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Serbian Church Brings True Freedom to Addicts

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Faith Facts

  • Serbia has only 6,000 evangelicals, making up just 0.1% of the population.
  • Rev. Dušan Beređi, once an addict himself, found freedom through Christ and now leads the Rainbow Rehabilitation Center.
  • The church programs, inspired by the Teen Challenge model, help men struggling with addiction, homelessness, and gambling.

Jesus declared His mission was “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10), a truth lived out daily in Novi Sad, Serbia, where the Rainbow Rehabilitation Center opens its doors to men seeking freedom from addiction. The center is run by dedicated believers, on mission in a country with only a small evangelical presence.

Rev. Dušan Beređi, or Pastor Bera, once lived in addiction and despair until God’s grace set him free, an experience that shapes his compassionate leadership.

“For me, it’s easy to understand the pain of addiction, the struggle and the relapse and all those issues.”

Pastor Bera testifies that his healing came not through human effort, but through a miraculous encounter with Jesus—a deliverance that ended his desire for alcohol and drugs instantly, and for the last 32 years, he has remained free.

“So for me, with the healing [after prayer] I just lost the desire completely. I was free in a second and I have not touched alcohol for 32 years.”

Though aware of the lifelong dangers of addiction, he believes God alone brings real and lasting freedom from its grip, striving to bring others to the same place of true deliverance.

“Our goal is to bring people to the stage where they don’t have any more desire for them — and only God can do that.”

The aftermath of the Kosovo War left Serbia flooded with heroin, making addiction widespread. Pastor Bera and his team began offering support after seeing the limits of outside rehabs, eventually opening their own center to serve men suffering from various addictions.

Their ministry not only addresses drug abuse, but also alcoholism and gambling, meeting people where they are and offering a Biblical path to recovery and restored hope.

While resources for women in addiction remain limited locally, the church’s focus on men’s ministry is a response to the needs and realities they face in their context.

Pastor Bera reminds us that only a relationship with Jesus can fill the deep emptiness that addicts try to escape, pointing to God’s power to restore broken lives and give lasting purpose.

“When God comes into our life, the deep feeling of purpose gives a strength to deal with our pain, pain of our past.”

If you believe in the power of God’s grace to transform lives, stand in prayer and support for ministries like Rainbow Rehabilitation Center as they offer hope, freedom, and new beginnings in Christ.

Read the original story at Christian Daily

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Faith

ICE Detains Violent Criminal Immigrants in Minnesota

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Faith Facts

  • ICE arrested nearly two dozen criminal illegal immigrants in Minnesota convicted of violent crimes such as murder and rape.
  • Many of the individuals apprehended had received final orders of removal years ago but remained in the country committing serious offenses.
  • ICE leadership emphasized the duty to protect communities from dangerous individuals, despite opposition from local politicians and unrest.

Federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have recently taken significant action in Minnesota, detaining almost two dozen illegal immigrants previously convicted of egregious crimes, including murder and rape.

This comes during a time of heightened tension in the state following a shooting involving an ICE agent and a protester in Minneapolis.

“Regardless of staged political theatrics, ICE is going to continue to arrest the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Minnesota and elsewhere,” stated ICE Director Todd Lyons.

Among those apprehended are individuals with long histories of serious criminal offenses, reinforcing the ongoing need for vigilant law enforcement to ensure the public’s safety and uphold the rule of law.

As Christians, we affirm the God-given role of government to restrain evil and protect the innocent, praying that justice, order, and mercy be preserved in our communities.

For more details, please see the original report:

Full article at The Christian Post

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Rising Challenge: Young Black Christians Leaving Church

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Faith Facts

  • Many young Black Christians are distancing themselves from the Church, seeking spaces where they feel understood and valued.
  • Historically, Black British churches provided belonging and dignity in the face of exclusion, but younger generations now seek honest engagement and cultural representation.
  • Leaders like Bishop Esther Prior and Clare Williams-Sarpong stress the importance of church accountability, representation, and grounding justice in the gospel.

The Church is witnessing a quiet revival among Gen Z, yet some young Black Christians are questioning their place and seeking connection elsewhere.

Online conversations and new community gatherings highlight a need for belonging and honesty in Christian spaces, where questions and concerns are welcomed without fear.

“The Bible calls us to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, which means the Christian faith has always been meant to make space for thoughtful questioning and intellectual engagement.”

Churches that acknowledge past injustices, embrace diversity, and integrate faith with compassionate justice are seeing young people respond with renewed trust.

Bishop Esther Prior notes change occurs when representation is prioritized and every believer’s gifts and culture are valued, restoring credibility and hope.

Let us remember that defending the gospel means removing barriers and extending Christ’s love, so all can experience the true freedom that faith brings.

Read the full story at Premier Christianity

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Nearly 2,000 Christians Martyred Worldwide

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Faith Facts

  • Close to 2,000 Christians have been killed globally in faith-based attacks since late 2023.
  • There have been nearly 3,000 verified abductions or assaults against believers during this same period.
  • Nigeria remains the deadliest nation for Christians, with 590 recorded killings in two years.

Christian communities around the world face alarming levels of violence and persecution, according to new findings from the 2026 Global Christian Relief Red List.

These sobering statistics show that faith is often met with hostility, especially in countries where spiritual freedom is under threat and the protection of believers is weak.

African nations dominate the list of the most dangerous places for Christians, with the presence of jihadist groups, ineffective state oversight, and little accountability fueling these attacks.

The report emphasizes that violence in Nigeria extends beyond mere criminality, reflecting a sustained campaign targeting the faithful.

“The cumulative impact on Christian communities — through targeted attacks on leaders, places of worship and homes — reflects sustained persecution rather than isolated criminal activity.”

Investigators found coordinated attacks aimed at pastors and churches in Nigeria, where believers often cannot freely live out their faith.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia also report hundreds of murdered Christians, while Mozambique records high numbers of both killings and displacements due to insurgent violence.

Rwanda saw the most cases of church closures and intimidation, placing even greater pressure on the faithful who seek to worship together, often under new government mandates.

China stands out for arresting the most Christians, enforcing control over religious practice through harsh surveillance and legal restrictions.

Mexico leads in abductions and assaults against Christians, where criminal gangs view faith-driven community organizers as threats to their power.

The report also notes a stronger advocacy for religious liberty in recent years, highlighting a crucial speech by Vice President JD Vance, who called on Western leaders to uphold freedom of faith and condemned discrimination against Christians.

“Persecution today does not always arrive in obvious or dramatic ways. Often it unfolds quietly, through pressure that restricts worship, through laws that narrow religious space, or through systems that steadily erode the ability of Christians to live openly as followers of Jesus.”

As believers, we are called to pray for and support those suffering for their faith, shining the light of Christ in a world that too often resists it. Stand firm in faith, trusting God to sustain and vindicate His people.

Read the full report here

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