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George Yancey, is professor at The University of North Texas, and the author of 14 books on race and religious bias. As a Black man and a Christian, he has experienced both. In his experience, there is plenty of bias from both directions, but in academia, the religious intolerance is much worse. “Things…

Pam Gyang was killed in Jos, Nigeria by Islamic extremists in a mass shooting. Grace Gyang, his pregnant widow stated; “My husband is a friend, and I’m already missing him. But what can I do but thank God for his life. I pray that through his death those who killed him will get to know Jesus as their…

Christians living in Nigeria are under the constant threat of persecution by Boko Haram. In a recent video Abu Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram tells Christians, “We don’t care about that religion of yours.” At the end of the video the dances and chants, “Christians, you are in trouble; Christians you…

What is the worst thing that may happen to us because of our faith? In our current culture we may face ridicule or perhaps some form of censure, but for many in our world, the cost of following Jesus is paid in the blood of martyrdom. The mother of an Egyptian Coptic who was among the 21 Christians beheaded…

In his book, The Insanity of God, Nik Ripken writes, “. . .people flocked to Christ in greater numbers during difficult days of persecution because that’s when they could recognize how God sustains and strengthens His followers through times of trouble.” —Jim L. Wilson Nik Ripken, and Gregg Lewis. Insanity…

In 2013, an unknown arsonist set fire to the Palmetto Presbyterian Church. Fortunately, the damage was limited to some soot on the exterior of the building and damage to the church’s Gothic mahogany doors. While authorities search for the person responsible, church members are celebrating a transformation.…

In almost every generation, true believers in Christ face persecution. Just before he died, Roman Catholic Cardinal Francis George of Chicago put it simply. “It is likely that I will die in my bed. My successor will die in prison. His successor will die executed in the public square. His successor will…

In Iran Christians are coming under extreme persecution for observing the Lord’s Supper. One received 80 lashes and others sentenced to less lashes. Their crime was drinking communion wine. It may not seem like it at the time, but when believers are persecuted for the Lord’s sake, they are really blessed.…

Missionaries in China had been training leaders for several weeks. Following a session on baptism, a fifteen-year-old girl felt led to submit to the ordinance. The girl’s father performed the baptism. Missionaries listened joyfully as the father asked his daughter the first of several questions: “Do…

Chinese pastor Samuel Lamb summarized his life and ministry: “more persecution, more growth.” Lamb was imprisoned in 1958 for refusing to register his house church with the government. Sentenced to 20 years of hard labor, he spent two decades working in the coalmines. He used the time to teach Christianity…

In February, 2013 a meteor about 55 feet in diameter flashed across the morning sky over Chelyabinsk in Russia’s Ural Mountains and then it exploded like a bomb about 20 miles up. The shock wave blew out windows and doors and injured 1,200 people. On the same day an asteroid 150 feet in diameter passed…

How Would You Know the Savior’s Words _ If you never felt pain, How would you know that I’m a Healer? _ If you never went through difficulty, How would you know that I’’m a Deliverer? _ If you never had a trial, How would you know that I’m a Comforter? _ If you never made a mistake, How would you know…

In Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, David Platt writes, “I was in Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, teaching in an Indonesian seminary. Before they graduate, the students in this seminary are required to plant a church, with at least thirty…

In Mongolia, officials have detained10 house church pastors in reaction to their involvement with the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelism in 2010. Chinese officials blocked over 200 house church pastors from attending the event. --World May 21, 2011 p. 10 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell…

A young man in church Sunday had a black shirt on with a red cross. The words under the cross read, “This Shirt is Illegal in 51 Countries.” The shirt back displayed the verse, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” The wearing…

In Matthew 5:10 Jesus says those persecuted for righteousness are blessed, and will receive the kingdom of heaven, with great reward. The Christian community of Ethiopia must remember these blessed words. Four thousand of them have had to flee their homes. Muslim violence is responsible for the burning…

The Chinese government arrested most of the 1000 members of Shouwang House Church in Beijing's Zhongguancun district was on Resurrection Sunday 2011. The arrest didn’t keep them from worshipping, they sang hymns as authorities herded them into a bus. In recent years, the Chinese government has been relaxing…

Our world has never been very safe for Christians. Persecution rears its ugly head at different places in different times. In Somalia, unidentified gunmen, believed to be acting on behalf of family or relatives, murdered 17-year-old Nurta Mohamed Farah in an apparent honor killing. The young girl had…

For two Iranian women Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirzadeh spent 259 days in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison last year accused of anti-government activity, apostasy, and propagating Christianity—all crimes punishable by death. Under pressure to recant their Christian faith their response was, “We love…

What happened to Nagla al-Imam and her two children? An Egyptian citizen, al-Imam converted to Christianity. Recently, a controversial attorney made her conversion public. “In an interview broadcast by Free Christian Voice she described being arrested and beaten by Egyptian security forces for her change…

In Iran, the persecution of Christians continues. It is especially tough on Christians who dare to evangelize and upon Muslims who convert to Christianity. Iranian pastor Wilson Issavi is one of the former, he converted Muslims to Christianity. The authorities have released pastor Issavi on bail but…

Where will your anchor be during the storms of life? Powerful storms were nothing new for the Sea of Galilee. Actually the Sea of Galilee is an inland lake about six miles wide and twelve miles long. The sea is positioned several hundred feet below the level of the Mediterranean Sea and is known for…

The Golden Lamp church is China’s first mega church. They built a structure to accommodate nearly 50,000 worshippers. As soon as the building was finished authorities smashed doors and windows, seized Bibles, and physically attacked dozens. Now the church’s co-pastors are in jail, sentenced to seven…

Adversity comes to those who are making a difference for Christ. Missionary statesman Oswald Chambers once wrote, “Suffering is the heritage of the bad, of the penitent, and of the Son of God. Each one ends at the Cross. The bad thief is crucified, the penitent thief is crucified, and the Son of God…

PERSECUTION The Thirty Year’s War, A timeline of Iran’s theocracy, documents the persecution of Christians and Christian churches. Recent events show that the time of persecution is not passed. In February 2005, Pastor Hamid Pourmand was sentenced to three years in prison for apostasy. In November of…