In Germany, a Christian hybrid school has been forcefully shuttered after government authorities ruled that it violated the state’s “educational mandate.”

The award-winning Dietrich Bonhoeffer International School operated successfully for nine years and offered a mix of classroom and at-home learning. After government officials recently claimed that the school usurped state authority due to the partial homeschool model, it was shut down. The school is now appealing to the European Court of Human Rights.

School leaders argue the decision violates both national and international law. “Parents are the first authority for the education of their children,” said Dr. Felix Böllmann of ADF International, which is representing the school. “The ones who suffer [from decisions like this] are the children and their families.”

Mother Jailed on False Blasphemy Charges

In Pakistan, a Christian mother spent more than a year in prison after being falsely accused of blasphemy — a charge that has repeatedly led to mob violence and executions.

Stella Khawar, a 29-year-old mother of a five-year-old son, was arrested and jailed after accusations that blasphemous messages appeared on currency notes. A high court later ruled there was no evidence tying her to the alleged crimes and granted her bail.

Despite nearly two years passing, police failed to produce forensic evidence they claimed existed. “It’s clearly a case of no evidence,” said her attorney, Lazar Allah Rakha.

Human rights groups warn that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are routinely weaponized to target Christians, the poor, and religious minorities.

Expanded Crackdown on Baptist Churches

In Russia, courts have banned Baptist congregations for refusing to register with the state.

Three churches were ordered to cease all activity unless they formally notified authorities of their existence, something the Council of Churches of Evangelical Baptists refuses to do on principle. Pastors have been fined for holding worship services, distributing religious literature, and allowing minors to attend services.

When a church is banned, it cannot meet anywhere within its city or district. Since early 2024, at least ten Baptist congregations across Russia have been shut down.

Religious Speech Considered Criminal

In Canada, lawmakers are nearing passage of legislation that would remove long-standing religious exemptions from hate-speech laws.

Under proposed changes to Bill C-9, biblical teachings on marriage, sexuality, or moral conduct could be subject to prosecution if deemed offensive. Critics warn the bill lowers the legal threshold for criminal charges and removes safeguards that once protected religious expression.

“This is... criminalizing faith,” said Christine Van Geyn of the Canadian Constitution Foundation. The law could be used to suppress evangelism, public prayer, and pro-life advocacy.

Street Preachers Detained for Gospel Proclamation

Closer to home, in Texas, two street preachers were handcuffed and detained by Dallas police while preaching the Gospel on a public sidewalk.

Landon Thurman, founder of the ministry Testimonies of God, said the group was conducting peaceful evangelism when off-duty officers accused them of violating a city noise ordinance. Thurman said police ordered them to leave the sidewalk.

After verbally objecting, he and fellow evangelist Will Dieterich were then handcuffed and detained for roughly 30 minutes.

Calling the incident “deeply concerning,” Thurman stated, “We are not agitators or criminals — we are Christians peacefully proclaiming the Gospel.”

Let’s Be Faithful

The accused in these cases were teaching children, gathering for worship, and speaking openly about faith. Unfortunately, those basic acts are increasingly treated as something that must be controlled and shut down around the world. That’s why it’s more important than ever to share the gospel while we still can. Pass out a tract today!