Politics USA
Thanksgiving – for what?
Tony Bennett
Date posted: 19 Nov 2025
On Thursday 27 November, Americans will enjoy their annual Thanksgiving. But what’s its background? Who started it? And when? How has it evolved?
The oft-repeated myth is that Thanksgiving – an annual celebration of harvest – dates back to the first harvest following the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers in what today is the state of Massachusetts. True, there was a three-day harvest celebration in 1621, but this really cannot be regarded as the start of Americans’ modern-day tradition. The link between the thankful pilgrims and the modern-day Thanksgiving is really pretty tenuous and more the creation of some romanticised teaching of American history in the second half of the 19th century.
Authorities ordered to pay millions in Koh Case
Nicola Laver
Date posted: 18 Nov 2025
Malaysia's government and police have been ordered to pay millions in compensation to the family of a pastor who was abducted more than eight years ago.
Raymond Koh, then aged 62, was abducted in broad daylight on the morning of 13 February 2017 while driving his car in a suburb outside Kuala Lumpur. He has not been seen since. CCTV footage from the time appears to show more than eight masked men in black surrounding the car.
Violent persecution in Mozambique
Luke Randall
Date posted: 18 Nov 2025
Violent persecution against Christians is mounting in Mozambique, with jihadist attacks having slaughtered thousands and displaced an estimated 600,000 people in the north of the country.
A recent incident saw militant jihadist group Ahlu Sunnah wa Jama’ah, known as al-Shabab, attack Napala village in the northern Chiúre district, killing 20 and displacing 2,000, adding to the already catastrophic national total.
US: Reactions to Nigeria being classed as CPC
Luke Randall
Date posted: 17 Nov 2025
There has been mixed reaction among missionary workers to the news that the US State Department has updated its classification of Nigeria to a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to its severe persecution of Christians.
The ongoing situation in Nigeria gained more publicity following comments by comedian Bill Maher, who described persecution as genocidal. Now, Trump’s administration has upped its designation of the country and has hinted at further action if violations of religious freedom are not halted.
Netherlands: Mixed feelings following election victory
Luke Randall
Date posted: 16 Nov 2025
Evangelicals in the Netherlands have been left with mixed feelings following the victory of Rob Jetten’s liberal D66 party, who ousted the right-wing PVV in a nail-biting General Election that went down to the wire.
Saskia de Graaf, Public Affairs Officer for MissieNederland (Dutch Evangelical Alliance), told en that while evangelicals are “grateful and relieved” that Christian influence remains in parliament, following success for conservative Christian parties SGP and ChristenUnie, “a lot of concerns” remain as the nation moves into a new and likely more liberal era of government.
Waiting game for Finnish free speech case
Luke Randall
Date posted: 14 Nov 2025
Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen remains “hopeful that justice will prevail” as she faces a waiting game following the hearing of her landmark free speech case at the Finnish Supreme Court.
The latest court involvement means her case will now rumble into its seventh year, despite her having been acquitted in two lower courts.
TV spin-off brings Christ to children
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 8 Nov 2025
A children’s spin-off of popular TV series The Chosen, which tells the story of Jesus, is available on Prime Video.
The Chosen Adventures follows nine-year-old Abby and her best friend Joshua as they navigate life in the ancient city of Capernaum. When the children encounter a wise craftsman and teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, He helps them change the way they see the world, and they help spread His influence far and wide.
France: Assisted suicide plans criticised
Luke Randall
Date posted: 7 Nov 2025
Concerns have been raised about France’s proposed “Assistance in Dying Bill” by a United Nations (UN) committee.
The group has cited the impact it will have on disabled people as potentially problematic, along with the lack of alternative options to euthanasia and a lack of information on safeguards.
Calling Mary 'Co-redemptrix' diminishes Christ, RCs told
en staff
Date posted: 5 Nov 2025
Calling Mary "Co-redemptrix" risks diminishing the work of Christ, Roman Catholics are being told.
