Middle East expert Matthew Barnes explains the difficulties the Christian community faces in Syria in the midst of the great political instability of recent months.

Ahead of Sunday’s elections, the Protestant, Catholic and other churches ask to “vote for parties that stand up for our democracy”. Alice Weidel’s AfD party rises in the polls amid tough immigration debates.

Anti-Christian acts drop by 10% in a context in which antisemitic attacks continue to be on the rise, says a territorial intelligence report.

In Örebro, churches open for counselling and prayer. A former student tells Evangelical Focus his prayers are that “Jesus will make his presence felt to those who are grieving”.

Although the offences against Christians have significantly grown in the past two years, for the federal government, “there is no increased threat to Christians”.

“This reveals a gap in the security of those who dedicate their lives to the spiritual and social service of their communities”, says the Evangelical Confederation of Colombia.

A Baptist church in Russian-occupied city of Melitopol has been raid 3 times in a year by armed, masked men, and its pastor accused of "illegal missionary activity”.

Days before, Fulani herdsmen also raided a village in Plateau state and killed 15 Christians.

The uncertainty over the Salafist past of the new leadership is also a concern in the aftermath of the fall of the Assad regime.

Many Middle Eastern countries recognize the existing, historic Christian communities but deny non-Christian citizens the right to espouse the Christian faith – and they actively persecute those who do.

Five people have died after being hit by a car at a Christmas market. Christian representatives have expressed their grief at  the “inhumane attack”.

The new government has pledged to preserve religious freedom and minority rights, but Jesus followers are taking a wait-and-see approach.

After the fall of the al-Asad regime, we are reminded of cases such as Libya and Iraq, where war did not lead to stable governments.

In just one week, Fulani herdsmen killed 48 Christians, including women and children, many were on their way to church services.

“The church is still figuring out the best way to help the people living under this new reality”, says a pastor in the Syrian city. Over 700 people have been killed so far in this latest attack.