InChains brings you the news about the persecuted Church worldwide. It also brings you resources available for prayer, statistics, and more. Part of being the body of Christ is remembering those that are persecuted. “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” We need to remember and pray for those that are being persecuted, but we also need to pray for those that are doing the persecuting, that they would come to Christ. “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” InChains prays that you will use this knowledge to strategically and specifically pray.

CHINA

Chinese government officials are pressuring members of Early Rain Covenant Church to not help the family of their imprisoned pastor. They also downplay coronavirus concerns and told them to stay in their houses.

The Chinese government has recently passed laws that target religious institutions. The new laws state that communism must be promoted at all religious gatherings, all religious gatherings must have government approval to meet, and the government has final say on leadership changes, big projects, and major expenses.

The coronavirus has been confirmed in at least 500 cases within China’s prison system. These prisons also house Christian prisoners. Families are worried and have no word on the health condition of their family member.

DRC

Eleven Christians are purposefully killed during an attack by the ADF.

ERITREA

The head of the Ethiopian Catholic Church was barred from entering Eritrea, despite being issued a visa. “Higher ups” had given orders to stop the leader at the airport. This comes amid heightened tensions between the Eritrean government and the church.

INDIA

Despite being acquitted, eight Christians and their families are suffering. With not jobs, mounting debt, and discrimination from the community, these families are in desperate need.

IRAN

Groups in Iran are threatening to destroy the tomb that is thought to hold the bodies of Queen Esther and Mordecai. The threats come in protest to the USA’s President Donald Trump’s peace plan.

Mary Mohammadi has been released on bail! Her hearing will be held on Monday, March 2nd.

The appeal for 5 Christians, Assyrian pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, his wife Shamiram Issavi Khabizeh, and three Christian converts, has been postponed again.

KENYA

Al-Shabaab has released a video threatening non-local Christians. Also urges government to hire local Muslims instead.

NIGERIA

It is important to note that there are many more killings, kidnappings, and injured victims than is reported here. Many instances of persecution are reported as “ethnic tensions” or “farmer/herder” actions. They are not reported as Muslim vs Christian. The two parties, in this instance, are the Fulani (Muslim) tribe and the Christians, but are rarely reported this way. In addition, the problems with Boko Haram (also bears the name Islamic State in the Western African Province – ISWAP) are so overwhelming that victims are rarely identified in the media. For the most part, the media is now only reporting casualties by location/attack However, ISWAP is known to target Christians. Because of the reporting challenges, InChains is only reporting those instances that are known to be on Christians. You can read an overview of the current state of Nigeria’s persecution (as an update to my book) here. 

The people of Bang village were driven out over two years ago by the Fulani. They recently returned to their village in order to rebuild, believing that peace had been restored. However, the Fulani attacked again, killing many.

Three worship sites were destroyed along with countless homes. Casualties are unknown at this point. On Feb 21, Boko Haram attacked Garkida in Adamawa State.

The name of the murdered seminary student has been released. His body was found with another person, the wife of a local doctor. Their bodies were dumped together.

PAKISTAN

A young Christian farm worker was accused by the Muslim land owner of polluting the water by rinsing in it. The landowner then tortured the worker to death. When the family talked with police, they were indifferent.

Newly passed law in Pakistan that forces social media organizations to remove “unwanted and slanderous” posts will likely bring more blasphemy accusations toward Christians.

UGANDA

A family of 11 is seeking refuge in a church because their lives are being threatened after converting. Now the church is under threat.

RESOURCES

PRAYER SHEETS

Open Doors March Prayer Calendar

Christian Solidarity Worldwide has a prayer sheet for the week.

REPORTS, BOOKS & MOVIES

OpenDoors released its 2020 World Watchlist Report.

Voice of the Martyrs has a Global Prayer Guide available for free.

For a list of names of those martyred, please see the Martyr Page. Although this list is not everyone, I created it to honor those that have been martyred. If I have been able to find their name, I have recorded it here with a link to what happened.

If you would like to receive more frequent updates on Christian persecution, you can follow the Persecuted Church facebook page. 

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