Two licensed counselors filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska against the city of Lincoln. The plaintiffs argue that the city’s ordinance banning conversion therapy for minors violates their First Amendment free speech rights and the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process clause. They claim the law is too vague and imposes severe penalties, including jail time. Attorneys from the Thomas More Society support the challenge, citing a recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down similar restrictions in Colorado. The city has not yet filed an official response to the complaint.
Christian apologist Frank Turek alleges that Baylor University in Waco, US, obstructed a planned campus event by imposing excessive security fees and administrative restrictions. The gathering, organized by Ratio Christi, was postponed after the university raised security costs from $2,600 to $8,500. Turek described these actions as extortion and claimed administrators tried to shut down the presentation. Baylor officials dispute these claims, stating the student group failed to submit required documentation on time and chose to postpone rather than find a cheaper location. The university maintains it supports future events if proper procedures are followed. This dispute highlights tensions between student religious groups and university administration regarding event logistics and costs.
Christians in South Korea are gathering for a memorial service ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy. The event, titled 'Towards Truth with the Light of Stars,' will take place on October 22 in Seoul. Organizers state the service aims to offer comfort and solidarity to victims' families and survivors, whose pain continues. The program includes a sermon by Pastor Song Ki-sung, communion led by Pastor Lee Min-hee, and testimonies from family members. This initiative follows the declaration of October as a month of remembrance and mourning by victim groups.
Former US diplomat Morse Tan remains in South Korea after a court denied his request to lift an exit ban for his grandmother’s funeral in the United States. The Seoul Administrative Court cited public interest concerns while his criminal defamation trial proceeds. Tan faces charges for comments made about President Lee Jae Myung during a 2025 event in Washington. Authorities imposed the travel restriction after Tan arrived in May to observe elections. Despite the ban, Tan has continued speaking at churches in South Korea, criticizing the government and alleging foreign interference. US officials and lawmakers have criticized the restrictions as unfair treatment of an American citizen.
A Christian family advocacy organization in the US warns that California’s new Assembly Bill 1803 could conflict with traditional religious beliefs. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the measure last month, requiring employers with five or more staff to include anti-hate speech training by January 2028. The California Family Council’s Greg Burt argues the broad language may subject Christian teachings on sexuality to scrutiny and urges religious accommodations. Critics fear government interference in church preaching, while supporters view the law as protecting LGBT rights against federal attacks.
Everett Public Schools in Washington state has reached a settlement with LifeWise Academy, a Christian group offering off-campus Bible instruction. The district agreed to pay $275,000 in legal fees, issue a formal apology, and revise policies regarding religious activities. The dispute arose after LifeWise accused officials of excluding the group from resource fairs and restricting flyer distribution. Superintendent Ian Saltzman and the school board acknowledged that previous policies and board comments negatively impacted participating students and families. First Liberty Institute represented LifeWise, citing the outcome as a victory for religious freedom in public schools. This follows a partial federal court ruling earlier this year that found the district had engaged in viewpoint discrimination.
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Nearly 80,000 people gathered at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday for a prayer and worship event hosted by 2819 Church and Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell. The event, titled ACCESS, featured an hour of prayer and 45 minutes of worship. Senior pastors Ed Newton, Josh Howerton, and Malachi O’Brien attended and praised the gathering on social media. This year’s turnout marked a significant increase from the previous 30,000 attendees at State Farm Arena. The annual tour focuses on corporate prayer rather than traditional sermons or concerts.
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Churches in a city in Chhattisgarh, India, have installed signs stating that services are for Christians only and visitors enter at their own risk. According to Hyun Sook Foley of Voice of the Martyrs Korea, this measure responds to a strict anti-conversion law passed in March. The legislation imposes severe penalties for alleged forced conversions, prompting local leaders to warn outsiders to avoid legal trouble. While a local Christian forum encourages this practice, historic congregations face increasing pressure from Hindu nationalist groups. This strategy aims to protect members from prosecution while maintaining community peace amidst rising religious tensions.
Ottumwa, Iowa Mayor Benjamin Foote is reevaluating the city's invocation policy following a controversial prayer delivered by Matthew Dalbey, a former council member affiliated with The Satanic Temple of Iowa. During a Tuesday meeting, Dalbey invoked Satan and urged agnosticism, prompting an objection from Pastor Rick Bick. Mayor Foote, a born-again Christian, stated he was shocked but emphasized the policy protects First Amendment freedoms. Councilman Bill Hoffman Jr. noted the invocation was pre-approved. Foote intends to review the policy to prevent similar statements and may bar Dalbey from his scheduled November 3 appearance. The Christian Post reported on the incident.
