The last few weeks have been filled with tons of news regarding Christian persecution in India. Here's another story from our friends at Compass Direct. For the full story, click here.

You can read the full story at Assist News here.

ISTANBUL, January 7 (Compass Direct News) – Four Iraqi churches and three convents were damaged in coordinated bomb blasts yesterday morning, the day many Iraqi Christians celebrate either Epiphany or Christmas Eve according to some Eastern liturgical calendars. At least six people were injured, one seriously.

Four Christians were killed, many injured and numerous homes and churches destroyed or damaged in Orissa state in violent clashes that began on Christmas Eve.

As most of you know if you read this blog regularly, Turkey is a nation where Christians are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Today Christianity Today has a very lengthy article called Jesus in Turkey that is worth the read. Here is a brief snip from the article.

NEW DELHI, January 2 (Compass Direct News) – Orissa state’s Kandhamal district remains tense 10 days after a series of anti-Christian attacks began, and thousands of Christians whose houses have been burned down are facing hunger and fear. Pastor Victor John, who came to Udaigiri village in the Mallikapur area of Kandhamal as a guest speaker in a Baptist church on December 24, the day the attacks led by the Hindu extremist Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council or VHP) began, told Compass that the atmosphere was still tense despite the deployment of troops. According to a memorandum submitted to the National Human Rights Commission on Monday (December 31), Christian leaders said that around nine people had been killed, close to 90 churches burned, about 600 houses torched or vandalized, and 5,000 people affected. VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati told media on December 25 that the reason for the violence was conversions by area Christians.

Earlier this week one of my favorite missions organizations, Mission Network News posted about the dangers during Christmas season for Christians in persecuted areas. Here's a short snippet from the MNN article.

A few weeks ago I mentioned on this blog that I felt really burdened for the Christians in North Korea, and as a result of this burden, I often look at the news going on in North Korea. Today I found this article from the Christian Post titled Lonely Christmas for Christians in North Korea which is a gentle reminder for all of us to keep praying for our brothers and sisters in North Korea.