• Oct. 21, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Congregation Rejoices At New Building

    [155] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Congregation in the Oromo region.
    "Mother Toltu"'s church was destroyed by religious extremists.

    "Mother Toltu" was raised as a follower of the Oromo traditional religion, but she committed her life to following Christ when she heard the gospel for the first time. She donated a plot of land from her property to be used for a church, and several other believers contributed funds to the construction of a church as well. However, a mob of local Oromo religious groups attacked the believers and tore down the church they had built. Read More.

  • Oct. 21, 2021 | India

    Three Men Arrested for Sharing the Gospel

    [108] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Families of arrested believers.
    Sharing the gospel can get you arrested in India, though it's not illegal.

    Three Indian believers were arrested after sharing the gospel and interrogated by police for more than nine hours. After their arrest and while they were still in custody, one of the wives of the men wrote, "I am feeling at peace knowing God is in control of this situation. I am asking that He would be glorified and the national believers to be encouraged and their faith strengthened. I am starting to feel tired and drained, but still hopeful in Him and all the ways He desires to use this and be glorified." Read More.

  • Oct. 21, 2021 | Iraq

    Christian Convert Rejected by Family, Struggles with Deteriorating Health

    [119] prayers in [9] nations have been posted for Youhanna.
    An Iraqi Christian is struggling with long term health problems after enduring many beatings for his Christian faith.

    Youhanna's wife and children left him when he placed his faith in Christ several years ago. His extended family beat him severely many times because of his faith, and he was imprisoned in an attempt to force him to return to Islam. Read More.

  • Oct. 14, 2021 | Nepal

    Sold into Slavery, Redeemed by Christ

    [246] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Soni.
    Soni got new crutches recently.

    At age 17, Soni was sold into slavery by her own aunt. She spent three decades as a prostitute in India before a Nepali Christian helped her escape. This woman shared the gospel with Soni, and Soni joyfully accepted the invitation of salvation through Christ who loves her. Read More.

  • Oct. 14, 2021 | China

    Authorities Tell ERCC Christians to Leave Their Homes

    [145] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Early Rain Church members.
    Individuals wearing red armbands knocked on doors and told Christians to move. (Photo: ChinaAid video screenshot)

    Government persecution against the Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC) in Chengdu continues. On Sunday, Aug. 22, officials arrested 28 people gathered in a home for a worship service. The leaders of the service spent two weeks in jail and were fined. A week later, ERCC church member Zhang Fan, whose wedding was scheduled for Aug. 28, was forced to find a new wedding venue - twice - after officials threatened the venue's owners. Read More.

  • Oct. 14, 2021 | Nigeria

    Pastor Killed While Returning Home

    [168] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for the family of a martyred pastor.
    Islamists killed a pastor and stole his motorbike as he was travelling home from visiting his son.

    On Saturday, Sep. 11, Islamists ambushed and killed a pastor on the road in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The pastor had visited his son at the local university and was traveling home when the attackers confronted him and killed him. "They butchered my husband and took his motorbike," his wife said. Read More.

  • Oct. 07, 2021 | Cuba

    More than 100 New Believers Baptized

    [208] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for New Believers in Cuba.
    God's kingdom is advancing in Cuba as more than 100 new believers were recently baptized amid adversity and opposition.

    Front-line workers in Cuba recently celebrated the baptism of more than 100 believers as part of how God's kingdom continues to advance amid adversity and opposition. Read More.

  • Oct. 07, 2021 | Bangladesh

    Assailants Attack Christian Women

    [149] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Injured Christian Women.
    Unknown assailants attacked a Christian community.

    Believers in a particular community in Bangladesh are requesting prayer after assailants destroyed their homes and attacked the women in the community. A local contact wrote that the aggressors had struck just the night before. Read More.

  • Oct. 07, 2021 | Eritrea

    Christians Re-arrested After Recent Release from Prison

    [159] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Re-arrested Believers.
    The Mai Serewa Prison in Eritrea.

    A group of 15 believers was arrested once again in recent weeks despite being released from prison in the last few months. These Christians were not engaged in any illegal activity as they were arrested in their homes. "The police actually went to each of their individual houses; they weren't caught in a homestead church or gathering," a front-line worker said. Read More.

  • Sep. 30, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Islamists Attack Christian Man's Home and Businesses

    [218] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Yimenu.
    Yimenu's home and businesses were destroyed by Islamist mobs.

    Yimenu was one of the wealthiest merchants of a small town not far from Shashemane, the administrative city of West Arsi Zone in southern Ethiopia. A father of five and elder of his local church, Yimenu, along with his family, was targeted in 2020 by Muslim mobs who destroyed his home and businesses. Read More.

  • Sep. 30, 2021 | Central Asia

    "They Will Kill You"

    [175] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Pastor Threatened by Taliban.
    Pastors in this nation serve sacrificially.

    Religious affairs authorities told a pastor working in Central Asia that if the Taliban take over, they will kill the pastor. Though church meetings are restricted in the country, this pastor has hosted an enduring house fellowship in his home. Read More.

  • Sep. 30, 2021 | Sri Lanka

    Demonstration Disrupts Church Service

    [158] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Pastor harassed by villagers.
    A religious celebration in Sri Lanka.

    Christians attending a church service in western Sri Lanka were warned about a demonstration against the church. Per pandemic guidelines, only 15 believers were meeting one August day at the church south of Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital city. At about 9:20 a.m. as the service was ongoing, the pastor received a call from a member of the police department, who told him there was a demonstration going on and that he should stop the church service in order to maintain the peace Read More.

  • Sep. 23, 2021 | Afghanistan

    Pray for Christians Known to Taliban

    [243] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for The persecuted and the persecutors.
    God loves every Muslim.

    Christians in Afghanistan have been targeted by the Taliban, according to one front-line worker. As the Taliban seeks to cleanse Afghanistan based on their strict interpretation of Islam, they have targeted some believers. Read More.

  • Sep. 23, 2021 | Vietnam

    Christian Family's Home Burned in Their Absence

    [169] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Dinh Hoc and family.
    Since their home burned down, Dinh Hoc's family has lived in a simple structure similar to this.

    For weeks, Dinh Hoc's family has been harassed for their Christian faith. Recently, when they returned from three days in the mountains, they found their home burned to the ground. Read More.

  • Sep. 23, 2021 | Lebanon

    Islamists Threaten Christian Family Due to Church Attendance

    [159] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Brother Amir.
    Amid threats from Islamists to stop attending church, a Lebanese brother witnessed to them about the joy and peace he has because of Christ.

    Brother Amir was traveling with his wife and a friend when he received a phone call from a member of an Islamist group. The man threatened Amir's family, telling him that his family is under surveillance and that they spotted his only son attending a Christian church. Read More.

