A Chinese pastor on Monday was sentenced to nine years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power” and “illegal business operations,” although his only crime was to preach the gospel in an unregistered church, supporters say.

The sentencing of Pastor Wang Yi of Early Rain Covenant Church was only the latest example in China’s crackdown on unregistered churches. 

Churches within China must register either with the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (if they’re Protestant) or the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association. Because such congregations face extreme regulations, millions of Christians in the country worship at underground congregations.

Early Rain was not registered. Wang was arrested in 2018.

His attorney, Si Weijiang, told the Washington Post that the incitement charge “involves preaching and is an issue of speech, which has … inflicted no social harm.” The illegal business charge related to him printing Christian books,” Si said.

A court in Sichuan, which is in southwest China, handed down the sentence.

China Aid, which monitors religious freedom in the country, criticized China for the arrest and sentence. 

“This is a pure case of unjust religious persecution against a peaceful preacher of a Chinese reformed church,” ChinaAid founder and president Dr. Bob Fu said. “This grave sentence demonstrates Xi’s regime is determined to be the enemy of universal…

NAIROBI, Kenya, December 30, 2019 (Morning Star News) – In stark contrast to his predecessor, Sudan’s new minister of religious affairs last week attended a long-persecuted church’s Christmas service.

Following the Sudanese government’s announcement of Christmas as a public holiday for the first time in eight years, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasr al-Din Mufreh accompanied senior government officials at the Christmas Day service of Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church – a congregation the previous Islamist government had harassed for years.

At a press conference after visiting several churches in Khartoum on Christmas Day, the Muslim leader sent a strong signal of religious coexistence to Christians in a country where they suffered for their faith under former President Omar al-Bashir.

“I tender my apology for the oppression and the harm enforced on you physically by [the prior government’s] bulldozing your church buildings, arresting and falsely imprisoning your church leaders and raiding your property,” Mufreh said, according to Radio Dabanga.

Sudan had suspended Christmas as a holiday following the secession of South Sudan in 2011. The government-run Sudan TV on Christmas Day broadcast Christmas services of various churches in Khartoum, including the Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church, whose members had been subject to arrests on false charges and whose property had been…

Lois Evans, a speaker and teacher and the wife of pastor and author Tony Evans, passed away Monday, nine months after it was revealed her gallbladder cancer – a rare condition in the U.S. – had returned. She was 70.

“Just before the sun came up this morning, the love of my life, Lois Irene Evans, transitioned from earth and watched her first sunrise from heaven,” Tony Evans wrote Monday in a note posted on multiple social media accounts. “I had the privilege of holding her hand as she was lulled into eternity. Our four children surrounded her as well. As she slipped away, we told her how much we love her, how proud we are of her, and how thankful we are for the life she has lived.

“We are what we are because of her,” he added.

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Just before the sun came up this morning, the love of my life, Lois Irene Evans, transitioned from earth and watched her first sunrise from heaven. I had the privilege of holding her hand as she was lulled into eternity. Our four children surrounded her as well. As she slipped away, we told her how much we love her, how proud we are of her, and how thankful we are for the life she has lived. We are what we are because of her. Thank you so much for praying for my wife and for my family. God answered our prayers this morning by relieving her of suffering. But the truth is, He has been answering our prayers all along. Lois…

A group affiliated with the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a vicious mass execution that claimed the lives of eleven Christian aid workers.

The killings were carried out as a retaliation against the killing of leader Bakr al-Baghdadi, who blew himself up after being cornered during a raid by U.S. special forces at the end of October.

The militant group known as the Islamic State in West Africa Province released a gruesome minute-long video of the shooting of one man followed by the beheading of 10 others.

“This message is to the Christians in the world,” a man featured in the video explains, as reported by the New York Times. “Those who you see in front of us are Christians, and we will shed their blood as revenge for the two dignified sheikhs, the caliph of the Muslims, and the spokesman for the Islamic State, Sheikh Abu al-Hassan al-Muhajir, may Allah accept them.”

The murders, which took place the day after Christmas, were strategically planned in order to distress the Christian community, according to experts.

Several reports indicate that the men were taken hostage in Maiduguri and Damaturu in Nigeria’s northeastern state of Borno, which has been the epicenter of an increase in Islamic militia-led violence over recent years.

In response to the killings, President Muhammadu Buhari tweeted that Nigerians should “under no circumstance, let the terrorists divide us by turning…

Actor Tom Selleck told BeliefNet that his success is because of his faith in Jesus. 

According to CBN News, Selleck said God has guided him over the years.

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps,” he said. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”

Selleck had originally planned to work for United Airlines after college. His acting work started when he appeared in a few commercials. Twentieth Century Fox even offered him an acting contract, but he said God called him to serve in the U.S. Army.

He served in the California National Guard in the 160^th infantry regiment from 1967 to 1973.

“I am a veteran, I’m proud of it. I was a sergeant in the U.S. Army infantry, National Guard, Vietnam era. We’re all brothers and sisters in that sense.”

After his time in the army, he went to Hollywood to begin acting again. He soon landed the lead role of Magnum, P.I.

The show ran from 1980 to 1988. It consistently ranked in the top 20 of U.S. television shows during its first five years, according to Nielsen Ratings.

“As good as this business has been to me, that’s not what life is about,” he said. “Life is about more important things. You know, we’ve all struggled as we get successful in this business to balance that, I certainly have.”

Selleck also volunteers with the National Guard to promote recruitment and support. He is also the…

On Christmas Eve, pop megastar Justin Bieber delivered some long-anticipated news that delighted his legions of loyal fans: he will be releasing a new album in 2020. In a video introducing his latest project – a first release in five years – Bieber teased a new song, “Yummy,” and even spoke openly about his faith.

“As humans, we are imperfect. My past, my mistakes, all the things that I’ve been through, I believe that I’m right where I’m supposed to be and God has me right where he wants me,” the singer said in the video. “I feel like this is different than the previous albums just because of where I’m at in my life. I’m excited to perform it and to tour it. We all have different stories… I’m just excited to share mine.”

Bieber has become increasingly open about his faith in recent years, often posting about his experiences with God on Instagram.

“Even when the odds are against you keep fighting,” the “Purpose” singer wrote in an Instagram post on September 2. “Jesus loves you. Be kind today…be bold today… and love people not by your standards but by God’s perfect unfailing love.”

Earlier, in August, Bieber even led worship at a church in LA.

“Sang at church last night,” he wrote on Instagram following the service. “God is pulling me through a hard season. Having trust in Jesus at your worst times is the absolute…

An outgoing California mayor is standing behind the addition of “In God We Trust” decals to the city’s police cars, calling it one of the council’s biggest accomplishments of the year. 

The Delano (Calif.) City Council voted 3-1 in April to add the stickers to the city’s patrol cars. In June, Bakersfield’s City Council followed Delano’s lead and voted 4-2 to add “In God We Trust” stickers to its police and fire vehicles. Both cities are located within Kern County, Calif.

“Delano has a strong faith-based background and I admire the show of support to place the ‘In God we trust’ motto on our Delano Police vehicles this year with the support of our community,” Delano Mayor Joe Aguirre told The Record newspaper this month. “We have so much to be proud of and so much to get done … and with the grace of God, we will get it done.”

The decals are paid for by private donations. 

Several county pastors were behind the movement.

“We think this will set a precedent that will hopefully catch on in other cities. We want every city in our county to follow Delano’s lead,” David Vivas, a pastor with World Harvest International Church, said earlier this year. “This sends a strong statement to the community.” 

The decals are constitutional, Vivas said. “In God We Trust” is the national motto.

“As a patriotic American, I believe it…