A pastor arrested in China will receive the 2026 Lantos Human Rights Prize from the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. The award marks one year since authorities detained him in October 2025. He spent 266 days in detention before being released to the United States in July. He stated he intends to use the recognition to highlight the ongoing imprisonment of eight church leaders in China. The Lantos Foundation president praised his courage in facing persecution. He continues to advocate for religious freedom and the release of detained believers in the region.
Anita Meston, a 63-year-old teacher in Sunderland, England, is suing Biddick Academy after being dismissed for stating she was pro-life. The incident occurred in March 2025 when a student asked about her stance on abortion. Meston explained her Christian faith shaped her view, noting she knew women who regretted the procedure. The school terminated her contract for sharing personal political opinions. ADF International supports her claim, arguing that the dismissal violates Britain’s Equality Act protections for religious beliefs. A preliminary hearing is scheduled before the Employment Tribunal to determine if the termination constituted unlawful discrimination.
A court in Khabarovsk, Russia, sentenced Korean missionary Park Tae-yeon to five years and eight months in prison on immigration charges. The Voice of the Martyrs Korea reported that Park was convicted of organizing illegal migration and providing false residence registration. Her co-defendant, Russian citizen Zinaida Ustinova, received a six-year suspended sentence. Park's lawyer plans to appeal the verdict. Eric Poly, CEO of the organization, stated that Park will remain in a detention center until the appeal is decided. The case has drawn international attention, with petitions submitted to Russian and UN officials demanding her release.
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A federal appeals court in the US upheld Christian Brothers Automotive’s policy of granting franchises only to professing Christians. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a lawsuit from Evan Domanic, a Jewish applicant who claimed the policy constituted ethnic discrimination. The court ruled that the company’s requirement was based on religious affiliation, not ethnicity, noting that federal law prohibits racial discrimination but not religious discrimination in this context. The company, which operates over 250 locations, stated its mission is to glorify God through ethical service. The decision confirms that the policy does not violate civil rights laws.
The Sisters of Pauline in Jerusalem have cared for 140 Palestinian children for nearly forty years. The article highlights their work in East Jerusalem and the Old City, where most students are Muslim. Following the 2023 Middle East conflict, the sisters reopened their kindergarten to provide a safe space for healing. Sister Gabriela Zinkl and Sister Daniela Gabor describe how the community welcomed the children back, creating a trust oasis. The sisters emphasize that early education fosters respect among different cultures and religions, helping children build resilience and hope for peace despite the surrounding violence.
Park Sun-kyu, an elder at Dorim Church in South Korea, was excommunicated by the Yeongdepo Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Korea (Tonghap) in June after raising concerns about financial transparency. He questioned the increase in construction costs for a new worship hall from 20 billion to over 45 billion won and mandatory offering fees for appointed leaders. The church denies these claims, stating the higher figure includes additional expenses and that the excommunication resulted from defamation, not financial inquiries. Park has applied for an injunction against the trial and plans to publish a book on the matter, calling it a symbol of structural issues in the Korean church.
Officials conducted a two-day raid on an unregistered house church in a county in Anhui Province. According to a representative of Voice of the Martyrs Korea, police arrested two female pastors and confiscated mobile phones. Authorities also banned songs containing religious terms, demanding congregants sing Communist Party anthems instead. The area is historically significant as the base of a well-known evangelist who established hundreds of underground churches there. The representative noted that officials questioned relatives of pastors serving in the United States. The local government has not publicly commented on the motivations behind the crackdown.
The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of Prison Fellowship, a Washington-based Christian nonprofit founded by Charles Colson in 1976. The measure honors the organization's work serving incarcerated individuals and their families, as well as its advocacy for criminal justice reform. Senators Christopher Coons and James Lankford co-sponsored the resolution, highlighting the group's impact on redemption and family restoration. Heather Rice-Minus, the organization's president and CEO, thanked lawmakers for the recognition, attributing the ministry's success to divine faithfulness. The resolution underscores ongoing support for restorative justice approaches in the United States.
Following record-breaking floods in August that declared Geoje, South Korea, a special disaster zone, religious facilities were excluded from 230.8 billion won in government recovery funds. Officials cited reasons such as lack of tax payments and non-residential status, though no laws support these exclusions. Newsnjoy reported on September 9, documenting severe damage at churches including Saecentral Church, Lord's Embrace Church, and Geoje Church of the Anglican Church of Korea. The outlet highlighted the financial gap facing these institutions despite the official disaster designation.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court decision allowing a century-old cross and Nativity display to remain in Los Angeles’ El Pueblo district. The court rejected atheist plaintiff Jack Gerritsen’s request for removal, citing the displays' historical significance since 1929. Attorney Andrea Butler of Becket represented local merchants, arguing that religious symbols are part of the nation's cultural heritage. The case references the Supreme Court’s 2019 American Legion ruling. The matter now returns to the district court for a final determination on the Establishment Clause challenge.
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