BARTLESVILLE, OK — Four more African countries have been added to the list of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places to follow Christ. The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) added and designated Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique and Niger as “hostile” nations in their annual 2023 Global Prayer Guide. VOM added…
UKRAINE — Elizabeth Groff praises God for the Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift she received while living in an orphanage in Ukraine. It softened her heart for the Gospel to take hold. Elizabeth Groff: When I was about one year old, my father was killed. After his passing my mom just really could not deal…
NORTH KOREA — More than 360 million Christians worldwide suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith – that’s a staggering 1 in 7 believers. Open Doors has launched this year’s World Watch list highlighting the 50 countries where faith costs the most, with North Korea returning to number one as the world’s…
RIDGELAND, MS — Did you know that there is an unreached people group in your neighborhood? Only 5-10% of the world’s disabled population are effectively reached with the Gospel. That makes people with disabilities one of the largest unreached people groups in the world! For Joshua and his mother, a welcoming church in Ridgeland, Mississippi…
SACRAMENTO —The NHCLC has received a grant of $1 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. to launch “Equip2Impact,” an NHCLC initiative training active and aspiring pastors in fundamental preaching skills that will engage their churches, so they make a cultural impact in their community with conviction and compassion. The initiative is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s…
UKRAINE — Samaritan’s Purse is distributing food with help from a multitude of church partners in Ukraine to hungry refugees who have been forced to flee their homes due to ongoing violence in their region. “He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will…
CENTRAL ASIA — Forty-year-old Abdulla*, his wife Nilufar* and their three children fled Afghanistan when the Taliban came to power in August 2021. Now living as a refugee in Central Asia, he shares his story about what life is like for Afghan people – and Christians – remaining in the country. *Name changed for security…
SANTA ANA, CA — Open Doors, which for more than 65 years has supported persecuted Christians worldwide and awakened the global church to “strengthen what remains,” has appointed Lisa Pearce as Interim CEO of the U.S. national base. Pearce assumes the role immediately following the departure of the previous CEO, David Curry, who is now…
KIBERA, KENYA —A Christian charity is empowering and educating children in Africa’s largest slum in Kibera on the outskirts of Nairobi in Kenya. Most of the residents live in extreme poverty. There are few schools, little clean water, and very little electricity, medical care or toilet facilities. With no government services, schools, clinics, water and…
BUENOS AIRES — It had been 14 years since the Luis Palau Association held their last citywide campaign in Buenos Aires. The main avenue was shut down through town. All 16 lanes. And the crowd stretched out for 7 full blocks. It proved to be the largest festival in the history of their team. It…
EASTON, MD — A U.S. organization focused on the Middle East and North Africa is casting the spotlight on what it calls the region’s top 5 “evolving crises” at the start of 2023. With the world’s gaze fixed on Ukraine-Russia and muscle-flexing in China, “seismic events unfolding in the Middle East are simply off the…
COLOMBIA — Thirty-year-old pastor John used to persecute Christians after joining a paramilitary group to seek revenge for his father’s death. But it was while John was serving time in the Colombian prison that he met Jesus – and his whole life changed. John – Colombia: “When I was not a Christian, I was one…
STONEY CREEK, ONTARIO — Every year GFA World and their mission partner, St Cyprian BEC, work together to bring beauty and light to their neighbourhood. One of the ways we do this is by turning three large evergreens into Christmas trees! On November 27 we held a Christmas Tree Lighting. At this event, the Christmas…
MIDDLE EAST — As winter continues, persecuted Christians in the Muslim world are facing hunger and bitter cold. When humanitarian aid does make it to these areas for distribution, Christians are overlooked — intentionally left out by authorities because of their faith. They cling fervently to Christ despite all opposition and hardship.In response the Help…
FIJI — Meet Ravina Kumar, national discipleship coordinator for Operation Christmas Child in Fiji. She is one of 6,100 people globally who volunteer on National Leadership Teams to guide the efforts of Samaritan’s Purse in evangelism, discipleship, and multiplication within their respective countries. The ministry is advancing the Gospel in the Pacific through gift-filled shoeboxes…
WASHINGTON — The International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit, the world’s premier annual gathering of religious freedom advocates and activists, will be held January 31–February 1. The Summit, usually held in the summer, has been moved several months earlier in 2023 and coincides with the start of the National Prayer Breakfast. IRF Summit 2023 will be…
SURINAME — Charahja began teaching the discipleship course The Greatest Journey to other children in her native Suriname on the northeastern coast of South America. When she was just 14 years old. Working with her mother, the two are passionate about seeing children reached with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Charahja Van Broekhoven –…
