Listeners:
Top listeners:
play_arrow

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – African pastors and American Christian leaders were among those preparing for a Good Friday prayer service “for the persecuted Church” at the steps of the United States Capitol, the seat of the U.S. Congress.
In a statement sent to Worthy News, organizers said African pastors attending the service come from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and “are facing persecution and violence for their Christian faith.”
A photo shared with Worthy News purportedly showed a Christian elder who was burned to death by extremists in March. “Pastors Camille and Esther Ntoto will be sharing their experiences in the Congo, where they are based,” added organizers of the Good Friday service.
Earlier, some 70 Christians were found beheaded in a church in the territory of Lubero in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Worthy News reported at the time. The February violence by suspected militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) with ties to the Islamic State group underscored reports of widespread human rights violations against civilians and vulnerable communities, often targeting Christians, in a climate of impunity.
Reverend Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian Defense Coalition group, which organized the Good Friday Service, noticed that “Today, the Christian faith is the most oppressed religion in the world.”
He added that the current “persecution of Christians is at its highest level in history. More than 365 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution, violence, and discrimination for their faith. That’s one in seven followers of Jesus worldwide who are targeted and attacked.”
Mahoney stressed that “American Christians cannot abandon the persecuted Church around the world. We cannot be silent or indifferent as our brothers and sisters face brutality and violence simply because of their faith.”
CONGOLESE CHRISTIANS
He explained, “On this Good Friday, we gather around the cross to pray for God’s protection and provision for the persecuted Church and ask our political leaders to be a worldwide public voice and advocate for religious freedom and liberty.”
Alexei Laushkin, founder of the Kingdom Mission Society group, said that “Christians in the Congo, in Nigeria, in Nicaragua, China, North Korea, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Azerbaijan face persecution from [for instance the Islamic State group or] ISIS, communism, and brutal dictatorships.”
He said, “This Good Friday, we are thinking about the betrayal of life, the very suffering that Jesus himself went through and that Christian martyrs today are facing, especially in the Congo.”
Laushkin stressed that those attending the service urge U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Congress “to prioritize protecting Christians facing severe persecution. We are raising our voices to say enough is enough.”
Friday’s prayer vigil at the Capitol in Washington comes after Reverend Mahoney said he won “a historic federal lawsuit in 2024.”
The court ruling opened up the United States Capitol steps “to conduct free speech events, religious gatherings and demonstrations,” he recalled.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a renewed foreign surveillance authority, advancing a key national security measure while exposing deep divisions within Republican ranks. The legislation, known as the Foreign Intelligence Accountability Act, passed in a bipartisan 235-191 vote and now heads to the Senate, where its future remains uncertain.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has developed plans for a “short and powerful” wave of military strikes against Iran, as tensions continue to escalate and nuclear negotiations remain deadlocked, according to reports cited by Axios.
Britain’s King Charles III has told the U.S. Congress that despite an age of uncertainty and conflict in Europe and the Middle East, the United Kingdom and the United States remain united in defending democracy.
South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison for stock manipulation and bribery, with her legal team saying she will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.
Tensions along Israel’s northern border intensified Wednesday as Israeli forces and Hezbollah exchanged fire, underscoring the fragility of a supposed ceasefire. Israeli military leadership made clear that, on the ground, active combat operations are still underway.
Two Jewish men were seriously wounded in a knife attack in north London, in what authorities are calling a terrorist incident targeting the Jewish community. The assault took place in Golders Green, a neighborhood with a significant Jewish population, intensifying concerns over a growing wave of antisemitic violence across Britain.
Iran’s economy is rapidly deteriorating under the strain of war, with more than one million people out of work and inflation soaring to crippling levels. According to The Wall Street Journal, another million jobs have been indirectly affected, as businesses shut down and supply chains collapse across the country.
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
Copyright The New Jerusalem Media.