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 …

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 …

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’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 …

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 …

Eritrea brutally oppresses its people and has more than earned its being called the  “The North Korea of Africa,” with an estimated 2,000 Christians, along with others, incarcerated for their faith. The State Department has designated Eritrea  a Country of Particular Concern since 2004 for its religious freedom abuses. USCIRF reports that individuals in Eritrea who protest government actions or …

The Cuban government last week prevented several church leaders affiliated with the Alliance of Evangelical Churches from leaving the island to attend the Alliance’s general assembly in Indonesia. But that action was only the tip of the iceberg. One pastor, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, said that in addition to harassment, intimidation and interrogations, the …

Nonpartisan Pew Research Center data reveals that government restrictions on religion and social hostilities involving religion – including violence and harassment by private individuals, organizations, or groups, is increasing around the world.  Christians in Nigeria, Rohingya in Myanmar, Yazidis in Iraq, Uyghur in China-entire communities across the globe are persecuted based on their religion or beliefs. Given this rising trend, have you …

In February of 2018, Boko Haram insurgents abducted 110 students from a girls’ boarding school in Dapchi, Yobe state, Nigeria. Five students were killed while being held captive and four weeks after the abduction, 104 of the girls were released. One student, 14-year old Leah Sharibu, did not return and is still held captive because of her refusal to renounce …

Turkish forces launched a bombing campaign across northeastern Syria on Wednesday, targeting civilian areas and killing Syriac Christians. The bombing campaign, launched less than 48 hours after a phone call between President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appeared to target Christian and Kurdish enclaves in the cities of Qameshli, Kobani, and others. Shelling also hit the border …