  • Sep. 16, 2021 | Laos

    Adult Children Reject Christian Mother

    [293] prayers in [23] nations have been posted for Suiy.
    Suiy's adult children want nothing to do with her.

    After accepting Jesus as her Savior, Suiy decided to call her son and daughter: "I told them that I believed in God, and my sickness went away. My health was strong, and I was so happy." Her children did not receive the news well. Her daughter told her to stop believing in God, or she would not come visit her mother anymore. She told Suiy she would not love her any more. Read More.

  • Sep. 16, 2021 | India

    Radicals Warn of Attacks Against Churches

    [173] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Christians in Gujarat state.
    Hindu radicals held a rally against church activity.

    After holding a rally, radicals in Gujarat state issued a statement to district authorities telling them that if they did not stop church activities in the region, the radicals would take matters into their own hands. The document issued by the radicals listed the names of 56 churches and pastors and gave district authorities three days to act. Read More.

  • Sep. 16, 2021 | Middle East

    Christian Couple Flees Amid Threats

    [181] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Rama and Joseph.
    A Syrian couple have fled their homeland and hope to move to a country where they can start a family. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

    Rama and Joseph have fled their home in Syria after threats from family due to their marriage. Rama is a former Muslim who now follows Christ, and Joseph is from a Christian background. When Rama's family learned of their marriage, they complained to a police officer. Read More.

  • Sep. 09, 2021 | Afghanistan

    Meeting Practical Needs with God's Love

    [221] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Afghan people.
    Practical assistance during this difficult time can be a way to show God's love.

    With ongoing turmoil in Afghanistan, front-line workers and others face challenges in getting aid into the country. One of the biggest obstacles is that most banks are closed, blocking necessary funds for relief supplies, food and other materials. Read More.

  • Sep. 09, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Becoming Homeless for Christ

    [173] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Momina Namee.
    Momina and her son were kicked out of their home because of her faith in Christ.

    Momina Namee, 30, grew up in a Muslim family and was pressured to marry a Muslim man while she was young. Soon after they married, they had a son. But three years after their son's birth, Momina's husband suddenly fell ill and passed away. Devastated and a single mother, Momina struggled to get by as her husband had been the provider for the family. Read More.

  • Sep. 09, 2021 | Israel

    Messianic Believers Targeted with Harassment

    [161] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Messianic believers.
    Homes of Messianic believers have been graffitied by those who oppose their faith in Christ.

    Messianic believers in Arad, South Israel, have recently become a target for harassment because of their faith in Christ. Their homes have been covered with graffiti, and attackers have spit on them and insulted the name of Jesus when the believers are out in public. Read More.

  • Sep. 02, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Christian Businesswoman Bears Witness to Christ Amid Loss

    [217] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Mariam.
    Mariam lost her livelihood when attackers destroyed her boutique. The attack grew her faith and has given her an opportunity to share the gospel.

    Mariam was born and raised in Shashamane. She is the eldest of four siblings, and she works to provide for her aging parents through a boutique she started when she was in her mid-twenties. She is a Christian, having placed her faith in Jesus Christ at a young age. Through her witness, her entire family came to Christ as well. Last year, attackers broke into her boutique, looted all the clothes and destroyed the entire property. Read More.

  • Sep. 02, 2021 | Central African Republic

    Displaced Christian Encouraged by Medical Help

    [179] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Emmanuel Dounia.
    Thousands of Christians in the CAR are living in IDP camps, like the one pictured here, after fleeing their homes when attackers invaded their villages, destroying property and assaulting anyone who opposed them.

    Emmanuel Dounia lives in an IDP camp in the Central African Republic. He was driven from his home after Seleka rebels attacked his village, burning his home and sexually assaulting his wife in front of him. His sons were killed in cannon fire, and he was also tortured. Read More.

  • Sep. 02, 2021 | Nigeria

    Woman Still Recovering After Multiple Injuries in Boko Haram Bombing

    [166] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Lydia Ishaya.
    Lydia Ishaya has undergone several surgeries for injuries following an attack by Boko Haram in 2016.

    Lydia Ishaya lost her husband in 2015 after Boko Haram shot and killed him. A year later, Lydia was in the market when Boko Haram attacked again, this time bombing the area multiple times. Read More.

  • Aug. 26, 2021 | Niger

    Widowed Mother of Six Rebuilding Life After Husband's Martyrdom

    [251] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Rahila.
    Rahila's husband was killed by his brother for his faith in Christ. She and her children fled after threats were made against her life as well.

    Rahila and Ibrahim met in Niger when Ibrahim began attending Rahila's church. Ibrahim had grown up in a Muslim home, but he heard the gospel while working in Niger, and he started attending church. Ibrahim and Rahila eventually married, and after the birth of four children, they felt called to return to Nigeria where they had two more children. Read More.

  • Aug. 26, 2021 | Iran

    Family Uses Christian Magazine to Share the Gospel

    [159] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Nastaran.
    A young boy in Iran used a VOM-supported Christian magazine to share the gospel with his family.

    Nastaran is a mother of two who regularly receives a Christian magazine that contains stories from VOM's Courageous series. Recently, her brother-in-law visited her home with his family, and her son read the story of Patrick to her nephew while excitedly showing him the magazine. Read More.

  • Aug. 26, 2021 | Nigeria

    Dozens Killed, Many Displaced in Islamist Attack on Miango Village

    [172] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Christians in Miango.
    Last month, Islamists in Nigeria's Plateau state destroyed more than 200 homes and churches, like the one pictured here.

    In recent weeks, militant Fulani Muslims have attacked villages in the Miango area of Plateau state, Nigeria, killing many and displacing thousands. As the violence escalated over the following days, the Islamists destroyed hundreds of homes and churches as well as the villagers' crops, which were being prepared for harvest, eliminating their food source and livelihoods. Read More.

  • Aug. 19, 2021 | China

    Early Rain Covenant Church Family Welcomed to United States

    [226] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Liao Qiang and family.
    Bob Fu with ChinaAid (third from left) welcomes the Liao family to the U.S.

    Liao Qiang and his family, members of the Early Rain Covenant Church, fled to Taiwan in July 2019 after repeated interrogation and harassment by the police. On June 29, the family of six arrived safely in the United States, where they will apply for asylum. Following the government raid of Early Rain Covenant Church on Dec. 9, 2018, Liao and his family were repeatedly interrogated, constantly surveilled, and harassed by police. Read More.

  • Aug. 19, 2021 | Iran

    Suicidal Woman Finds Hope in Christ

    [193] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Fariba.
    Fariba found peace in Christ after a stranger on a bus shared a Christian book with her.

    Fariba is married to a drug addict, and they have a teenage son. They live in a small room in a machine shop, and Fariba works long hours as a housecleaner to try to make ends meet. Desperate and hopeless, Fariba decided to commit suicide because she felt her life was worthless. Read More.