STONEY CREEK, ONTARIO — November 14-20 marked this year’s National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoeboxes. St. Cyprian Believers Eastern Church (BEC) was proud to once more serve as an OCC collection centre for Stoney Creek. Also, GFA World Canada celebrated their 38th anniversary on November 19th. Every year during National Collection Week,…
ALBUQUERQUE — Calvary Church in New Mexico provided gifts to nearly 2,500 children through their Calvary Church Christmas Toy Shop, Monday, Dec. 19. The toy drive at Calvary Church has been an annual Christmas tradition since 2014. Like many Calvary Church community outreach efforts, the toy drive serves children who attend Title 1-funded schools in…
EDISON, NJ — Fantastic Faith Comics today announced a new comic strip titled The Light of God in Christmas. The story explains, in an easy to understand “edutainment” comic strip format, what makes Christmas so special, and can be read here for free: https://fantasticfaith.substack.com/p/the-light-of-god-in-christmas. I hope this totally free and easily accessible Christmas special will…
TIMISOARA, ROMANIA — The Alfa Omega TV Magazine aims to amplify the importance of the values, we promote as a Christian media work. We believe that there is a need for materials that address practical issues of life and spiritual growth. The magazine addresses Romanian believers regardless of denomination, age or geographical area. Since 2011,…
UKRAINE — “Seeing the pain, seeing the need of people, you cannot stand by and do nothing. As Christians, we are always touched by that.” explains Stefan, Crisis Manager for Operation Mobilisation (OM) in Ukraine. In this video Stefan and others with OM in Ukraine share the power of the unity among the Christian community…
CHARLOTTE, NC — Celebrating the 200 millionth shoebox gift collected since 1993, Franklin Graham encouraged staff and volunteers at the Charlotte Processing Center this Christmas. These shoeboxes represent opportunities to tell boys and girls about the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Greatest Gift. Franklin Graham – Samaritan’s Purse CEO and President: 29 years ago right here…
EL SALVADOR — Four-year-old Ian from El Salvador was born prematurely. Lack of oxygen at birth caused a brain injury, leaving Ian with cerebral palsy. Living under the double weight of poverty and disability, Ian’s parents couldn’t afford a wheelchair for their son. Then, at a Joni and Friends Wheels for the World™ outreach in…
MIDLAND, TX — China Aid Association is pleased to announce Ms. Xu Qin as the winner of the Lin Zhao Freedom Award 2022. Ms. Xu is a well-known activist who served as the secretary general of the civil organization “China Human Rights Watch” and a spokesperson for Rose Team (玫瑰中国), a group committed to promoting…
QATAR — While Christian migrants are able to worship openly, native Qatari Christians are forbidden from having their own church or even entering one. Christians in Qatar are calling for prayers that the media coverage during the World Cup will provide an opportunity to reach more people. Qatar has been one of the countries participating…
BAYANKHONGOR, MONGOLIA — Baljinnyam praises God for the Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift he received when he was 13 in Mongolia. Through that gift, he gave his life to Christ. Now, Baljinnyam is an adult and saw his young daughter receive her own shoebox and learn more about Jesus. Baljinnyam: My name is Baljinnyam. I…
HURST, TX — EEM (Eastern European Mission), a ministry that has steadfastly worked for more than 60 years to supply free Bibles to Eastern Europe and the surrounding nations, recently delivered 225,000 Children’s Bibles in North Macedonia as a result of its Bibles for Kids fundraising campaign. The gift was recognized by both the Church…
UKRAINE — Winter is coming to Ukraine. Russia has bombed Ukraine’s power grids and heating infrastructure. To survive this winter thousands of families, mothers and children need a heater. In response, Great Commission Media Ministries has been distributing hundreds of families with wood-burning stoves for heating and for cooking but they say thousands more are…
HALESOWEN, ENGLAND — For 60 years, OM has been ministering in the UK. Over the years, tens of thousands of people have been inspired and equipped to engage in mission work around the world. And today, by the grace of God, OM has over 275 missionaries from the UK living out His love in over…
ENGLEWOOD, FL — You could barely see the petite woman standing on her porch behind the mangled trees and debris from Hurricane Ian. Despite the massive destruction, the 74-year-old woman who goes by “Christmas” greeted Randy Martin and Will Murphy, two chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT), welcoming them into her Englewood,…
QATAR — This year, Qatar will become the first Arab nation to ever host the World Cup. But behind the polished veneers of the sparkling stadiums things in Qatar aren’t as pristine as they seem, according to Christian charity Open Doors. Since winning hosting rights for the World Cup more than a decade ago they…
WADSWORTH, OHIO — Kristel and Matt Stone praise God for the thousands of Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts they have been able to pack at their Ohio farm over the years with help from family and friends. They are grateful that, through these gifts, boys and girls in need around the world are hearing the…
