• Mar. 14, 2024 | Burkina Faso

    Church Elder Murdered

    [194] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Esther and her family.
    Pray for Burkina Faso

    On June 12, 2023, Ibrahim Saidou was traveling to buy farm supplies when he decided to visit the church where he served as an elder. Ibrahim lived in an area of Burkina Faso where Islamic terrorist groups associated with the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) actively work to establish purely Muslim territory ruled by Islamic law. These groups regularly attack churches and Christian leaders. On his way to the church, Ibrahim was attacked and murdered by a group of Islamic militants. Read More.

  • Mar. 14, 2024 | Laos

    First Believers in Village Threatened with Expulsion

    [116] prayers in [6] nations have been posted for Oudong and Lae.
    Oudong and Lae

    Oudong and his wife, Lae, placed their trust in Christ in May 2023, becoming the first Christians in their village. Two weeks after their conversion, the village head came to their home and told them to stop worshiping Jesus Christ because Buddhism and animism were the only religions permitted in the village. The couple, along with their four children, began to travel two hours each way to gather in worship and fellowship with believers in another city, but this did not satisfy the authorities. Read More.

  • Mar. 14, 2024 | India

    Pastor Dies After Third Attack on Church

    [118] prayers in [6] nations have been posted for pastor's family and church.
    Hindu radicals continued to harass the church after the pastor's death.

    Pastor Gangireddy died July 14, 2023, from burns he suffered during an attack on July 8. The church continues to face pressure from Hindu radicals, who have planted signs in front of the church with slogans like "Born a Hindu, Die a Hindu." This attack was the third against the church, which Pastor Gangireddy planted 20 years ago. Amid much opposition, Pastor Gangireddy stayed in the village and faithfully shared the gospel until his death. Read More.

  • Mar. 07, 2024 | Pakistan

    Cousins Appeal Death Sentence in Blasphemy Case

    [199] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Young Christian Men.
    Having a Bible in prison has been a comfort to this young Christian on death row.

    In spring of 2023, two young men from a Christian family were convicted under Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws of blaspheming the Islamic prophet Mohammed. Conviction under these laws brings a mandatory death sentence. These laws are applied disproportionately against the small Christian minority in Pakistan. While these men appeal their cases, they remain on death row. Their families struggle to pay legal fees and provide for the young men's needs in prison. Read More.

  • Mar. 07, 2024 | Korea, North

    Gospel Message Reaches Hermit Kingdom via Airwaves

    [121] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Radio Broadcasting.
    Radio broadcasts are recorded almost daily at the VOMK radio studio.

    For years, front-line workers have been broadcasting the gospel message into North Korea using shortwave radio. Their broadcasts include Bible readings, sermons by early Korean Christians, hymns and common North Korean songs that have been rewritten with Christian lyrics. Official and unofficial surveys, as well as an increase in jamming efforts by the North Korean government, continue to show that these broadcasts are effectively reaching listeners in North Korea. A North Korean defector reported that he enjoyed listening to the rewritten songs, and he mentioned one that he especially enjoyed, originally titled "Our Party Is the Best" but changed to "Our God Is the Best." Read More.

  • Mar. 07, 2024 | Benin

    Christian Convert Flees Forced Marriage

    [128] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Aisosa.
    Women who convert to Christianity in Benin are often forced to marry older Muslim men.

    Aisosa's father is a traditional tribal sorcerer in Benin. When he started performing ceremonies for a certain local god, his family members began to die. Eventually, all of Aisosa's siblings and her mother died. Then Aisosa became sick, and her father wanted her to sacrifice a chicken to his god, but Aisosa did not want to worship her father's god any longer. A Christian woman in her village reached out to the 23-year-old and invited her to church. Read More.

  • Feb. 29, 2024 | Niger

    Pray for Christians Following Coup

    [194] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Nigerien Christians.
    The Christian community in Niger faces increased pressure since the government was overthrown in July, 2023.

    Armed terrorists, often connected to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS), have ravaged parts of Niger, particularly in the west near its borders with Mali and Burkina Faso. Much of the country's small Christian population has been displaced in the violence: "Many have seen their parents or family members shot and killed," a front-line worker said. Additionally, after Niger's president was overthrown by military officers in a July 2023 coup, the Islamic Council of Niger has been pushing to change the country from a secular democracy into an Islamic republic governed by sharia law. Read More.

  • Feb. 29, 2024 | Iran

    Illustrated Bible Changes Woman's Life

    [151] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Darya.
    The illustrated Action Bible is popular with children and adults in Iran.

    Darya was depressed and scared. Her much older husband had suddenly died of a stroke, and her 8-year-old son had become angry and violent. "I consulted with different psychologists about my son's behavior, but nothing improved," Darya said. "Once in the middle of the night my son came into my room with a knife in his hand. I was so afraid that I didn't sleep at all that night, and I just kept trying to calm my son down." The next day she told a friend what had happened. That friend was a Christian who prayed for her and gave her an illustrated Action Bible to give to her son. When Darya went home, she started to read the Gospels. Read More.

  • Feb. 29, 2024 | Bhutan

    Young Evangelist Undaunted by Barriers

    [147] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Narmith.
    Bhutan's king identifies himself as the defender of the Buddhist faith, and government policies are designed to discourage and silence Christian witness.

    Narmith, a new Christian in a discipleship program in Bhutan, has been growing in her faith and has had many opportunities to practice sharing her testimony and the gospel with others. Recently, she met two women with severe hearing impairments. She spent the entire afternoon with them, explaining through improvised hand signs how much Jesus loves them before praying for them. One woman was moved to tears after the prayer and conversation. Read More.

  • Feb. 22, 2024 | Laos

    Officials Summon Christians to Hear Police Ultimatum

    [211] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Houy Khoun Christians.
    Police and village officials summoned local Christians to threaten them.

    In August 2023, district police officials summoned the Houy Khoun village chief and all local Christians to a meeting where they outlined steps that would be taken against Christians to halt the spread of their faith. Authorities threatened to demolish the pastor's home (which also serves as a house church), enforced restrictions that do not allow new members to join the church, and warned them against evangelizing in the village or elsewhere in the district. The Christians boldly challenged the right of the police to close or damage the church. Read More.

  • Feb. 22, 2024 | Middle East

    Muslims Attack after Family Converts

    [166] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Khalida and family.
    Converts to Christianity in Egypt are often forced to flee.

    Khalida, her two sons and a daughter placed their trust in Christ years ago after having dreams about him. When Muslim extremists in their community heard about their conversion, they attacked the family and tried to kill them. The family barely survived. The enraged Muslims then formed a mob that attacked and burned several churches that were helping Khalida's family. Read More.

  • Feb. 22, 2024 | Mexico

    Martyr's Widow Perseveres with Help from Body of Christ

    [163] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Feliciana.
    Feliciana and her children stand firm in their faith after her husband was martyred.

    Feliciana's husband pastored a church in a town in Oaxaca, Mexico, until he was killed in 2014 for his bold witness for Christ. After her husband's murder, Feliciana struggled to provide for her family, and her two children became seriously ill. With VOM's help, she has been able to continue the work of leading the church in her town, and her children are healthy and thriving. Read More.

  • Feb. 15, 2024 | India

    Martyr's Family Finds Help, Healing

    [218] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Sunita and Stuti.
    Like other Christian widows in India, Sunita has been neglected by her non-Christian in-laws.

    Pastor Vinod was killed in 2021, leaving behind his wife, Sunita, and 13-year-old daughter, Stuti. They have struggled emotionally and financially with their loss while living with Hindu family members who refuse to help them. Front-line workers have helped them get counseling, which has given them tools to express and process their emotions and begin to regain some joy. Read More.

  • Feb. 15, 2024 | Benin

    Destroyed Church Rebuilt, Reopened

    [160] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Benin Christians.
    Voodooists destroyed this church building on National Voodoo Day in 2023. It has now been rebuilt with help from the global body of Christ.

    On January 10, 2023, in a small town in central Benin, a group of voodooists burned down a church when Christians refused to honor local idols. Benin is considered the birthplace of voodoo, and the country celebrates National Voodoo Day on January 10 each year. Occult practices, which include worshiping idols, sacrificing animals and wearing special talismans to ward off evil, are widespread. With VOM's help, the church has been rebuilt and reopened. Read More.

  • Feb. 15, 2024 | Lebanon

    Christian Convert Escapes from Locked Room

    [158] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Khaled.
    Most Lebanese are Muslims, but around 30% of the country is Christian.

    Khaled's Lebanese Muslim family was displeased when he decided to become a follower of Christ. After learning about his newfound faith, they attacked him and locked him in a room away from his wife, attempting to force him to return to Islam. But Khaled escaped and eventually reunited with his wife. She was also not supportive of his conversion and only allowed him to return if he paid the full cost of their housing and living expenses without any financial assistance from her. He found a new job, is paying the expenses, and is trying to demonstrate God's love to his wife. Read More.

  • Feb. 08, 2024 | Cuba

    Wisdom Needed in Online Communications

    [189] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Cuban Christians.
    Christians in Cuba ask for prayer for wisdom as they face increasing restrictions from their atheistic Communist government.

    The atheistic Communist government in Cuba has enacted a new law intended to control the online spread of misinformation, especially that which is related to the country's reputation, national security, revolution, government leaders and ideology. Christians in Cuba have reported concerns about the law's enforcement as the government has defined "misinformation" broadly and indicated that it will prosecute violators with heavy scrutiny. Some have reported instances of government prosecution simply for sharing Bible verses in social media posts, which the government then interpreted as a threat to the regime. Read More.

  • Feb. 08, 2024 | Middle East

    Abused Teenager and Her Family Flee

    [170] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Zara.
    Converts in Iraq face extreme pressure.

    In 2015, Zara, then 19, was abducted and horribly abused for several days by her kidnappers. Her entire Muslim family had become followers of Christ, and some Muslim extremists wanted to punish them. "They told her what they were doing was not a sin," said a front-line worker, "but that it was their religious obligation because of her conversion to Christianity." After her kidnappers released her, Zara and her family eventually fled to another country, but they continue to struggle. Read More.

