BOULDER, COLORADO — Artificial Intelligence, or AI, seems to be everywhere we turn, including the church. A tech company that serves the church community recently sponsored an AI “hackathon” to bring together like-minded software designers to explore the potential, and peril, of this powerful technology. Without a doubt, you have heard of artificial intelligence, but…
IRAN — A new technology, cutting-edge virtual camera system, installed at SAT-7 PARS’ Limassol studio in Cyprus is taking multiple Persian programs to new heights. It enables presenters and actors to move about in, and even interact with, a digitally-designed virtual environment that is bringing stories to life. And it will enable the broadcast ministry…
KRAKOW, POLAND — In every corner of Poland, from Gdańsk to Zakopane and from Zielona Góra to Białystok, hundreds of churches are coming together and supporting the Bóg Cie Kocha Tour, which will bring a powerful message of hope to Krakow this spring. Wojciech Włoch, pastor of the Church of Jesus Christ in Krakow and…
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…
MERCER ISLAND — The State of the Christian Workplace 2024 report provides insights into employee engagement and workplace health in Christian-led workplaces. For the first time, results from Best Christian Workplaces research are publicly available in an accessible and statistically valid format. Now leaders who want to take steps to create a flourishing workplace culture…
CUBA — “Cuba Crucis” is a documentary directed by Cuban journalist Yoe Suárez. This documentary gathers testimonies and stories about how the lack of individual freedoms under the communist regime in Cuba affects the religious community and hinders the full practice of faith. The 52-minute documentary “Cuba Crucis” presents impactful testimonies from religious leaders and…
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…
PANAMA CITY, PANAMA — At the invitation of dozens of local churches in Panama, the Palau Association shared the Good News of Jesus Christ in Panama City, from February 26 – March 2, 2024, through numerous outreach events and a 2-day family festival in the heart of the city. Thousands gathered for the festival on…
AFRICA — In 2023, Christian medical ministry Mercy Ships made history by serving three African nations for the first time providing vital surgeries from two ports through the #GlobalMercy. In 2024, the need remains great — but with an active two-ship fleet, the impact will be even greater. In 2023, for the first time in…
CHARLOTTE, NC — Crisis-trained chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) are deploying to Hutchinson County in the Texas Panhandle, where the second-largest fire in the state’s history is forcing evacuations. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties, as over 1 million acres have burned in Texas and Oklahoma….
UNANDERRA, AUSTRALIA — The International Men’s Day team congratulate the women of the world on the 114th celebration of International Women’s Day, which started in 1911. Three years ago, in 2021 the theme we celebrated for International Men’s Day was, ‘better relations between men and women.’ This is still one of our core objectives. Please…
CHARLOTTE, NC — Jean Graham Ford, wife of evangelist Dr. Leighton Ford and younger sister of the late Rev. Billy Graham, died at Carolinas Medical Center Thursday morning, Feb. 29, at the age of 91. Jean spent her childhood in Charlotte on the Graham dairy farm, located a few miles from the current location of…
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…
ACAPULCO — Thousands of Venezuelans enter Colombian territory daily. Many continue their journey towards other countries, but most settle in major cities within Colombia. In Medellín, Venezuelan immigrants discover more than just material assistance at churches. Diego and Luis are two Venezuelan pastors who arrived in Medellín, Colombia, several months ago, despite being foreigners themselves,…
ROMANIA — Irene Anselmi moved from Switzerland where has started a coffee shop ministry to women. In 2006, she took the step of pioneering this work, and today she owns “Coffee Shalom” in Suceava, a meeting space for women who want to know God more and get closer to Him. Since 2006, Irene Anselmi has…
SYRIA — One year on from the devastating earthquake in Syria/Turkey in February, 2023, large numbers of people are still mourning, recovering or rebuilding their lives. Open Doors highlights some of the Christians who were directly impacted. Kamal – Latakia, Syria: It’s terrifying and sad to remember the night of the 6th of February. I…
ORLANDO, FL — In an era where faith seems to waver, Christ for all Nations (CfaN) stands as a beacon of hope and revival, embarking on a historic series of gospel campaigns across Nigeria. This epic undertaking, led by Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, follows the 50th-anniversary launch event in Cape Town and started on February 21st,…
LVIV, UKRAINE — In the heart of Ukraine’s war-torn landscape, men maneuver stealthily through the darkness on their way to work, careful to avoid security checkpoints where they would be detained and sent to the front lines of the ongoing war with Russia. Some of them do this to make their way to an office…
CHARLOTTE, NC — Franklin Graham is going to the U.S.-Mexico border to share a message of God’s love. The upcoming tour will be stopping in Tucson, Arizona, on Tuesday, March 5. This will be the eighth stop of the God Loves You Frontera Tour, which will visit 10 cities, starting at the Gulf of Mexico…
CHARLOTTE, NC — As the situation intensifies on America’s southern border, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is releasing a new TV program, “Border Crisis: Is There Hope?” The special explores stories of those who have lost hope and are hurting in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. Hear from those on both sides who’ve been…
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…
ISRAEL — A pastor in Israel gives thanks for the love and food that Samaritan’s Purse is providing for families displaced by the recent terrorist attacks. Samaritan’s Purse Partner: The morning, October 7, we are awake from the siren. Then my wife starts looking over, and she said, There are some people outside with a…
LONDON — Hundreds of churches throughout London are preparing to work with Revd Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to bring the God Loves You Tour back to London next summer. The family-friendly event, featuring live music and a message of hope, will be free and everyone is welcome. ‘London is an extremely…
ORLANDO, FL — 2024 is a milestone year for Christ for all Nations, marking 50 years since the ministry’s inception in 1974. Founded by the late Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, and now led by Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, Christ for all Nations (CfaN) has an astonishing track record in mass campaign evangelism, particularly across the African continent….
