Dr Paul Allen

COURTESY OF CHINA AID Weibo photos of recent cross removals. When a megachurch's walls  came tumbling down in China's Jerusalem  last month, the forced demolition drew widespread international attention thanks to photos circulating on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. Now, Weibo photos have documented how local authorities have continued their campaign this May to de- Christianize the skyline of wealthy Wenzhou , one of China's most Christian cities, and surrounding areas. IMAGE: WEIBO A cross removed from a Wenzhou-area church The latest in the reported "Three Rectifications and One Demolition" campaign comes from the city of Ningbo, where famous missionary James Hudson Taylor once worked. Officials have ordered services to halt at the 1,000-member Xiaying Holy Love megachurch, and  demolition work has reportedly already begun after the church refused to tear down the large cross atop its 10-story building. Meanwhile,  The New York T

Image via Wikipedia Christians in Iran have challenged news reports that the death penalty for pastor Yousef Nadarkhani has been annulled, saying that in reality the country's supreme court appears to have added a precondition requiring him to renounce his faith or face execution. "There has still been no written confirmation of the court's decision on Pastor Nadarkhani's appeal against a death sentence for apostasy, despite efforts to source this," according to a July 5 statement from Christian Solidarity Worldwide , a human rights organization. Nadarkhani was arrested in October 2009 while attempting to register his church. His arrest is believed to have been due to his questioning of the Muslim monopoly on the religious instruction of children in Iran , the CSW statement said. He initially was charged with protesting; however, the charges against him were later changed to apostasy and evangelizing Muslims .   "Our thoughts and prayers are with Pas