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.” Christians in Burkina Faso have been repeatedly attacked by Muslim extremists in past years, and Islamists have killed hundreds and displaced hundreds of thousands more. “Please pray for the family of Pastor Keïta, the other grieving families and for the Christian community that has been deeply affected by this tragedy,” said the front-line worker. He also asked for prayer for all who mourn, strength for believers, and protection for vulnerable communities in Burkina Faso.

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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. The church’s founding pastor, Wang Yi, is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence after refusing to submit to state control. Pray for the continued faithfulness and unity of Early Rain Covenant Church, the protection of detained believers, the wellbeing of the children affected by the raid, and strength and peace for the families of Wang Yi, Wu Wuqing and Yan Hong.

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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. On July 8, Reena’s mother and the lawyer went to retrieve Reena, and the abductor’s family tried to prevent Reena from being freed. The lawyer called the police, and when Reena stated she wanted to go with her mother and the lawyer, the police freed her. Reena and her family are in hiding and ask for prayer for her recovery and for protection from the family that abducted her.

Click here to find out about Christian persecution in Pakistan and learn how to pray.