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Aug. 21, 2025 | Burkina Faso
Six Killed in Islamist Attack
[17] prayers in [3] nations have been posted for Burkinabe Christians.Six Christians, including a pastor, were killed in an Islamist attack. On May 23, 2025, shortly after noon, a large group of Islamists riding on motorbikes invaded a village and began searching for the local pastor. They rode to his house while he was meeting in his courtyard with several other Christians. Hearing the roar of the motorbikes, the Christians fled on foot. The Islamists chased them and captured six, including the pastor, and shot them to death. Read More.
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Aug. 21, 2025 | Indonesia
Muslims Protest Church Construction
[11] prayers in [2] nations have been posted for West Java province.After a church in West Java province held a celebration to break ground for a new building, hundreds of Muslims came to protest the construction on July 5, 2025. They complained that church leaders did not properly communicate their plans, even though there had been public meetings with district, village and neighborhood leaders during the permitting process. Among other stipulations in the agreements for the church construction were provisions for the church to serve the public good, including road improvements and community use of the building. Read More.
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Aug. 21, 2025 | Syria
Pastor, Family Members Killed Amid Fighting
[12] prayers in [2] nations have been posted for violence to end in Syria.Khaled Mezher, a pastor, and at least 12 members of his family were murdered during fighting between Druze militias and Islamic extremists battling for control of the city of Suwayda. The victims include his wife, children, his elderly parents, some of his siblings and their children. More than 250 people in the community have been killed in the fighting, and the number could be much higher. Pastor Mezher had been active in distributing aid in the city, and front-line workers report that his church will continue to receive VOM Action Packs. They are also helping the surviving family members. Read More.
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Aug. 14, 2025 | Laos
New Christian Faces Harassment in Hometown
[163] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for ThaoSeng.A newly Christian woman is facing expulsion from her village because of her faith. ThaoSeng, 51, became a follower of Christ in 2024 through the witness of a cousin she was visiting in another city. When she returned to her hometown a few months later, she remained faithful and worshiped at a church in a nearby village. Her family and the village elders became aware of her new Christian faith and began to persecute her, threatening to kick her out of the village if she would not renounce Jesus Christ. Read More.
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Aug. 14, 2025 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the
More Than 40 Christians Killed During Prayer Meeting
[136] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Christians in eastern DRC.Militants with the radical Islamist group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked a group of Christians in far northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Sunday, July 27, killing more than 40 people. The attack occurred in the middle of the night while a group was gathered for an all-night prayer meeting. One week earlier, militants attacked another church in the area, killing three people. "The two attacks directly targeting [these] churches raise serious questions about the safety of Christians in Ituri province and eastern DRC in general," said a front-line worker. Read More.
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Aug. 14, 2025 | Uzbekistan
Christians Forced from Family Homes
[117] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Uzbek families.Front-line workers say that three families who left Islam and became followers of Christ have been forced from their homes. "It is common for young families to live with or near their parents or other family members as they save up funds to someday build their own place to live," said a front-line worker. "But Christians who have been forced [out] usually can't afford to pay rent and to save money so they can build or purchase their own home in the future." Read More.
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Aug. 07, 2025 | Algeria
Stress of Persecution Impacts Health
[174] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for health of Algerian Christians.Two Christians are struggling with health problems as they wait for their court cases to be resolved. Soon after Murad became a follower of Christ, he was active in telling others the Good News and eventually became a pastor. The Algerian government took notice of his Christian activities, arresting him and charging him with numerous violations of religious laws. If he is convicted, Murad could face several years in prison. He has appealed his case to the Algerian Supreme Court, but the stress of his legal ordeal has created some serious health complications. A member of his congregation was also arrested, and his ongoing court case has also created health problems for him. Read More.
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Aug. 07, 2025 | Burkina Faso
Two Killed in Church Attack
[145] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Burkina Faso church.On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, armed Islamic terrorists attacked a church outside of Fada N'Gourma in eastern Burkina Faso, killing two members. As church members were inside holding a prayer meeting, the terrorists entered the building and killed two men, allowing women and children to flee. The attackers entered the pastor's nearby home and ransacked it, then burned four motorcycles, several motorbikes and two carts vital for local transportation. One of the murdered men was a church elder named Amadou Thiombiano, who is survived by his wife and three children. The second person killed was 18-year-old Jeremi Thiombian. Read More.
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Aug. 07, 2025 | Syria
Islamists Threaten Christians
[139] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Syrian Christians.Several Syrian churches have received threatening letters from anonymous Islamist groups that urge Muslims to attack Christians in a religious war. One note said, "Muslims, do not stop destroying the homes of Christians, slaughtering their children … Rush to jihad today, not tomorrow." Another note said, "Let us make them taste torment and turn their homes into graves." A third included the line, "Burn the bodies of the slaves of the cross." In response to the threats, the new Syrian government has sent armed guards to protect the churches. Read More.
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Jul. 31, 2025 | Nigeria
Christian Widow's Home Burned, Crops Destroyed
[209] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Christian widow.A Christian widow has been unable to support herself and her children as Islamists regularly destroy her crops. Islamist groups regularly attack villages in central and northern parts of the country, and attacks against Christian communities are especially violent, leaving behind many widows. Victoria Luka, a mother of five, lost her husband to an attack on Sept. 17, 2018, near Jos. Their village was destroyed and their house burnt to ash. Read More.
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Jul. 31, 2025 | Laos
Authorities Halt Church Building Effort
[148] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Pastor Wang and congregation.On April 25, 2025, Christians from a minority tribal group in Laos were prevented from constructing a new church building. The 85 members of the church had started building the church's foundation when the police arrived, told them to stop and drove away the assembled workers with threats of arrest and imprisonment. The pastor and one elder were arrested and deprived of food and water for the day. Read More.
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Jul. 31, 2025 | Mexico
Apartment Flooded in Attempt to Expel House Church
[144] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for house church.A house church in central Mexico experienced an unusual attack. As members met for their Sunday service in a first-floor apartment, a neighbor on the third floor, who practices an occult religion and has been vocally opposed to the church gatherings, tried to flood the church's apartment by running water from her balcony through an empty second-floor apartment and into their meeting space. Finding a new apartment to rent is very difficult, as in this area biblical Christians face great opposition. Read More.
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Jul. 24, 2025 | Togo
Hundreds of Christians Displaced by Islamists
[190] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for displaced Christians.Some 240 Christians have been displaced as Islamist militants have flooded into northern Togo from neighboring Burkina Faso. The terrorists, as they are locally called, have burned homes, clothing and Bibles and have stolen farm animals, causing many Christians to flee. The displaced believers are from near the towns of Sokode and Tchamba and are now living with other Christians. Read More.
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Jul. 24, 2025 | Bhutan
Front-Line Couple Faithful in Trials
[161] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Tshewang and Umzey.A pastor and his wife remain firm in their faith despite persecution and family troubles. Because the government of Bhutan holds strict policies regarding non-Buddhist religions, Pastor Tshewang lost his government job and retirement benefits when he was arrested and refused to recant his faith in Christ. Since then, with the help of the global body of Christ, Tshewang and his wife, Umzey, have built a business that provides them with opportunities to share the gospel in their community. They have continued to disciple and baptize new believers, including five recent converts. Read More.
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Jul. 24, 2025 | Nigeria
Young Christian Loses Husband in Islamist Attack
[180] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Nandi.Nandi Tangkat, a 26-year-old mother of four, was widowed after her husband was killed by Islamic militants on May 16, 2023, near Jos, Nigeria. Nandi, pregnant at the time, was away when the militants attacked, but her husband, slowed by an injury that he had previously sustained to his legs, was unable to escape. Nandi's pastor and many other Christians were also killed in the attack. She has been trying to work at tin mining sites, but work is rarely available and pays very little, so she is learning to sew. Read More.
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Jul. 17, 2025 | Syria
"A Nightmare Come True"
[208] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Syrian Christians.On Sunday evening, June 22, 2025, a suicide bomber entered the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Elias in Damascus during a service, started shooting, and detonated an explosive belt. The explosion killed at least 20 and seriously injured more than 50 others. Syrian Christians say it is the most violent attack on a Syrian church in recent years, and local officials say the attacker was affiliated with the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS). "Since the attack, fear and anxiety have spread quickly among Christian communities, especially as threatening messages against other churches and leaders started circulating on social media," a front-line worker said. Read More.
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Jul. 17, 2025 | Laos
Church Threatened Over "Foreign" Faith
[164] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Kane.A church in Laos has been told by authorities to stop meeting, and an evangelist has been threatened. When Kane, 28, moved to his wife's village in a minority area of Laos, he was the only Christian. But he shared his faith with his wife, Mae, and her parents, who came to faith in Christ. They, in turn, became bold witnesses throughout their community. By the end of 2023, 25 Christians gathered for worship each week. The village head tried to stop them, calling Christianity a religion belonging to foreigners, but the church continued to meet. Read More.
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Jul. 17, 2025 | Tajikistan
Afghan Refugees Ordered to Leave
[170] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Afghan Refugees.On July 9, 2025, the Tajik government ordered all Afghan refugees to leave within 15 days. Tajikistan hosts around 13,000 Afghan refugees, the largest number in Central Asia. Most of the refugees fled their homeland when the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021. Some of the Christian refugees have been active in spreading the gospel to the displaced Afghan population in Tajikistan. "Please pray for these refugees," said a front-line worker who worries about what could happen to Afghan Christians if they are forced back across the border. Read More.
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Jul. 10, 2025 | Iraq
Christian Family Flees Threats
[218] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Qasim and Zaynab.When Qasim and his wife, Zaynab, became followers of Christ in 2016, their Shiite Muslim family immediately rejected them and threatened their lives. Zaynab's brother beat her and told her to leave her "infidel" husband. Eventually, the couple and their young children fled Iraq, but Zaynab's brother continues to harass them over the phone, saying he will kill them if he finds them. Islamists seeking their location attacked Qasim's father and one of his younger brothers, sending him to a hospital with broken legs and in a life-threatening coma. Read More.
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Jul. 10, 2025 | Ethiopia
Rejected Convert Receives His Own Bible
[172] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Muse.A Christian convert from Islam rejected by his family was encouraged by receiving a copy of God's Word. Muse was raised in a Muslim fundamentalist religious family and came to faith in Christ through the testimony of a missionary working in his region of Ethiopia. Muse's eldest brother was a respected Islamic scholar, and when he learned that Muse had converted to Christianity, he threatened him to renounce his new faith. When Muse would not, he was evicted from the family home and forced to drop out of school, moving to a nearby town where he took on daily labor to support himself. Read More.
