VIETNAM— Thirty years ago, Pastor Barnabas* set up a secret Bible school in Vietnam with the help of Open Doors partners. Since then, he’s helped to train thousands of Christians in Vietnam who have gone on to share the gospel in their communities! Pastor Barnabas* – name changed for security reasons: I don’t have any…
CHINA— The persecution of Christians in mainland China is now spreading to Hong Kong, warns Release International, which serves the persecuted Church around the world. A new law could force Catholic priests in Hong Kong to reveal the secrets of the confessional. Partners of UK-based Release International say the British government has a responsibility…
WASHINGTON —Coptic Solidarity hosted its 12th Annual Conference The Coptic Problem: Hate Based on Religion in Washington, D.C., June 13-14. This leading policy event unites legislators, academics, policy professionals, and activists to discuss the situation of human rights and democracy for Copts in Egypt as well as other indigenous minorities in the region. The Policy…
BARTLESVILLE, OK — Christians around the world will observe Day of the Christian Martyr on June 29, 2024, which according to church tradition, marks the anniversary of the Apostle Paul’s beheading in Rome. VOM is honoring Christians persecuted in Mosul, Iraq for Day of the Christian Martyr on June 29. In the summer of 2014,…
ERITREA — Senior church leader was arrested without charge and jailed without ever going to trial. And now he has died behind bars in prison in Eritrea, the country some describe as the North Korea of Africa. Andrew Boyd of Release International reports on the life and death of one of the leading figures in…
BARTLESVILLE, OK — Over the past year, The Voice of the Martyrs has creatively challenged people to call for the release of falsely imprisoned persecuted Christians in Eritrea. Through VOM digital media campaigns, millions of people have heard about the horrific treatment of persecuted Christians in Eritrea, nearly 20,000 people committed to pray, U.S. leaders…
MEXICO— José Alfredo is a lawyer in Mexico who helps Christians like Guadalupe, who was threatened with expulsion by his indigenous community, to understand their legal rights and settle disputes so that they can continue to worship God freely and without fear. Gaudalupe – Mexico: Since we follow Christ who saved us, they harass us,…
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC — In March 2023, a militant Muslim group attacked Pastor Samuel’s* village in southern Central African Republic (CAR). Most of the Christians – including Pastor Samuel – fled. But through support and prayers from Christian charity Open Doors, he and many of his church have returned to rebuild their lives. Gérard* –…
EGYPT — Last month during Holy week in Egypt local Christians in two villages came under attack during violent protests by Islamist extremists to prevent the construction of a church building. In response a team from the Christian ministry Help The Persecuted went to provide much-needed support for these believers who were grappling with the…
BARTLESVILLE, OK — “It’s better to be dead than taken hostage,” Jeff Woodke told The Voice of the Martyrs’ Radio Host Todd Nettleton. When Jeff first said those words, he didn’t know he would be taken hostage from his home in Niger in 2016. But Woodke, a long-term relief and gospel worker in Africa, knew…
HAITI — Three people, a Haitian man and an American couple who all worked for a Christian mission organization, were killed by gang members near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Thursday night (May 23). The group had reportedly been kidnapped earlier in the evening after leaving a youth event hosted at a church. Natalie and Davy Lloyd…
BARTLESVILLE, OK — Twenty years ago, on May 23, 2004, two men were arrested for the “crime” of being a pastor. Twenty years later, those two men are still in prison. Pastor Haile Nayzgi and Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel were arrested for their leadership in the Full Gospel Church of Eritrea after the government outlawed Christian…
VIETNAM —To avoid being imprisoned, Pastor Foom spent two days hiding in the mountains near his village. However, in the end they caught him. In 2002, Pastor Foom Chao opened his eyes after the prayer. At the alarming scene of the police waiting to arrest him, he was arrested for taking Bibles to the jungles…
UKRAINE — Hundreds of churches have been forced to close in the occupied territories of Ukraine by Russian troops and there are reports that at least 70 pastors have been killed. In response Christian charity Mission Eurasia is providing support to the churches that have remained open in the region. As the war in Ukraine…
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…
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…
IRAQ — When she became a Christian, Sara* experienced a miraculous escape after her father put her under house arrest and arranged a forced marriage to a Muslim man for her. Thanks to support from Open Doors, Sara knows her true value in Christ as she serves others. Open Doors’ vision is that every persecuted…
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…