UGANDA— Today an estimated 1.3 billion people in the world live with a disability. Many of these people are in developing countries where they have limited access to medical care and mobility equipment. And too often, poverty and discrimination intensify the difficulties of living with a disability.That’s why the Joni and Friends program—Joni’s House—is committed…
DALLAS — Marking a monumental milestone, RevelationMedia will unveil 42 episodes of iBIBLE Genesis, the first completed section of its iBIBLE project, on Easter. iBIBLE is the first-ever animated and interactive presentation of the entire Biblical Narrative, from creation to the second coming of Christ. Upon completion, projected by 2032, the groundbreaking, $25 million dollar,…
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…
CHARLOTTE, NC — Franklin Graham is going to the U.S.-Mexico border to share a message of God’s love. The upcoming tour will be stopping in Presidio, Texas, on March 2. This will be the sixth stop of the God Loves You Frontera Tour, which will visit 10 cities, starting at the Gulf of Mexico and…
WASHINGTON — Organizers are pleased to announce the launch of The Renewal Initiative (TRI), a dynamic nonprofit organization committed to restoring dignity and hope where it has been stolen or lost. TRI aims to rejuvenate lives and communities grappling with adversity via compassion, advocacy, relief efforts and education. “There’s no shortage of awful things happening in…
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…
CHARLOTTE, NC — Franklin Graham is going to the U.S.-Mexico border to share a message of God’s love. The God Loves You Frontera Tour will visit 10 cities, starting at the Gulf of Mexico and going all the way to the Pacific, with back-to-back stops in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Feb. 28 and Del Rio,…
EGYPT — Throughout the Middle East and North Africa when Christians come to faith they face extreme persecution including losing their jobs. Christian charity Help The Persecuted is empowering many of these persecuted believers in Egypt by providing them with opportunities to start their own businesses. GNA reporter Peter Wooding got to see the impact…
NIGERIA, AFRICA — On Christmas Eve, Islamic militants attacked several Christian villages in Plateau State, Nigeria. The attacks went into the early hours of Christmas Day, and at least 113 people were killed. Many more were injured or have lost their homes. In this video, recorded by Open Doors local partners in the region, Nigeria…
CHARLOTTE, NC — Franklin Graham is going to the U.S.-Mexico border to share a message of God’s love. The upcoming tour is kicking off with an opening weekend in Brownsville, Texas, on Feb. 24 and McAllen, Texas, on Feb. 25. The Frontera Tour will visit 10 cities, starting at the Gulf of Mexico and going…
LEBANON — Often when someone converts to Christianity in Iraq particularly from a Muslim background it can mean a death sentence even threats to your life from your own family. That was the case for two Iraqi brothers who were forced to flee for their lives. But Christian charity Help The Persecuted was able to…
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…
COLOMBIA — In Colombia, the Foundation Misericordia, Amor y Servicio, a ministry of the Casa sobre la Roca church, in collaboration with students and teachers from the University Antonio Nariño, carried out a dental brigade in the department of Quindío. In Colombia, the Foundation Misericordia, Amor y Servicio, a ministry of the Casa sobre la…
SELMA, ALABAMA — Samaritan’s Purse celebrated the completion of eight new or repaired homes in Selma, Alabama, after a tornado ripped through the area over a year ago. Families were grateful to God for this new start. Shawn Vollmering – Samaritan’s Purse: On January 12th in 2023, a tornado came through Selma, Alabama, and…
JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham joined hundreds of Israeli citizens on Jan. 23 to dedicate 14 new ambulances for Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical services provider. Graham honored the sacrifices of 19 Israeli Medics of Magen David Adom who have been killed since Oct. 7, the start of the current Israel-Hamas…
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…
LEBANON — The Middle East war is escalating the financial crisis in Lebanon which was already badly hit economically. Christian charity Help The Persecuted is working quickly to double the capacity of their Seeds of Hope farm which will enable them to feed at least 1,000 families each month while also bridging opportunities to share…
KERN COUNTY, CA — Meet Ofelia Flores. She’s a living miracle. See her today and you’d never know she is anything but blessed, and living out the American dream. A bookkeeper by trade, she’s a successful mother of five in Kern County, Calif. She volunteers at church, cares lovingly for her grandkids, and even helps…
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…
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…