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Jul. 10, 2025 | Sierra Leone
Occultists Pressure Pastors and Churches
[169] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Sierra Leone Christians.Secret occult societies in Sierra Leone regularly threaten pastors and churches. "We came for fellowship, and we were attacked right at the church," said Pastor Joshua Ramine. The societies are groups that practice occult rituals, including bodily mutilation and allegedly even the ritualistic killing of humans to appease spirits. The groups have been known to surround churches with hundreds of people to harass and intimidate Christians and stop their worship services. "They shouted while we were singing," Joshua said. "But I said, ‘No, let's continue singing.' Read More.
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Jul. 03, 2025 | Central African Republic
Front-Line Workers Visit Sudanese Refugees
[196] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Christian refugees.Front-line workers were able to minister to displaced Christians seeking refuge. Millions of Sudanese have fled the civil war in their country that began April 2023. Some escaped to neighboring nations, including the Central African Republic (CAR), which borders Sudan's Darfur region. Though Sudan has a predominantly Muslim population, a small percentage of Christians also live there. Some have found refuge in Birao, a town in the far north of the CAR near its border with Sudan, Chad and South Sudan. Front-line workers visited with about 100 of the estimated 300 Christians living in a camp of around 20,000 refugees. Read More.
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Jul. 03, 2025 | Laos
Christian Mother Kept from Church
[169] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Lomg.A Christian woman's husband has attempted to divorce her for her faith and has forcibly prevented her from attending church. Lomg, a 33-year-old mother of four children in Laos, has been under constant pressure from her husband since she began to follow Jesus Christ. In April 2025, he tried to initiate divorce, saying, "I hate her because she believes [in] God." When the divorce was not granted, Lomg's husband escalated his efforts to make her recant her faith by taking her and her children out to their remote fields and leaving them there to work and sleep. Read More.
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Jul. 03, 2025 | Pakistan
Female Evangelist Ambushed, Assaulted and Hospitalized
[173] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Naila.A Christian woman was attacked and hospitalized after sharing the gospel. On Tuesday, April 29, Naila visited a family in one of the hardest-to-reach cities in her region to share the gospel. She said soon after she started to share, an older woman in the family suddenly became angry. She yelled at Naila and then began to beat her. Naila ran from the house, but men were waiting for her and hit her with some kind of sharp tool. Naila again tried to escape, running down the street and crying for help before she collapsed, waking in a hospital with serious injuries. Naila currently cannot walk and suffers from external and emotional wounds, and she is unable to care for her young child. Read More.
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Jun. 26, 2025 | Nigeria
Christian Escapes Being Burned Alive
[218] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Adamu.When Adamu Musa Ubandoma's community realized that he had become a Christian, they attempted to burn him alive. He escaped, but burn marks are still visible on his head. His two daughters were then taken and given in marriage to Muslim men, and his wife was also kidnapped. All his belongings were burned and his cows confiscated. But Adamu says that nothing will separate him from the love of Christ. Before he placed his faith in Christ, he was a drug addict and a member of the Islamic militant group Boko Haram. Read More.
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Jun. 26, 2025 | Bangladesh
Christian Families Faithful Under Persecution
[150] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Christians in Bangladesh.In the months since protests resulted in a chaotic change of government in Bangladesh, Christians have encountered mounting violence and threats, but a church in northern Bangladesh has demonstrated special resilience. Despite intense persecution, the pastor of the church has discipled 10 other families to stand strong in their faith. These families have been rejected by their community, making it difficult to obtain food and other necessities. Read More.
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Jun. 26, 2025 | Israel
Ethiopian Jews Who Follow Christ Face Challenges
[147] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for young converts.Many Ethiopian Jews in Israel face discrimination based on their ethnicity. For some, this rejection causes disillusionment, leading to a life of drug addiction and crime. One Ethiopian Jew who placed his faith in Christ years ago says that while the Ethiopian community forms less than 2% of Israel's population, it makes up about 45% of the Jewish prison population. Some, however, are turning to Christ as their Messiah. When they do, they face new forms of discrimination, usually from family members, who force them from their homes. Read More.
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Jun. 19, 2025 | Burkina Faso
Islamists Increase Attacks on Christians
[200] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Burkinabe Christians.According to Burkinabe church leaders from two denominations, attacks on Christians by Islamist insurgents are rapidly increasing. Leaders from one denomination say that from January 2024 until the beginning of 2025, 10 pastors were murdered, 220 displaced, 7 abducted, 179 churches closed, 22 churches burned or destroyed, and 177 Christians murdered. Nearly 31,000 of the denomination's church members have been displaced. Another denomination reports that 797 pastors (70%) have been displaced, 7 killed, and 97 churches burned or destroyed with 946 churches closed and 115 Christians killed. Read More.
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Jun. 19, 2025 | Laos
Family Cut Off, Threatened by Brother-in-Law
[151] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Pin and family.A Christian woman's brother-in-law is persecuting her and her family because of her faith in Christ. Feeling that she was attacked by the "ghost spirits" worshiped by her tribal group in Laos, Pin sought protection and healing in Jesus Christ in 2022. Through a local pastor, she and her husband continued growing in their faith. When Pin's brother-in-law, who is a policeman, became aware that they were Christians, he became furious and threatened them. In April 2025, he cut off access to electricity and water in their home and began a campaign to get his brother to divorce Pin and leave her and their three children. Read More.
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Jun. 19, 2025 | Israel
Looking for "Peacemakers on Both Sides"
[156] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Pastor Hanna and teams.A pastor and his church are providing food for their community in war-torn Gaza to spread the love of God. "Each day brings more loss, and even basic food is becoming harder to find," said Pastor Hanna, a Christian from Gaza. "Yet, in the midst of darkness, God's light continues to shine." Pastor Hanna coordinates teams that prepare and distribute food inside Gaza amid the current conflict. The food is given to Christians and also to the wider community in the territory as the team works to share God's love in the warzone. Read More.
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Jun. 12, 2025 | Sierra Leone
Christian Girl Escapes Secret Society
[203] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for a young Christian girl.A Christian woman was forced to flee after her family threatened to kill her. The young woman became a follower of Christ as a young girl after meeting Christians when she had left her village to attend school. When she returned home, her family was going to initiate her into a secret society, but she told them, "My faith doesn't permit me. I am a daughter of Christ." Read More.
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Jun. 12, 2025 | Bangladesh
Youth Trained for Ministry in Volatile Area
[152] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Young Christians.Young Christians from isolated people groups are being equipped to reach their communities with the gospel. In a volatile area of southern Bangladesh called the Hill Tracts, tribal groups that culturally identify as Christians have faced a triple threat: Government forces, anti-government paramilitary groups and Islamist groups all regard them as enemies. The threats have driven these people groups out of their homes and deep into the jungle, making access to them nearly impossible. Read More.
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Jun. 12, 2025 | Uzbekistan
New Law Restricts Discipling Children
[154] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Uzbek Christians.Uzbek lawmakers are cracking down on religious instruction of children. On February 21, 2025, the President of Uzbekistan signed a new law penalizing parents or anyone who teaches children about religion, including Christianity, without official authorization. Violating the law could lead to fines equivalent to more than a month's wages and up to 15 days in jail. Among Uzbekistan's population of around 35 million people, only 2% are Christians. Uzbekistan has historically restricted Christian activity, and the new law will make it more difficult for parents to disciple their children in the Christian faith. Read More.
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Jun. 05, 2025 | Nigeria
Young Fulani Christian Smuggled from Captivity
[203] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Aliyu.Aliyu Abubakar, 23, is a new Christian who has already suffered and escaped from persecution. He is a member of the Fulani, a nomadic people group across west and central Africa. Some Fulani groups are militant Muslims who attack Christian communities, and when Aliyu accepted Christ, he was locked in a room for days with little food to separate him from the friend who had brought him to Christ. He escaped by being smuggled from his village. Read More.
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Jun. 05, 2025 | Maldives
Reaching Many Through "People of Peace"
[144] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Maldives.Front-line workers in the Maldives often encounter significant challenges in sharing the gospel and discipling new believers without drawing persecution from fundamentalist groups, so they pray for "people of peace" who are open to engaging with them to give others the possibility of experiencing the gospel. Mary, one such potentially influential person of peace, shared that she and her husband have suffered traumatic losses as they have tried to start a family, and front-line workers were able to pray with her in this respect. Read More.
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Jun. 05, 2025 | Afghanistan
Christian Leaders Hunted, Arrested by Taliban
[156] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Christians in Afghanistan.Front-line workers report that Afghanistan's radical Islamist Taliban government has increased its efforts to find and arrest Christians, especially leaders. "The situation remains very sensitive," said one front-line worker. "In recent months, the Taliban has visibly intensified search for Christian converts and for house churches." When the Taliban took control, many Christians fled the country, but a few Christian leaders decided to risk their lives and stay in the country. Read More.
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May. 29, 2025 | Ethiopia
Evangelist Martyred by Islamists
[216] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Ibrahim's family.A Christian convert from Islam was killed for sharing his faith with other Muslims. Ibrahim Mohammed became a follower of Christ in 2021 and immediately began sharing the Good News with others in his predominantly Muslim community in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. In one year, he led 80 Muslims to Christ, and he devoted himself to discipling the new believers. Because of his bold witness, Ibrahim began receiving death threats from local Islamists; still, he remained determined to share about Christ. On May 15, 2025, he was witnessing in a rural area when someone wearing Islamic dress approached him, told him it would be his last time to evangelize and shot him. Read More.
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May. 29, 2025 | Sri Lanka
Bombing Survivor Continues Medical Care
[150] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Rebecca.Rebecca survived a 2019 bomb attack on her church in Sri Lanka with burns and injuries that have continued to affect her even as she has joyfully pursued a ministry of music and evangelism. She is undergoing surgery to restore some movement in her hands, and her doctors also found a brain tumor in 2024 that has resulted in more surgery and treatment; even so, doctors say the tumor could return. Read More.
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May. 29, 2025 | Laos
Threatened Evangelist Stands Strong
[147] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Kard.Kard felt that she was controlled by the spirits her people worshiped - that they were making her sick and causing trouble. In May 2013, a pastor prayed for Kard and led her to faith in Jesus Christ, and she was released from the spirits' control. Though she kept her new faith a secret, other villagers noticed her healing and asked questions. She started to share the gospel, and 21 people eventually placed their trust in Christ through her testimony. Read More.
