The Christmas season was anything but peaceful for Christians in Plateau State, Nigeria, this past December. Approximately 20 Christian-majority communities were targeted during a series of coordinated attacks committed by Islamic Fulani militants on December 23rd through to the 25th. By the time the assailants left after causing widespread devastation, hundreds of homes were burned, along with eight church buildings. Thousands of innocent villagers were displaced and/or injured, and more than 140 people were killed, including two pastors.

Since 2016, the government of Egypt has been slowly approving the registration of more than 3,700 church buildings that were operating without the required licencing. These buildings were established before 2016, during a time when permits were virtually impossible to get. Although the licencing process now being administered has been long and tedious, thankfully progress is eventually taking place.

On December 3rd, a Catholic mass held at Mindanao State University was rocked by a bomb that killed four participants and wounded 45 others. (More details about this incident are available here.) Following the bombing, which was carried out by ISIS-affiliated terrorists, the church deemed it necessary to scale back on their upcoming Christmas celebrations.