The Protestant Church in Germany is reconsidering its asylum shelter policy following the Alternative for Germany party's strong performance in regional elections. In Stendal, Saxony-Anhalt, retired pastor Ruth-Barbara Schlenker hosts two refugee families under ecclesiastical asylum. The AfD won nearly 44 percent of the vote in the September 6 regional elections. According to Schlenker, the church is now considering transferring these refugees to other regions due to the political shift. This development highlights the tension between church protection efforts and the rising influence of the right-wing party in the area.
Translated from FrançaisAlso reported by 1 other outlet
An NGO defending persecuted Christians held its annual meeting in a French city. Approximately 1,200 attendees gathered to hear testimonies from six speakers representing nations on the organization's global watchlist, including countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. These nations rank highly for persecution severity. The event aimed to encourage participants through personal stories. Additional interviews with the speakers regarding their conversions and subsequent hardships will be published next week by the outlet. The gathering focused on raising awareness and support for believers facing severe oppression in these regions.
Dutch health authorities have validated the first case of euthanasia for a baby under the law enacted in February 2024, which permits the procedure for children aged one to twelve. Health Minister Sophie Hermans confirmed the case in a letter to parliament. A government commission determined that the physician followed required protocols. The infant, born prematurely with severe brain lesions and epilepsy, suffered insupportable pain with no prospect of improvement. Parents and doctors concluded the child would not reach adulthood. This decision marks the first application of the expanded euthanasia criteria in the Netherlands.
Translated from Français
Read more →
Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Homs syria3 · No machine-readable author provided. Ss6sam6 assumed (based on copyright claims). / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5Persecuted church
An explosion occurred outside a cathedral in Syria, according to Open Doors. Surveillance footage shows a masked individual on a motorcycle leaving a device before detonation. While authorities described the object as a noise bomb, local sources claim it was a deliberate explosive intended to instill fear. The blast shattered windows and damaged the surrounding area but caused no casualties as no service was in progress. The incident disrupted preparations for the upcoming Feast of the Holy Cross, unsettling the local Christian community.
According to a September 3 report by Open Doors and World Relief, the United States has stopped accepting persecuted Christian refugees. In 2025, nearly 10,000 Christians from high-risk countries entered the US, but zero arrived in 2026. This sharp decline results from stricter migration policies, specifically a January 2025 decree suspending refugee resettlement programs. Myal Greene, CEO of World Relief, stated that the US has effectively closed its golden door. The organizations highlight that approximately 365 million Christians worldwide, or one in seven, now face persecution or discrimination due to their faith, raising concerns about the lack of safe haven.
Open Doors released a video featuring a pastor from Burkina Faso, who survived an attack by over a hundred extremists in 2024. The group divided into teams to burn homes and kill villagers inside a church. The pastor lost his parents and other relatives in the massacre. He shared his crisis of faith, questioning if God had abandoned his people. The report highlights that one Christian is killed every two hours in sub-Saharan Africa for their faith, emphasizing the severe persecution faced by believers in the region.
Andreas Tschurn, a pastor, is a candidate in the regional election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. He aims to stop the Alternative for Germany (AfD) from gaining power. The far-right party leads polls with over 40 percent support. Its leader, Ulrich Siegmund, might win an absolute majority. Tschurn opposes the party's radical program. The AfD has a large campaign budget of 1.4 million euros. They plan to distribute many posters and host public events. The pastor cites biblical justice to frame his political mission against the rising influence of the right-wing group in this eastern German state.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez revealed that anti-Christian incidents increased by 6% in the first half of 2026, totaling 458 cases. According to his interview with La Croix, these acts constitute 40% of all anti-religious offenses recorded in France during this period. The majority, 84%, involved property damage such as theft or vandalism in churches and cemeteries. Only 14 incidents targeted individuals. This follows a 9% increase in 2025. The minister also noted 533 anti-Semitic acts, representing 46% of total anti-religious offenses. These figures highlight a continuing trend of rising religiously motivated crimes in the country.
A silent disco event took place on August 15 inside Canterbury Cathedral in England, drawing criticism from Christian commentators. Participants danced to music via headphones within the historic religious site. The controversy intensified because the event coincided with the Feast of the Assumption, a significant day in both Catholic and Anglican traditions. Tim Dieppe of Christian Concern criticized the cathedral's decision, arguing it prioritizes secular entertainment over the Gospel's appeal. The incident highlights a broader trend, as the organizer hosts similar parties in other British religious buildings, raising questions about the appropriate use of sacred spaces.
Lev Shlosberg, vice-president of the Russian anti-war party Yabloko, was sentenced to eleven years in prison by a court in Pskov on August 17. According to Le Monde, he was convicted of discrediting the military and spreading false information about the Ukraine conflict for sharing a newspaper image and advocating for a ceasefire. Shlosberg claimed the trial was political. Meanwhile, the Russian Supreme Court rejected Yabloko's appeal to participate in September legislative elections. Approximately sixty protesters gathered in Moscow in support of the party but were dispersed and detained by police, an act described as intimidation by party leader Nikolai Rybakov.
In Nigeria, former victims of religious violence are participating in programs aimed at de-radicalizing terrorists. A Christian from a region in northern Nigeria survived abuse by peers during the 1990s. Despite the trauma, he chose forgiveness over hatred. Now, he and others are using their experiences to help counter extremist ideologies. This initiative highlights a shift from victimhood to active reconciliation in the region. The effort aims to reduce violence by addressing the root causes of radicalization among youth in northern Nigeria. According to reports, these personal stories are central to the community-based approach to peacebuilding.
Translated from Français
Read more →
SermonWave writes its own short summaries and links to the original reporting. Every story belongs to the outlet that reported it. About World News · Our sources · RSS feed