IRAN —When persecuted Iranian Christians are forced to flee the country they face many challenges as they seek to start a new life as refugees, including being treated as second class citizens and feelings of isolation. In response Christian ministry Help The Persecuted hosted a spiritual retreat for Iranian refugees in a country that can’t…
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…
UKRAINE — Into the third year of Russia’s occupation of parts of Ukraine, Christian leaders are being killed, tortured and are disappearing. And in Russia, priests who oppose Putin’s invasion are being imprisoned or silenced. And yet, in Ukraine, there are signs of a growing hunger for the gospel, with reports of churches packed to…
IRAQ — When she became a Christian, Sara* experienced a miraculous escape after her father put her under house arrest and arranged a forced marriage to a Muslim man for her. Thanks to support from Open Doors, Sara knows her true value in Christ as she serves others. Open Doors’ vision is that every persecuted…
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…
WASHINGTON — Family Research Council (FRC) recently released the newest edition of its Hostility Against Churches report, updated to include hostility incidents from calendar year 2023. The report’s findings suggest that the rise in hostility against U.S. churches that were identified in FRC’s inaugural December 2022 report has neither slowed nor plateaued; rather, it has…
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…
CHILE — In the midst of the most devastating fires in Chile’s recorded history, with hundreds of fatalities and thousands of hectares consumed, the Christian community is facing an unprecedented situation. Churches and parsonages in Chile have been completely destroyed, but they find hope in faith and solidarity in the reconstruction. Chile Faces the Most…
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…
EASTON, MD — Christians in North Africa, where less than 1% of the population follows Christianity, are facing a new year of escalating persecution in the shadow of the Holy Land conflict. There are only a handful of evangelical churches still open in Algeria, where the government is raiding and systematically shutting down Christian places…
WASHINGTON — Mike Pence, the 48th Vice President of the United States, will speak during the afternoon plenary at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit on Tuesday, Jan. 30. The IRF Summit is the world’s premier annual gathering of international religious freedom advocates and activists. The Summit’s convening co-chairs, former U.S. Ambassador at Large for…
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…
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,…
SANTA ANA, CA — For the first time ever, incidents of violent religious persecution are searchable through a new database that records violent attacks on Christians and people of faith around the world. Unveiled by Global Christian Relief, America’s leading watchdog of Christian persecution, the Global Christian Relief Violent Incidents Database (VID) is the first…
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…
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….
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…
NIGERIA — New reports highlight the growing kidnapping crisis in Nigeria, where Christians are regarded as soft targets for abduction. Release International is calling on Nigeria to protect vulnerable Christian communities. Andrew Boyd has the details. New reports confirm that Christians are being targeted for kidnap and ransom in Nigeria, sometimes by bandits hungry for…
UGANDA — After Waswa’s* mother was poisoned by relatives because of her decision to follow Jesus, Waswa and his siblings became orphans. But after receiving care and support from local Open Doors partners, Waswa now runs an orphanage in Uganda, caring for many isolated children in his community and sharing his faith with them. When…
SOUTH EAST ASIA — In Pastor Yohannes’* community, Christian children can face discrimination at school, like Ermias’ twin boys, Fasil and Ezana. But thanks to your prayers and support, they now attend a bridge school, run by Open Doors partners – and it’s helping to unite a divided community. Pastor Yohannes*: This area is an…
BARTLESVILLE, OK — Five years ago, the controversial death of American missionary John Chau created an international conversation around modern Christian missions which continues even today with the release of a new National Geographic film about Chau’s life and death called, “The Mission.” The Voice of the Martyrs Spokesperson Todd Nettleton screened the documentary and…
SOUTH EAST ASIA — Abraham* came to follow Jesus, encouraged by Eti*, the Christian woman he would later marry. But Abraham’s family were about to face persecution in south east Asia, until he was saved by a miracle. Abraham* – South east Asia: I was born and grew up in a Muslim home and all…
IRAN — The upsurge in violence in the Middle East has led to claims that Iran has been active behind the scenes in supporting the Hamas group that attacked Israel. A new report also accuses Iran of putting pressure on Christians to keep away from the country’s hijab protests. It warns that Christians who are…