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May. 22, 2025 | Tajikistan
Persecuted for Discipling Children in Christ
[185] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Tajik Christians.A Tajik Christian has been penalized for sharing the gospel with children. In Tajikistan, teaching children about Christ is illegal, but Christian parents and pastors continue discipling children. One church leader was caught trying to bring Christian children's books into the country and now faces expensive fines and multiple court appearances. "This restriction is a hard one, especially on parents," said a front-line worker. Read More.
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May. 22, 2025 | Nigeria
Christian Remains with Persecutors to Share the Gospel
[142] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Abdulmasi.A Christian convert from Islam chose to stay in his community despite being opposed for his Christian witness. Abdulmasi studied the Quran in a renowned Muslim university in northern Nigeria but came to faith in Christ through dreams he had. Since giving his life to Christ, Abdulmasi has experienced opposition in his community. People in his village refuse to eat with him; he has been beaten and poisoned; and a majority of his harvest was taken by other villagers. Read More.
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May. 22, 2025 | Laos
New Christian Rejected by Family
[139] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Vanh.A recent convert has faced backlash from her family since becoming a Christian. Vanh came to faith in Christ in January after local Christians invited her to Christmas activities. When her husband and adult children found out, they forbade her from returning to church, saying they would cut off all support for her if she did. After the next Sunday service, one of her sons angrily smashed her dishes, saying it might be her who gets smashed next time. Her children took her phone so that she would not be able to listen to Bible texts and Christian teaching, and the next day, her husband prepared divorce papers. Read More.
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May. 15, 2025 | Kenya
Rejected Convert Encouraged by Christian Fellowship
[175] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Hussein.Hussein finds strength in community with other Christians after familial rejection for his faith. Hussein came to faith in Christ 20 years ago after experiencing him in a dream and was soon baptized. Since then, Hussein has faced opposition for his Christian faith. He was kicked out of his village, his property was taken from him and his wife left him. He has also been ridiculed by his family and isolated from his children, all of which negatively impacted Hussein's wellbeing. "The rejection and discrimination Hussein went through resulted in some level of trauma and depression in his life," his pastor said. Read More.
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May. 15, 2025 | Middle East
Locked in a Tomb for Turning to Christ
[141] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Wahid.Wahid was persecuted by his family to the point of mental instability but still seeks Christ. A former Muslim, Wahid had a cousin who became a follower of Christ and shared the gospel with him. On hearing the gospel explained, Wahid became convinced of its truth and placed his trust in Christ. But when Wahid's family discovered his conversion, they locked him inside an unused tomb, causing him to lose his sanity. When he emerged, they forced him to deny Christ, which he did and afterwards fell into a coma-like state. Read More.
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May. 15, 2025 | Pakistan
Christian Survives Knife Attack
[147] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Waqas.Waqas, a Christian who worked at a paper factory, was attacked at work for refusing to reject Christ. When a Muslim supervisor asked him to renounce his faith and embrace Islam as the "true religion," Waqas responded, "I do not need to change my religion. I have the living God." Waqas was told that if he converted, his life would be easier, but his mother encouraged him to stand firm. "You have Jesus, who is the truth and the life. Therefore, do not worry and just focus on your work," she said. Read More.
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May. 08, 2025 | Benin
Young Christian Rejects Voodoo Ritual
[194] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Michelle.When Michelle, a college student, refused to participate in a voodoo ritual, her family abused and rejected her. On March 18, 2025, Michelle was at church when her mother and sister came in and urged her to come home. Not knowing what they wanted, Michelle left with them and went home to find her father performing an occultic ritual with a voodoo leader. The leader held a blade, covered with an allegedly magic powder to drive away a spirit of death, that he wanted to cut her with. Read More.
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May. 08, 2025 | Laos
Bold Witness Undeterred by Opposition
[134] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for TuYang.TuYang, a 32-year-old tribal Christian in Laos, remains firm in his faith despite persecution from his family and village. When his older brother, a police officer, found out that TuYang and his wife had come to faith in Christ in 2021, he became angry and began a campaign of persecution. He encouraged his extended family and the village to cut off TuYang, his wife and their children. Even so, TuYang and his wife have brought nine families to Christ. Read More.
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May. 08, 2025 | Turkmenistan
Front-Line Workers Serve Amid Many Risks
[125] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Batyr.Batyr is a house church leader who regularly faces persecution as he travels throughout Turkmenistan to train and encourage leaders and their small congregations. He has been followed by police, harassed, and detained several times. Government officials recently held him overnight, and guards prohibited him from answering his phone as his worried wife called repeatedly over several hours. After that incident, Batyr met with another front-line worker and shared his stress and the struggles he faces as a ministry leader with a young family. Read More.
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May. 01, 2025 | Kenya
Recent Fellowship Highlights Need for Christian Community
[143] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Christian workers.When a group of Christian leaders gathered for fellowship, they realized its necessity and importance. The gathering was facilitated by a local pastor, one of only two full-time pastors in the region, and composed of 13 lay leaders. Front-line workers reported that the gathering highlighted the need for more opportunities to fellowship with other Christian workers in this region of Kenya, which is dominated by Islam. "The gratitude of the teachers ... after the fellowship evidenced how they critically needed such fellowships and encouragements regularly," a front-line worker said. Read More.
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May. 01, 2025 | Mauritania
Mob Desecrates Body, Threatens Christians
[136] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Christians in Mauritania.Christians in the town of Selibaby fear for their safety after threats made on social media resulted in a mob attack and desecration of a grave. The social media posts called local Christians infidels and apostates and urged action against them. On April 7, an angry mob entered a cemetery where a Christian man had recently been buried, destroyed his tombstone and exhumed his body. They then dragged his body through the streets to a village over 10 miles away to rebury it. Read More.
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May. 01, 2025 | South Asia
Imprisoned for a Powerful Purpose
[134] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Pastor Gul.Pastor Gul was arrested and sentenced to six years in prison for the activity of his Christian faith. His elderly parents, brother and sisters continue to gather for worship with other Christians in their small, rented home, although the constant judgment and scrutiny from the community have created an atmosphere of anxiety and distress for them. They expressed both deep pain and joy that Gul "had been chosen by God to bear his name and bring hope and the gospel to inmates." In a recent visit, Gul reminded his father of the story of Joseph. Read More.
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Apr. 24, 2025 | Central African Republic
Christian Mother Abducted, Others Killed by Islamists
[190] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Emil's wife.On Feb. 13, 2025, Islamists abducted a Christian mother of five as she worked in her family's cropland in Bocaranga, in the northwestern region of the Central African Republic. "That day I didn't go to the garden. I stayed at home," said her husband, Emil. "While she was in the garden, she was caught by them and kidnapped." The kidnappers have called Emil and demanded an exorbitant ransom for her return. "I don't have any solution, so I cry out to the Lord for help in this situation. Read More.
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Apr. 24, 2025 | Pakistan
Violence Increasing Against Christians
[132] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Pakistani Christians.Front-line workers in Pakistan report that the level of brutality against Christians in the country has been increasing in recent months. "In my 65 years, I have never seen these kinds of things in Pakistan," said one worker. On March 24, 2025, a Muslim in the Punjab province attacked a Christian coworker with a paper cutter, slashing his throat. The Christian barely survived and is currently unable to speak. On March 27, 2025, a Christian couple was stopped in the Faisalabad district and robbed at gunpoint by two masked men. Read More.
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Apr. 24, 2025 | Laos
Shunned Christian Widow Embraces Hope
[135] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for YeanFin.YeanFin is persevering in faith despite total rejection from her family and community. In 2015, YeanFin became a Christian and led her four children to Christ. Already a widow at that time, she was dependent on her extended family as she raised her children alone. Her relatives and the officials of her Laotian village were at first curious about her decision but then threatened her to return to the worship of their ancestral spirits. They said they would not help her if she persisted in following what they saw as a foreign religion: "You should choose us, not choose God!" Read More.
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Apr. 17, 2025 | Burkina Faso
A Solemn Baptism
[190] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for young Christians.On Saturday, March 8, eight young Christians were baptized. The ceremony took place in a village in the southwestern part of the country where Muslim terrorists from neighboring Mali sometimes attack and kill followers of Christ. "These baptisms are different than most I have attended as they are quite solemn," said a front-line worker. "Once these individuals are baptized, they are targeted and are likely to be beaten or even killed for their faith in Jesus Christ." Read More.
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Apr. 17, 2025 | Iran
Pastors Rearrested, One Suffers Stroke
[152] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Iranian pastors.Iranian pastors Nasser Navard Gol-Tapath, age 63, and Joseph Shahbazian, age 61, were rearrested in their homes on Feb. 6, 2025, and taken to Evin Prison. No reason for their arrests was given. Pastor Nasser immediately began a hunger strike in protest but suffered a debilitating stroke on March 17. While he reportedly has received some medical treatment, he remains behind bars. Pastor Nasser had previously served nearly 5 years in the same prison on a 10-year sentence on charges of "action against national security" for leading house churches. Read More.
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Apr. 17, 2025 | Korea, North
Ministry Training Evolves to Reach New Students
[132] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for ministry students.Front-line workers and students in a discipleship training program for North Korean defectors are continually adapting their ministry to encourage the participation of more students in different regions of South Korea. At the beginning of 2025, 42 North Koreans enrolled in a new regionally based program. Pray that, during recruitment trips, the Lord will send new North Korean defectors who have a heart for gospel ministry to be trained in discipleship techniques that have been effective. Read More.
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Apr. 10, 2025 | Indonesia
Continued Healing for Bombing Survivor
[188] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Fenny.Fenny's life was forever changed after a May 2018 church bombing in Surabaya, Indonesia, but she continues to heal spiritually and physically. She shared how, through the recovery process, the Lord gave her purpose and helped her understand her worth in God's eyes. She has undergone years of medical treatment and is making much progress. Read More.
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Apr. 10, 2025 | Kenya
Elder Evangelist Still "Longs to Go for Outreach"
[140] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Ibrahim.Even though Ibrahim came to faith in Christ more than 50 years ago, he has lost none of his zeal for ministry. He has been a passionate evangelist, sharing the gospel among ethnic Somalis and planting more than 20 churches. His ministry work has come at great cost, however, as most Somalis believe that to be Somali is to be Muslim. Therefore, those who faithfully serve Christ or convert from Islam in Somali communities face severe persecution. Still, Ibrahim has been a bold witness for Christ among Somalis despite risks. Read More.
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Apr. 10, 2025 | Algeria
Christians Face Opposition on Multiple Fronts
[135] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Algerian Christians.The Algerian Christian community has struggled in multiple ways since the government forced numerous churches across the country to close in 2017. While some Algerian followers of Christ have faced governmental pressures, others, especially those who have left Islam to follow Christ, are dealing with opposition from their own families. Malak is an Algerian Christian who is currently facing both pressures. Read More.
