Current Events

Christians Are Now a Minority in England

According to a recent census, fewer than half the people in England and Wales consider themselves Christian. This is the first time a minority of the population has followed the country’s official religion. Figures from the 2021 census revealed that Britain has become less religious. Some 46.2% of the population of England and Wales described themselves as Christian, down from 59.3% a decade earlier. More than 1 in 3 people (37%) said they had no religion, up from 25%. The other parts of the U.K., Scotland, and Northern Ireland report their census results separately.

—APNews.com

Respect for Marriage Act Set to Pass in the U.S.

The Respect for Marriage Act has passed the Senate and is expected to pass the House. Complaints from some progressive Democrats are already on the rise because the act will not actually require all states to recognize same-sex marriages. It would require the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages performed in states where they are legal. It also would require states to recognize same-sex marriages in other states for the purpose of distributing benefits; but otherwise, each state would still be able to define marriage as they see fit, and would not be required to issue licenses or permits for same-sex marriages that take place in their state.

—FoxNews.com

Violence Against Christians in India

On a Sunday in November, Christians in India were severely beaten for refusing to deny their faith. A mob of radical Hindu nationalists, along with the village leader, interrupted Sunday worship in the home of a Christian family. The mob burst into the house, took two Christian families and beat them brutally, including the women and children. Among the three who suffered serious internal injuries was a man who was unconscious for nearly an hour. The two Christian families who were attacked came to faith just four months ago. Since then, they have been harassed by radical residents. They were accused of converting to a foreign religion, abandoning their gods, and luring innocent tribal people to Christianity. They went to the police station to report the attackers, but the mob led by the village leader arrived to file a First Incident Report against the pastor. There is little hope for justice for the Christians.

—Persecution.org

A Young Woman’s Story of Surviving Her Persecution

A young Indian woman lives with her elderly parents and two sisters. She grew up as a Hindu in a Hindu family within a Hindu community. However, she had always struggled with a chronic illness and could not find healing or peace through her Hindu religion. One day, an uncle invited her to a church service. Soon her entire family went to church, but the whispers in the community were inescapable: “They all started to attend church…They left the Hindu gods. Stay away from them… She changed her religion—she must be doing it for money…” She said: “Their words hurt momentarily, but my unexplainable joy in Christ overpowered all the opposition.” After attending a local prayer meeting the family was stopped in the street by neighbors. This time it escalated into physical violence, and the people began to beat them. The young woman, the worst injured, woke up in the hospital in critical condition. Even the hospital turned against her. The pain does not stop for the persecuted after recovering from injuries; everything came shattering down in her life. She grew weak and was always lying on the bed. She was in constant fear that the attackers would look for them again. She experienced anxiety and panic attacks whenever remembering the attack. Her mother and sister encouraged her with Scripture and worked hard to lift her spirits—reminding her of the hope she has in Christ. She slowly gained strength through prayer, reading the Bible, and writing down her thoughts. She also received support from a Christian organization. “Surely my cup overflows with blessings,” she said.

—OpenDoorUSA.org

Military Persecutes in Myanmar

Myanmar’s military, which seized power in Buddhist-majority Myanmar in February 2021, has for many years persecuted the country’s Christian minority estimated to make up 6.2% of the population. A seven-year-old child was one of three people killed when the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) launched a joint land and air attack on Mon Hla, a historic Christian village of 3,000 people. More than 200 troops were involved in the assault on November 23 in which a 40-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man also died. Over 200 of the village’s 700 buildings, including a church and a Christian school, were destroyed after being engulfed by fires started by the soldiers. This is not new; other villages are also similarly attacked by the military.

—BarnabasFund.org

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