WILLS POINT, TEXAS— K.P. Yohannan (Metropolitan Yohan), founder and director of GFA World and Metropolitan of Believers Eastern Church, departed in the presence of God on May 8, 2024. He was a missionary statesman with an undying call to share the love of Christ with this world and to inspire others to follow in his…
It hasn’t been a full day yet since being told the news that K.P. Yohannan died. As I sit at my desk and record my thoughts, I am fighting back tears. I sense I am still in shock. I believe I am one of the few who still called him K.P. It’s how he introduced…
CULVER CITY, CA — Sony Pictures’ AFFIRM Films, Provident Films and the beloved Kendrick Brothers release their official trailer today as they gear up to launch their newest film, THE FORGE, exclusively in theaters nationwide beginning August 23rd. THE FORGE is a bold, inspirational drama about the power of mentorship that takes place in the…
IRAN —When persecuted Iranian plumber *Hamid was forced to flee his home country of Iran he struggled to find work in the new country he moved to with his family. However Christian ministry Help The Persecuted helped him start his own plumbing business through their Enduring Livelihoods initiative. Not only is this enabling him to…
SANTA YNEZ, CA — Together with Faith of a Child Foundation, Damali Mirembe, the director of the Sonrise Baby Home, recently started construction on a new hospital to serve the Kayunga District of Uganda. The new hospital will include a maternity ward, a pediatric ward, a fully equipped laboratory, emergency care and several in-patient beds….
PAKISTAN —Last summer violent mob attacks on churches in the Punjab province in Pakistan hit the headlines. Sadly attacks like these are continuing. Recently another church was severely damaged when Islamist mobs poured caustic chemicals on a church and set it aflame. However Help The Persecuted was quick to respond by providing emergency support to…
NEPAL — Pramila* has faced rejection by her family and her husband in Nepal several times since becoming a Christian, but she won’t let go of her faith in Jesus. But she has received support from Open Doors to move on with her life including help to start her own shop. Pramila* – Nepal: I…
EGYPT —On his way home one night in Egyptian Pastor Nimer was brutally beaten and his attackers even threatened to kill him. Forced to flee he found safety for his family at a Help The Persecuted safe house where he is also receiving ongoing practical and spiritual support from the Christian ministry. Despite this intense…
SUDAN — Samaritan’s Purse is sending urgently needed humanitarian aid to Sudan where 6 million people have been displaced by violent conflict across the country. The charity is urging prayer for these families and for their teams as they help meet physical and spiritual needs in Jesus’ Name. David Philips – Samaritan’s Purse: Hi, I’m…
NIGERIA — It’s been 10 years since the Chibok Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria. More than 90 of the young women are still missing. On 14 April, parents of the girls gathered for a service to pray for the missing women. Yakubu Nkeki – Chibok, Nigeria: My name is Yakubu…
HARLINGEN, TX — There are nearly 2 million confirmed new victims of child abuse reported annually and over 100K children are awaiting adoption. Children aging out of foster care have extremely poor outcomes. Most end up on the street, in jail or dead within the first year. Churches are the perfect partners in the fight…
WILMORE, KY — Kentucky’s Asbury University recently marked one year since the biggest revival in more than 50 years broke out on their campus. Although it lasted for just over two weeks Asbury Revival’s impact was felt far and wide. Now many are asking – will it happen again? Wendy Griffith of CBN News returned…
FLORIDA — René “Level” Martínez, a former gang leader, grew up fighting on the streets of Leisure City, Florida. His mother was also on the streets, as a follower of “Santería,” which is Cuban-African spiritism. Life in Leisure City, Florida, was not easy for René “Level” Martínez. René “Level” Martínez – Former Gangster: “I grew…
LOVELAND, CO — The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) has announced plans for a two-day outreach called the Northern Colorado Look Up Celebration with Will Graham. The free event – which will take place Oct. 5-6, 2024, at Blue Arena at The Ranch Events Complex – will feature music by award-winning Christian bands and messages…
WINCHESTER/SELMA, IN — Samaritan’s Purse volunteers are helping homeowners in Logan County, Ohio, and the Selma/Winchester area of Indiana, recover from damage caused by devastating tornadoes that swept through the region. But more volunteers are urgently needed. Todd Taylor – Samaritan’s Purse: We’re here in Selma, Indiana, as well as Winchester, Indiana, where Thursday night…
SANTA LUCÍA, MEXICO — Samaritan’s Purse has given four water filtration systems to the military of Mexico for use in future natural disasters. These devices were used during their response to Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, which recently concluded. Edward Graham was on hand to speak and tell why they do all they do in Jesus’…
SYRIA — In Uganda, fear and attacks from Islamic ADF militants are increasing. But thanks to your prayers, local Open Doors partners are supporting affected Christians with trauma counselling and spiritual support. *Names changed for security reasons Edward Bamcwanira – Retired Bishop, East Rwenzori Diocese: We are living in fear. And whoever says there is…
SYRIA — Ani was horrified when her baby girl Maria was caught up in a bomb attack in Syria in 2014. In Ani’s survival story, Maria survived thanks to the prayers of the church – and Ani realised she needed to make Jesus her sure foundation. *Name changed for security reasons Ani*: “There are a…
PAKISTAN — Pakistan is expecting a change of government following recent elections. And one challenge that will face the new Prime Minister and his party will be to protect the country’s Christian minority from violence. The violence is often linked with accusations of blasphemy, as Andrew Boyd from Release International reports. There are calls for…