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Apr. 03, 2025 | Togo
Pastors Targeted by Islamists
[188] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for pastors in Togo.Several pastors in the north of Togo have been persecuted by Islamists, who sometimes cross over from neighboring countries to attack Christians. In April 2024, Islamists attacked a village where Pastor Gbendja Félidja was serving, killing five people. He fled at that time, but he returned during the summer. On Feb. 7, 2025, armed militants came to his house and shot and stabbed him to death. He left behind seven married adult children. In the same region of Togo, Pastor Patrice Kokouvi continues to minister despite ongoing threats for sharing the gospel with Muslims. Read More.
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Apr. 03, 2025 | Arabian Peninsula
Christian Sisters Escape Family, Fear Forced Return
[154] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Noor and Rana.Two sisters were imprisoned by their family for their faith and now seek safety in another country. Noor and Rana grew up in a Muslim home but did not like the way they and other women were treated. They searched the internet for information on different faiths and eventually met some Christians online. Through the Christians' friendship and witness, the two sisters became followers of Christ. But when their family discovered their new faith, they locked the sisters inside and physically abused them for 13 months. Read More.
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Apr. 03, 2025 | Laos
Village Head Refuses to Register Christian Families
[135] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Vat and family.A Christian family's registration book is being withheld because of their faith. Vat was born and registered in a village in northern Laos, but as a young man he left for the southern part of the country to work at a coffee farm. While there, he married and also heard the gospel, and he and his family came to faith in Jesus Christ. In Jan. 2024, he returned to his home village. However, after learning that Vat and his family were Christians, the head of the village refused to renew their registration book - a document with vital records such as ID, travel and work permits, marriage and birth records, educational records, and residence permits. Read More.
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Mar. 27, 2025 | Central Asia
Young Christian Pressured by Family
[190] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Yasmina.Yasmina, a former Muslim, faces pressure from her family after placing her faith in Christ. When Yasmina and her husband first became followers of Christ, they stopped praying in the Islamic manner. Their Muslim family pressured the young couple to recant, even taking legal measures to try to annul their marriage. After several days of severe pressure, Yasmina's husband yielded and reverted to Islam, but Yasmina remained firm. Read More.
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Mar. 27, 2025 | Middle East
Christian Daughter Miraculously Escapes
[158] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Sarah.Sarah's father imprisoned her for her faith, yet she was rescued. She became a follower of Christ after Christians invited her to church. When her Muslim father discovered her new faith, he locked her within his guarded compound and confiscated her phone. For 10 days, he asked her to return to Islam; she refused. Then he threatened to marry her to a Muslim man, saying her husband could then kill her. "Let your God save you from me," he taunted. Sarah prayed to God, "Where are you? You said you would be with me, but I am here. What am I supposed to do?" Read More.
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Mar. 27, 2025 | Indonesia
Obstacles Used to Suppress Gospel Advance
[135] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Indonesia.In a Muslim-dominated area of Indonesia, several different obstacles cause Muslims to hesitate placing their faith in Christ. Prohibitions against Christian burial in common cemeteries and exorbitant fees for Christian burial in approved locations remain a stumbling block for many who have expressed genuine interest in converting to Christianity. The cost of burial in an approved Christian plot can cost up to a few months' wages, whereas Muslims can be buried for free on any private land. Read More.
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Mar. 20, 2025 | Lebanon
Persecuted Christian Concerned for Cousin
[171] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Salim and cousin.Salim, a believer, shared the gospel with a cousin who now faces severe persecution. When Salim became a Christian, his wealthy family took away his job, and a few relatives tried to kill him. Those relatives even followed him to another country, hoping to harm him. But Salim's faith grew stronger, and he shared it with other family members, including an older relative. At one point that relative became sick and asked Salim, "Why doesn't your God heal?" Read More.
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Mar. 20, 2025 | Bangladesh
Church Threatened by Large Mobs for Ongoing Ministry
[124] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Christians in Bangladesh.After a secret Christmas program at Saiful's house church in late December 2024, someone obtained photos and exposed the church on social media, prompting outrage against Saiful and the church from several nearby mosques. Within hours, the situation escalated until a large Muslim crowd marched to the church, threatening violence. Police intervened to stop the procession, but the leaders of the rally vowed to return with more people to burn Saiful's house. Local authorities have granted permission for the Christians to continue meeting, but Saiful has been warned to take safety precautions. Read More.
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Mar. 20, 2025 | Indonesia
Safe Houses Bless Muslim-Background Believers
[128] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Safe Houses.A Christian ministry in Indonesia runs four "blessing houses" that serve as temporary safe houses for Christian converts from Islam who are from one of Indonesia's largest minority groups. These houses also serve as places of worship, discipleship and skill development centers for persecuted Christians. A front-line worker there said that every week she experiences "small-scale persecution" in the community. Read More.
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Mar. 13, 2025 | Afghanistan
Young Afghan Christian Forcibly Married
[222] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Mina.Mina, an Afghan Christian, was forced by her father to marry an abusive Muslim man because of her faith. The twenty-year-old became a follower of Christ after meeting some Christians online, and through her online community, she continued to grow in her faith. One day a neighbor overheard her worshiping God through an open window. The neighbor informed Mina's father, and he beat her severely. He then forced her to marry an older Muslim man. Read More.
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Mar. 13, 2025 | Laos
Literature Distribution Leads to Backlash Against Church
[129] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Lao church and pastor.A pastor in Laos was arrested and accused of distributing Christian materials to local schools. In a part of northern Laos where Christians have faced harsh persecution, a church received a call from the district chief of police on Dec. 18, 2024. Two government primary schools had mysteriously received Bibles and pamphlets about salvation in Christ, enough for each student to have one. The police believed the members of this church were responsible for the distribution, which was illegal, but the pastor insisted that he had never even seen the pamphlet before. Read More.
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Mar. 13, 2025 | Ethiopia
Christian Convert Rejected by Family
[132] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Momina and Mohammed.When Momina's family rejected her because of her faith, the body of Christ took her in. After the death of her husband, Momina was the sole provider for their young son, Mohammed. She met two Christian women who shared the gospel with her, and through their persistent witness, she came to faith in Christ. Soon after, the Muslim woman whom Momina lived with kicked her out of the house; her Muslim family members tried to kidnap Mohammed; and they refused to help Momina when she was hospitalized for a serious illness in 2024. Read More.
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Mar. 06, 2025 | India
Pastor in "Land of Gods" Delivered by the Living God
[179] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Hira.A pastor named Hira Singh has used notoriety from being persecuted to share the gospel with even more people. In 2000, Hira Singh, who was formerly from a high-caste Hindu background, came to faith in Christ in Himachal Pradesh. This region is a North Indian state known as Dev Bhoomi (Land of Gods) and a prominent Hindu pilgrimage destination. In the early years of his Christian faith, Hira faced opposition from his family and community. Read More.
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Mar. 06, 2025 | Turkey
Beaten Bible Distributor Needs Surgery
[159] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Faraj.A believer named Faraj has needed multiple surgeries after severe persecution. Faraj would carefully place Bibles on empty bus seats in Iran, praying people would find them, read them and come to know Jesus like he did. Eventually, Iranian authorities discovered his clandestine Bible distribution program and arrested him. His jailers tortured him, knocking out numerous teeth and breaking his back. When they stopped their abuse, Faraj fled to Turkiye, where the body of Christ helped provide for replacement teeth and two back surgeries. Read More.
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Mar. 06, 2025 | Ethiopia
Bold Witness Murdered by Militants
[143] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Melke and family.Kitessa was a dedicated church leader murdered by armed militants, leaving behind his wife, Melke, and five children. Because of his passionate evangelism, Kitessa was warned he would be killed if he did not stop preaching the gospel. Still, he remained committed to sharing the gospel and leading a church in his community. On Aug. 25, 2024, Kitessa was returning home after preaching a Sunday service when armed militants opened fire on him. Kitessa's wife, Melke, was within earshot of the gunfire and quickly tried to reach her husband by phone. Read More.
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Feb. 27, 2025 | Cameroon
Bibles Bring Freedom to New Believers
[171] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Christians in Cameroon.Northern Cameroon is a dangerous place for Christians, but that hasn't stopped gospel workers from working to advance God's kingdom in the region. The Islamist group Boko Haram regularly attacks Christians, and followers of ethnic animistic religions also persecute family members who become followers of Christ. One pastor is helping a widow whose husband was murdered by his own Muslim father after he became a Christian. The pastor said Bibles, especially audio Bibles, are needed for that area to help bring freedom to those enslaved to false ideologies. Read More.
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Feb. 27, 2025 | Bangladesh
Persecution Spurs Muslim Family to Support Christian Brother
[139] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Arif.Like many Bangladeshi Christians in the months since the August 2024 overthrow of the government, Arif has faced increased pressure from Muslim extremist groups because of his faith in Christ. Witnessing this, Arif's brothers, who are still Muslim, have declared their support for him and their opposition to the Muslim clerics who have harassed Arif. Pray for Arif to stand firm in the truth of 2 Corinthians 4:17–18, verses he shared with front-line workers: "For this light momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen." Read More.
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Feb. 27, 2025 | Iran
Church Leader Targeted by Government
[145] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Iranian Christians.Authorities sentenced a man involved in evangelism to 10 years in prison for his Christian activities. The government also confiscated his family's possessions and revoked his wife's right to work, even though she has their small children to care for. Her own family has also rejected her, but the global body of Christ is standing with her. Read More.
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Feb. 20, 2025 | Afghanistan
Christian Convert in Hiding After Husband's Murder
[228] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Asmaan.Asmaan is in hiding with her children after her husband was murdered. She and her family had fled Afghanistan when the Taliban took over the country. While displaced in another country, they met some Christians and became followers of Christ. But when Asmaan's brother-in-law learned his brother had rejected Islam, he poisoned him, leaving Asmaan a widow with several young children to raise. Without her husband, Asmaan lost the ability to pay her rent and was evicted from her home. Read More.
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Feb. 20, 2025 | Laos
Prayers for New Bible Answered
[142] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Vanh.A Laotian woman received a new Bible after hers was stolen. When Vanh became a believer in Christ, her husband divorced her and drove her and their children out of the house. With help from the global body of Christ, they were able to build a hut to live in. Their situation improved, but Vanh continued to face harassment from others in the community. On Dec. 2, 2024, while she was out working her fields, someone entered her hut and took her most prized possession - her Bible. Read More.