The warning is given in an official RC document described as a "doctrinal note on some Marian titles regarding Mary's co-operation in the work of salvation". It has been produced by the "Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith", a Vatican department established in 1542 to promote religious discipline in matters of faith and doctrine.
Moldova: Repression or liberalism?
Luke Randall
Date posted: 4 Nov 2025
A Russian-inspired clampdown on evangelicals – or the advance of social liberalism.
That was the choice many evangelicals in Moldova faced. And it appears they opted for religious freedom first and foremost, according to a Crosslinks mission partner.
Hindu extremists emboldened in India
Luke Randall
Date posted: 3 Nov 2025
Persecution against Christians in Rajasthan state, India is on the rise following the passing of a new anti-conversion law. Although the bill has not yet received governor assent, Hindu extremists appear to have been emboldened by its imminent implementation.
Since the legislation’s procession through the northwestern state’s assembly in September, attacks on believers have increased in number and intensity, with nine accounts of harassment and assault recorded before the end of that month alone, as reported by Release International.
Syria: Dubious vote on road to Islamism
Luke Randall
Date posted: 1 Nov 2025
Uncertainty remains for Christians in Syria following dubious elections which saw President Ahmed al-Sharaa strengthen his control of the nation’s government, with next to no representation for believers.
The new Hay’at Tahir al-Sham (HTS) regime, led by al-Sharaa has worked to project a credible image of stability and governance since it overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s brutal government at the end of last year.
Cuba: Concerns over jail rights
Luke Randall
Date posted: 31 Oct 2025
Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is being “systematically violated”, “weaponised and used as a coercion and punishment tactic” in Cuba’s prisons, according to a new report.
The study, which was undertaken by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and featured interviews with 181 prisoners being held across five areas, found that conditions for religious prisoners have deteriorated in recent years, following limited improvements during the 2010s.
Gafcon plan: Theological allies remain silent
en staff
Date posted: 30 Oct 2025
Conservative groupings in the Anglican Communion are remaining seemingly tight-lipped about Gafcon's recently-announced plans for a complete denominational reset.
On 16 October, the Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon), which represents many orthodox and Bible-believing individuals and churches, declared itself the "Global Anglican Communion" - as opposed to the existing Anglican Communion traditionally centred on Canterbury.
‘Blatant injustices’ in Madagascar
en staff
Date posted: 29 Oct 2025
An evangelical leader in Madagascar has spoken out against “blatant injustices and violations of fundamental human rights” which occurred as political turbulence engulfed the African island.
Faly Ravoahangy is President of 3M Preaching Institute, a ministry endeavouring to identify, train and equip the next generation of church leaders. He is also a pastor and elder at Ankadivato Biblical Baptist Church in Antananarivo.
Nigeria: Genocide claim is ‘justified’
Emily Pollok
Date posted: 28 Oct 2025
The persecution of Nigerian Christians is attracting greater attention following recent comments made by American comedian Bill Maher on his talk show Real Time with Bill Maher.
“This issue has not gotten on people’s radar? It’s pretty amazing,” Maher said. “If you don’t know what’s going on in Nigeria, your media sources suck.”
China: Fresh crackdown on Christians
Luke Randall
Date posted: 27 Oct 2025
Over 70 Christians have been arrested as part of a large-scale crackdown on civil liberties in East China, with 20 having also been fined thousands of Chinese Yuan.
Hostility from the Chinese state has been increasing for around three months and has seen hundreds of police officers and about 200 vehicles deployed to find anyone involved in Bible study groups across the region, according to Open Doors.
Franklin Graham groups quit accountability body
Lydia Houghton
Date posted: 24 Oct 2025
Franklin Graham – the son of late American evangelist Billy Graham – has withdrawn his two ministries from an evangelical accountability group which was co-founded by his father.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan’s Purse have formally resigned from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), ending more than four decades of membership.