BARTLESVILLE, OK — “Persecution is real, and it is biblical, and Jesus told us we will face persecution in this world,” said Pastor Hassan Abduraheem during The Voice of the Martyrs’ “I Am N” Virtual Event earlier this month. During the online event, Hassan and two other survivors of Muslim extremism shared their inspiring stories…
ORLANDO, FL — Wycliffe Associates, an international organization that empowers mother-tongue Bible translators and partners with local churches in the advancement of Bible translation, is working to provide Christians in 35 language groups across Indonesia and Southeast Asia with Bible Translation Acceleration Kits (BTAKs)—and the training to use them. Each kit includes a computer, special…
ISRAEL — During a special ceremony in January in Jerusalem, Franklin Graham met with Israeli leaders and with families of the fallen to dedicate 14 new ambulances provided by Samaritan’s Purse for the use of Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical services provider. Each vehicle was inscribed with an excerpt from Scripture and with…
PANAMA — The President of Panama, Laurentino Cortizo, received the evangelist Andrés Palau in his office. Together, they shared the importance of spreading a message of hope at the new Palau Festival in Panama City, which includes both spiritual moments and social assistance activities. The meeting concluded with a prayer for the nation and the…
NIGERIA, AFRICA — On the sixth anniversary of Leah Sharibu’s kidnapping in Nigeria, friends of kidnapped share how they’ve been encouraged by her courageous faith – and how they’re hopeful they’ll one day see her again. Leah Sharibu’s Friends: Leah is like a sister to me, a very good friend. At the boarding school, we…
BAKERSFIELD, CA — The CityServe International church empowerment network hosted a dinner and benefit concert on Wednesday in Nashville to honor heroes on the frontlines in war-torn Israel and Ukraine. The evening featured captivating stories of bravery and faith in the face of horror. Award-winning artists Michael W. Smith and Danny Gokey headlined the benefit…
AUSTRALIA — More than 120 people and over 85 different churches from across the region gathered on Thursday morning, 1 February, to officially launch the upcoming Gold Coast Look Up Celebration with Will Graham. The evangelistic outreach, which is scheduled for 29 June at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, will feature music from…
NIGERIA — In May 2023, Pastor Zachariah returned home to find his wife and son had been killed in an attack by Fulani militants. His home had also been burnt to the ground. To help him deal with his devastating loss, Nigerian Pastor Zachariah received trauma counselling and practical support from Open Doors partners. It…
WASHINGTON — Family Research Council’s Center for Religious Liberty today published an updated edition of its report “Free to Believe? The Intensifying Intolerance Toward Christians in the West,” which seeks to provide a better understanding of religious freedom violations perpetrated by Western governments against Christian individuals, organizations, and churches. Between January 2020 and December 2023,…
CHINA — It’s the Chinese New Year, but for Christian families in China, the new year is set to bring increased surveillance and persecution. As Andrew Boyd from Release International reports, the state is homing in on Christian children. As China celebrates its New Year, which begins in February, Chinese Christians are braced for a…
LOVES PARK, IL — A Ukrainian couple facing their own life-and-death battle with advanced cancer are helping others suffering from anxiety and despair on the frontline of the Israel-Hamas war. Ukrainian-born Jew Yura, 51, and his wife Luda, 53, who has undergone major surgeries and multiple rounds of chemotherapy to treat Stage 4 cancer, left…
NORTH KOREA — The Open Doors World Watch List 2024 ranks the countries where Christians count the highest cost for following Jesus. These are the 5 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. Could praying put you in danger? Could going to church risk your life? Could following Jesus cost you your job, your…
ISRAEL — A large part of the world refers to the land of Judea and Samaria as “Cisjordania.” For many Christians, and especially for the Jews living there, Judea is considered the land of the Bible. In these hills not far from Jerusalem, the Arugot Farm is located. For six years, its founders have built…
NORTH KOREA — Christian freedom in the world is marked by a deterioration that seems to be getting worse. This is reflected in reports and statistics, such as those collected by the organization Open Doors. That entity has just published the World Persecution List 2024, with data related to the period between January and October…
NORTH KOREA — Longstanding Christian communities could disappear in parts of sub-Saharan Africa through a double blow of violent instability and authoritarian control. Christian minorities across east and west Africa face twin existential threats: violent disorder exploited by radical jihadists and autocratic governments backed by larger powers outside the region.This is one of the disturbing…
JERUSALEM — To mark the 100th day of the Israel-Hamas War, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (The Fellowship) today released details of its 2023 impact, which includes emergency aid support for those affected by the ongoing conflict. From October 7 through December 31, 2023, The Fellowship provided $19 million in emergency aid and…
CHARLOTTE, NC — The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) will deploy to Claremont, North Carolina, after severe storms swept through the area on Tuesday. The National Weather Service reported that an EF-1 tornado tore through the area, where one person was killed, several others were injured and dozens of homes were damaged or destroyed….
