Seth Udinski, FISM News
2021 was a year that saw both the fierce persecution of the church and the growth of faithful gospel ministry from the church despite those hardships. It is likely 2022 will be no different.
On Christmas Eve, a Nigerian Catholic priest was shot to death while returning home from leading his church’s Christmas Eve service. Father Luke Mewhenu Adeleke from the Diocese of Abeokuta in Ogun State was killed by an anonymous shooter, but many believe this was another act of terrorism committed by radical Islamists against Christians. The priest was interred on New Year’s Eve.
Additionally, persecution watchdog United Front International said that 2021 was the most violent year in recent memory for Christians in India, and there is ample reason to think it will continue. The group said that there were 486 recorded acts of violence against Christians in the region in 2021.
On January 1, news broke from Canada that Pastor Artur Pawlowski was arrested once again. The Polish-born pastor has been at the forefront of news headlines throughout this past year for his bold and public stance against Covid-19 lockdowns in Canada. His latest arrest came as he and his brother Dawid were protesting peacefully in front of the home of Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping.
OUTRAGE: @CalgaryPolice arrest Pastor Artur Pawlowski AGAIN. Again with a SWAT-style highway takedown, again dragging him into the street as cars speed by, in the night, in the snow. 20 cops. 20 thugs. https://t.co/bMwAj1iNfP. pic.twitter.com/tl9YiJ2hdz
— Ezra Levant 🍁 (@ezralevant) January 2, 2022
Pawlowski has since been released. He said afterwards of his ordeal,
Some people invited me to come to the protest outside in the neighborhood of the minister of health, and I’ve heard that there might be some anger. I was invited to come … and pray and calm the people. So … when I joined them, I said no cursing, no swearing … no craziness here.
Pawlowski went on to say that even though the protest was peaceful, he and his brother were still arrested:
A number of police vehicles stopped my brother in the middle of the highway, and they said that we are being arrested. I was handcuffed, arrested for breach, for mischief and for obstruction for whatever reason…We got pulled over again … for the second time in just 20 minutes, believe it or not. Why? Because we dared to be willing to voice our opinion peacefully at the minister of health’s … house.