Steadfast Global, 25th October 2024
Central Asia:
This week we have been travelling in Central Asia with some of our partners. Thanks to those of you who have been remembering this trip. As well as visiting some of our ongoing projects, we have met with Christians in their small house groups. Their faithfulness continues to inspire and challenge us. We hope to share more about the visit in a future newsletter.
Sudan:
CSW has reported the arrest of 26 men, many of whom are members of the Sudanese Church of Christ, between 6th and 11th October. The Christians were detained in Shendi, an area north of Khartoum, after fleeing ongoing fighting in the city. Fourteen of the men have since been released but twelve remain in custody. Also in Sudan, there have been reports of the forcible conversion of Christians in Gezira region which is controlled by the Islamist Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
China:
House church pastor Ma Yan (32) of Ningxia Province has been arrested on suspicion of “organising illegal gatherings.” The detention came on 20 August, the same day that a ten-day period of administrative detention ended. The period of administrative detention was imposed after Pastor Yan and three other leaders were arrested during a police raid on the venue of their church service in Yinchuan.