LOS ANGELES — The God is Love Takeover came to downtown Los Angeles Friday January 12, 2023 for Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday weekend in partnership with the Azusa Street Mission to spread the power of love, unity and service. From city to city, the God is Love movement has poured out love by donating…
NORTH KOREA — Ji Ho* in North Korea counts the cost of following Jesus every day. Her father was taken away by police agents when his Bible was discovered, and she has to keep her faith secret – or face terrible consequences. *Name changed for security. Ji Ho*: I didn’t know what the book was,…
IRAN — Those Christians who are Iranian who want to live their faith in Jesus freely are often sent to prison, where they are frequently tortured and interrogated. They flee the persecution that plagues the country, becoming refugees in other nations. Kouroush is one of them. Kouroush: I had to leave everything behind. My country,…
YEMEN — In Yemen, Christian believers like Saleh* risk arrest, beatings and death threats when they choose to follow Jesus. But despite these dangers Saleh is encouraging and discipling believers across the country. Saleh*: My name is found on the radicals’ wanted list. They have my picture. Sometimes they watch me going from place to…
COLOMBIA — In Colombia, Christians like Leonardo refuses to let the threats from the FARC stop him from preaching. He has been assaulted and threatened by the guerrilla group, but he continues to openly share the Gospel. In Colombia, the pastors are forced to ask permission to preach to paramilitary groups and guerrillas. These rebel…
MOROCCO — Just after the Morocco earthquake killed thousands of people and left hundreds of thousands more homeless Christian charity Help The Persecuted sent their team to some of the most hardest to reach communities to provide practical and spiritual support.
SAGLE, IDAHO— The Luke Commission, a nonprofit providing free healthcare in the Kingdom of Eswatini, celebrates a historic 2023 milestone, hosting over 300,000 VIP (Very Important Patient) visits and carrying one-third of Eswatini’s national healthcare framework. Eswatini has the highest rate of HIV in the world at 27%. Dr. Harry and Echo VanderWal founded The…
UK —Churches from all denominations united for what was the largest ever UK Christmas outreach campaign last weekend. GNA reporter Peter Wooding went along to one of their Shine Your Light events at Europe’s largest shopping mall in London. More than 57,000 Christians from over 450 churches took part in Shine Your Light evangelistic Christmas…
VIETNAM — When Xuan* converted away from tribal, animistic beliefs, her Hmong community told her she could be a Christian, as long as she didn’t evangelise. But Xuan visits houses in Vietnam in the dead of night as a Brave Witness to tell people about Jesus… Xuan*: There are no churches in my area. We…
CHINA — In a context of growing digital surveillance in China, Ming, a faithful Christian, faces increasing challenges in sharing the Gospel. As persecution intensifies, constant monitoring, and restrictions on religious freedom, Ming finds himself at a crossroads between his faith and the threats posed by the regime. Ming: I feel like I’m being watched….
CHIAPAS — In a testimony of faith, more than 20,000 Christians gathered in Tuxtla Gutiérrez for the Day of Thanksgiving to God for peace in Chiapas. This event, which began three decades ago, has become a symbol of hope and reconciliation in the region Recently, in Tuxla Gutierrez, the Day of Action of “Thank you…
RICHARDSON, TX — The U.S. government’s $33 trillion “monster debt” — the largest in U.S. history — is a direct result of the nation’s rejection of biblical principles, says the producer of a new video series addressing the current economic calamity. The eight-part series, Biblical Economics: Answers for Difficult Days, was released in November, and…
UK — More than 42,000 Christians from more than 360 UK churches are taking to the streets December 16-17 in various Christmas Shine Your Light outreach events with the sole purpose to share that Jesus is the reason for the season. Dr. Jonathan Oleyede – National Day of Prayer and Worship: This Christmas the whole…
VIETNAM — Vietnamese Pastor Zoong Tee Tie — also known as Mrs. Ly — helped start Vietnam’s house church movement. Lucille Talusan of CBN News, brings us the story from Hanoi. Although Christians still face persecution in communist Vietnam, churches thrive because leaders endured suffering to spread the gospel. That includes 95-yr-old, pastor Zoong Tee…