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Feb. 20, 2025 | Middle East
Former Jihadi Now Serves Jesus
[151] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Brother Yazan.Brother Yazan, once a jihadi, now serves Christ despite persecution. He served as a jihadi fighter with al-Qaida in Syria, then joined the al-Nusra Front, an Islamist group fighting a civil war against the Syrian government. At one point during the war, the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) began fighting against al-Nusra Front, upsetting Yazan. "How could two Muslim groups want to kill each other?" he thought. He soon ceased to be a jihadi soldier. Read More.
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Feb. 13, 2025 | Cameroon
Christian Convert Rescued from Captivity
[169] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Mahamat.Mahamat, a young Christian living in northern Cameroon, was imprisoned by his parents but later rescued. Mahamat was studying to become a teacher of the Quran when he rejected Islam and turned to Christ. On Jan. 3, 2025, his parents learned of Mahamat's new faith and tried to convince him to recant. When that failed, they locked him inside a house. They also summoned Islamic clerics to persuade him to return to Islam. But when a relative who had also become a follower of Christ learned what was happening, she rescued Mahamat, who had been held captive for about a week. Read More.
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Feb. 13, 2025 | Djibouti
Rejected by Family, Resolute in Faith
[139] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Moussa and Safia.A Muslim man was disowned by his family for placing his faith in Christ after his daughter's miraculous healing. Moussa, 65, was a devout Muslim until around five years ago when his daughter began experiencing severe abdominal pain. After seeking the aid of imams and local physicians without success, Moussa prayed to Christ for his daughter's healing. His wife, Safia, had been a follower of Christ for more than three decades, consistently praying for her husband's salvation. At one point, Moussa had even kicked her out of their home because of her Christian faith. Read More.
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Feb. 13, 2025 | India
Former Imam in Danger After Known as Christian
[142] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Farooq.Farooq, a former imam, is in hiding after his Christian faith was made public. For several years since his conversion to the Christian faith, Farooq has continued his teaching role in a majority-Muslim region of northern India, taking every opportunity to point his students to the Bible. When Farooq was exposed as a Christian, however, he was beaten severely and forced into hiding. Pray for Farooq and his family to find refuge and encouragement; for the safety of other Christians who have been in fellowship and ministry partnership with Farooq; and for the many students Farooq has influenced. Read More.
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Feb. 06, 2025 | Benin
Standing Firm After Her Husband's Murder
[221] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Victorie and family.Victorie and her husband had become followers of Christ, but their families and most of the people in their village follow traditional Voodoo practices. Victorie's in-laws were not happy that the young couple had become Christians. They threatened them and tried to scare them into converting back to pagan beliefs. "We would see blood around the house," Victorie said. One day her husband's parents threatened her. "They told me, ‘If anything happens to our son, it is your fault.'" As Victorie and her husband were returning home from a visit to his family one night, he suddenly collapsed and died shortly afterwards. Read More.
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Feb. 06, 2025 | Bangladesh
Pastor's Mob-Wrecked Home Cultivates Christian Unity
[151] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Pastor Dulal.Pastor Dulal had received threats because of his Christian witness in his village. But when political upheaval in the summer of 2024 left the area without police or army protection, Muslim extremists took the opportunity to fulfill those threats. Attackers destroyed his home, gouging large holes in the walls and ripping out windows and doors while carrying away anything of value. Dulal said he was thankful that he and his family were not home at the time because he believes the attackers would have killed them. Read More.
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Feb. 06, 2025 | Vietnam
Imprisoned Pastor Dies in Custody
[149] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Xa and family.Pastor Diem and his wife, Xa, lived in a majority-Christian community, so they did not face persecution locally. When Diem would travel beyond the village for ministry, however, he was always under scrutiny. On Jan. 5, 2018, police and security officials surrounded the couple's house and announced Diem's arrest on suspicion of anti-government activities. Months of secret court proceedings ended with a 16-year prison sentence for Diem. On Dec. 14, 2022, Diem was permitted to call home and wish his family a merry Christmas. It was the last time Xa heard his voice. Read More.
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Jan. 30, 2025 | India
Hindu Father Charges Christian Son with Illegal Conversion
[185] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Chhater Singh.Chhatar Singh, a schoolteacher in India, placed his faith in Christ in 2002 and has planted churches in seven villages. In 2010, when his mother died, he refused Hindu funeral rituals for her, which turned his father against him. On Jan. 27, 2021, the police arrested Singh and three other Christians on false charges of forced conversion. They spent a month in jail; consequently, Singh was suspended from his school. In July 2024, after Singh's father cut off his inheritance, he filed a criminal complaint against Singh of trying to convert him to Christianity. Read More.
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Jan. 30, 2025 | Middle East
Woman Abused After Coming to Faith in Christ
[175] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Basma.Basma, who comes from a fervent Muslim family, placed her faith in Christ in 2018. As a result, her husband and brother began to abuse her violently. Eventually, Basma escaped from her family and took her two teenage children, who had also become Christians, with her. Basma said that if her brother and husband find her, they will surely kill her. Basma requests prayer for her son, who feels he cannot trust anyone, and for her daughter, because they live in constant fear that someone will turn them in. Read More.
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Jan. 30, 2025 | Yemen
Yemeni Christians Pray for Safety
[152] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Yemeni Christians.Amid regional instability, bombs regularly fall in some parts of Yemen, creating a dangerous environment for Christian brothers and sisters. "The situation is not stable for anyone in Yemen," said a front-line worker. "The electricity goes out, and one Christian community heard bombs exploding during a church service." Despite this situation, the worker said the church in Yemen is growing. "Fifteen years ago, it was a dream to find any believers," he said. Read More.
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Jan. 23, 2025 | Bangladesh
Family Loses Everything in Attack on Home
[196] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Monoara and her family.When protests forced the resignation of the prime minister in August 2024, Islamist groups took advantage of the lack of police presence across the country to attack the Christian minority. Attackers have looted and destroyed churches and targeted Christians' homes. Monoara, 75; her daughter, Salma, and her granddaughter, 14, were among those who were attacked. On Aug. 5, they escaped from their home and watched from the nearby jungle as their belongings were carried away or destroyed by an extremist mob. "I thought that was my last day," Monoara recalled. Read More.
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Jan. 23, 2025 | Lebanon
God at Work in War Zones
[156] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Halim and Salim.Halim is a Muslim-background believer who fled to Lebanon from a neighboring country when his family tried to kill him. After arriving in the war-torn country, he decided to visit a local hospital amid ongoing attacks. "I was able to pray for five people and seek the Lord for them," he said. "And I had a wonderful conversation with a young Palestinian man. I shared with him how Jesus can give peace and comfort." Another former Muslim, Salim, came to know Christ and has been persecuted in his Shiite town in the Beqaa Valley. Read More.
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Jan. 23, 2025 | Indonesia
Pastor Imprisoned for Online Testimony
[145] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Indonesian Christians.Pak Aman, a Sundanese Christian from a Muslim background, leads a small church and faithfully evangelizes in his community. He was arrested and held in police custody after appearing on the YouTube channel of another Muslim-background believer in Christ. He was accused of violating Indonesia's blasphemy law. Aman said he originally anticipated that he would serve several years in prison due to the outcomes of other blasphemy cases, but the courts ruled in favor of Aman, and he was released from police detention after nine months. Read More.
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Jan. 16, 2025 | Benin
Evangelist Dies in Traffic Accident
[194] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for the family of Pastor Tchando.Pastor Mathieu Tchando, along with 13 others, was leaving a Christian conference in Nigeria on November 1, 2024 when a large truck hit their minibus. The group was outside of Lagos when the truck hit three vehicles. One person was killed at the accident site, and three others were seriously injured. Pastor Tchando suffered a brain injury that left him comatose; another minister was hospitalized with broken ribs, and doctors were concerned about internal bleeding; and the third was in stable condition. Read More.
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Jan. 16, 2025 | Middle East
Christian Fears Being Sent to Eritrea
[149] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Ishaq.Ishaq is active in evangelism and Bible distribution in the Arab nation where he was born, but his future there is tenuous. Ishaq was permitted to be in the country while his Eritrean father, who had lived and worked there for decades, maintained his official work status. But when Ishaq's father died during the coronavirus pandemic, Ishaq's residency visa expired, and he has been unable to renew it. Ishaq has not been arrested for his unofficial status but has been stopped by police numerous times. "If he were to be deported to Eritrea, where he has never lived, it could be very dangerous for him," said a front-line worker. Read More.
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Jan. 16, 2025 | Vietnam
Family Loses Benefits, Income for Not Recanting
[150] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Gia and Dai.Gia and her husband, Dai, have been believers for 15 years. Because they chose biblical names for their children, getting birth certificates for them was difficult. Their daughter, Ruth, was diagnosed with a condition that has affected her neurological and physical development. There is a fund intended for children with Ruth's condition, and the family was called to a government office to receive these funds. After waiting there all day, however, they were presented with an ultimatum: Change Ruth's name and renounce their faith or leave without the funding. Read More.
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Jan. 09, 2025 | Bhutan
Authorities Raid Christian Youth Conference
[200] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Christians in Bhutan.A Christian youth conference scheduled in Bhutan was disrupted when authorities raided the location and demanded that organizers show permits, which did not exist because Christian events are not allowed by the Buddhist government. Authorities then summoned the organizers for interrogation. The raid caused organizers of other youth events to change their plans as they wait to see the consequences. Read More.
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Jan. 09, 2025 | Burkina Faso
Ministry Helps Fulani Christians
[134] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Fulani Christians.In recent years, militant Fulani Muslims have attacked and killed numbers of Christians, but some have also become followers of Christ. Fulani converts are often rejected by their families and struggle to find supportive communities. A ministry in Burkina Faso is helping Fulani Christian converts by providing a safe place where they can grow in their walk with the Lord and meet other Fulani followers of Christ. In a four-month period, the center hosted Saturday vacation Bible schools which 675 children attended. Read More.
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Jan. 09, 2025 | Tajikistan
Tajik Wife Abandons Christian Husband
[153] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Nurbol.A Tajik follower of Christ named Nurbol is requesting prayer after his wife suddenly abandoned him. She took their two young children and most of their possessions and fled while Nurbol was away. Both Nurbol and his wife grew up as Muslims, but Nurbol came to faith in Christ recently. A front-line worker says he has been very bold in sharing Christ with others and was fired from his job for his faith. His wife seemed interested in Christianity, but after she left him, she said, "You reject Jesus, and I will come back. But if you don't, I won't." He responded, "I am not leaving Christ." Read More.