  • Aug. 19, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Christian Man Loses Livelihood in Riot Attack

    [172] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Alimayu.
    The remains of Alimayu's cafe after rioters attacked his business.

    Alimayu grew up in in a Christian home in the northern part of Ethiopia. As a young man, he placed his faith in Christ and became an active member of a local church. He is married with two children, and he runs a small café in Shashemane. In July, youth mobs destroyed Alimayu's business in riots that targeted the homes and businesses of non-indigenous people and Christians. Read More.

  • Aug. 12, 2021 | Sierra Leone

    Christian Woman's Sewing Supplies Stolen by Family

    [281] prayers in [22] nations have been posted for Fatima Koroma.
    Fatima's family stole her sewing equipment and tried to force her to renounce Christ.

    Fatima Koroma graduated from a VOM-supported sewing center in Kabala last year and moved to another village where she set up a sewing shop. All was going well until a year later when her older sister found her in the new village with a new job and going to church. Read More.

  • Aug. 12, 2021 | Nigeria

    Pastor Released After Seven Months in Captivity

    [171] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Polycarp Zongo.
    Rev. Polycarp Zongo was released after being held captive for 7 months by terrorists.

    On Oct. 19, 2020, Reverend Polycarp Zongo was kidnapped by members of the terrorist group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) while traveling from his home in Jos to Gombe for a conference. Within weeks of his abduction, his kidnappers released a video of him, demanding a high ransom for his release. Read More.

  • Aug. 12, 2021 | China

    Early Rain Church's Pastor Wang Yi Suffers Poor Prison Conditions

    [195] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Wang Yi.
    Pastor Wang Yi, prior to his imprisonment, with his wife Jiang Rong.

    Although prison officials have officially stated that Wang Yi, pastor of Early Rain Church, is doing well in prison, a source familiar with his condition has said the opposite is true. The source shared that prison authorities are holding the pastor in a highly restricted cell. He is not allowed to have visitors or even speak with other inmates, except for two criminal offenders who are charged with watching him. Read More.

  • Aug. 05, 2021 | Iran

    Boy Selling Socks Receives SD Card with Christian Literature

    [227] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Boy in marketplace.
    Gospel workers shared Christian materials with this boy selling socks in an Iranian marketplace.

    When a team of evangelists went to a marketplace in Qom to share the gospel, they met a young boy who was selling socks in the bazaar. As they were talking with the boy, they discovered that he had a cellphone, so they gave him a micro-SD card loaded with Christian materials. Read More.

  • Aug. 05, 2021 | China

    Officials Release Street Preacher from Residential Surveillance

    [174] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Chen Wensheng.
    Chen Wensheng at the entrance of the detention center.

    After authorities arrested Chen Wensheng on June 19, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities held him under designated residential surveillance for 20 days. During this time, members of China's Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and the State Security Department interrogated Chen and attempted to persuade him to stop proclaiming the gospel in the streets. Read More.

  • Aug. 05, 2021 | Nigeria

    Militant Fulanis Kill Pastor, 3-Year-Old Son

    [202] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Pastor Leviticus's wife and daughter.
    Pastor Leviticus Makpa and his 3-year-old son were killed after radical Muslims attacked his home.

    Militant Fulani Muslims shot a pastor and his 3-year-old son in Niger State, Nigeria. Leviticus Makpa, 39, served as a pastor and church planter at a Christian school that he established in Kamberi village. On May 21, Militant Fulani herdsman surrounded and attacked his home at the mission base. Read More.

  • Jul. 29, 2021 | Uganda

    Mother and Daughter Rejected for Christian Faith

    [267] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for Christine and her daughter, Desire.
    Desire (left) and her mother, Christine (middle), were kicked out of their home for trusting Christ.

    A teenage girl and her mother were rejected by their family because of their decision to trust in Christ. Desire is 14 years old, and when her Muslim father discovered she had become a Christian by finding her baptism card, he stopped paying her school fees, forcing her to drop out of school. He also divorced her mother, Christine, because he learned she had become a Christian as well. Read More.

  • Jul. 29, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Hunger for Bibles Continues to Increase

    [172] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Tokuma.
    With VOM's help, over 7,000 believers have received their own copy of God's Word this year.

    Tokuma lives in an area of Ethiopia dominated by tribal religions. When he became a Christian two years ago, he desired to grow in his faith, but there was only one Bible to share among the 20 members of his small church. Members took turns with the Bible, returning it to the church every Friday so their church planter could prepare for his Sunday teaching. But Tokuma hungered to know more. Read More.

  • Jul. 29, 2021 | Algeria

    Government Seals Three More Churches as Crackdown Continues

    [177] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Church Leaders in Algeria.
    The Algerian government has sealed 16 churches since 2017.

    The Algerian government sealed three churches in Oran on July 7, the latest closings in a government campaign against Christian churches that began in 2017. In November of that year, Algerian authorities began closing churches via a national ordinance mandating that permission must be obtained to use any building for non-Muslim worship. Read More.

  • Jul. 22, 2021 | Niger

    From Atheism to Joy in Christ

    [253] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for Ibrahim.
    Ibrahim was filled with joy when he got baptized after trusting Christ.

    Ibrahim is 65 years old and the father of 14 children. He has lived his life following no religion aside from belief in evil spirits. But Ibrahim now trusts in Christ. He heard the gospel when a young Fulani front-line worker explained the Scriptures to him, carefully helping him understand the salvation that is available only through Jesus Christ. Read More.

  • Jul. 22, 2021 | Iran

    Three Christian Men Sentenced to Five Years in Prison Under New Law

    [198] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for Men imprisoned for Christ.
    Because of Iran's oppressive Islamic regime, many Iranian Christians must gather in secret and receive teaching through Christian broadcast media.

    Three Christian men who converted from Islam were recently sentenced to five years in prison after they refused to renounce Christ. In November of last year, Iranian authorities raided the homes of the three men and seized Bibles, cell phones and computers, ordering the men to stop all Christian activities. Read More.

  • Jul. 22, 2021 | Nigeria

    More Than 100 Students Kidnapped from Baptist High School

    [185] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for kidnapped children.
    Radical Fulani Muslims attacked a Christian high school in Nigeria, kidnapping more than 100 students.

    Radical Fulani Muslims attacked Bethel Baptist High School in Nigeria's northern state of Kaduna on July 5, 2021. The attackers rode in on motorbikes, shooting wildly into the air as they broke through the fence surrounding the school. Read More.

  • Jul. 15, 2021 | India

    Christian Man Cares for Neighbors, Shares Gospel During Pandemic

    [232] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Sandeep.
    A Christian in India provides food and other items for his neighbors.

    Because of the recent surge of deaths due to coronavirus in India, Sandeep knew of the desperate needs of people living in surrounding villages. Risking his own health, he traveled to a remote village where people hadn't eaten in three days and provided them with food and other necessities. Read More.

