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

• Philip Yancey confessed to a long-term affair, stunning the Christian community.
• Ministry leaders face unique spiritual challenges, including isolation and performance-driven pressures.
• True faithfulness flows from abiding in Christ, not external success or visibility.

Christian author Philip Yancey’s public admission of moral failure shook many believers, highlighting the spiritual vulnerability even among respected leaders. This reminder calls Christians to guard their hearts through intimacy with Christ over mere achievement.

Many ministry leaders fall not due to external persecution, but because of internal struggles such as pride, isolation, and misplaced identity. Faithful leadership requires accountability, humility, and spiritual discipline.

Sin can take hold when leaders drift from living openly before God, neglecting prayer, confession, and fellowship. Practices like Sabbath, solitude, and transparency anchor servants of Christ amid temptation and fatigue.

Scripture urges us to abide in Jesus, as He declared, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

Leaders who finish strong foster spiritual friendships and submit to godly accountability rather than relying on status or platform. Their example shows lasting fruit comes from dependence on Christ and honest community.

As believers, we must support our leaders with prayer, encouragement, and accountability, remembering that true greatness is found in obedience and humility before God. Let us recalibrate our focus on Christ-centered living so all who lead can do so with integrity and faith.

Read more at Christian Daily