  • Feb. 08, 2024 | Laos

    Former Soldier Sacrifices Pension, Remains Faithful

    [160] prayers in [7] nations have been posted for Phet and his family.
    Confiscation of family registration books is a common tactic used against Christians.

    Phet, 71, and his wife placed their trust in Christ in 2005. As a veteran of the Laotian army with more than 30 years of service, Phet is entitled to a government pension but was denied it. The commander said he would approve the pension if Phet would recant his faith. Phet answered, "My family and I, we already accepted Christ, and we could not turn back to worship the ghost spirits any longer." His wife and children agreed, saying, "God, our Father, will take care of us." Phet's family experienced increasing persecution in their village, and the police took their family registration book, which holds important records such as birth and marriage certificates, educational records, and work permits. Read More.

  • Feb. 01, 2024 | Iran

    Pastor Faces 20-Year Sentence

    [241] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Pastor Avedian.
    Pastor Anooshavan Avedian

    On Sept. 18, 2023, Pastor Anooshavan Avedian, who is 61 years old with a wife and two children, was summoned by police to Evin prison to begin a 10-year prison sentence. Pastor Avedian was arrested on Aug. 21, 2020, when approximately 30 security agents raided his home while family and friends gathered to pray and worship. The group met in his home because the government closed their church several years earlier. Government agents confiscated Bibles and mobile phones, taking Pastor Avedian and two Christian converts to Tehran's notorious Evin Prison. Read More.

  • Feb. 01, 2024 | Nepal

    SD Cards, Daughter's Healing Bring Family to Faith

    [158] prayers in [7] nations have been posted for Manju and family.
    In August, front-line workers gave Manju and each of her children their first Bibles.

    When Manju's husband became a follower of Christ, Manju and their children were very opposed to his faith and berated him to abandon it. But in May 2023, a pastor asked her to watch a film about Jesus. He installed a memory card with several videos on her phone. The family began to watch these films, calling the pastor to explain parts they did not understand. Manju invited the pastor to her house one day. While he was there, 14-year-old Sharda was watching one of the videos by herself when she experienced a demonic attack. Read More.

  • Feb. 01, 2024 | Nigeria

    Teens Traumatized by Islamist Violence Attend Camp

    [165] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Nigeria Teens.
    Camps provide a safe place for young Nigerian persecution victims to receive inner healing.

    Front-line workers recently held a camp for teenagers from several different areas across Nigeria where militant Fulani Muslims and Boko Haram militants have slaughtered thousands of Christians. Each teen in attendance during the camp had lost one or both parents in Islamist attacks. Some of the young people continue to live in areas where militant attacks are common. Read More.

  • Jan. 25, 2024 | Mexico

    Bold Witness Beaten 40 Times

    [251] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Gabriela.
    Gabriela continues to advance the gospel in rural Mexico amid ongoing opposition.

    Gabriela lives in a rural village in Oaxaca, Mexico, where members of her Mixteca community adhere to Christo-paganism, a syncretistic blend of pagan practices and Roman Catholicism that is opposed to the gospel. Because of her boldness in sharing her faith, she has been attacked by her neighbors as well as her husband, who is embarrassed by her commitment to Christ. She has been beaten an estimated 40 times and hospitalized on several occasions. Read More.

  • Jan. 25, 2024 | Middle East

    Family Forced to Flee

    [163] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Pastor Maged.
    The Great Pyramid of Giza, near Cairo

    Pastor Maged was planting a church in a rural part of Egypt when his family came under severe persecution. Repeatedly they fled, and repeatedly they were pressured. Eventually, they were forced to live underground where raw sewage seeped into their basement living quarters. After some time, they relocated to another Arab nation where Pastor Maged is active in church leadership. Read More.

  • Jan. 25, 2024 | Laos

    Brother Risks Eviction by Choosing to Honor God

    [161] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Mr. Wru.
    Villagers have threatened to evict Wru for his faith.

    While Wru was making funeral arrangements for his mother in July 2023, the village headman asked permission to play a game that involved gambling during the funeral observances. Funeral observances in Laotian villages are often considered community affairs and include a variety of activities. Wru told the headman no, stating, "I am a Christian, and I want to give honor to my God. I do not support the idea of gambling, especially in my mother's funeral." The village headman, feeling that he had "lost face" in the interaction, was angry and threatened to kick Wru and any other Christians out of the village. Read More.

  • Jan. 18, 2024 | Algeria

    Christians Struggle Amid Government Crackdown on Churches

    [209] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Algerian Christians.
    Algerian Officers Close a Church in 2019

    In 2019, the Algerian government permanently closed many churches, and several others that closed temporarily during the pandemic have not been allowed to re-open. "Many believers have gone for months or even years without gathering with their brothers and sisters in Christ," a front-line worker said. While Christians in Algeria are receiving biblical training via the internet and Arabic Christian satellite TV channels, relying on the internet and other media sources can leave them vulnerable to false teaching and manipulation. Read More.

  • Jan. 18, 2024 | India

    Digital Resources Transform Hearts

    [158] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Angira.
    SD cards are small, making them easy to carry and distribute.

    Bibles and SD cards that contain Bibles as well as other Christian materials are having a profound impact in India. One recipient, Angira, said, "I received an SD card that would change our lives. As we began listening to its contents, we discovered the teachings of Jesus Christ, which resonated deeply within us. Eventually, we made the decision to embrace our faith and received baptism. Today, we are proud members of the local church, actively engaging with our community by sharing the gospel with others." Read More.

  • Jan. 18, 2024 | Korea, North

    Convicted Murderer Growing in Faith

    [170] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Mr. K.
    Mr. K read Tortured for Christ in prison.

    Mr. K, a student in a discipleship program for North Korean defectors, is currently serving time in prison for a murder he committed in South Korea. Mr. K had thought that he could never be forgiven for what he had done, but he was deeply encouraged when Christian friends told him the Lord had forgiven his sin and that he could still be used by the Lord. He began studying the Bible and reading inspiring books like Tortured for Christ in prison. Read More.

  • Jan. 11, 2024 | Laos

    Christian Loses Position on Village Council

    [199] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Siporn.
    Siporn and his wife

    Siporn is a faithful Christian and a member of the village council in his community. In August, the president of the council confronted Siporn about his faith, promising that Siporn would succeed him as council president if Siporn would recant. Siporn answered, "I will not stop believing in my God, because I have found the truth and chosen the right path for my life." The council then met without Siporn and voted to remove him from his position. Read More.

  • Jan. 11, 2024 | Nepal

    Hindu Mobs Vandalize Three Churches

    [158] prayers in [7] nations have been posted for churches in Nepal.
    A cow-slaughtering incident has led to an upsurge in anti-Christian violence in Nepal.

    On Aug. 30, 2023, three churches in one district were attacked in the daytime by groups of 20-25 people each. One Christian leader reported that the groups pelted the buildings with stones and bricks, causing damage to windows, doors and gates. The groups chanted Hindu religious slogans during the attacks. Read More.

  • Jan. 11, 2024 | Benin

    Sisters Beaten, Nearly Killed by Father

    [179] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Renee and Rebecca.
    Two young women in Benin.

    Renee (22) and Rebecca (19) are half-sisters. Their father has four wives and practices animistic sorcery. Years ago, Renee's mother was unable to conceive, so she went to a Christian outreach hoping for a miracle. There she placed her faith in Christ and received prayer; later she became pregnant and gave birth to Renee. Renee's father was not pleased when his wife took Renee to church. Renee's half-sister, Rebecca, became a Christian while training at a hair salon with someone who sang worship songs. Read More.

  • Jan. 04, 2024 | Nigeria

    Family Escapes Attackers, Fire

    [232] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Sade.
    Sade and her daughters.

    Sade, who has been nearly blind most of her life, heard screams as attackers raided her village, so she ran with her three daughters in search of safety. Radical Muslim Fulani men had attacked her village before, so Sade knew their lives were in danger. She, her children and several others took shelter in her brother's apartment. When militants found them and couldn't break in, they set the building on fire. The apartment filled with smoke, but the group feared leaving. Read More.

  • Jan. 04, 2024 | Pakistan

    Muslim Girl Requests Bible, Chooses to Follow Christ

    [174] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Rabyia.
    The Lord is calling Muslims to himself through his Word.

    Rabyia, a young Muslim, asked a Christian evangelist to give her a Bible. She later called him back with a story. She had started reading the Bible in Genesis and then skipped ahead to the Gospels. At first, she thought that Christians had taken the story of Jesus as a prophet of Islam and twisted it to come up with the story she read in the Bible, as she had been taught in school. Then, she had a dream in which she saw a bright light and heard a voice say, "This is my word. Read it." She began reading the Bible intently and found that it brought her peace. Read More.

  • Jan. 04, 2024 | Korea, North

    Wisdom for Outreach to North Korean Defectors

    [155] prayers in [7] nations have been posted for defectors.
    As a mobile ministry, classes are held in homes, coffeeshops, campsites and other locations.

    Front-line workers serving North Korean defectors in South Korea have seen an increase in the number of North Koreans expressing interest in joining their basic Christian discipleship classes. These classes use a mobile format to reach students in various parts of the country. Read More.

  • Dec. 28, 2023 | Laos

    Village Headman Becomes Christian, Loses Status

    [228] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Sed.
    Sed and his wife joyfully received new Bibles from a front-line worker.

    Sed, the headman of his village and a faithful Christian, hosted a worship service in his home. District officials reprimanded him and gave him an ultimatum: stop believing in Christ or lose his position in the village. Sed chose to follow Christ, telling the authorities, "I will not recant my faith. I love God because he brings peace to my family. I rejoice in my God." He was immediately forced to sign a resignation letter, losing the post he had held for 18 years and the income he received from that position. Read More.