  • Jul. 15, 2021 | Libya

    Church in Tripoli Faces Eviction

    [169] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Union Church congregation.
    The Union Church of Tripoli is facing eviction from the building it's used for over fifty years.

    The Union Church of Tripoli, one of five Christian denominations recognized by the Libyan government, has worshiped in the same church building for over fifty years. The building was rented from the former governmental regime on land that the government had expropriated because of its proximity to the seat of government. Read More.

  • Jul. 15, 2021 | Uganda

    Somali Believers Receive Discipleship Training

    [178] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Somali Believers.
    Somali believers receive discipleship training at a school in Uganda.

    Many believers from inside Somalia are fleeing to Uganda, and this has created a unique discipleship opportunity as they seek to establish their lives in their new country. These believers are participating in a discipleship training school where they are intentionally learning about God and growing in their Christian faith. Read More.

  • Jul. 08, 2021 | Uganda

    Mother Curses Daughter for Faith in Christ

    [281] prayers in [22] nations have been posted for Anifa.
    Anifa, 19, was kicked out of her home after she trusted Christ.

    Anifa is 19 years old and came to faith in Christ earlier this year. She had been suffering from seizures and received healing through prayer at a Christian church in Arua. Her mother, a radical Muslim, became enraged at her daughter's conversion and threw her out of their home. Read More.

  • Jul. 08, 2021 | Iran

    Young Woman's Health Improves with Prayer

    [186] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Nadia.
    After her roommate wanted to know more about Christ, Nadia began studying the Scriptures with her.

    Nadia is a Christian who was concerned about her roommate's health. Her roommate had been involved in occult and voodoo practices, and she was experiencing anxiety and feelings of hopelessness. Nadia shared her concerns with a few other believers, and they began to pray for the roommate. Read More.

  • Jul. 08, 2021 | Bangladesh

    Local Islamic Leaders Ostracize Relatives of Christian, Call for Arrests

    [182] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Mannan.
    Local Islamic leaders and Muslim villagers called for Mannan to be arrested after he became a Christian.

    After Mannan left Islam to follow Jesus Christ, area Islamic leaders called for villagers to ostracize his relatives, even telling local vendors to deny them food. As animosity toward Mannan and his relatives grew, the Islamic leaders and angry Muslim villagers called for police to arrest him and his relatives, falsely accusing them of causing trouble. Read More.

  • Jul. 01, 2021 | Pakistan

    Muslim Family Hungers for God's Word

    [235] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Shakeel and his family.
    Muslims in restricted nations and hostile areas are hungering for the truth of God's Word.

    A front-line worker recently requested prayer for a Muslim family who came to Christ after studying Scripture. Shakeel and his family were Muslims who shared a home with a Catholic Christian family. A Christian worker was visiting the Christian family regularly for prayer and encouragement when he was introduced to Shakeel's family. The worker prayed for the Muslim family, and they felt moved and peaceful during his prayer. Read More.

  • Jul. 01, 2021 | Vietnam

    Woman Denied Medical Care Because of Faith in Christ

    [186] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Den.
    Den continues to heal from a serious illness. Her Christian faith originally kept her from receiving medical care.

    After Den suffered from a serious illness for a week, members of her church rushed her to the hospital. The hospital staff sent Den home because she did not have her martyr's mother certificate with her - a document confirming that her son died militarily defending the Vietnamese Communist government. After Den had become a Christian, local authorities confiscated the document, which allows family members to receive government benefits. Read More.

  • Jul. 01, 2021 | Nigeria

    "Nowhere Is Safe Anymore"

    [189] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for those attacked for their faith.
    Thousands of Christians have been abducted and/or killed in Nigeria since the beginning of this year.

    A VOM worker has reported that ongoing attacks by militant Fulani Muslims in many regions throughout Nigeria have resulted in the deaths and abductions of thousands of Christians since the beginning of the year. "Nowhere in Nigeria is safe anymore," the VOM worker said. "People are being killed by militant Fulani Muslim men for no reason. They are not even safe in their own homes." Read More.

  • Jun. 24, 2021 | Uganda

    Muslim Woman Chased from Home After Trusting in Christ

    [261] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Hanifah.
    Hanifah Masika, 40, with her family. Hanifah's husband chased her from their home when he discovered her going to church.

    Hanifah is 40 years old. She was born into a Muslim family, and she married a Muslim man. But her faith in Islam was shaken when her children became terribly sick. Her husband called imams and sheikhs to pray for the children, but they never got better. Finally, Hanifah felt compelled to take the children to a Christian church. Read More.

  • Jun. 24, 2021 | Laos

    Three Families Facing Jail Time for Following Jesus

    [172] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for new believing families.
    Christian families in Laos often face persecution from family members, village authorities and government officials.

    On May 4, three families in one village accepted Christ, for a total of 13 new believers. The three families, who are related, decided to follow Jesus after one of the relatives experienced a miraculous healing following prayer from a pastor. Read More.

  • Jun. 24, 2021 | Iran

    Kurdish General Asks for Bibles

    [190] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for a Kurdish general.
    A Kurdish general heard the Bible on a micro-SD card and then asked for 1,000 more cards to distribute to his soldiers.

    A VOM-distributed micro-SD card loaded with a digital Bible was recently received by a Kurdish fighter in the mountains of Kurdistan. Read More.

  • Jun. 17, 2021 | Nigeria

    One Killed and Others Wounded, Missing After Islamist Attack on Church

    [276] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for Haske Baptist Church members.
    CUS202101AM_0007 The burned remains of a Nigerian home after an attack by radical Islamists.

    Radical Fulani Muslims killed one, wounded another and kidnapped five others in an attack on Haske Baptist Church in Manini Tasha village, Kaduna state. Read More.

  • Jun. 17, 2021 | Iran

    Sowing Gospel Seeds Through Street Ministry

    [188] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Front-line workers.
    Front-line workers in Iran are advancing the gospel by ministering to those who are living on the streets.

    Economic conditions in Iran have led to extremely high inflation and increased unemployment. Many who have lost jobs and financial stability are living on the streets, and front-line workers have observed children foraging for food in trash bins in order to relieve their hunger. As a result, pastors and workers in the Iranian house church network have begun ministering to those on the streets. Read More.

  • Jun. 17, 2021 | Pakistan

    Christmas Care Pack Strengthens Faith in God

    [168] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Anila.
    Pakistani children receiving Christmas Care Packs.

    Anila is a young girl who lives with her older sister, mother, and alcoholic father who spends all of the family's money on his addiction. The family has experienced much emotional trauma because of his alcoholism, and Anila's mother has attempted suicide. Read More.

  • Jun. 10, 2021 | Lebanon

    Families Find Hope Through Christian Ministries

    [207] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Christian ministry in Lebanon.
    Workers help with meal distribution at an outreach center.