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Jan. 02, 2025 | Vietnam
Former Prisoner for Christ Receives Medical Care
[200] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Thang.Thang has been a follower of Christ for more than 35 years. His extended family rejected him when they learned of his conversion, and he spent almost 10 years in prison suffering forced labor, poor rations and regular beatings for his ongoing testimony about Christ. Thang is regularly harassed, and he has been blacklisted by the government. Read More.
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Jan. 02, 2025 | Burkina Faso
Christian Women Widowed by Islamists
[164] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for widows and families.Alimata's husband, Yacouba, was the assistant pastor at a church in Kounla. On August 25, 2024, Islamic terrorists came to their house looking for Christian men. They forced Yacouba and another man, bound and blindfolded, into the church at gunpoint. As militants hunted more Christians, Alimata and other women fled with their children. As they ran, they heard gunshots. "I knew that they had killed my husband," Alimata said. While hiding, a woman named Fadima also heard the gunshots that killed her husband and 27 more men inside the church. "Please pray for me as I am in trauma," she said. Read More.
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Jan. 02, 2025 | Turkey
Armed Men Stopped from Entering Turkish Church
[140] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Turkish Christians.On November 3, 2024, shortly after worship services and during the Sunday school hour at an Istanbul church, someone rang the bell. A member opened the door, and two unknown men asked to come inside. She told them it was not possible at the moment. Local police officers who were guarding the church then intervened and took the men away. The pastor had previously faced death threats, prompting police to watch the church. Read More.
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Dec. 26, 2024 | India
Front-Line Workers Breaking into Hindu Stronghold
[177] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for front-line workers.Ashok and his wife, Nila, have spent 25 years reaching out to the small and isolated community of Himachal Pradesh, India, which is overwhelmingly Hindu. Pastor Pravin, who was among the first Christians in this area, leads a rural church there. This church faces the daily challenge of reaching villages that are ruled by chiefs associated with Hindu nationalist groups, which oppose any kind of Christian activities in the village. Through personal evangelism and Bible study, however, they are seeing hearts change. Read More.
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Dec. 26, 2024 | Indonesia
Prayers Answered in Case of Imprisoned Evangelist
[144] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Kace.Muhammad Kace is an evangelist in an Indonesian prison for charges of blaspheming Islam on his YouTube channel. Kace's lawyers succeeded in getting his 12-year sentence reduced to eight years and are appealing to further reduce the sentence. Despite suffering and being imprisoned for his faith, Kace has been supported by local pastors and by the global body of Christ, enabling his family to rent a home near the prison and providing Kace with essential medication and food during his imprisonment. In a video call with front-line workers, Kace praised God and shared about his ministry in prison to the guards and others he interacts with. Read More.
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Dec. 26, 2024 | Cameroon
Christian Converts Threatened
[141] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Christian Converts.Fadimatou, 18, grew up in a Muslim home. A college roommate shared the gospel with her, and she became a follower of Christ. Her grandfather, however, is upset about her conversion and has threatened to stop paying her tuition. If she must return home, Fadimatou fears she will be forced to marry a Muslim man. She requests prayer for protection and provision so she can continue her education. Another convert, Moussa, was born into a Muslim family in Cameroon to a father who had three wives and 26 children. When Moussa came to faith in Christ in 2020, some of his brothers blindfolded him and beat him. Read More.
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Dec. 19, 2024 | Bangladesh
Extremists Issue Christmas Warnings
[187] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Christians in Bangladesh.Since a coup last summer that created chaos across Bangladesh and increased violence against Christians, an Islamic extremist group called Hefazat-e-Islam has been rising in power. Several Christian leaders from different parts of Bangladesh reported that they received threatening letters from Hefazat leaders, warning them that any celebration of Christmas this year "will be the last celebration they do in this life." Read More.
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Dec. 19, 2024 | Benin
Kicked Out Twice But Firm in Faith
[152] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Ariane.Ariane visited several voodoo practitioners in her area, but no one could heal her of her intense stomach pain. Someone suggested she go to a Christian hospital in Togo. A nurse there urged her to give her life to Christ, and she became a Christian. She was then healed of her stomach pain. When she returned home, her voodooist husband rejected her and kicked her out of her home. Later, he threatened to kill her with a machete. But she regularly prayed for him, and he eventually let her return home. He even asked her to pray for some struggles he faced which she believed were brought on by witchcraft. Read More.
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Dec. 19, 2024 | Syria
Islamist Takeover Worries Local Christians
[146] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Syrian Christians.On Sunday, December 1, 2024, the Syrian city of Aleppo was suddenly attacked and captured by Islamist militias. One week later, the rebel groups succeeded in taking over the capital city, Damascus, when the Syrian government and military collapsed and its leader, Bashar al-Assad, fled. The jihadist groups have been fighting the Syrian government for more than a decade, and Christians are concerned that they may soon become targets. "The situation is still unclear," said a front-line worker, who added that, so far, Christians and churches have not been specifically threatened, and some have even held services. Read More.
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Dec. 12, 2024 | Pakistan
Evangelist Remains Faithful After Brutal Treatment
[210] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Pakistani evangelist.A Pakistani evangelist was arrested in a remote part of the country and tortured. "He returned to us today not just physically broken but mentally and emotionally scarred, bearing the burden of trauma that words can scarcely express," said a senior front-line worker. The evangelist had visited a remote part of Kashmir to meet someone who wanted to talk about Christ. But when the two sat down for tea, security officers suddenly appeared and rushed the evangelist to interrogation. Read More.
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Dec. 12, 2024 | Vietnam
Demolished Church Rebuilt in Faith
[131] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Pastor Xuong and congregation.The congregation led by Pastor Xuong outgrew their meeting space in a member's home and looked for an opportunity to build a church. One of the deacons offered his land, and members raised money for the new building. For a year after the building was completed, officials routinely threatened to tear it down. One night in September 2021, Pastor Xuong was called to the church, only to find the building completely destroyed. Though angry, disheartened and unsure how members would finance a new building, Pastor Xuong began searching for a new location. Read More.
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Dec. 12, 2024 | Cameroon
Specialized Care Helps Persecuted Youth
[132] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for northern Cameroon.Between April and July 2024, militants with the radical Islamist group Boko Haram attacked villages of the predominately Christian Hdi tribe in far northern Cameroon 11 different times. During their raids, the jihadis murdered villagers and abducted young people to serve as child soldiers or child brides. As many of the Hdi children who survived were traumatized, some of them received holistic spiritual care designed to help heal their emotional wounds. Afterward, one child told a front-line worker, "This is the first time this year that I have slept more than four hours uninterrupted. Read More.
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Dec. 05, 2024 | Indonesia
Brothers Minister to Minority People Group
[166] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Joyo and Setiaban.The Sundanese are one of the largest unreached minority groups in the world and have been resistant to the gospel. However, when three Muslim-background Sundanese brothers - Joyo, Setiaban and Wira - came to faith in Jesus Christ, they also became passionate evangelists. Their evangelistic success in their village eventually led to persecution. When the news of dozens of Christian conversions began to spread, one of the Islamic social organizations in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah, rallied members to stop the brothers and the spread of Christianity in their village. Read More.
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Dec. 05, 2024 | Central Asia
Christian Broadcaster in Hiding
[138] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Central Asian Christian.Christians form a fraction of the population in the Muslim-majority nations of Central Asia, and followers of Christ in these lands often face severe restrictions on their worship and outreach activities. Broadcasting through the internet is a strategy some Central Asian Christians are employing to share the gospel message with their countrymen. However, utilizing digital media also comes with risk. One Central Asian Christian created a series of videos that directly challenge Islamic beliefs and uploaded them to YouTube. Soon, he received death threats from offended Muslims. "His videos are very confrontational," said a front-line worker. Read More.
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Dec. 05, 2024 | Benin
Abandoned by Her Family, Loved by Jesus
[148] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Maelle.Maelle was only five years old when she was sent to a wealthier family's home to care for their infant child. While working there, Maelle attended church for the first time. Raised in a Muslim home, she placed her trust in Christ when she heard that "Jesus loves the little children." She said she felt that "Jesus loves [her] more than [her] family," who had abandoned her. Two years later, she was sent back to her family, but when they learned that she had come to know Christ, they were upset and prevented her from attending church. Read More.
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Nov. 28, 2024 | Lebanon
Front-Line Workers Face Danger in War Zones
[170] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Christians in Lebanon.Christians compose 33% of Lebanon's population, the largest percentage of Christians in any Middle Eastern country, which has made Lebanon a place of refuge for many persecuted Christians from throughout the region. But the ongoing conflict in the region has created a dangerous environment for front-line workers there. "Bombing is happening on a daily basis in Lebanon," said one front-line worker. "And one happened very close to one of our workers as he went to meet with some persecution survivors." Read More.
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Nov. 28, 2024 | Sri Lanka
Building Restriction Threatens Sri Lankan Church
[132] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Pastor Benedict.Pastor Benedict purchased land and in March 2023 began constructing a building for the church he had planted in the area. However, the chief monk of the local Buddhist temple opposed this work, which halted for a few months. When Benedict resumed construction in May 2023, the monk again opposed the work and informed the police, leading to the arrest of Benedict and six other Christians. They spent four days in jail, where they began a prison ministry. Read More.
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Nov. 28, 2024 | Burkina Faso
Christians Killed During Church Services
[142] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Burkinabe Christians.On August 25, 2024, Islamic extremists killed 28 Christians and injured several others after opening fire on a Sunday night church service. Some who fled the attack are still missing. Later in the same week, extremists attacked an area outside the town of Kaya and killed at least 400 people. Then, during the last week of September, Islamists attacked a church located near the border of Burkina Faso and Niger. Read More.
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Nov. 21, 2024 | Vietnam
Christian Family Loses Home to Arson
[188] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Cai and Hien.Cai and Hien, whose story was published in the October 2024 issue of The Voice of the Martyrs magazine, have endured several years of persecution since placing their faith in Jesus in 2021. The persecution includes imprisonment, shunning by their community, denial of public services like electricity and water, and refusal to admit their children to school. In the early morning of November 5, 2024, after continuous threats, Cai and Hien's house was set aflame, destroying their home and all their possessions. Read More.
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Nov. 21, 2024 | Kazakhstan
Woman Forgives Attacker After Being Beaten
[135] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Samal.Samal suffered a head wound and impaired movement in one arm after her drunken relative, Arman, attacked her with a shovel. Kazakh police arrested Arman and said he could face seven years in prison for the assault. While meeting with police, Samal, a new Christian, said she experienced an angelic vision during which she was encouraged to forgive Arman. Though she initially resisted, Samal eventually forgave her relative. When she did, her pain vanished, and her arm was healed. Read More.