  • Dec. 28, 2023 | Nepal

    Believer Seeks Reconciliation with Parents

    [176] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Jitendra.
    Jitendra must earn his living as a driver-for-hire.

    Jitendra is the only Christian in his family, and he earns daily wages as a driver. When his parents, who are wealthy, divided their property among their children, they did not give him anything because of his decision to follow Christ. Read More.

  • Dec. 28, 2023 | Benin

    Christian Broadcaster's Life Threatened

    [177] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Amadi.
    A village in Benin.

    Amadi was a Muslim who enjoyed arguing with Christians. But he often wrestled with questions that caused him to doubt his beliefs. One night he had a dream in which a fearsome creature was attacking him and wouldn't stop, even though he cried out for Allah. But when he used the name of Jesus Christ, the creature vanished. Read More.

  • Dec. 21, 2023 | Sri Lanka

    Bold Witness Draws Opposition

    [199] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Anuradha.
    Anuradha is a bold witness for Christ in her community.

    In July, Anuradha shared the gospel with three families in her Sri Lankan village and invited the pastor of her church to pray for them. When word of this reached the local temple, the monk and 50 other people came to Anuradha's house and threatened her to stop these Christian activities. She boldly answered them that she would not stop. A few days later, nearly 80 people came to her home and demanded that she be investigated by the police. Read More.

  • Dec. 21, 2023 | Azerbaijan

    Gospel Reaches Beyond Capital City

    [142] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Azerbaijan.
    People walk along the Caspian Sea in Baku.

    Azerbaijan is a small nation of 10 million people tucked among the Caspian Sea, Iran, Armenia, Georgia and Russia. Its population is 85% Shia Muslim and 2% Christian. Christian ministry efforts have historically focused on the country's capital city, Baku, where 25% of the population lives. But local Christians have increased their efforts to reach beyond the capital. "Christians are using media to connect with Azerbaijanis outside of Baku," said a front-line worker. Read More.

  • Dec. 21, 2023 | Mozambique

    Christians Remain at Risk

    [141] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for the Cabo Delgado region.
    Muslim extremists in Mozambique

    Since 2019, the Cabo Delgado region of Northern Mozambique has been the site of extremist Muslim attacks in which thousands have been killed and at least 100,000 displaced. The attackers are part of a group connected to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) that seeks to establish a region ruled by sharia law. Some of the deadliest attacks came in 2021 near a massive oil processing installation under construction, garnering worldwide media coverage. Since then, the region remains extremely dangerous for Christians. Read More.

  • Dec. 14, 2023 | Nepal

    Pastor Attacked by Hindu Radicals

    [209] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Pastor Tamang.
    Hindu radicals attacked Pastor Bhim with black paint.

    Pastor Bhim Tamang, 63, was visiting a new believer in Christ and sharing the Word of God with him on Sept. 4 when a group of Hindu radicals burst into the home. They hit Bhim, broke his hearing aid, burned his Bible and warned him to stop preaching. Police officers arrived to protect Bhim and his colleagues, but the radicals pushed through and smeared black paint on Bhim's face. The police believed that, due to the aggressiveness of the radicals, Bhim and his colleagues would not be safe at the local station, so they took the Christians to district headquarters. Read More.

  • Dec. 14, 2023 | Korea, North

    North Korean Christians Receive Bibles

    [160] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for underground Christians.
    Bibles are getting into the hands of Christians in North Korea.

    Front-line workers are making new connections with Christians in the underground church and distributing Bibles into North Korea through many methods, new and old. Owning a Bible or even portions of Scripture is extremely risky in North Korea. After a recent meeting with front-line workers and North Korean Christians, VOM President Cole Richards shared, "Few North Koreans have ever had access to Scripture - or even to the core gospel message - because of the Communist-inspired regime's unceasing efforts to restrict access. Read More.

  • Dec. 14, 2023 | Afghanistan

    Christian Afghan Refugees Fear Forced Return

    [155] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Afghan Christians.
    Two Afghan men chat

    Afghan Christians struggling to survive as refugees in neighboring countries ask for prayer. According to international relief agencies, Afghans constitute the third-largest displaced population in the world after Syrian and Ukrainian refugees. Those groups report at least 1.2 million Afghans fled when the Taliban seized control in August 2021, joining many who had previously evacuated. In total, around 8 million Afghan refugees are believed to live in neighboring countries, including some Christians, says a front-line worker: "Pray for God's peace, protection and provision for them and that they will not be deported back to Afghanistan." Read More.

  • Dec. 07, 2023 | Sri Lanka

    Christmas Care Distribution Makes Way for New Church

    [184] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for churches in Sri Lanka.
    Children at a Christmas Care pack distribution in Sri Lanka.

    A church in the Batticaloa area of Sri Lanka conducted their first Christmas Care Pack distribution early in the summer. One of the distribution points was in a hunters' village deep in the jungle. The children in this village were overjoyed to receive their packs. No church was in this village prior to the distribution, but this event gave front-line workers the opportunity to negotiate with the village leader to allocate land to build a church. Read More.

  • Dec. 07, 2023 | Laos

    Mother and Children Rejected for Faith

    [161] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Phin and her family.
    Phin with one of her daughters.

    When Inn's uncle shared the gospel with his family in February 2022, Inn was the only one who accepted Christ. The village leaders threatened Inn and his parents, saying he would be kicked out of school and jailed and the whole family would be evicted. Inn sought refuge with front-line workers so that he could finish high school and grow in his faith. Inn stayed in touch with his family, sharing about Christ whenever he could. Those gospel seeds took root. In January 2023, Inn's mother, Phin, and his two sisters accepted Christ. Village officials made daily threats, and Inn's father persecuted them as well. Read More.

  • Dec. 07, 2023 | Arabian Peninsula

    Local Churches Minister to Stateless New Believers

    [155] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for New Believers.
    A family gathering in a Gulf nation.

    The nations of the Arab Peninsula attract people from around the world. Some come to participate in a religious pilgrimage while others arrive seeking job opportunities. Very few who decide to settle are ever given the opportunity to become citizens. "I know of one family where a grandfather came for a visit and stayed. Some of the family members have since become Christians," said a front-line worker. "And if they, or other second- or third-generation people living in the country, experience persecution … the church becomes their only refuge." Read More.

  • Nov. 30, 2023 | Israel

    God at Work Amid the Horror of War

    [214] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Israel.

    Front-line workers shared how God is moving in Israel, including Gaza and the West Bank, amid the conflict raging throughout the region. One Christian leader said, "Please pray for believers inside of Gaza. As the conflict intensifies, and the possibilities of death increase, there is a growing intentionality to share the gospel with friends and families. We have heard testimonies of those living in shelters because their homes have been damaged and are sharing boldly - and there seems to be an openness." Read More.

  • Nov. 30, 2023 | Brunei

    Decree Requires Islamic Indoctrination of All Children

    [172] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for children in Brunei.
    The Islamic government of Brunei requires Islamic education for all children.

    In October 2023, the government of the Islamic sultanate of Brunei announced a radical change in education policy to be implemented from Nov. 1. All 2nd to 5th grade students, including Christian children, are required to attend one hour per day of Islamic instruction. This includes practicing Islamic prayers and studying the Quran. This decree from the sultan applies to public and private schools. Read More.

  • Nov. 30, 2023 | India

    Pastor Harassed, Imprisoned over Conversion Claims

    [162] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Pastor Santosh.
    Hindu radicals in India routinely damage or destroy churches to hinder Christian worship.

    Since 2020, Pastor Santosh has been harassed and pressured by members of the Hindu nationalist group RSS. His church has been vandalized, he has been threatened and struck, and the group has repeatedly pressured the police to file charges against him for conversion of Hindus. In October 2022, he was jailed for a month without bail. "When a person goes to jail, he breaks," Santosh said. "I felt broken, too. After coming out of the jail, I was petrified. I did not go any place for months. Read More.

  • Nov. 23, 2023 | Malaysia

    Court Investigates Disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh

    [198] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Koh family.
    Susanna and her daughters hold photos of Raymond.

    On Feb. 13, 2017, a group of men on motorbikes and in SUVs abducted Pastor Raymond Koh. His wife, Susanna, and their children have not heard from him since, though Susanna has continued to seek information from the police and Malaysia's justice system. Susanna filed a legal case requesting new inquiries into her husband's disappearance, which she believes was connected to a 2011 confrontation with the Islamic religious police. The judge hearing the case visited the scene of the abduction on Nov. 6 and 7 to learn more about the situation. Read More.

  • Nov. 23, 2023 | Nepal

    Husband Abandons Christian Wife, Children

    [162] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Bindu.
    Bindu (left) with her children

    Five years ago, Bindu and her three children put their faith in Christ, becoming the first Christians in their village. Bindu's husband, Hari, is strongly Hindu and actively tried to stop them from going to church. On Christmas day 2021, while Bindu and the children were preparing to attend a Christmas celebration, he began to beat them, knocking one of his daughters unconscious and chasing them out of the home. Bindu and her daughters decided to return home, and the persecution and abuse continued. Hari tried many times to open a case for divorce and finally left the village. Read More.

  • Nov. 23, 2023 | Kenya

    Islamists Burn Widow's Home a Second Time

    [166] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Grace.
    Smoke fills the street of a Kenyan town.

    Radical Islamic groups based in Somalia regularly attack Christians in Kenya who live near the border. Late in the evening of January 2, 2022, al-Shabab terrorists from Somalia broke into a house, pulled out a Kenyan father of four named Joseph and questioned him about his religion. When Joseph boldly declared that he was a Christian, they beheaded him. They then threatened his wife, Grace, and set the home ablaze. On September 26, 2023, terrorists returned to the village and destroyed Grace's rebuilt home. Read More.

  • Nov. 16, 2023 | Egypt

    Sudanese Refugees Flee to Egypt

    [204] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Sudanese Refugees.
    Sudanese fleeing an earlier conflict.

