oppression

Even at the Olympics, sometimes the biggest stories happen on the sidelines. In this year’s Olympics, one of these stories centers around the team of North Korean cheerleaders that dominate the sidelines of events during North Korean competitions.

Even at the Olympics, sometimes the biggest stories happen on the sidelines. In this year’s Olympics, one of these stories centers around the team of North Korean cheerleaders that dominate the sidelines of events during North Korean competitions.

Christians around the world are suffering persecution for the name of Christ. For many of us in the Western world, Jesus' warning that we will suffer for believing in Him seems only remotely applicable. Most of us live lives of comfort and ease, but let us not forget that our brothers and sisters in places like Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, and North Korea face incredible persecution.<p><p>And let us not only remember their plight, but let us lift them up in prayer, write them letters, and bring their concerns to our church families. Let them know they are not alone.<p><p>We hope that through reading this list your commitment to praying for the persecution church worldwide will be renewed. Pray for believers to stand firm in the faith and pray that God would soften the hearts of these anti-Christian regimes and that breakthroughs would happen.<p><p>Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/jordacheir

Columnist and author James Tonkowich talks about recent attacks on religious freedom in America and what we can do to protect ourselves from those who would do away with our most fundamental liberties.

Cuba’s communist government has increased its oppression of religious institutions, with reports of religious liberty violations almost doubling in the last six months.