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Nov. 21, 2024 | Benin
Voodooist Threatens Church
[151] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for the church in Benin.A voodoo practitioner in Benin built an altar directly across the street from a church. He regularly kills animals and places occult items he believes are infused with mystical powers on the altar, often on Sunday mornings. He also puts voodoo powder on the church's steps, hoping to scare church members away, and plays music at a high volume on Sunday mornings to disrupt church services. In response, the church bought a sound system to drown out the music. Read More.
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Nov. 14, 2024 | India
Jail Time Provides Fruitful Ministry
[171] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Kashvi.When Kashvi was visiting her Hindu sister-in-law in the hospital, sharing the gospel and praying with her, another person in the hospital heard her and called the police. Kashvi was arrested under state anti-conversion laws and spent three days in jail. While in jail, she said, she had no fear or worry. She had an opportunity to minister to a girl who had been in prison for two years. Many of the Hindu prisoners and some of the police officials also asked her to pray for them, and she was able to share the gospel with the police superintendent, who had asked her to pray for him after noticing her character and honesty. Read More.
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Nov. 14, 2024 | Afghanistan
Christian Fears Being Returned to the Taliban
[133] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Fazal.Fazal, a displaced Afghan Christian, was recently arrested in Central Asia for his Christian activities. Police eventually released him after he paid a significant fine. Front-line workers say Fazal has been very active in sharing his faith with other displaced Afghans. Since his arrest, Fazal has moved from house to house to avoid authorities, and he fears being returned to the Taliban. "If I go to Afghanistan, the Taliban will kill me," he said. "There is no clear future right now … but I know Jesus is always with me." Read More.
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Nov. 14, 2024 | Vietnam
Family Evicted, Children Killed in Rockslide
[151] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Duy and Sua.Duy and Sua are a minority couple in Vietnam. When Sua decided to place her trust in Christ in 2016, her marriage nearly collapsed because Duy didn't want his wife to follow this "foreign faith." God miraculously intervened, however, and Duy became not just a believer but a committed evangelist. His family kicked them out, and their village would not let them have good land for building, so they built a house at the foot of a hill outside town. On August 5, 2023, a rockslide destroyed part of their house, killing their 2-year-old and 2-month-old daughters and injuring Sua and their 6-year-old daughter. Read More.
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Nov. 07, 2024 | East Africa
Entire Village Changed by God's Word
[189] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Musa.As Musa was serving as an imam in his village in East Africa, he kept hearing about his son, Saad, preaching the gospel throughout the village. Saad's bold witness angered other local Muslim leaders, who warned Musa to stop Saad from evangelizing. Though Musa didn't find any fault with his son's evangelistic activities, he decided to confront Saad about them. But when Musa went to Saad, something surprising happened. Saad was studying the Bible with his pastor, and Musa watched and listened as Saad and the pastor discussed different verses. "He was so impressed at what he was hearing," a front-line worker said. Read More.
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Nov. 07, 2024 | China
Freed Pastor Still Under Pressure
[139] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Pastor John.Pastor John Cao served as a missionary in Myanmar's Wa State, transforming lives by building schools and working to fight poverty and drug addiction. On March 5, 2017, Chinese authorities intercepted Cao, resulting in a seven-year prison sentence. He was released on March 4, 2024. Cao continues to face restrictions on his freedom and movement by Chinese authorities, including video monitoring, forced "re-education," and refusal to issue him an ID card, which prevents him from medical care, even when he suffered a life-threatening bout of coronavirus. Read More.
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Nov. 07, 2024 | Pakistan
Oppressive Blasphemy Law Used to Arrest More Christians
[122] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Pakastani Christians.Pakistan's blasphemy laws continue to be a tool for persecution of our Pakistan Christian family members. "Every week we have at least one case of Christians being wrongly accused," a front-line worker said. Two 18-year-old boys, Tabish and Kalu, were accused of cutting up parts of the Quran and using the fragments as confetti during a festival in August. The boys are now in hiding. A pastor's son was also accused of participating and was arrested, but police released him after realizing he wasn't at the event. Two Christian sisters, Sonia and Samia, were also charged with blasphemy in August for allegedly throwing parts of the Quran into the trash. Read More.
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Oct. 31, 2024 | Benin
Young Christian Escapes Voodooist Family
[190] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Marc.Marc, 21, battled a chronic illness and could not find a cure. He visited doctors and voodoo practitioners, but nothing seemed to help. Then a friend urged him to come to church. When Marc heard the gospel, he became a follower of Christ and was physically healed, later deciding to receive baptism. When he returned home from the baptismal service, his voodooist father had hired people to beat him. His father was upset that Marc, his oldest son, would forsake his duties to the family's voodoo rituals and told him to leave. Marc stayed at a relative's house, but some family members locked him in a room and tried to force him to return to pagan practices. Read More.
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Oct. 31, 2024 | India
Family Beaten, Shunned for Refusing Idol Worship
[150] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Basavaraj and family.Basavaraj, his wife and their six children are the only believers in a village of 200 families. They faithfully share Christ among the villagers. Each family is expected to serve at the local Hindu temple. Basavaraj told the village leaders that he could not perform the idol worship because he was a follower of Christ. At a village meeting, the family again refused to perform temple duties. Basavaraj told the leaders, "Even if you kill me, we will only worship Jesus." Villagers beat them and continue to harass and pressure the family, poisoning their rice fields, destroying their crops and vandalizing their home. Read More.
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Oct. 31, 2024 | Vietnam
Children Orphaned After Father Martyred
[141] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Tien.In the summer of 2022, Tien received a call and was told her father had been seriously beaten. He had been evangelizing and then returned home with her younger brother, Thanh. Some men, including one of her uncles, came into the house and beat him in front of Thanh. By the time Tien got home, her father had already died. Thanh has been mute since that day. Tien's mother, who had a heart condition, was so shocked that she never recovered, dying two months later. Read More.
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Oct. 24, 2024 | Nepal
Christian Wife Stands Firm Despite Continuous Abuse
[205] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Goma.Goma Kunwar has suffered repeated beatings and mistreatment at the hands of her Hindu husband since putting her faith in Christ in 2022. More than once, his attacks have been life-threatening. On Jan. 2, 2024, Goma's husband beat her badly and attacked her with a sickle, cutting her head so that she required medical treatment. Despite the abuse, Goma does not want to leave the Lord. Read More.
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Oct. 24, 2024 | Turkmenistan
Turkmen Christian Flees Government Oppression
[136] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Turkmen Christian.A bi-vocational evangelist has fled Turkmenistan after being threatened by authorities. He has been active in sharing his faith and had previously been arrested, along with other Christians, for attending Christian worship services. He was also fined for his evangelistic efforts. Authorities now want to charge him for work he did at his place of business. "But he feels the government is really using that as an excuse to arrest him for his Christian activities," said a front-line worker. Read More.
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Oct. 24, 2024 | Laos
Village Denies Funeral Customs to Christian Family
[138] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Laos Christians.In spring 2024, Lod, a Khmu villager, placed his faith in Jesus Christ at the age of 90. On June 20, he passed away. Typically, every villager would make a small donation of money and rice to the grieving family. However, because Lod was a Christian, the head of the village refused to collect donations to assist Lod's family and did not allow any villagers to attend Lod's funeral. Only the 10 Christians families in the community supported Lod's family. Read More.
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Oct. 17, 2024 | Colombia
Pastor and Family Flee for Lives from "Red Zone" Guerrillas
[191] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Pastor Santiago and family.After months of seeing villagers and friends extorted, abused and killed by violent guerrillas who control the dangerous "red zones" of Colombia, Pastor Santiago and his family have fled from their village to a safe location, leaving most of their personal belongings behind. According to a church member, Pastor Santiago is on the guerrillas' hit list for his refusal to support their illicit activities, prompting his decision to flee with his family. Pastor Santiago also shared with VOM staff that he had received death threats for preaching the gospel. His greatest concern is for his family and their provision if anything happens to him. Read More.
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Oct. 17, 2024 | Vietnam
Christian Man Dies After Street Attack
[167] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Duyen and family.Duyen, 33, and her husband, Hieu, were drawn to Christ both by the healing they received and the love and care they were shown by the body of Christ. They were mocked, threatened and even attacked several times because of their faith in Christ. Their land was taken on the grounds that land grants were only for those loyal to the government, but Christians were not loyal. After an appeal, their land was returned. Finally, when traveling with another man in 2022, Hieu was attacked by three men. His companion ran for help and provided first aid before carrying Hieu home. Read More.
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Oct. 17, 2024 | Sierra Leone
Mother Seeks Son Who Fled Human Sacrifice
[158] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Brima.Brima's village had been steeped in occult practices for generations. It even had a tree where children were sacrificed to local gods. These deaths would go uninvestigated because villagers reported only that the missing children were "swallowed by the jungle." Brima's son learned of the wicked practice and fled before anything could happen to him. Later, a Christian evangelist came to the village, and most people in the village came to know Christ. Read More.
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Oct. 10, 2024 | Somalia
Christian Widows Displaced by Islamists
[175] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Hawa.Hawa is a Christian convert from Islam who maintains a farm in a rural area of Somalia. Though raised as a Muslim, Hawa became a follower of Christ through her son's witness. Hawa's Muslim husband divorced her and kicked her out of the house when he learned of her newfound faith. Through another Christian woman, Hawa came to help work and maintain the farm, which also houses 19 Christian widows whose husbands had been killed by al-Shabab, a terrorist group active in Somalia and Kenya. Hawa disciples the widows and actively shares her faith with other women who work on neighboring farms. Read More.
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Oct. 10, 2024 | India
Couple Resists Persecution, Shares Gospel in Village
[133] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Pastor Prem and family.Since 2011, Pastor Prem and his wife, Amala, have served in an area of India where pastors and Christian organizations serve for a short time but then leave because of persecution. The area is the central hub in the district for the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Prem and Amala now lead a church with about 35 believers. Prem has been beaten four times, faces constant pressure from the community and is continually watched. Read More.
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Oct. 10, 2024 | Indonesia
Attack Survivor Finds Faith Is Stronger
[128] prayers in [6] nations have been posted for Kila.Kila, who is in his late twenties, survived an East Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT) terrorist attack on a small group of Kalimago villagers in 2022. His friend, Marten Solon, was killed in the attack. Kila shared about the experience and how God used it to motivate him when he was a nominal Christian to live his life for God rather than himself. Kila is still experiencing some ongoing health complications due to the trauma of the attack. Read More.
