What does persecution look like in Maldives? (Open Doors US)
The Maldives is an island paradise popular for welcoming tourists from around the world – but the welcome sadly doesn’t extend to Maldivians who choose to follow Jesus.
A snapshot of Iran’s thriving, victorious church (May 29, 2025, Mission Network News)
“It’s a constant pressure on the church from the government. But that has not taken away the vibrancy of the church in Iran. It is a thriving, victorious church.”
Christians Double Down on Evangelism as Thailand Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage (February 23, 2025, Christianity Today) (Subscription required)
“When discussing these different philosophies of engagement, Thai Christians have to remember that their community makes up less than a million out of 77 million of the country’s population…“
Azerbaijan seeks to 'silence' Christian group at UN over Nagorno Karabakh (May 23, 2025, Christian Post)
Azerbaijan has filed a formal complaint with the U.N. Committee on NGOs against Christian Solidarity International (CSI), a Switzerland-based human rights group with consultative status, over its advocacy for Armenian Christians displaced from Nagorno Karabakh.
Betrayal of Faith, Identity, and the Shadow of Systemic Islamization in Sabah, Malaysia (April 30, 2025, Persecution.org - International Christian Concern)
Disturbing reports of Sabahans, who are proud members of the indigenous Murut community and devout Christians, are being deceitfully registered as Muslims without their knowledge or explicit consent.
The State of the Great Commission in East Asia (Lausanne Movement)
East Asia’s rich cultural heritage, religious diversity, economic dynamism, and complex politics shape its vibrant and diverse landscape. Each of these factors influences the church’s mission, outreach strategies, and community engagement.
Maldives is sinking 3 times faster than Venice — disappearing paradise faces extinction by 2050 (May 18, 2025, Journee-Mondiale)
Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities worldwide, but while Venice’s plight commands global attention, the Maldives is disappearing at an alarming rate – yet remains largely absent from international headlines.
Oman launches longest tourist walkway in Nakhal (June 14, 2025, Gulf News)
Oman has launched its longest tourist walkway in the Wilayat of Nakhal, South Al Batinah Governorate, a major new initiative designed to revitalize rural tourism and support local communities. The project will reduce traffic congestion at key sites and create jobs.
How Malaysia is preparing its workforce for the future (June 10, 2025, World Economic Forum)
Automation threatens about 620,000 jobs in Malaysia but it also creates opportunities in emerging roles. Malaysia is taking a data-driven and collaborative approach to workforce development to manage this change. Beyond employment statistics, the true goal is to preserve human dignity in the face of technological disruption.
One of the world’s most closed countries has just made it easier to visit (April 24, 2025, The Independent UK)
Turkmenistan, long one of the world's most closed countries, has adopted a law that will bring in electronic visas and make it easier for foreigners to enter.
From Sticker to Sunday School (June 10, 2025, ChinaSource Blog)
I showed Ying the website of a local Chinese church with a wonderful children’s program and pointed out the Sunday school times. That weekend, Ying sent me a photo of the classroom door.
Changsha: Internet Fame, Tight Control (June 9, 2025, China Partnership Blog)
Changsha is one of the hottest destinations in China, thanks to its Internet-fame as a city full of spicy food, shopping, and nightlife. The city’s fame has only increased in the past five years, and is now full of tourists and sightseers. Local pastors say that — like the rest of China — the city has also become much stricter than before, and that most churches now meet in small groups instead of in one large gathering place.
Worship Leader: How Should We View Different Worship Styles in the Chinese Church? (June 8, 2025, China Christian Daily)
The worship styles in Chinese churches range from the solemn hymn tradition of Reformed churches to the passionate contemporary praise of the Charismatic movement—from the reverent tones of the pipe organ to the electrifying energy of the electric guitar. Different groups have varying understandings and interpretations of what constitutes worship that aligns with God’s heart.
Called to Stay, Equipped to Go (June 6, 2025, ChinaSource Blog)
Mission is not a straight line—it’s a web. And in today’s globalized world, where people are constantly moving across borders and cultures, Chinese Christians have a unique part to play.
October 2025 Study Tour Announcement (June 5, 2025, US-China Catholic Association)
This Study Tour will include 2 days in Hong Kong and 15 days (October 10–24) in mainland China. The 2 days in Hong Kong will be added to either the beginning or the end of the mainland visit. Food and lodging will be organized as part of the Study Tour; travel to Hong Kong or Beijing (from each participant’s home country) and from Hong Kong or Beijing (returning to each participant’s home country) are the responsibility of each participant.
From Seoul to Tokyo: A Korean Pastor’s Mission to the Chinese Diaspora in Japan (June 3, 2025, ChinaSource Blog)
A Korean missionary fluent in Korean, Chinese, English, and Japanese, serving Chinese in Tokyo, Park’s story is a powerful testament to God’s work in diaspora and global missions today.
Silicon Valley led the quest for driverless cars. But Chinese robotaxis are catching up fast (June 9, 2025, Rest of World)
Chinese and American companies have long led the costly endeavor of developing autonomous ride-hailing services. Now, robotaxi firms are taking the competition global. Apollo Go challenges pioneer Waymo’s head start and leads country rivals in overseas push.
Macao bolsters 'soft connectivity' with mainland (June 14, 2025, China Daily)
The Macao Special Administrative Region is taking more moves in response to the national policy of promoting the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's "hard connectivity" of infrastructure and "soft connectivity" of rules and standards to build a closer partnership for connectivity.
Hong Kong Is Becoming a Key Part of Xi’s Ambitions to Counter US (June 5, 2025, Bloomberg)
Many observers, including the economist Stephen Roach, had thought this would erase Hong Kong's appeal as a global business hub. What was its selling point if, as a US government report put it in December, Hong Kong is “nearly indistinguishable from any other neon-lit city on the Chinese mainland”?
Hong Kong rights group shuts down after years of advocating for workers (June 13, 2025, Arab News)
A Hong Kong group that advocated for workers rights for decades announced its shutdown abruptly on Thursday, citing financial difficulties and debt issues. Founded in 1994, the organization maintained a database tracking workers’ strikes, protests, workplace accidents and other labor rights incidents in China.