    More than a million Sudanese refugees have fled to neighboring countries since fighting erupted in Khartoum on April 15, 2023. Egyptian authorities report that nearly 300,000 Sudanese have arrived in Egypt since the fighting began, significantly adding to the more than 4 million Sudanese who had fled there during previous wars seeking safety and improved economic opportunity. Read More.

  • Nov. 16, 2023 | Arabian Peninsula

    Pressure Increases on Christians in Small Gulf State

    [160] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Young Followers of Christ.
    People shopping in an Arab Gulf nation.

    Front-line workers report that new believers in a small Gulf nation are under increasing pressure after one of their leaders was deported for his faith. "Most of the local Christians are young in faith and also young in age," a front-line worker explained. "The community [members] had grown a bit relaxed and weren't expecting anything like this to happen, so it caught them by surprise." Read More.

  • Nov. 16, 2023 | Sri Lanka

    Evangelist Proclaims Christ in Hindu Stronghold

    [167] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Sam.
    Hindu opposition to Christianity makes evangelism risky in Sri Lanka.

    Sam, a pastor in the majority-Hindu northern part of Sri Lanka, was sharing the gospel with a friend who seemed open to learning about Jesus. Without warning, the friend became aggressive and struck Sam in the face. Another time, villagers accosted him and berated him with profanity for his evangelism efforts. Sam remains faithful to his calling and is committed to his goal of sharing the gospel with 200 people this year. Read More.

  • Nov. 09, 2023 | India

    Pastor Arrested Under Anti-Conversion Law

    [207] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Pastor Ramesh Verma.
    Police arrested Pastor Ramesh for allegedly breaking an anti-conversion law.

    Hindu radicals disrupted a worship service on Feb. 6, 2022, accusing Pastor Ramesh Verma of breaking anti-conversion laws. Police arrested Ramesh and placed him in jail. For the first 15 days, Ramesh asked God why he allowed this to happen. But when his son brought him a Bible and other prisoners became interested in what it had to say, Ramesh's perspective changed: he began to minister to his fellow prisoners and lead them to Christ. He and his younger son distributed 60 New Testaments in the prison. Read More.

  • Nov. 09, 2023 | Laos

    Christian Brother Insulted for Choosing Christ

    [170] prayers in [7] nations have been posted for BoonTaWong.
    BoonTaWong

    BoonTaWong came to Christ because he wanted a changed life like he saw in other Christians. That decision brought the attention of the main religious leader of his community, who began to threaten and harass BoonTaWong. He demanded that BoonTaWong recant his faith in Christ, blamed his Christian faith for causing BoonTaWong's wife to die, and mocked the impoverishment of most Lao Christians. Read More.

  • Nov. 09, 2023 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the

    Bombed Church Blamed for Explosion

    [177] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Christians in DRC.
    Christians gather inside a large church in the DRC.

    On Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, hundreds of Christians gathered at a church in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to end a weeklong series of prayer meetings. The gathering was so large that chairs and tarps were placed outside to provide overflow seating. Those in attendance did not know that radical Islamic group ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) had buried a bomb in the outdoor seating area. Just after a children's choir finished performing, the bomb exploded, killing 15 people and seriously injuring roughly 70 more. "Now some people are saying that we planted the bomb!" said one assistant pastor, explaining, "Those people think we are trying to gain sympathy and funding." Read More.

  • Nov. 02, 2023 | Cuba

    Churches Share Hand-Copied Bibles

    [206] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Bibles for Cuba.
    Printing Bibles is illegal in Cuba.

    In Cuba, Bibles are precious and sometimes scarce. Even when Bibles are available, they can cost a third of a worker's monthly income. But Christians in Cuba are hungry for God's Word and are finding creative solutions to the limited access. Read More.

  • Nov. 02, 2023 | Morocco

    Hope after the Earthquake

    [162] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Morocco.
    Moroccan homes destroyed by the September 8 earthquake.

    On September 8, 2023, a massive 6.8 earthquake rattled parts of Morocco, killing nearly 3,000 and affecting roughly 300,000. One Christian family lives near the epicenter of the quake and shared their experience. They were awoken around 11 p.m. and rushed outside as buildings around them shook and collapsed. "It was a dramatic experience," said the front-line worker. "We were on the street all night long as the village we had lived in for 20 years was destroyed." The worker reported that 1,000 people died in that village alone. Read More.

  • Nov. 02, 2023 | Korea, North

    Discipleship Program Encourages Outreach

    [149] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Discipleship Program.
    Christian defectors take mission trips to meet other North Korean defectors in various parts of South Korea.

    Students in a discipleship training program for North Korean defectors spend a large portion of the training doing hands-on ministry in areas known to have large communities of other North Korean defectors. Pray for these students as they focus their strategy on Christian discipleship, evangelism, Bible study and helping students engage in life-changing connection with the church. Due to various factors, some of these students are not always able to finish the program, but several former students have shown interest in returning. Read More.

  • Oct. 26, 2023 | Laos

    Widowed Christian Threatened with Loss of Home

    [225] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for La.
    Sister La's home is at risk.

    La and her husband became Christians while seeking a cure for his illness. Though he died three months later, they remained faithful due to the love and care they received from their brothers and sisters in Christ. In 2020, her daughter married a non-believer, and her son-in-law moved into her house. He practices animism, making offerings to spirits and trying to force his mother-in-law to do the same. He threw away La's Bible and tries to keep her from practicing her Christian faith. Read More.

  • Oct. 26, 2023 | Benin

    Christian Teenager Attacked by Father

    [167] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Urbi.
    Some young women in Benin

    During a fall 2022 revival meeting in her village, 19-year-old Urbi Izegbe committed her life to Christ. Her family was not happy with her decision and responded by insulting her, threatening her and even withholding food from her. Her father also forbade her from attending church. But Urbi decided that her relationship with Christ was the most important thing in her life, so she continued participating in church services and activities. On August 11, 2023, when she returned home from a church meeting, her father attacked her and tried to kill her using a broken bottle as a weapon. Read More.

  • Oct. 26, 2023 | Iraq

    Christian Student Murdered by Former Friends

    [159] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Christians in Iraq.
    A mosque in Iraq

    One day in May 2023, an Iraqi pastor answered his phone, not knowing it would be the last call he would receive from a young Christian friend. On the line was a university student who had recently converted from Islam. Some of the student's former friends had arrived at his home, saying, "We know about your new faith. We are going to give you a chance to come back." The group told him he could claim not to believe in any god, but he could not remain a Christian. The assailants gave him 24 hours to recant, or they would kill him. Read More.

  • Oct. 19, 2023 | Israel

    Urgent Prayer Needed for Families, Churches of Gospel Workers

    [223] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Christians in Israel.
    Many have suffered since Hamas fighters launched attacks along the Israeli-Gaza border on Oct. 7, 2023.

    Christians in Israel (including the West Bank and Gaza) have requested prayer amid ongoing conflict that began on Oct. 7 when Hamas fighters launched attacks along the Israeli-Gaza border. A church in one of the communities infiltrated in the initial coordinated attack asks for prayer as they seek to share the love of Christ and meet the needs of their community. Another church located in a major city struggles to meet the needs of their community as an unofficial blockade has restricted daily goods such as food and fuel. Read More.

  • Oct. 19, 2023 | Jordan

    Syrian Christian Refugees Fear Return

    [155] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Syrian Christians.

    Since the 2011 outbreak of civil war in Syria, hundreds of thousands have fled to neighboring countries, including Jordan. Many refugees have had the opportunity to hear the gospel during their displacement, and a significant number of Syrians have become followers of Christ through the witness of Jordanian Christians. Some Syrian refugees now worry that the government of Jordan is planning to force them to return to Syria. "I could be killed at the border," said one Syrian Christian. Read More.

  • Oct. 19, 2023 | Burkina Faso

    Fulani Believer Killed in Islamist Attack

    [156] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Christians in Burkina Faso.
    Amadou

    Amadou Kabore was born into the Muslim Fulani tribe in Burkina Faso. In 2021, he watched the JESUS film and placed his trust in Christ. His decision to follow Christ enraged his father and brothers, and they beat Amadou severely. Amadou fled to the nearby nation of Togo for safety. Front-line workers helped him secure housing and enroll in a vocational training program in his new country. Read More.

  • Oct. 12, 2023 | Laos

    Christian's Land, Livelihood at Stake

    [205] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Khamphone.
    Khamphone with his family

    Before Khamphone became a Christian, he was a respected fortuneteller. He often helped villagers, including village elders and police officers, by consulting the spirits, and for this he was rewarded with a piece of land to farm. He hired 20 workers to help him prepare the land for rice season. In December 2022, Khamphone became a Christian. When this was discovered, the village leader told him he must recant his faith in Christ or lose his land. Read More.

  • Oct. 12, 2023 | India

    Christian Girl Dies After Intentional Crash

    [165] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Prakash and family.

    Lavanya's whole family came to faith in Christ after she was miraculously healed from paralysis and other disabilities she had struggled with since birth. She loved to travel with her father, Prakash, when he would share the gospel with others. Prakash was warned by Hindu radicals to stop his evangelistic outreach. On Jan. 16, 2023, while Prakash and Lavanya were traveling home via bike from a neighboring village, some who had threatened Prakash followed them in a vehicle and caused the bike to crash, seriously injuring father and daughter. Read More.

  • Oct. 12, 2023 | Morocco

    Moroccan Church Leader Regularly Interrogated

    [150] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Christian in Morocco.
    An isolated street in Morocco

    A Christian in Morocco is experiencing regular pressure and intimidation by police authorities. "His moves are constantly monitored, and he is regularly questioned by police," a front-line worker shared. He is under gradual but increasing pressure from officials, and the continual surveillance and interrogations have negatively impacted his health. Read More.