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Oct. 03, 2024 | Nepal
Threatened Pastor Continues Ministry
[175] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Pastor Yadav.After a Christmas worship service in December 2023, Pastor Raj Kumar Yadav received a phone call from an unknown person. At first, the caller asked seemingly innocent questions about the celebratory service, and the pastor answered in general terms. Then the person asked how many people were fed cow meat during the meal. The question raised concerns in the pastor's mind, since Hindus consider cows sacred and have sometimes made trouble by claiming that Christians have slaughtered and eaten cows. Read More.
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Oct. 03, 2024 | Central Asia
Pastors Pay Huge Fines for Teaching Children about Christ
[147] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for children's ministry.Some governments in Central Asia have outlawed all ministry to children. Nevertheless, Christians in the region remain committed to teaching young people about the Bible and Jesus Christ. In recent years, numerous pastors have had to pay fines for their outreach efforts. "The bank accounts of one pastor were checked and analyzed. When his activities were found, he had to pay a huge fine," said a front-line worker. Read More.
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Oct. 03, 2024 | Laos
Leaders Command 100 Christians to Leave Village
[133] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Somanid.When Somanid came to faith in Christ in 2000 at age 17, he immediately faced persecution. He decided to move to a new province, where he built a home, started a family in his new village and became part of a fellowship of more than 100 Christians. Recently, village leaders demanded that all families, including Christians, must donate money for the traditional spirit ceremonies, but the Christians all refused. On May 15, 2024, the leaders announced over loudspeakers that all Christians were required to leave the village, on the grounds that they were disobedient to village authorities. Read More.
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Sep. 26, 2024 | Sierra Leone
Christian Woman Attacked by Family
[191] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Georgieta.Georgieta's family worshiped demonic spirits in an area where human sacrifice is said to still occur. When Georgieta became a Christian, she refused to participate in her family's occultic rituals, so her parents threw her out of the house. Homeless, Georgieta lived with a pastor and his family. Later, Georgieta's father became sick, and her family planned to ritually sacrifice her, hoping it would heal her father. Georgieta escaped, but when her father later died of the illness, Georgieta's mother blamed her for his death. Read More.
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Sep. 26, 2024 | Iran
Salvation and Ministry Behind Prison Bars
[139] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Iranian Converts.Nasser, a political prisoner in Iran, tried to commit suicide while imprisoned. A Christian inmate witnessed the attempt and prevented Nasser's death. The Christian then shared the gospel with Nasser, and he came to faith in Christ. Nasser now meets with imprisoned Christians for times of secret prayer and worship. Another prisoner named Darius, a Muslim, reported a desire to know more about Christ after experiencing him in a dream. Read More.
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Sep. 26, 2024 | Vietnam
Former Witch Doctor Becomes Motorbike Evangelist
[143] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Tuan.Tuan has been a bold evangelist among the Hmong for more than two decades. Born into a family of fortune-tellers and witch doctors overseeing spirit worship in their village, Tuan began working among them at age 14. Living in that spiritual darkness, Tuan became addicted to drugs and alcohol until he came to faith in Christ. Soon after, he began to tell people about the Jesus who gave him not just physical life but also spiritual freedom. Pastor Tuan has been a prolific evangelist ever since, leading hundreds to Christ and praying to reach a growing number each year. Read More.
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Sep. 19, 2024 | Tajikistan
Christian Woman Beaten, Barely Escapes Forced Marriage
[201] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Tajikistan Christians.When Dinara came to faith in Christ, her Muslim family members beat her severely. Dinara fled from the abuse, but her family tricked her into returning by telling her that her grandfather was ill and urgently needed her attention. When she returned, she arrived to a room full of people waiting for her, including a Muslim man who was going to take her as his second wife. Dinara escaped and eventually fled to another nation, where she is working to start a new life. Read More.
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Sep. 19, 2024 | Bhutan
Family Separated Due to Government Restrictions
[145] prayers in [6] nations have been posted for Christians in Bhutan.A family involved in gospel outreach in the isolated and restricted nation of Bhutan has been separated as the government has refused them proper documentation because of their faith. In addition, the government has not allowed any of the family members to leave lockdown since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2019. They request prayer that the Lord would intercede in their difficult situation. Read More.
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Sep. 19, 2024 | Nigeria
Kidnapped Pastor's Life in Danger
[157] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Pastor Paul.Nigerian church leaders request urgent prayer for Pastor Paul Musa. In March 2023, Pastor Paul and his wife, Ruth, were abducted from their home in northern Nigeria's Borno State by militants belonging to Boko Haram, a radical Islamist group. The kidnappers posted video of Pastor Musa in late June 2024 and threatened to kill him if their demands were not met. Church leaders worry that the Islamists may have already killed Ruth. Read More.
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Sep. 12, 2024 | Arabian Peninsula
Christian Attacked on Street
[208] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Bassam.Bassam has been attacked by people angered that he left Islam, but their outrage doesn't deter him from sharing his faith. "He is not afraid to tell people that his life has been changed by Christ, and that has put a target on his back," said a front-line worker. Bassam was walking through a dim alley when he felt compelled to move toward a main street with more light. Just as he reached the main road, two men wearing black masks attacked him with a wooden rod, swinging it at his head. Bassam blocked the strike, but the rod broke his arm. "He believes the attack was a part of the cost of being a Christ follower," said the front-line worker. Read More.
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Sep. 12, 2024 | Laos
Meetings Encourage Khmu Christians
[142] prayers in [7] nations have been posted for Khmu Christians.In early 2024, 50 persecuted Khmu Christians from several villages participated in a gathering at a church where they could share their struggles and stories with other persecuted Christians; support and pray for one another; and receive encouragement from God's Word. Front-line workers chose the location used because Christians at the host church have faced intense persecution in recent years, including the destruction of crops and forced payments for spirit sacrifices in the village. Read More.
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Sep. 12, 2024 | Uzbekistan
Husband Abuses Wife, Daughters for Following Christ
[190] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Omina.Omina was raised a Muslim, but when she started visiting a local church, she began to experience God's love and care in a way she had never known before. She and her two daughters eventually became followers of Christ. But when her Muslim husband learned of their newfound faith, he threatened them and tried to force them to return to Islam. After they refused, he mocked them, beat them and withheld food from them. Read More.
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Sep. 05, 2024 | Nigeria
Hope and Healing After Husband's Murder
[182] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Gift.Gift is only 19 years old but has already endured more anguish than most people in a lifetime. The young bride from Jos, Nigeria, saw her husband shot to death by militant Fulani Muslims. The attackers then shot her in the hand. Pregnant at the time, she collapsed and was taken to a hospital, where her baby was delivered by cesarean section. After this distressing experience, caring Christians provided for her emotional and spiritual needs through six months of encouragement and biblical counseling. Read More.
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Sep. 05, 2024 | Egypt
Christian Woman Missing
[142] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Egyptian Christian.An Egyptian Christian convert from Islam has faced intense family pressure since becoming a follower of Christ. The woman's father is an imam, an Islamic scholar, which made it difficult for her to be in public without scrutiny. In Egypt, Christian converts from Islam can experience harsh opposition from their families. Their Muslim families often feel an intense sense of shame or dishonor because they see their relatives' new Christian faith as an affront to Islam. Read More.
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Sep. 05, 2024 | Nepal
Pastor Protected from Anger of Hindu Monk
[142] prayers in [7] nations have been posted for Pastor Mukhiya.During the Christmas season of 2023, Pastor Mahesh Mukhiya encountered a Hindu monk on the street. He was unsure whether he should share the gospel with him, so he prayed in his heart and then finally approached the monk. After hearing about Jesus and Christianity, the monk immediately started shouting, calling others to punish Mahesh. Many people gathered, but most of the villagers recognized Mahesh and told the monk that he was a respected member of the village. Read More.
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Aug. 29, 2024 | Jordan
New Believer Threatened by Family
[196] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Jordanian Christian.A Jordanian Christian has received death threats since coming to faith in Christ. While undergoing training to become an imam [an Islamic religious leader], the man placed his trust in Christ. His conversion angered members of his family, who have threatened his life if he doesn't successfully complete his training and move to a Gulf state to take up an Islamic post. "Your head will be on the street," one of his family members told him. Front-line workers have requested prayer for the new believer as they determine how to best serve him. Read More.
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Aug. 29, 2024 | Vietnam
Young Man Beaten for Sharing Gospel
[152] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for young Christian man.On February 21, 2024, a 20-year-old Christian man was badly beaten for sharing the gospel. He was taken to the hospital with a severe head wound. All the medical personnel who saw him said he would not survive, but his surgery was successful, and he has returned home to recover. Read More.
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Aug. 29, 2024 | Nepal
Faith Comes by Hearing
[143] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Gambir.Gambir Bahadur Rai thought Jesus was just one of many gods until a pastor gave him an audio Bible. As Gambir listened to the Gospel of John, his heart was transformed, and he became a follower of Christ. He carries the audio Bible with him everywhere, often playing it aloud where others can hear it as well. Gambir is enthusiastic about sharing the message of Jesus Christ with others in his village. Read More.
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Aug. 22, 2024 | Bangladesh
Unrest Sparks New Violence Against Christians
[182] prayers in [10] nations have been posted for Bangladesh Christians.Political violence has escalated in Bangladesh, resulting in the resignation and flight of Prime Minister Sheik Hasina and at least 95 deaths on a single day (Aug. 4) in the capital city, Dhaka. Front-line workers report increased targeted attacks against Christians as a result. In one case, a church was attacked by an armed crowd that damaged vehicles and tried to set fire to the building early one morning. Read More.
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Aug. 22, 2024 | Burkina Faso
Fulani Muslim Turns to Christ
[138] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Sadou.The Fulani are a nomadic Muslim tribe who live in a vast region where the Sahara Desert meets the African savanna, called the Sahel. The total number of Fulani is unknown but believed to be between 20 and 40 million people. Militant Fulani Muslims have been involved in vicious attacks on Christians in many nations, including Nigeria and Burkina Faso. But some Fulani are turning to Christ, like Sadou in Burkina Faso. Sadou was raised from childhood to make and sell Islamic charms. One day he read a Christian brochure in his native Fulani language and asked a Christian for a Bible. Read More.
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Aug. 22, 2024 | Central Asia
Mob Threatens Christians, Boycotts Their Businesses
[139] prayers in [7] nations have been posted for Central Asian believers.In late 2023, unidentified citizens in a nation with a large Muslim population recorded a Christian worship gathering and then posted it online. Several women at the church service were converts to the faith and were worshiping without their Muslim husbands' knowledge. When news that the women were attending church spread in the community, a mob gathered and threatened the church's pastor and its members. Though no one was hurt, several families who attended the church are now harshly ostracized. Read More.