Faith Facts

• Grace Jin Drexel, daughter of Pastor Ezra Jin, urged advocates in Washington to defend religious liberty and called for the release of persecuted believers.
• Pastor Jin, who founded one of China’s largest underground evangelical churches, was detained along with other leaders amid the regime’s crackdown on Christian worship.
• Chinese Christians face increasing persecution, with house churches targeted for refusing government demands and enduring harsh repression for staying true to Biblical convictions.

Grace Jin Drexel shared at the International Religious Freedom Summit that she holds fast to hope and trust in God, even as she has not seen her imprisoned father in seven years. She highlighted that her father’s absence at family milestones reflects the deep cost of standing firm in faith under tyranny.

Drexel revealed that persecution has followed her family abroad and described the suffering endured by church leaders, including harsh prison conditions. Zion Church’s refusal to compromise biblical principles led to ongoing government retribution, with authorities targeting independent worship.

She explained that the systematic campaign against Christ’s church in China involves replacing crosses, rewriting sermons, and destroying sanctuaries in an attempt to suppress the Gospel. Drexel called the campaign “repression plain and simple,” urging the international community to speak boldly for freedom and truth.

She encouraged attendees to “take courage” and use their influence, stating, “As a Christian, I believe that we’re asked to take courage and to speak the truth that the God who created Heaven and earth will stand by our side.”

U.S. leaders and advocates stood in solidarity, with reminders that America’s founding values uphold religious liberty as a sacred right. Drexel concluded that her faith assures her God uses all circumstances for His purposes, and called for sustained prayer and action.

Read the full story at Christian Daily International

Faith Facts

• The US government has voiced concern about reduced freedom of speech in Britain and Europe, including cases like Isabel Vaughan-Spruce silently praying in an abortion buffer zone.
• Bethany Hutchison, president of the Darlington Nursing Union, and Andrea Williams, CEO of the Christian Legal Centre, are in Washington DC discussing their win defending single-sex spaces and Christian liberty.
• Finnish politician Päivi Räsänen, on trial over a biblical tweet, is sharing her experiences on the risks of restricting speech based on Christian beliefs.

Christian voices are going to Washington to shine a light on attacks against freedom of speech and religious liberty across Europe. These leaders are steadfast in affirming traditional values and protecting Christian principles under threat.

“These restrictions pose serious threats to fundamental freedoms and risk being exported beyond Europe to the United States,” said ADF International.

As Christian citizens, we must remain steadfast in our prayers and advocacy for faith, family, and freedom, supporting those who defend biblical truth in the public square.

Read the full story at Christian Today

Faith Facts

• Ron Kenoly shaped worship by focusing on service to Christ, not performance.
• He rose to international prominence in the 1990s with Scripture-based praise music.
• Kenoly’s ministry touched churches worldwide and inspired generations of believers.

Ron Kenoly’s dedication to leading worship as a form of service uplifted congregations and demonstrated the power of faithful leadership anchored in Christ. His music inspired believers to seek God’s presence with joy and reverence.

As a central figure in modern praise, Kenoly’s legacy testifies to the transformative impact of authentic faith shared through song. His life reminds us that Christian worship strengthens our families, communities, and nation.

“He was never an artist, never an entertainer. He was a worship leader.”

“Today we grieve deeply but not without hope. The worship he lived is now the worship he beholds.”

“A worship leader’s calling is not to perform songs, but to lead people into true worship in the presence of a King; the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.”

“There needs to be a balance between worship and the Word. If you get all worship and no Word, you have fanaticism. If you have all Word and no worship, you have legalism. And you need that balance. That’s what is going to help us to worship. As Jesus said in John 4:23-24, to worship in Spirit and in Truth.”

Let us praise God for lives like Kenoly’s that honor Christ above all. May his faithful example strengthen our own devotion and commitment to true worship.

Read the full article at The Christian Post