    VOM workers recently reported how God is at work in families through the outreach efforts of a Christian ministry in Lebanon. Through visitation, food distribution, family counseling, Discovery Bible Study groups and educational and athletic programs for kids, Christian workers have had many opportunities to share the hope of Christ. Read More.

  • Jun. 10, 2021 | Somalia

    Hopeful Update for Imprisoned Christians Awaiting Trial

    [175] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Imprisoned Christians.
    Pray for Somali Christians who are imprisoned for their faith in Christ.

    Several Christians who were arrested earlier this year have recently seen a positive turn in their case. These Christians are currently in custody in Somaliland, a semi-autonomous area of Somalia. They were arrested earlier this year and were originally accused of spreading Christianity. Read More.

  • Jun. 10, 2021 | Iran

    Police Chief Helps Distribute Bibles

    [164] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for those who received Bibles.
    Farsi New Testaments being delivered under the cover of night.

    A Persian house church leader had two boxes of Farsi New Testaments in the trunk of his car. When he saw that he was approaching a police checkpoint, he pulled over and left the boxes of Bibles on the side of the road. Later that night, the police chief saw the boxes on the roadside and thought they might contain contraband, so he put them in his truck and took them home. Read More.

  • Jun. 03, 2021 | Benin

    Man Cursed by Witch Doctor Finds Peace in God

    [269] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for Man Cursed.
    Benoit's family tried to have him cursed by a witch doctor because of his Christian faith.

    Benoit gave his life to Christ and the problems began. Read More.

  • Jun. 03, 2021 | Bangladesh

    Angry Mob Beats Four Christian Men on First Day of Ramadan

    [190] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Ramadan Attack.
    The attack sent several to the hospital.

    Christians were attacked during Ramadan. Read More.

  • Jun. 03, 2021 | Indonesia

    Bodies of Two Christian Men Found in Mountains

    [188] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Two Men Found.
    The men's bodies were found in the mountains.

    Two Christian farmers were found murdered. Read More.

  • May. 27, 2021 | Nigeria

    33 Christians Killed in Recent Attacks by Islamists

    [277] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for the believers.
    Nigerians driven from their homes and living in a camp for internally displaced peoples.

    Islamic militant Fulanis have targeted and killed several Christians in a series of attacks across predominantly Christian communities in Benue state. Read More.

  • May. 27, 2021 | Israel

    Bible Students Request Prayer

    [196] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for the students.
    The Dome of the Rock.

    A VOM worker recently sent prayer requests from a Bible school in Israel. The students are part of an online biblical studies program and live in various countries throughout the Middle East. Read More.

  • May. 27, 2021 | Laos

    Man Evicted from Village for Faith in Christ

    [190] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Keo.
    Keo, 61, has been evicted from his village for his faith in Jesus Christ.

    After Keo's wife suffered from numerous health problems for several years, a witchdoctor told the couple to live separately until his wife found healing. Read More.

  • May. 20, 2021 | Benin

    Young Woman Rejected by Family for Following Christ

    [313] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Divine.
    Divine was kicked out of her house because of her faith in Christ.

    A young woman experienced persecution from her family for her newfound faith in Christ. Divine accepted Christ after a front-line worker shared the gospel in her village. Shortly after she became a Christian, her family began to beat her and refused to give her any food to eat. Read More.

  • May. 20, 2021 | Vietnam

    Pastor's Wife Advances the Gospel While Hospitalized

    [207] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Nguyen Thanh.
    Nguyen Thanh has continued to share the gospel while undergoing cancer treatment.

    A pastor's wife has led over 30 patients to Christ and shared the gospel with many more while hospitalized to receive cancer treatment. Nguyen Thanh and her husband have dedicated their lives to advancing God's kingdom among remote villages throughout Vietnam. Read More.

  • May. 20, 2021 | Yemen

    Finding Christ on the TV and Radio

    [177] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Christians in Yemen.
    Christian media efforts are advancing the gospel in Yemen.

    VOM workers have been contacted recently by Yemenis who are coming to faith in Christ through various media outlets. One woman reached out to a VOM worker after seeing a Christian TV program. Unbeknownst to her at the time, her husband was also watching the same show, and he contacted the worker as well. Read More.

  • May. 13, 2021 | Uganda

    Former Muslim Tortured and Driven from Home

    [295] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Geoffrey.
    Geoffrey and his family.

    Geoffrey is a former Muslim who confessed Christ as his Savior earlier this year. When Geoffrey's father learned of his newfound faith, he tortured him so badly that local police authorities intervened to stop the torture. Read More.

  • May. 13, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Christians Attacked by Orthodox Leaders

    [179] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Imprisoned and Injured Believers.
    A group of reformed Orthodox priests

    A group of believers was recently hospitalized and imprisoned by Ethiopian Orthodox leaders. Earlier this month, 16 Christians, including some reformed priests, were imprisoned after Orthodox leaders raided the home of one of the priests where the men were gathering. Read More.

  • May. 13, 2021 | Iraq

    Opportunity to Share the Gospel Among Unreached People Group

    [192] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Shabak people.
    Believers gathered in Bible study in Iraq.

    VOM workers are seeing doors of opportunity open for ministry to an unreached and unengaged people group in Iraq. The Shabak of Iraq are Islamic with very little Christian presence among them. They experience harsh discrimination from other Iraqis and Kurds, including violent attacks, which presents a barrier to reaching them with the gospel. Read More.

  • May. 06, 2021 | Iran

    "Can I Really Have My Own Bible?"

    [236] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Christian couple with new Bibles.
    Christians in Iran are hungry for God's Word, but access is limited.

    A Christian couple were recently blessed by receiving Bibles. After VOM workers placed Bibles and Christian literature in the backseat of a taxi, the taxi driver distributed them to the believers in his small group. Read More.

  • May. 06, 2021 | Laos

    Families in Two Villages Threatened with Prison, Expulsion from Schools

    [181] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Families threatened with prison.
    Believers in Laos pray during a Bible study.

    After several families in two villages accepted Christ, authorities in each village pressured them to reject the "foreign religion." In one village, authorities threatened to imprison four families if they didn't reject Christ. Read More.

  • May. 06, 2021 | Malawi

    Opposition Increasing as Many Muslims are Turning to Christ

    [201] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Christians facing heightened opposition.
    Yao church planters walking to a church building.

    Muslims in Malawi are staging rallies and making threats as many are placing faith in Christ. A front-line worker said, "We have seen an unusual move of the Holy Spirit as Muslims are putting their trust in Christ in large numbers." In response, Muslim groups throughout Malawi are mobilizing to convince those who have converted to Christianity to return to Islam, and they are threatening new believers to choose between following Christ or being killed. Read More.

  • Apr. 29, 2021 | Benin

    Former Satan Worshipper Now Follows Christ

    [273] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Jean.
    Jean used to worship Satan, now he worships Christ.

