On February 16, security police released 35 evangelical Christians in the port city of Massawa, after holding them in custody for six weeks.

In recent days we have been covering a lot of news concerning the intense Hindu persecution of Christians in India. According to a story here India not only has a major problem with killing preborn girl babies, but also dealing with intense persecution towards Christians, including some of those who worked with the late Mother Teresa.

In recent months there have been increased incidents of persecution in China. Local Christians believe the Communist Chinese government has stepped up their crackdown on the house church movement in efforts to get rid of them before the Olympics this summer. A few days ago, we just received news that 21 senior house church leaders were simultaneously sentenced to a labor camp by the Linyi City Re-education Through Labor Commission.

According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts in Nigeria, “One Christian man was killed, over 60 people were seriously injured and five churches were damaged.”

This morning I received an email from a blogger friend of mine who hosts a radio program in Australia. My friend, Rodney Olsen, wrote a wonderful post about The Staines family, and also posted an audio interview with Gladys Staines regarding the extraordinary story of what happened to her family.

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly stores change the merchandise on their shelves after Christmas to valentine cards, candy and anything else you can imagine that symbolizes love. Through the years, I have made a conscious effort not to be pressured by the many commercials and merchandise because, surely, there is more to life than buying stuff and feeling all giddy about a holiday.

This just in from VOM Canada and our friends at Mission Network News.

Yesterday, my friends from VOM Canada sent out their weekly prayer email, and this story about a Christian leader being detained in China really stood out to me because I send bibles to China every month. Read on and pray pray pray!