Chicago
A young dad was robbed of his first Christmas as a father when he was fatally shot during an armed attack at his South Side gas station Saturday afternoon.
Jojo James, 31, of Des Plaines, was gunned down around 1:30 p.m. at the BP gas station he co-owned in the 4300 block of South State Street.James, who’d emigrated from India as a teenager and attended Roosevelt High School, was taking out the trash when two armed attackers pushed him, then shot him multiple times  read more »

Phulbhani-Kandhamal
Dear friends
I have been touring interior areas during past few days. I just reached Phulbani. I am to leave for Pobingia after sending you this mail. The Parish Priest at Pobungia (Phiringia block) is among the most frightened people in Kandhamal.
A good number of families of Phiringia, Chakapad, Tikabali, K Nuagam blocks have left the distict as they were in fear of being attacked. Many people told me that they would not go to chruch for night services. Many places, village chapels have not been decorated too. At many villages, though they have not fled the places, people are in fear.  read more »

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/A-Christmas-of-peace-in-a-year-of-persecu...
INDIA
A Christmas of peace in a year of persecution
by Nirmala Carvalho
In 2011, 170 anti-Christian attacks at the hands of Hindu extremists. Murder, mutilation, destroyed churches, burned Bibles and desecrated graves the most common episodes. The President of the Global Council of Indian Christians: "The crib is the essence of Christmas, and all the houses are small cribs. The sanctity of the family must be protected ".  read more »

Anandnagar(kandhamal)
8th December-2011

Anandnagar is a new settlement of christians who could not resettle in their own native villages of Tikabali block after the communal violence (Kandhamal) of 2008. It is about 3 kilometres east of Tikabali.
About 800 people from nearly 450 families (christian-victims of violence) assembled today at Anandnagar for celebrating Christmas with Global Council of Indian Christians(GCIC). There has not been any such large open gatheings after communal violence (in violence affected areas) in Kandhamal.  read more »

Carols beckon Christmas

‘Divine Incarnation,' a carol fete organised by Thiruvalla Male Voices and Choral Society, was held at Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma Auditorium in Thiruvalla on Sunday, heralding the Christmas season.Hundreds of music lovers attended the programme. Jacob Kurien, director of Thiruvalla Choral Society, led the fete that began with prayers at 6.30 p.m. Geevarghese Mar Athanaseus Episcopa delivered the Christmas message. P.O. John, Choral Society president and A.V. George, director of AVG Motors, that co-sponsored the programme, spoke. A mime, ‘Perfect Light', by Friends Chamber, Thiruvalla, and a skit by the Believers Church Theological Seminary were staged.  read more »

Urgent Prayer Needed

In the early morning hours after Christmas day, the Iranian government arrested 25 Christians in Tehran and other locations. They also planned to detain sixteen others, but were unable to locate them. There are also unconfirmed reports that the authorities have arrested over 50 other Christians. According to BBC Persian, the Governor of Tehran has vowed to arrest more evangelical Christians.  read more »