    Jean's family were devil worshippers who participated in traditional ceremonies, worshiping Satan and cursing people, when an evangelist came to his house in 2011 to share the gospel. As the evangelist preached about the peace of God in Jesus, Jean placed his trust in Christ. Read More.

  • Apr. 29, 2021 | Mozambique

    Christians Seeking Refuge Face Additional Challenges

    [191] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Displaced Christians.
    Displaced Christians are living in camps while waiting to seek refuge in a safer area of Mozambique.

    Believers are displaced and waiting to find refuge after fleeing recent attacks. After militant Islamists recently besieged the town of Palma, many were driven from their homes with nothing more than the clothes they wore. Read More.

  • Apr. 29, 2021 | Myanmar

    Christian Families Pressured to Choose Jesus or their Village

    [178] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Believers facing opposition.
    A Christian family in Myanmar, evicted from their village years ago.

    Eleven families of believers from the Palaung tribe in Shan State have experienced pressure from villagers to leave their new Christian faith. Villagers grew angry because the believers had gathered to worship and pray. Read More.

  • Apr. 22, 2021 | Iran

    "The Most They Can Do is Kill Me"

    [285] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Hamed.
    A red New Testament in Farsi next to a portrait of the Iranian ayatollah.

    A Muslim religious leader and professor named Hamed began chatting with Christians on a Christian broadcasting website. He was angry that someone would proclaim Jesus as the way and the truth. That conversation turned into Hamed writing in every day with questions. A week later, Hamed wrote to say that he had given his life to Christ secretly, but that he was afraid of the reaction of his family and workplace. Read More.

  • Apr. 22, 2021 | Mozambique

    Christian Persecution Especially Severe as Militants Continue Assault in Cabo Delgado

    [197] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Attacked Christians.
    Islamists sieged the town of Palma, burning homes and vehicles, and killing many.

    Islamist insurgents recently led a three-day siege that left several people dead, hundreds trapped and many missing. In March, hundreds of al-Shabab attackers entered Palma completely unannounced, entering houses and killing whomever they found. Read More.

  • Apr. 22, 2021 | Uganda

    Believer's Family Torments Him Daily

    [210] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Sohail.
    Pray for Sohail and his wife

    Sohail became a believer several years ago, but his family refuses to accept his beliefs. Shortly after his conversion, they ran him out of the house. Today, Sohail, his wife, and their children live nearby, and his family continues to cause trouble. Read More.

  • Apr. 15, 2021 | Pakistan

    Christians Injured in 2013 Peshawar Bombing Still Recovering

    [256] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Samina Azeem and Aqeel Arif.
    Samina Azeem awaits yet another surgery on her foot to correct injuries she sustained when a suicide bomber attacked her church in 2013.

    Two Christians who were among the 150 injured in the 2013 suicide bomb attack on All Saints Church in Peshawar are still recovering. Aqeel Arif's left leg was injured in the blast, and doctors later had to amputate his leg due to subsequent infection. Read More.

  • Apr. 15, 2021 | West Africa

    Fulani Believers Receive Bibles

    [185] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Fulani Believers.
    Many Fulanis across the Sahel are eager to hear God's Word.

    This year, many Fulani believers have received audio Bibles as part of an ongoing effort to deliver God's Word among the Fulani tribes in central and northern Sahel. Read More.

  • Apr. 15, 2021 | Indonesia

    Suicide Bombers Attack Church, Injure 19

    [174] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Injured Believers.
    Suicide bombers attacked Surabaya Central Pentecostal Church in 2018 in Indonesia.

    Suicide bombers attacked the Hati Yesus Maha Kudus church in Makassar as its Palm Sunday service ended on the morning of Sunday, March 28. An Islamic extremist couple on a motorcycle attempted to enter the front gate of the church parking lot. Read More.

  • Apr. 08, 2021 | Ethiopia

    They Thought They Could Wipe Out the Church

    [266] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Believers with a new worship space.
    Believers did not give up their faith after their worship space was taken away.

    When Muslims in eastern Ethiopia forced a small congregation out of the home used for meetings, they expected the Christian presence in their area to cease, but the number of believers has increased in the last year. Biblical Christians in the region, which is 98 percent Muslim, used to meet for worship on Sundays in the living room of one of the believers. Local Muslims pressured the man's landlord to evict him, and then the believer was unable to rent another house because the same Muslims had threatened other landlords. Read More.

  • Apr. 08, 2021 | Pakistan

    Woman Working to Provide for Family Pressured to Convert to Islam

    [204] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Samina and Amjed Masih.
    Samina (right) has been pressured by her Muslim co-workers to convert to reject Jesus Christ. She is working to provide for her family as her husband Amjed (left) suffers from kidney disease.

    In 2016, Samina Masih started working in a factory to support her family and cover her husband's medical expenses. Amjed, her husband, has suffered from kidney disease for six years and requires dialysis three times a week. Recently, as Samina prayed at work, her Muslim co-workers stopped her and pressured her to convert to Islam. Read More.

  • Apr. 01, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Christian Mother Recently Widowed

    [288] prayers in [22] nations have been posted for Liya.
    Liya and her new baby son.

    Liya was eight months pregnant when her husband was killed by rioting Muslims in 2020. When riots broke out against Christians in central Ethiopia, Liya's husband rushed home from his job in another city. While he traveled, the attackers found him and killed him. Read More.

  • Apr. 01, 2021 | Afghanistan

    Christians Endure Persecution as God's Kingdom Advances

    [193] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Christians Reaching the Unsaved.
    Christians must meet secretly in very small groups.

    Christians in Afghanistan continue to face difficulty, discrimination and persecution from family members, radical Islamist groups and the government for their faith in Christ. Workers in the country have asked for prayers regarding our persecuted family and the advancement of God's kingdom. Read More.

  • Apr. 01, 2021 | Eritrea

    Christian Women Released from Island Prison

    [203] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Previously Imprisoned Women.
    The notorious Nakura prison.

    On Feb. 26, 2021, a group of 21 Christian women was released from the notorious Nakura prison. Many of the released prisoners were part of a large group of Christians arrested in the summer of 2017. Over 200 were arrested, including a group taken during a wedding celebration. Read More.

  • Mar. 25, 2021 | Israel

    Tough Times for Ethiopian Believers

    [291] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for Ethiopian Believers in Israel.
    Ethiopian believers in Israel experience double persecution.

    The extreme circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic have led to great highs as well as difficult valleys for Messianic members of the Ethiopian expatriate community in Israel. Many Ethiopian Jews have immigrated to Israel, and some of those have embraced Jesus as Messiah. Read More.

  • Mar. 25, 2021 | Saudi Arabia

    Believer Facing Prison and Family Harm

    [222] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Arab convert.
    His problems began after the believer helped his sister flee the country.