  • Oct. 05, 2023 | Kenya

    Muslims Stone Church, Pastor's Home

    [207] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Pastor Matthew.
    Pastor Matthew and his family

    Pastor Matthew leads a small church in northern Kenya. Every Sunday as he preaches, Muslims from the surrounding neighborhood pummel the church with rocks. They occasionally throw stones at the home where he, his wife and their four children live. Their family and other Christians in the town are regularly discriminated against, especially at funerals, which are usually communal events. Pastor Matthew recalled attending a funeral where he was served a meal and sat down to eat with a group of men. Read More.

  • Oct. 05, 2023 | Eritrea

    Former Prisoner Grateful for Prayers

    [162] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Joseph.

    A Christian imprisoned in Eritrea several times for his faith expressed gratitude to the global body of Christ for their ongoing support in prayer: "You have been praying for us, and I want to thank you," Joseph said. He also shared how communism is Eritrea's most significant challenge and that its president, who trained in China, launched a brutal crackdown on the Christian community in 2004, closing most churches and arresting many Christian leaders. Those imprisoned without trial are held in inhumane conditions, including metal shipping containers. Read More.

  • Oct. 05, 2023 | India

    Pastor and Elders Sentenced Under Anti-Conversion Law

    [154] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Pastor Jawahar.
    Pastor Jawahar and his wife

    On Dec. 26, 2021, Pastor Jawahar was in his home in Madhya Pradesh state, talking with other members of the church, when Hindu fanatics - including police officers - entered, accusing these Christians of trying to convert Hindus by fraud. After interrogation and intimidation in the home, the police took Jawahar and two elders to the police station and charged them with coerced conversion under the state's so-called "Freedom of Religion" law. Pastor Jawahar was jailed for 45 days without due legal process. Read More.

  • Sep. 28, 2023 | Togo

    New Believer Attacked by Sorcerers

    [253] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Abraham.
    Abraham was assaulted by sorcerers for his decision to follow Christ.

    A young Christian in Togo was severely beaten recently by local sorcerers who were angry that he had become a follower of Christ. Abraham, who lives in a village where sorcery and human sacrifice are practiced, is currently hospitalized for wounds he suffered in the attack. Pray for his physical recovery as well as his healing from mental and emotional trauma. Read More.

  • Sep. 28, 2023 | Nepal

    Hindus Harass Christians in Remote Village

    [155] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Pastor Amrit.

    Local Hindus vandalized a church in an isolated area of Nepal recently and threatened its pastor, but the church continues to meet for worship and fellowship. When a group of Hindus busted the church's windows with rocks in the middle of the night, the pastor, Amrit Mahara, began sleeping in the church to protect it from further damage. A short time later, the Hindus interrupted a worship service to demand that the church stop meeting. Read More.

  • Sep. 28, 2023 | Jordan

    Christian Woman Beaten by Muslim Husband

    [179] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Ghazal.
    Christians in Jordan sometimes face violent persecution from their families because of their faith.

    After a woman in Jordan became a Christian, her Muslim husband began to beat her frequently. Ghazal, who left Islam to follow Christ, was beaten so severely recently that she had to be hospitalized. "He knocked her front teeth out," a front-line worker said, "yet she is holding fast to her faith." Read More.

  • Sep. 21, 2023 | Burkina Faso

    Christian Widow Threatened by Animist Family

    [216] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Femke.
    Children in Burkina Faso often work with their widowed mothers crushing rocks.

    Femke was married to a village witch doctor for 33 years and was terrorized by demons. The spirits would drive her mad and tell her information her husband would use in his fortune-telling. When he died suddenly, she sought spiritual freedom. A pastor prayed for her, and she was healed of all demonic oppression. Read More.

  • Sep. 21, 2023 | Laos

    Christian Teens Resist Family Persecution

    [189] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Ton and Tan.
    Ton and Tan

    Ton, 18, and Tan, 16, are teenage sisters who became Christians and have been harassed repeatedly for this decision. Recently, their mother said that she will sell her daughters to any men who make an offer. Their older sister has also begun trying to bribe them into a life of prostitution with offers of phones and jewelry. The mother pressures the girls to prostitute themselves and regularly mocks their faith. Read More.

  • Sep. 21, 2023 | India

    Young Man Stands Firm in Faith Amid Ongoing Pressure

    [170] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Ajay.
    Christians in India remain firm in faith amid ongoing pressure from their communities.

    Ajay, 24, has been pressured by his community and the police to return to Hinduism. The police arrested him and brought a false charge against him in an attempt to make him recant his faith. He was jailed for 9 days. Despite the ongoing pressure, Ajay has persevered in his faith. Read More.

  • Sep. 14, 2023 | Nepal

    Attack by Hindu Radicals Broadcast on Social Media

    [218] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Shiva and Kamleshor.
    Members of a threatened church continue to fellowship together.

    Shiva and Kamleshor are leaders of a group of 20 Christians who have been meeting for fellowship in a Maithili-speaking region of Nepal. On June 24, a group of more than 40 Hindu radicals surrounded the home where they were meeting to threaten and mock them, live-streaming their abusive actions on social media for three hours. These brothers were discouraged but thankful for the body of Christ remembering them in prayer. Read More.

  • Sep. 14, 2023 | Morocco

    Lack of Access to Bibles Limiting Discipleship

    [159] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Moroccans.
    Nearly all Moroccans are Sunni Muslims, and Christian converts face opposition from their communities as well as the government.

    Only a fraction of 1 percent of the population of Morocco are Christians, and lack of access to Bibles limits the growth of Christian communities. "Believers and seekers in this country face a shortage of physical Bibles and are usually obligated to interact with God's Word in an online or digital format, which is not accessible for everyone," a front-line worker said. Additionally, new followers of Christ are often threatened by family members, discriminated against by landlords, and forced to relocate unexpectedly. Read More.

  • Sep. 14, 2023 | Mexico

    Pastor Continues Evangelism in Face of Opposition

    [158] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Pastor Filadelfo.
    Pastor Filadelfo led this sister (far left) to Christ after praying for her to be healed.

    Pastor Filadelfo, a former drug trafficker who is now an evangelist, has been jailed repeatedly for his gospel witness and was kicked out of his village for refusing to renounce Christ and return to the traditional religious practices of the village. Because of the prayers and support he has received through VOM, Filadelfo is able to continue to share the gospel in Southern Mexico, praying for the sick and providing Bibles to believers who don't have one. Read More.

  • Sep. 07, 2023 | Ethiopia

    Former Muslim Sheikh Sells Pineapples for Christ

    [189] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Abdu.
    Abdu uses his job as a pineapple seller to tell others about Christ.

    Abdu grew up wanting to be an Islamic scholar, so he attended schools focusing solely on the Quran. After studying the Quran for 15 years, he became an Islamic teacher. But in 2022, he met an old friend who had become a follower of Christ. The friend shared the gospel with Abdu on numerous occasions, and Abdu began to question his beliefs. Eventually, Abdu put his faith in Christ. His enthusiasm for teaching the Quran waned, and local Islamic leaders noticed. Read More.

  • Sep. 07, 2023 | India

    Faithful Father and Daughter Stand Alone

    [158] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Drithi.
    Drithi and her father remained firm in their commitment to Christ amid opposition from Hindu radicals.

    On November 25, 2022, Drithi was worshipping with about 25 other believers when the service was interrupted by a group demanding that the congregation members return to Hinduism. Many of the believers were beaten, including Drithi and her father. Because of this event, 14 of the families returned to Hinduism, leaving Drithi and her father as the only believers. Read More.

  • Sep. 07, 2023 | Turkey

    Congregation Seeks Approval to Establish Place of Worship

    [137] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Place of Worship.
    Christians in Turkiye hope to renovate this building.

    Christians in eastern Turkiye are often isolated with limited opportunities to fellowship openly with other followers of Christ. But a small Protestant church in eastern Turkiye, in an area close to the Syrian border populated mainly by Kurds and some Syrians and Iranians, has developed a good relationship with a long-standing Orthodox church. Its leaders are willing to allow the young church to repurpose one of their dilapidated buildings, but doing so will require the approval of local officials. Read More.

  • Aug. 31, 2023 | Pakistan

    Faisalabad Mob Targets Christians, Churches

    [192] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Pakistan Christians.
    Muslim extremists damaged or destroyed 25 churches during a recent riot in Pakistan.

    On Aug. 16, a mob of 5,000 Muslim extremists rampaged through Jaranwala, a city in the Faisalabad district, reacting to allegations that two young Christian men had desecrated a copy of the Quran and insulted the prophet Muhammad. Rioters attacked Christian neighborhoods and churches throughout the city. The mob burned or severely damaged 25 churches and 89 homes; hundreds of Christians fled either because their homes and belongings were destroyed or in fear of further attacks. The mob dispersed hours later only after the government dispatched police and soldiers into the area. Read More.

  • Aug. 31, 2023 | Iran

    Many Place Their Faith in Christ Amid Unrest

    [148] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for New Christians.
    Many Iranians are learning the truth about Christ through Christian satellite television broadcasts.

    A young woman killed in September 2022 while in the custody of the Iranian religious police led to a spontaneous uprising. "Iranian women wanted their dignity back," a front-line worker said. In Iran, girls as young as nine can be given in marriage, and a woman's testimony in court is worth only half a man's. Front-line workers report that the young woman's death has caused many Iranians to continue to grow disillusioned with their repressive Islamic government and search for truth elsewhere. Read More.

  • Aug. 31, 2023 | Cameroon

    Elder Christian Murdered in His Sleep

    [155] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Cameroonian Christians.

    On July 10, militants from the Islamist group Boko Haram snuck into the home of a 75-year-old Christian and killed him in his sleep. This brother is described as a businessman and an active, faithful member of his local church. His family believes that the militants entered the home around 1:00 a.m. and slit his throat. Read More.

  • Aug. 24, 2023 | Mali

    New Christian Family Pressured to Leave Village

    [215] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Kalifa.
    A Baptism in Mali

    Kalifa and his family were all Muslims living in a Muslim village. But then, Kalifa placed his trust in Christ during an evangelistic outreach earlier this year, becoming the first Christian in his village. When others in Kalifa's Muslim community learned about his newfound faith in Christ, they began to persecute him and his family with verbal insults and physical attacks. Read More.

