Jul. 23, 2026 | Burkina Faso

Islamists Kill 21 Christians, Including Pastor

[18] prayers in [2] nations have been posted for Burkinabe Christians.
Burkinabe Christians, like these being baptized, are regularly threatened by Islamists in many areas of the country.
Burkinabe Christians, like these being baptized, are regularly threatened by Islamists in many areas of the country.

Villagers from the town of Kokoana, in far western Burkina Faso near Mali, request prayer after Islamists killed 21 people in an attack on May 11, 2026, in which Christian leaders were deliberately targeted. "The terrorists went to the home of Pastor Etienne Keïta and murdered him in front of his family," said a front-line worker. "They then proceeded to two neighboring Christian households and killed the heads of those families as well." Read More.

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Police and security forces raided a church gathering in Sichuan Province, China, on June 14.
Jul. 23, 2026 | China

Early Rain Church Targeted in Fresh Raid

On Sunday, June 14, 2026, local authorities halted worship services at Early Rain Covenant Church and arrested church leaders, members and several children in Jiangyou City, Sichuan Province, southwestern China. About 70 government personnel stormed the conference room where members were meeting and forcibly took control of the gathering, detaining 33 believers for hours and pressuring them to sign what was described as a "guarantee letter" to stop them worshiping. Two church elders, Wu Wuqing and Yan Hong, were sentenced to two weeks of administrative detention. Read More.

The kidnapped 16-year-old in this photo is now safely back with her family.
Jul. 23, 2026 | Pakistan

Christian Girl Freed from Captivity

An abducted Christian girl has been rescued and reunited with her family. In January 2026, 16-year-old Reena was kidnapped while walking home with her sister. Family members later learned that a Muslim man claimed Reena had converted to Islam and married him. When a lawyer sought to obtain court approval for the minor to be returned to her family, the courts initially backed the abductor, but Reena's family eventually obtained an order for her release. Read More.

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The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) serves persecuted Christians in the world’s most difficult and dangerous places to follow Christ. Pastor Richard Wurmbrand and his wife, Sabina, founded VOM after being imprisoned for their Christian witness in Communist Romania. Since 1967, VOM has been dedicated to inspiring all believers to a biblical faith by telling the stories of persecuted Christians, thereby inspiring a deeper commitment to Christ and the fulfillment of his Great Commission, no matter the cost.

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