    An Arab convert from Saudi Arabia has suffered great difficulties after being exposed as a follower of Jesus. Last year, the believer was open about his faith and was reported to the authorities. Conversion is illegal and punishable by death in Saudi Arabia, and authorities opened an investigation against him. Read More.

  • Mar. 25, 2021 | Algeria

    Two Christians Sentenced to Prison for "Shaking Faith"

    [207] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Rachid Seighir and Nouh Hamimi.
    Pastor Rachid Seighir was convicted of shaking the faith of Muslims in Algeria. (photo credit: Morning Star News)

    A pastor and another Christian have been sentenced in absentia to two years in prison and a $3,745 USD fine for "shaking the faith of Muslims" through their Christian bookstore in Oran, Algeria. Pastor Rachid Seighir was the manager of the bookshop, while Nouh Hamimi worked as a salesperson. The bookstore has been closed since 2017 through an order from the governor of the state. Read More.

  • Mar. 18, 2021 | Laos

    Family Barred from Two Villages for Christian Faith

    [306] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Gate and his family.
    Gate (center) and his wife (right) have been barred from two villages for their Christian faith. Yet, they remain firm in their faith in Jesus Christ.

    Shortly after Gate and his wife became Christians, his parents and the leader of their village forced the couple and their young child out of their village because of their faith. With no place to stay, Gate started to build a home for his family on farmland he owned in another village about a mile away. Read More.

  • Mar. 18, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Christians Rejoice After Church Destroyed

    [207] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Enewari Full Gospel Church members.
    The Enewari Full Gospel Church was burned.

    Angry community members burned down a church after a medical missions team shared the gospel. The Enewari Full Gospel church hosted the medical missions team last year in an effort to bless their community of Debre Brehane. Many people came seeking medical attention, angering local Orthodox extremists. Read More.

  • Mar. 18, 2021 | Korea, North

    Many Audio Bibles Already Distributed This Year

    [206] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for North Korean believers.
    North Koreans listen to God's Word using an audio Bible they received.

    So far this year, VOM has distributed many audio Bibles to North Koreans who work in China. These audio Bibles have proven valuable to those who have received them. "Through the MP3, I learned that God created the world, and that God is alive and protecting us," said one North Korean who received an audio Bible. Read More.

  • Mar. 11, 2021 | Laos

    Family Fined for Hosting Worship Gatherings

    [287] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for See and His Family.
    Village authorities fined See (right) after his family hosted worship gatherings in their home.

    On Jan. 4, authorities in See's village learned of the Christian worship gatherings that had been taking place in his family's home. The village leader and other authorities visited him, seizing official documents that stated he and his family of five were part of the village and changing the date to three years earlier. Read More.

  • Mar. 11, 2021 | Philippines

    Newly Baptized Followers of Christ Face Persecution

    [219] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for New Christians in Mindanao.
    Christians in the Philippines mourn following an Islamic extremist attack.

    Several new Christians on the predominantly Islamic island of Mindanao are enduring various forms of persecution. Read More.

  • Mar. 04, 2021 | Iran

    The Book with All the Answers

    [292] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Tala.
    Tala's sister working on the crossword puzzle.

    A new believer who has been scared to talk about her faith with her family walked in to a surprising sight: Her brother reading a Bible and her sister working on a crossword puzzle in a Christian magazine. Read More.

  • Mar. 04, 2021 | Niger

    Rejected Son Now Leading Others

    [222] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Annahi.
    Annahi

    A young man who was kicked out of his home when he became a Christian is now leading a church. Annahi became a Christian as a teenager after he visited a church out of curiosity. After he gave his life to Christ, he was chased out of his Muslim family's home, and his father disinherited him. Read More.

  • Mar. 04, 2021 | Yemen

    Man Accused of Blasphemy Faces Death

    [284] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Bashir.
    Bashir

    A man accused of blasphemy in Yemen may face the death penalty. Bashir Al-Bakari was arrested in Jan. 2021 by the Muslim Brotherhood militia in Taiz, who accused him of apostasy and preaching Christianity. Read More.

  • Feb. 25, 2021 | Pakistan

    Imran Released After Decade-Long Imprisonment

    [276] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Imran Ghafur.
    While in prison on a false blasphemy charge, Imran's mother died.

    Imran Ghafur, who spent more than 10 years in prison on a false blasphemy charge, was acquitted and released late last year. Read More.

  • Feb. 25, 2021 | Somalia

    Christians Arrested in Somalia

    [232] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Christians in custody.
    Pray for the release of the Somali believers.

    Eleven Christians are currently in custody in Somaliland, a semi-autonomous area of Somalia. Five believers were arrested on Jan. 21, including an Ethiopian woman and a couple with their newborn baby. When they were brought to court on Jan. 25, the 11 believers were told they are suspected of spreading Christianity. Read More.

  • Feb. 25, 2021 | Syria

    Syrian Refugee Growing in Faith

    [197] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Ishmael.
    The front-line worker mentors other young men through sports.

    A Syrian boy who came to Christ while taking refuge in another country continues to follow the Lord. Ishmael left Syria with his family when the war broke out. He started school in the country where they were living as refugees but had to leave school at age 8 in order to work and help his father provide for the family. Read More.

  • Feb. 18, 2021 | India

    Pregnant Mother Beaten, Loses Baby

    [380] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Lila.
    Christians in India risk attacks by Hindu radicals when they worship in church.

    Radical Hindus recently attacked Christians in India, beating several church members, including a pastor, and killing an unborn baby. One extremist assaulted Lila Bhai, who was eight months pregnant with her second child. Read More.

  • Feb. 18, 2021 | Iran

    Firouzi Re-Arrested

    [282] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Ebrahim Firouzi.
    A screenshot from a video Ebrahim Firouzi released before his re-arrest. (Credit: Article18)

    Iranian Christian convert Ebrahim Firouzi was summoned from internal exile in early February 2021 to a court hearing, after which he was re-arrested. Ebrahim had already spent nearly seven years in prison and was completing a three-year internal exile 1,000 miles from home. Read More.

  • Feb. 18, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Local Officials Oppose Church Being Rebuilt

    [200] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Local government officials.
    Believers pray over the plans for the new buildings before construction was stopped.

    Though a church in the Alaba zone received permission to rebuild a church destroyed by Muslim extremists in 2019, local officials are not allowing them to begin work. On Feb. 9, 2019, extremists systematically moved through the town of Alaba Kulito dismantling churches. Read More.

  • Feb. 11, 2021 | Myanmar

    Christ on the Throne

    [310] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Christians in Myanmar.
    Christians know their hope is in the Lord, not the government.

    Christians in Myanmar request urgent prayer after a military coup that occurred on Feb. 1. A military junta (committee) had ruled Myanmar for more than five decades, and when national elections were held in 2015, the country entered its brightest period of history in the modern era, said a VOM worker in Myanmar. Read More.