  • Aug. 24, 2023 | Bhutan

    Bible for New Believer Transforms Family

    [149] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Pema Ongma.
    Reading the Bible transformed Pema Ongmo's family.

    Pema Ongmo, 27, was raised in an animist family and had never heard about Christ until a friend shared the gospel and invited her to church. Her father, a village leader, found out and forbade her to read the Bible the pastor had given her. But she started reading the Bible secretly and began to follow Christ. Her mother became ill, and her father spent all the family's resources looking for a cure. Pema told her father that the Jesus she read about in the Bible healed many people. Read More.

  • Aug. 24, 2023 | Iran

    Mass Arrests of Christians

    [171] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Iranian Christians.

    Nearly 60 Iranian Christians were swept up in a sudden wave of arrests across the country in mid-July, crippling ministry work. "Most ministries have stopped their activities," said a front-line worker. His comments follow reports of three Christians arrested in Tehran on May 9, 2023. Agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Court arrived that morning with search warrants and confiscated mobile phones, laptops, books and pamphlets. Read More.

  • Aug. 17, 2023 | Mexico

    Church Planters Face Unrelenting Pressure

    [229] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Mateo and Elena.
    Mateo, Elena, and their two daughters have endured attacks against their health, safety and livelihood because of their gospel work.

    Mateo and Elena are church planters advancing God's kingdom in Central Mexico. Elena was diagnosed with a rare brain aneurysm that required surgery. However, in the most recent round of tests, the doctors found that the aneurysm had been healed. One even called it a miracle from God. Still, Elena and Mateo continue to face enormous pressure to stop their gospel outreach, including threatening phone calls, an unexplained fire in their house, and spiritual attacks on Elena and their two young daughters. Read More.

  • Aug. 17, 2023 | Ethiopia

    Church Attacked by Militants

    [158] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Church Attacked.
    A church member's car was destroyed.

    On Sunday, April 3, 2022, militants from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church attacked a Protestant church in western Ethiopia, the second time in less than a month a Protestant church in that area had been attacked. The attackers injured many Christians and burned buildings. One church leader said, "We were hurt because of our faith in Jesus Christ. We are ready to accept any trial and persecution that comes to us because of our faith." VOM helped this congregation rebuild as they continue to witness for Christ in their community. Read More.

  • Aug. 17, 2023 | Bangladesh

    Evangelist Beaten for Testimony at Rally

    [167] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Juhel.

    During an Islamist gathering denouncing Christianity and encouraging anti-Christian activity, Juhel stood up and shared his testimony about his faith in Christ. Some in the crowd listened with interest because of his reasonable and gentle approach, while others expressed opposition and anger. Some in the group invited Juhel to speak again in the mosque, planning to attack him there. When he turned them down, they planned an ambush instead. Read More.

  • Aug. 10, 2023 | China

    Elderly Evangelist Plants Seeds in Restricted Minority

    [206] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Elderly Evangelist.
    Evangelists in China must traverse remote and difficult terrain to share the Good News about Christ.

    Pray for one Christian woman who has been instrumental in sharing the gospel with a highly restricted minority group. Though she has never received formal training, and despite the physical demands on her frail body, she has been a faithful witness to advance God's kingdom to this people group. Read More.

  • Aug. 10, 2023 | Colombia

    "Red Zone" Pastors Out of Contact

    [150] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Christian Brothers and Sisters.
    Ministry in Colombia's "red zones" is dangerous and difficult.

    A front-line worker in Colombia reported that he has lost contact with several pastors in the Sucre area in recent months. The state of Sucre is one of Colombia's "red zones," where Marxist guerrillas and paramilitaries exercise violent control over large areas. These groups have recently imposed new restrictions against Christians and churches. Read More.

  • Aug. 10, 2023 | Benin

    BENIN - Pastor's Wife Killed by Islamists

    [165] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Pastor Amadin.
    Typical homes in Benin

    Pastor Amadin leads a church in a Muslim community in northern Benin. Three Islamic extremists visited his house while he was away and his children were in school. The men attacked his wife with acid, pouring it into her eyes and forcing her to drink it. When neighbors heard her screaming, they rushed to the house, and the attackers fled. Read More.

  • Aug. 03, 2023 | Bangladesh

    Woman Finds Freedom After Traumatic Attack

    [199] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Raissa.
    Raissa had been unable to go into the village without being reminded of the attack.

    When Raissa was a teen, she was kidnapped and raped by a group of Muslim men who wanted to punish her father, a Christian pastor. For years, Raissa felt trapped in her home, unable to leave without being taunted, threatened and retraumatized by her attackers, who had faced no consequences. Raissa asked for help relocating to a larger city where she could be free of her attackers and pursue education and a career. Read More.

  • Aug. 03, 2023 | Korea, North

    Defectors Experience God's Word Through Dance Therapy

    [136] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Dance Therapy Class.

    North Korean defectors in South Korea are participating in a dance therapy class focused on the Bible to know the word of God and guide them in overcoming trauma. One student looking for a place to learn about traditional Korean dance discovered this dance therapy group, and she is now learning about a personal relationship with Christ through it. Read More.

  • Aug. 03, 2023 | Uganda

    Students Killed by Islamists in Attack on Ugandan School

    [156] prayers in [7] nations have been posted for Boarding School.

    On Friday, June 16, shortly before midnight, Islamic militants believed to be part of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked a boarding school in the western Ugandan town of Mpondwe, located on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The militants killed 37 students with machetes and through arson of dormitories. They also killed four adults and abducted six students, forcing them across the border into the DRC where the ADF is based. Read More.

  • Jul. 27, 2023 | Pakistan

    Protests Threaten Christians Across the Country

    [198] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Haroon Shahzad.
    Anti-Christian rallies and processions continue throughout Pakistan in protest of a Quran burning.

    After a June 28 incident in Sweden in which pages from the Quran were publicly burned, protests have swept across Pakistan. The prime minister urged the organization of large rallies and convened a joint parliamentary session on July 7 to protest the burning. During these rallies, angry protesters desecrated crosses and insulted Christianity. Christians across the country are bracing for attacks. Read More.

  • Jul. 27, 2023 | Laos

    Teacher's Faithful Witness Leads to Job Loss

    [144] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Nyok.

    Nyok has taught for 14 years, serving the last six years as director of her village's elementary school. A jealous coworker cursed Nyok, and she began to experience pain. When she prayed to accept Christ, the pain disappeared. Word spread at school that she was a Christian, and Nyok was warned by her administrators, the district education director and the Ministry of Education that, because her job is a government position, she could not follow a "western" religion. Nyok shared her testimony and refused to renounce her faith in Christ. Read More.

  • Jul. 27, 2023 | Burkina Faso

    Pastor Murdered by Islamist Extremists

    [147] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Pastor Hamidou.
    A typical home in rural Burkina Faso

    Hamidou felt the call of God to spread the gospel. So he left the safety of his home in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, to take the gospel to the northern part of his nation. Though radical Islamists are active in that region, he moved there with his family and planted a church. Read More.

  • Jul. 20, 2023 | China

    Church Trains Pastor for Ministry to Restricted Minority

    [186] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Training for Pastors.
    China has more than 185 million Buddhists, including many minority groups that are considered restricted.

    An underground church in China has developed a discipleship relationship with a family from a highly restricted people group in a sensitive location. This family is part of a small fellowship of Christians that has suffered rejection and persecution within their community. As leaders of the church train the father to evangelize and pastor his people, pray for the security of this family as well as receptive hearts among their community, which has not had a strong Christian witness before now. Read More.

  • Jul. 20, 2023 | Libya

    Imprisoned Christians Could Face Death Penalty

    [163] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Imprisoned Christians.

    Front-line workers request prayer for eight Christians in Libya, including six Libyans and two foreigners, who have been imprisoned for their faith: "Please pray for these believers who have recently been imprisoned to stand firm in their faith as they endure persecution for the name of Christ." Read More.

  • Jul. 20, 2023 | Bangladesh

    Teen Finds Hope, Future in Christ

    [151] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Shebona.
    Many families in Bangladesh work from generation to generation on the same plantation.

    For generations, Shebona and her family have lived on and worked land for tea plantations. They age without dreams or aspirations, expecting to lead the same life as their parents and grandparents. But one girl who worked with Shebona on the plantation was different, more joyful; Shebona learned that she was a Christian. This girl shared some literature with Shebona and connected her to two front-line workers who led her to Christ. Read More.

  • Jul. 13, 2023 | Nepal

    Hindu Monks Experience Peace in Christ

    [237] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Pastor Amar.
    Hindus in Nepal are learning about Jesus through Bible distribution efforts.

    Pastor Amar Thapa reported that he received 25 Maithili language SD cards two months ago through one of VOM's projects. Six Hindu monks in one of the villages in the district where he was working watched a video from the SD cards and learned about Jesus Christ. Read More.

  • Jul. 13, 2023 | Morocco

    Leaders Seek Spirit of Unity Among Christian Communities

    [160] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Christians Seek Spirit of Unity.
    The large mosque in Casablanca, Morocco

    Morocco is ruled by a monarch who is purportedly a direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad and intends to govern the nation with Islamic principles. No church buildings exist in Morocco, and Bible distribution and missionary activity are not allowed in the country. Read More.

  • Jul. 13, 2023 | Eritrea

    Eritrean Christian Burials Delayed or Denied

    [156] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Pastor Tesfay.

    Pastor Tesfay Sium Yihdego died in early April at the age of 58 after serving ten years and two months in an Eritrean prison because he was a faithful Christian minister. He suffered from a brain tumor that developed while he was incarcerated. Prison officials decided to release him early after it became clear that he would not survive his condition. Read More.

  • Jul. 06, 2023 | Sudan

    Christians Killed, Ministries Damaged by Warring Factions

    [208] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Sudanese Christians.
    A church in Khartoum set on fire during recent fighting.

