilous Times for Muslims in India
This week Hindus in India (and around the world) celebrated the Hindu festival of Holi, also known as the “Festival of Colors.” Jubilant crowds threw colored water and powders at one another during festivities. This ancient holiday commemorates the arrival of spring and it is meant to symbolize, among other things, good triumphing over evil. In contrast, over the past …
Egyptian Coptic Christian Ramy Kamel Arrested Again Under False Charges
Three months ago around 1:30am on a Saturday morning, seven plain clothes policemen arrested Ramy Kamel in his home under false charges brought by Egyptian authorities. Kamel’s house was stormed by security forces who confiscated his phone, camera, and laptop and then took him away. Several hours later Kamel, a Coptic Christian advocate, founded the Maspero Youth Union in 2011 …
All Faiths Must Join Together to Stem the Tide of Religious Persecution
The National Prayer Breakfast, a yearly event first held in 1953, is the largest gathering of religious leaders from across America and around the world held in Washington, D.C. The series of meetings, luncheons and dinners is always hosted by two members of Congress, one Democrat and one Republican. It attracts leaders from state capitols, large Christian faith-based NGOs and …
Iran Doubles Down on Persecuting Christians
Iran’s crackdown on Christians and other religious minorities continues to shock the conscience. They systematically violate the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act and that is why the U.S. has designated the Islamic Republic as a “Country of Concern.” As the regime faces increasing internal unrest, the more it will crack down on religious minorities it perceives is threatening its stranglehold …
Seven Lessons From the Persecuted
When 21Wilberforce opened its doors in January 2015, little did I realize that the wisdom I would gain from the persecuted would far exceed anything I could offer them. As we near the end of 2019, I want to share seven insights the persecuted have taught me. First, I experienced joyful worship from 1800 Chinese house church pastors our team met in …