(SRN NEWS) The release of a jailed pastor by Chinese authorities this month has put a spotlight on persecution of Christians by Beijing. The pastor’s church is among the largest underground or house churches in China that are unregistered with authorities. They defy a requirement that Christians worship only in registered government churches. The ruling Communist Party, which is officially atheist, views organized religion as a potential threat to its hold on power. Under President Xi Jinping, Chinese authorities have pushed to “Sinicize” religion by demanding loyalty to the party. Despite persecution, underground churches are growing fast.
( ) The Egyptian government has announced the discovery of a well-preserved Byzantine-era residential city in the western desert. The Tourism and Antiquities Ministry says the city contains many buildings and writings that testify to the firm grip that Christianity had on the region in the fourth and fifth centuries A.D. A basilica church dating back to the 300’s stands at the settlement’s head, overlooking its main streets, along with remains of two watchtowers to safeguard the outskirts. One house has been identified as belonging to a man named Tisous (TISS-oos) who was a church deacon at the time.
( ) A new AP-NORC poll highlights divisions among American Jews regarding Israel. The survey shows that religiously affiliated Jews often see support for Israel as central to their identity, while those who are religiously unaffiliated are more critical of Israel’s actions. The sweeping survey, which touched on everything from views on Israel to anti-Semitism and strains on interpersonal relations, finds that supporting Israel is still fundamental to many Jewish adults’ identity. However, its importance compared to other aspects of being Jewish varies. And rifts are clearly springing up over Israel within Jewish communities.
( ) Christian missionaries with the evangelical organization Cru (rhymes with TRUE) are gathering once a week in VRChat, a popular social platform where millions of people from around the world interact through avatars. As more people build friendships and spend significant portions of their lives in virtual spaces, Cru’s missionaries are adapting familiar evangelistic practices to reach them. Users can explore thousands of virtual worlds where they talk, play games and, in the missionaries’ case, spread the gospel. Founded in 1951 as Campus Crusade for Christ, Cru has always focused on evangelism and discipleship among young people.
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