    Dozens of people have been killed and hundreds wounded in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, since gun battles erupted in April between two heavily armed groups vying to control the country. From 1989 to 2018, Sudan was ruled by radical Islamic dictator Omar al-Bashir, who sought to exterminate Christians and some ethnic African groups. Read More.

  • Jul. 06, 2023 | Nigeria

    Potential Political Instability, Islamists Pose Danger to Christians

    [171] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Danger to Christians.
    This child's parents were recently killed by militant Fulani Muslims.

    A new Nigerian president was inaugurated in May, despite rivals claiming that the presidential election was marred with irregularities. Amid the political instability, Christians continue to be attacked, kidnapped and killed in various parts of the country. Read More.

  • Jul. 06, 2023 | Korea, North

    Camp Ministers to Young North Korean Defectors

    [156] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Camp Ministry.

    For many North Korean defectors who successfully reach South Korea, adjusting to life outside the strict control of the North Korean regime can be difficult and overwhelming. According to one North Korean Christian who is ministering to defectors, such difficulty leads many defectors to succumb to hopelessness and materialism. Read More.

  • Jun. 29, 2023 | China

    Mayflower Church Members Granted Asylum

    [199] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Mayflower Church.
    Prohibitions against raising their children in the Christian faith was a motivating factor for the Mayflower Church in the decision to leave China.

    After more than three years of seeking refugee status, the 63 members of Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church, commonly referred to as the Mayflower Church, were granted asylum and arrived in the U.S. on April 7. Pastor Pan Yongguang led his congregation to South Korea in late 2019 to escape the harsh persecution they experienced at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Read More.

  • Jun. 29, 2023 | Burkina Faso

    Pastor Abducted

    [169] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Pastor Laurent.
    One of the hundreds of churches in Burkina Faso recently destroyed by Islamic militants.

    In February 2023, jihadists burned and destroyed Pastor Laurent's church in eastern Burkina Faso. Then, in March 2023, jihadists abducted Pastor Laurent when he traveled to attend a regional pastors' meeting. As the kidnappers forced him into the bush, he sent one text to his family, who haven't heard from him since. Read More.

  • Jun. 29, 2023 | Bhutan

    JESUS Film Project Extends to Unreached in Bhutan

    [141] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Jesus Film Project.
    Buddhist prayer flags fly over a city in Bhutan.

    In the kingdom of Bhutan, only a small minority - about 25,000 people - are Christians, and only about a quarter of the country's 20 provinces have any local churches. Nidup and some fellow pastors have launched the Love Bhutan Initiative, sending Bhutanese Christians as missionaries into the parts of Bhutan least reached with the gospel. Read More.

  • Jun. 22, 2023 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the

    Christian Child Burned, Orphaned in Attack

    [242] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Christian Child Burned.
    A missions plane flies over eastern DRC

    Militant rebel groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) occasionally raid villages, burn buildings, and murder residents. Eight-year-old Divine is one of their victims. In June 2022, rebels entered her village and burned several churches and homes. Read More.

  • Jun. 22, 2023 | Bhutan

    Brother Loses ID and Work, Keeps Gospel Focus

    [146] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Brother Karna.

    Because Brother Karna is a Christian, the government of Bhutan refuses to issue him a citizenship ID, without which he is unable to find a job. He reported that authorities often confiscate the crops of Christians who do not have IDs, knowing that these Christians do not have a legal way to protest this treatment. Read More.

  • Jun. 22, 2023 | Arabian Peninsula

    Convert to Christ Attacked, Brought to Court

    [165] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Bassam.
    Women walk through a market in Bahrain

    When Bassam committed his life to Christ, it enraged his Muslim wife. She couldn't believe he had changed his religious beliefs as their country of residence is less than 1% Christian. She immediately kicked him out of the home and sent family members to attack him; they beat him and burned his car. Read More.

  • Jun. 15, 2023 | Bhutan

    Outreach to Children Reaching New Generation

    [195] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Children's Bible Clubs.
    Children in Bhutan are hearing the gospel and coming to faith through children's Bible clubs

    Though evangelism is restricted in the isolated, majority-Buddhist country of Bhutan and believers face serious consequences when their faith is known, Christians continue to boldly share Christ. Front-line workers in Bhutan report that many children's programs impact churches throughout Bhutan. Read More.

  • Jun. 15, 2023 | Togo

    Islamists Threaten to Kidnap Pastor a Second Time

    [159] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Pastor Kidnapped.
    A home in a rural village in Togo

    Several years ago, a group of militant Fulani Muslims based in Burkina Faso crossed the border into neighboring Togo, raided numerous villages, and kidnapped a pastor. Read More.

  • Jun. 15, 2023 | Korea, North

    Young Christian Missing for 14 Years in Prison Camp

    [180] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Kyung Jae Kim.
    This is the last photo of Kyung Jae Kim before his arrest and disappearance in September 2008.

    In September 2008, one day before 19-year-old Kyung Jae Kim planned to escape from North Korea, security forces raided his home and arrested him. The raid was part of an operation to gather Christians who had been carrying the gospel secretly into North Korea for many years. Read More.

  • Jun. 08, 2023 | Burkina Faso

    Village Attacked Second Time

    [232] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Burikina Faso believers.

    In April 2020, 13 churches in southern Burkina Faso were attacked and severely damaged or destroyed by followers of traditional religions. Many of the communities, including the village of Obire, have been planning to rebuild. On February 27, 2023, armed bandits attacked Obire again, killing three people. Read More.

  • Jun. 08, 2023 | India

    Unrest in Manipur Exposes Christians to Attacks

    [153] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Christians in Manipur.

    The Indian state of Manipur is experiencing mass protests and fighting among indigenous tribal groups and ethnic Meiteis. The government is considering granting Meitei people the same government benefits as the tribal groups, which has led to widespread demonstrations and fighting. Read More.

  • Jun. 08, 2023 | Laos

    Believers Detained by Village Leaders

    [165] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Village leaders in Laos.
    Tribal communities in Laos often pressure Christians to return to spirit worship.

    On Feb. 13, 2023, village authorities gathered a group of 21 Christians from a minority tribal group in Laos, detaining them at the district meeting hall. The head of the village called them traitors for believing in a religion that does not belong to their ancestors and demanded they renounce their faith in Christ. Read More.

  • Jun. 01, 2023 | Bhutan

    Christian Workers Deprived of Citizenship

    [145] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Pastor Nidup, Pastor Deki and Ratno.

    In the kingdom of Bhutan, where Buddhism is regarded as the only acceptable religion, Christians are often refused citizenship cards and other official documents needed for employment, education and most necessities. Pastor Deki and her son, Ratno, have been denied citizenship cards because of their Christian work. Read More.

  • Jun. 01, 2023 | Ethiopia

    Increasing Access to Bibles in Native Languages

    [153] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Ethiopians without Bibles.
    Amharic Bibles ready for distribution

    Though Ethiopia is a majority-Christian nation, many Ethiopians lack access to Bibles in their native languages. VOM is working with front-line ministers to give Bibles to every Ethiopian Christian, including Bibles in native languages such as Amharic, Omoro and Tigrinya. Read More.

  • May. 25, 2023 | Mexico

    Church Planting in the "Circle of Silence"

    [239] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Aaron.
    Aaron is a front-line worker in a region of central Mexico where there is little gospel witness for Christ.

    Aaron is one of many church planters advancing God's kingdom in the "Circle of Silence," an eight-state region in central Mexico of nearly 23 million people with less than 1% evangelical witness for Christ. There is a strong culture of Christo-paganism, which is a syncretistic blend of ancient pagan practices and Roman Catholicism, and front-line workers like Aaron are often opposed by those hostile to the gospel. Read More.

  • May. 25, 2023 | Algeria

    Churches Closed, Pastors Facing Increasing Pressure

    [166] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for imprisoned pastor.
    Algerian officials close a church in 2019.

    Christians in Algeria report suffering from a systematic campaign of government persecution. Since the end of 2017, the government has reportedly closed 30 of the 47 Protestant churches in the country. Read More.

  • May. 25, 2023 | Afghanistan

    Front-Line Worker Requests Prayer for Christians, Taliban

    [166] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for isolated Christians.
    Pray for those living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Photo Credit: World Watch Monitor

    Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, life for Christians is difficult. Most Afghan Christians fled, but some remained. "It is very challenging for the normal Afghan and very, very hard for Christians," a front-line worker shared. "Persecution has escalated from the government, local religious authorities, family, and community, and it is still escalating." Read More.

  • May. 18, 2023 | Laos

    Christian Threatened by Village Leaders

    [208] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Kham.
    Christian brothers meet with Kham to encourage and pray for him.

    When Kham, a Khmu believer in Laos, planned a thanksgiving celebration for the new year, community elders confronted him and gave him an ultimatum: They forbade him from worshiping the Christian God and demanded that he cancel the celebration. Read More.

  • May. 18, 2023 | Ethiopia

    Church Building Destroyed

    [165] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Bokore Full Gospel church members.
    The remains of the Bokore Full Gospel Church

    In September 2022, Muslim extremists attacked the Bokore Full Gospel church in southeastern Ethiopia. Islamists set it on fire, destroying the building and everything inside; fortunately, no church members were hurt during the attack. Read More.

  • May. 18, 2023 | India

    Father and Young Daughter Injured in Hit-and-Run

    [170] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Prakash and Lavanya.
    Prakash and Lavanya were forced to crash by a three-wheeled vehicle.

    Prakash, Sangeetha and their daughters, Lavanya (8) and Shalini (5), belong to a Hindu community in Karnataka State, India. Lavanya was born with severe disabilities, including paralysis, and no medical treatments helped. The family met a Christian pastor who shared the gospel with them and prayed for the child. Lavanya began to recover and was eventually able to walk; then, the whole family came to Christ. Read More.