ATLANTA — Prison Fellowship International (PFI), an international nonprofit ministry working to transform the lives of prisoners through Jesus’s love, was in the spotlight Thursday as a diverse group gathered at the American Society of Criminology 77th Annual Meeting to examine the future of criminology. During an examination of the robust role of religion in…
LOVES PARK, IL — A U.S.-based mission has launched a massive ‘heat and hope’ project to rush generators and critical supplies of firewood, coal and thermal blankets to local churches helping Ukrainian families facing a brutal and potentially deadly winter. The Ukraine Winter Heat and Hope Project, organized by Illinois-based Slavic Gospel Association (SGA, www.sga.org),…
WASHINGTON — Today, on C.S. Lewis’s 124th birthday, Museum of the Bible announces Narnia is coming to Washington, D.C., in the new year.‘The Horse and His Boy’ will open at the museum’s World Stage Theater on January 20. This unique production from the Logos Theatre, in association with the C.S. Lewis Company Limited, will feature…
LOS ANGELES, CA — Iran Alive Ministries (IAM) has officially partnered with Channel One (Kanal Yek TV), a Persian TV channel broadcasting from Los Angeles, CA to viewers in Iran, to obtain a primetime slot for IAM’s Gospel-centric programming. “With this partnership, we will gain many new secular-minded audiences who have already rejected Islam, so…
SKOPJE, MACEDONIA — EEM (Eastern European Mission), a ministry that has steadfastly worked for more than 60 years to supply free Bibles to Eastern Europe and the surrounding nations, recently delivered 225,000 Children’s Bibles in North Macedonia as a result of its Bibles for Kids fundraising campaign. The gift was recognized by both the Church…
KENYA — In 2015, Islamist terrorists attacked Garissa University in Kenya, leaving 148 people dead. Many victims were, like Ronald, Christian students who were singled out by the gunmen. Ronald shares some of the difficulties he has encountered since the attack. Ronald Moranga Magembe: “My name is Ronald Moranga Magembe a former Garissa University student,…
SENEGAL, WEST AFRICA — When Adama was born in Senegal with a cleft lip it posed great danger to her life with the possibility of malnutrition and even starvation. That was until she received life-saving surgery on board the Africa Mercy, run by Christian charity Mercy Ships. Adama was born with a cleft lip, so…
EXPORT, PA — A new study from Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts explores monthly partner giving among evangelical Protestants, and projects nearly $2.4 billion annually in dependable income could come from prospective monthly partners. The findings are detailed in The Sustainers: Exploring Monthly Donor Partnerships, a study of over 1000 American evangelical Protestants released…
WILLS POINT, TX – GFA World (Gospel for Asia) founded by K.P. Yohannan, which inspired numerous charities like GFA World Canada, to assist the poor and deprived worldwide, issued this Special Report on Child Sponsorship — Does it Lift the Young Out of Poverty? In existence for many years, child sponsorship has been adapted by…
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA — Fourteen years after renowned evangelist Luis Palau’s historic campaign in Argentina’s capital city of Buenos Aires, the Palau Association returned to deliver the same message of hope to a new generation of Argentines, this time led by Luis Palau’s son, Andrew Palau. Standing in front of a sea of people in…
NASHVILLE — Minno, a kids’ media company, announced today that its best-selling “Laugh and Grow Bible for Kids,” is being adapted for screen through vibrant animation. An initial four-episodes and Christmas Special for children ages 4-8+ will launch just in time for the holidays. The “Laugh and Grow Bible for Kids” animated series invites kids…
UKRAINE — Kateryna praises God for the Samaritan’s Purse workers who put windows in her home and a new roof on it, giving her a safe place to live after a missile destroyed her house in Ukraine. Kateryna – Ukrainian Homeowner: At first there was nothing, it was a normal day. It then turned into…
ETHIOPIA — When Ethiopian Daniel*, a staunch follower of Islam, came across a Bible, he decided to read it only so that he could disprove it. But encountering the gospel led him to convert and start following Jesus – and experience persecution from his family. *Name changed for security reasons. Daniel: “People noticed me…
COLOMBIA — Valentina (15) in Colombia is one of many Christian children who face persecution for their faith. It isn’t safe for her to live at home, because of guerrilla gangs and indigenous groups. Thanks to Christian charity Open Doors in, she’s able to receive shelter and a Christian education at their Colombia Children’s Centre…
LOS ANGELES — Ahead of “Giving Tuesday,” The Los Angeles Dream Center is kicking off its “Make 30 Matter” campaign, hoping to help the citizens of Los Angeles overcome steep financial hurdles heading into 2023. With inflation currently at 7.7%, 14.2% of LA County residents living below the poverty line, homelessness up 4.1% in the…
USA — Franklin Graham’s God Loves You Tour 2022 wrapped up on Sunday October 3 in the picturesque Minnesota city of Rochester. An enthusiastic crowd of more than 8,000 enjoyed a vibrantly warm fall day at Soldiers Memorial Field Park, punctuated by uplifting worship music and a life-changing message. Six cities. Five states. Over 1,100…
SENEGAL — Meet Baba, one of the graduates of the Mercy Ships Food for Life sustainable agriculture program in Senegal. Or, as he was more commonly known by the other students, “King Baba.”He earned the nickname because from the top of his class, the 19-year-old peanut farmer used his energy to lift others up. Baba’s…