  • May. 11, 2023 | India

    Christian Family Rejected by Village

    [227] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Hema, Chanda, and Manish.
    Christians in India often lose access to community resources, such as water and communal pastures for livestock.

    In the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh State, India, Christians face increasing pressure and violence for following Christ. Hema; her 16-year-old daughter, Chanda; and her 13-year-old son, Manish, are the only believers in their village since coming to faith in Christ two years ago. Village neighbors repeatedly tried to force them to reconvert to Hinduism, but they remained strong in the Lord, so the village excommunicated them. Read More.

  • May. 11, 2023 | Ghana

    Young Man Disowned for Becoming a Christian

    [185] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Noah.
    Noah

    Ghana is a majority-Christian nation, but animistic beliefs are practiced in some areas. As a boy, Noah was chosen by his father to take over as the family's shaman, responsible for carrying out occult rituals upon his father's death. Through the witness of Christian friends, Noah gave his life to Christ. Read More.

  • May. 11, 2023 | Turkey

    Greater Interest in God's Word Amid Earthquake Tragedy

    [154] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Earthquake survivors requesting Bibles.
    Local Turkish Christians Operating a Makeshift Kitchen for Earthquake Survivors and Emergency Workers

    Within days of the Feb. 6 earthquake that devastated eastern Turkiye, Turkish Christians rushed from other parts of the country to help. "One church group used their hands to dig people out of the rubble," a front-line worker said. Others set up emergency kitchens and shelters. Read More.

  • May. 04, 2023 | Mexico

    Front-line Workers Warned to Stop Evangelizing

    [230] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Mateo and Elena.
    Mateo, Elena, and their two daughters have been threatened for their faithful witness for Christ.

    Mateo and Elena are church planters in Central Mexico. Their town is in a region known as the "Circle of Silence," where Christians are routinely opposed by those who follow a syncretistic blend of Catholicism, animism and the occult. The couple has experienced hostility from their community because of their witness for Christ. Read More.

  • May. 04, 2023 | Laos

    Four Families Pressured by Authorities

    [156] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Christians cut off from resources.

    Four Christian families in one village in the Luang Prabang area of Laos have experienced increasing persecution since placing their faith in Christ in 2021. Village leaders have mocked them, threatened to lock them into their homes, and cut them off from community resources and government aid if they do not renounce Christ. Read More.

  • May. 04, 2023 | Sri Lanka

    Family Land Confiscated for Buddhist Temple

    [159] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Pastor Priyantha and Dinesha.
    A Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka

    Pastor Priyantha and his wife, Dinesha, planted a church in Sri Lanka in 2016. They faced severe opposition from Buddhist monks, villagers, government officers and the police. Read More.

  • Apr. 27, 2023 | Burkina Faso

    Couple Receives Replacement Bible After Attack

    [204] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Displaced Christians.
    Christians in Burkina Faso receiving their new Bibles

    Christians have been a primary target of Islamists in Burkina Faso since April 2019 when approximately 70 Christians were killed and five churches attacked. In 2022, Islamist activity increased in the southwestern part of the country, resulting in numerous destroyed churches and the murder of several pastors. Read More.

  • Apr. 27, 2023 | India

    Families Forced into Jungle as Homes Are Looted

    [153] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Evicted Christian families.
    Evicted Christian families prayed for their persecutors.

    In December 2022, seven Christian families in Chhattisgarh State, India, were twice summoned by the village council and warned to reconvert to Hinduism. Both times, the families refused to turn away from Christ. After the second meeting, villagers visited each family's home, first taking their household goods and then physically removing the believers from the village, warning them not to return. Read More.

  • Apr. 27, 2023 | Afghanistan

    Ministry Continues Amid Taliban Restrictions

    [161] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Christians ministering despite the Taliban.
    An Afghan man and boys

    On August 15, 2021, the Taliban, a radical Islamist military group, took control of Afghanistan. The impact on the small Afghan Christian community was immediate and severe. "It was just like in Acts, chapter 8: ‘On that day a great persecution broke out against the church and all but the apostles scattered," said a front-line worker. Read More.

  • Apr. 20, 2023 | Laos

    Churches Provide for "God's Daughter" in Need

    [232] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for Ya and her children.
    Construction begins on a new house.

    When Ya put her trust in Christ in 2019, her husband and his parents abused and rejected her, believing she would bring down the anger of the spirits. After Ya's husband divorced her. sending her and their three children away, she turned to her parents for help. Read More.

  • Apr. 20, 2023 | Nepal

    Wife of Threatened Evangelist Suffering After Trauma

    [182] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Jagat Wagle's wife.
    Jagat took refuge in the mountains of Nepal when his life was threatened.

    Jagat Wagle was transformed from a violent career criminal to a passionate evangelist when he encountered Jesus in the Bible given to him by a stranger in 1996. Since then, he completed Bible school, became a pastor and now shepherds more than 300 believers. Read More.

  • Apr. 20, 2023 | Iran

    Recently Released Prisoners Face Hardships

    [172] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Released prisoners.
    Saheb (Zaman) Fadaee was recently released from an Iranian prison.

    In February 2023, the Iranian government released thousands of long-held prisoners during a general pardon. Those released included several Christians imprisoned for practicing their faith. Read More.

  • Apr. 13, 2023 | Central African Republic

    Caring for Orphans Amid Civil War

    [233] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for orphan caretaker.
    Children at a CAR camp for Internally Displaced People

    Christians have suffered greatly from civil war in the Central African Republic (CAR) since 2012. They are targeted and attacked by Muslim rebels who accuse them of assisting militias that have carried out revenge killings against Muslims. They have been driven from their towns and villages as attackers loot and destroy their homes and churches, forcing tens of thousands into emergency camps for Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs). Read More.

  • Apr. 13, 2023 | India

    Christians Targeted by Hindu Mob

    [170] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Christians in Chhattisgarh State.

    Six Christian families in a village in Chhattisgarh State, India, have experienced community pressure from the time of their conversion. They were socially excluded, and the adults lost their jobs. On August 18, 2022, Hindu radicals disrupted their church service and took the Bibles of all the believers. Read More.

  • Apr. 13, 2023 | Vietnam

    Harassed, Imprisoned for Christ

    [175] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Imprisoned Christians.
    In Communist nations, even Christians involved with government-registered churches experience significant pressure.

    Three brothers in Christ and their families in southeast Asia have faced severe persecution from government authorities. The men are now serving prison terms for their faithfulness to Christ. Read More.

  • Apr. 06, 2023 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the

    Healing Through Trauma Ministry

    [232] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Rebecca.
    Rebecca at Bethesda

    In 2019, Rebecca, her husband, and their three children were kidnapped by rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She managed to escape with her youngest child, but her husband and older children haven't been seen since. Read More.

  • Apr. 06, 2023 | Laos

    Evangelist Fearlessly Faces Police

    [170] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Kam.
    Kam is a faithful witness for Christ, even faced with threats and curses.

    When Kam was told in January 2023 by a police officer to stop following Christ and evangelizing, he boldly responded that he would not stop believing in Christ, no matter what happened, and that nothing could stop the work of God. Read More.

  • Apr. 06, 2023 | Nepal

    Saved from Fear, Rejected by Family

    [168] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Deepa and Surya.
    Deepa with her son

    Deepa and her husband, Surya, were overwhelmed with fear when witch doctors predicted an early, unnatural death for Surya. When Deepa confessed her fear to her brother, a Christian, he shared the gospel and led Deepa and Surya to place their trust in Christ. Deepa and Surya shared a house with Surya's parents and grandparents, who were devout Hindus. Read More.

  • Mar. 30, 2023 | Laos

    Livestock Slaughtered After Christian Remains Faithful

    [225] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Jai and Tai.
    Jai and his wife, Tai, lost all of their livestock for refusing to deny Christ.

    In 2019, 80 people in 13 Christian families lived in Jai's village in Laos. As one of the village leaders, Jai knew that these Christians were facing persecution from village authorities and the police. But Jai's parents were believers and urged him to consider Christianity. Read More.

  • Mar. 30, 2023 | Central African Republic

    Thousands Traumatized in the CAR

    [161] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Traumatized Christians.
    A pastor's destroyed home

    A vicious civil war in the Central African Republic (CAR), fought among multiple political factions, including some extremist Muslim groups, has forced more than half a million people to flee their homes. Many of the displaced are Christians who live in camps for Internally Displaced People (IDPs). Read More.

  • Mar. 30, 2023 | India

    India's Bastar Region Sees Surge in Anti-Christian Violence

    [157] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Christians facing increased violence.
    Recent anti-Christian rioting in Bastar has led to the destruction of churches and homes.

    Over the last several months, hundreds of Christian brothers and sisters in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh State, India, have been forced to leave their villages because of their faith. Read More.

  • Mar. 24, 2023 | Benin

    Pastor's Leg Broken by Voodooists

    [250] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Pastor Michel.
    Pastor Michel with his crutch

    Pastor Michel leads a small church in northern Benin. In September 2021, around 60 Voodooists who live in his village arrived at the church during a service. The occultists broke down the church door and smashed its windows. They then ordered the Christians to stop worshiping and praying. Read More.

  • Mar. 24, 2023 | Pakistan

    Christian Artist Seeks Asylum Following Attack

    [167] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Pious.
    Christian converts in Pakistan face severe repercussions for leaving the Islamic faith.

    Pious is an artist with a Muslim background who trusted in Christ about five years ago. As a result of his faith in Christ, he lost his job and faced much pressure from his family. In April 2021, attackers kidnapped, chained and beat him before cutting his throat. Read More.

  • Mar. 24, 2023 | Iran

    Illegal Bibles Change Lives in Iran

    [162] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for those receiving Bibles.
    Delivering Bibles in Iran, one at a time

    Owning, printing, importing or distributing Bibles in Iran is illegal. Since they are so difficult to obtain, Bibles are treasured by Iranian believers, and few have their own copy of God's Word. Despite the prohibitions and scarcity, Christians in Iran are working on placing copies of God's Word into people's hands. Read More.