  • Feb. 11, 2021 | Iran

    From Smuggling Drugs to Smuggling Bibles

    [211] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Former Drug Smuggler.
    A former drug addict is now baptizing new believers.

    A former drug smuggler became an evangelist after meeting Jesus. The man's father was an Islamic leader who groomed his son to become an Islamic cleric. However, the son abandoned the path his father intended, turning to alcoholism and drugs. Read More.

  • Feb. 11, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Persecution Changed Priorities for Members of Destroyed Churches

    [205] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Members of Destroyed Churches.
    One of the destroyed churches.

    After Muslim mobs destroyed 12 churches in the Alaba zone in 2019, believers waiting for their churches to be rebuilt report an increased dedication to missions and outreach in their communities. In a single day, extremists moved through the town of Alaba Kulito and destroyed 12 church buildings. Read More.

  • Feb. 04, 2021 | Middle East

    Extremists Threaten Pastor with Knives

    [331] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Threatened Pastor and His Family.
    The pastor and his family serve in a difficult part of the Middle East.

    A pastor and his family haven't left their home for more than 30 days after receiving threats from extremists. The pastor serves in a difficult area of the Middle East and has lived under pressure for many years. Read More.

  • Feb. 04, 2021 | China

    House Church Pastor Given Five Years in Prison

    [225] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Pastor Li Juncai.
    The church after the cross was removed.

    Chinese Communist Party authorities recently sentenced a Henan house church pastor to five and a half years in prison after he refused to let officials place patriotic slogans in his church. Pastor Li Juncai also received a fine of more than $7,000 USD. Read More.

  • Feb. 04, 2021 | Iran

    Two Sisters Lead House Churches

    [202] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for "A" and her sister.
    Two sisters have planted 27 house churches.

    In an Islamic regime where women do not have many rights, God is using women as his brave ambassadors. After someone shared the gospel with Sister A, she became a believer and was later baptized. Read More.

  • Jan. 28, 2021 | Turkey

    Producing Christian Truth in a Dark Place

    [264] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Christian literature producers.
    Turkey can be a dark place for Christians to work in.

    A group of Turkish believers who produce Christian literature ask for prayer as they operate in Turkey's tense climate for believers. After nine years of publishing a theological magazine, "we are still able to do our job in this dark atmosphere," they wrote. Read More.

  • Jan. 28, 2021 | Iran

    A Surge of Bibles into Iran

    [199] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Believers needing Bibles.
    The number of believers began growing faster than the leaders expected, leading to a need for Bibles.

    Believers in Iran training new Christians realized the house churches were growing at such a rate that they needed to smuggle Bibles into the country. Read More.

  • Jan. 28, 2021 | Nigeria

    Ongoing Attacks in Northern Nigeria

    [213] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Christians in Gora Gan.
    One of the burned homes

    Christians in the Gora Gan community sent urgent requests for prayer as they were under attack by Fulani militants. The area has experienced repeated incursions by Fulani attackers against the Christians there. Read More.

  • Jan. 21, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Pastor Martyred While Preaching

    [345] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Pastor Aklilu's family.
    Pastor Aklilu

    A man enraged with a pastor went to the pastor's church and stabbed him just as he began his sermon. Pastor Aklilu of Hossana, Ethiopia had been intentional about sharing the gospel in his community. Read More.

  • Jan. 21, 2021 | Laos

    Worship Continues in Spite of Persecution and Tight Conditions

    [219] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Mr. Han.
    Worship in Mr. Han's home can get cramped because so many have come to Christ.

    Mr. Han came to Christ when he hit a dead end after many years of being sick. Neither the doctor nor the village witchdoctor could help him, even though he spent most of his money and killed much of his lifestock. He heard that Jesus could perform miracles, so he took his whole family to the Christian village to accept Christ. Read More.

  • Jan. 21, 2021 | Lebanon

    Still Serving Syrian Refugees

    [196] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Front-line workers.
    Syrian refugees who remain in Lebanon continue to need practical assistance.

    Front-line workers in Lebanon continue to assist the many Syrian refugees still in the country. One pastor has dedicated part of his church property to growing produce for refugee families, an endeavor carried out by the refugees themselves who are planting, maintaining, picking and distributing the produce. Read More.

  • Jan. 14, 2021 | Laos

    Teenager Kicked Out of House for Following Christ

    [321] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for Sa.
    Since being kicked out of her home, Sa is now living with her Christian friend who led her to Jesus.

    After several conversations about Jesus with Peng, her 14-year-old friend, 15-year-old Sa finally accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. Leaders in Sa's village have a history of persecuting Christians, and numerous villagers hate Christians, evicting many believers. Read More.

  • Jan. 14, 2021 | Tanzania

    Providing Homes for Persecuted Pastors

    [193] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Pastors evicted from their homes.
    One of the families who received a home.

    Pastors working in Tanzania's semi-autonomous islands face oppressive persecution as Muslim political leaders have systematically tried to remove all churches from the region. Read More.

  • Jan. 14, 2021 | Myanmar

    Five Families Kicked Out of Village in Rakhine State

    [200] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Maung Cia and his family and friends.
    Maung Cia (middle) and his family were one of five families kicked out of their village after they participated in a worship service.

    After being shackled for three days and fined for buying a banana from a Christian vendor, Maung Cia sought out a pastor in a neighboring village. The pastor shared the gospel with Maung and two of his friends, and they all accepted Christ. Read More.

  • Jan. 07, 2021 | India

    Family Blessed By Christmas Care Pack

    [222] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Sahil and his family.
    Children receive Christmas Care Packs.

    Last fall, 6-year-old Sahil received a VOM Christmas Care Pack filled with a Bible, a toy and personal hygiene products. When he returned to his home with the backpack, his father's eyes filled with tears. His mother, who passed away a few years ago, had always wanted to give her son a nice backpack, but it was not something his single father could afford to buy. Read More.

  • Jan. 07, 2021 | Laos

    Next Door to the Enemy

    [187] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Khmu Christian families.
    Christians worship right next door to a man who opposes them.

    Tensions have deepened in a Khmu village where two families have come to Christ and one lives next door to a high-ranking solider - who happens to despise Christians. Read More.

  • Jan. 07, 2021 | Cuba

    Authorities Try to Force Church from Home

    [189] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Pastor Osmani and wife.
    Pastor Osmani and his wife are being forced from their home by Cuban authorities.

    After a two-year standoff, authorities informed a Cuban pastor on Nov. 13, 2020, that he had 24 hours to vacate his home, which functions as a house church. Read More.

  • Dec. 31, 2020 | Egypt

    On the Run as Converts to Christianity

    [292] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Adel and his wife.
    Adel and his wife fled Egypt after severe persecution.

    An Egyptian couple bears on their bodies the effects of their choice to follow Christ. When Adel became a believer in 2009, his brother and his friends brutally beat him, crushing his shoulder. Read More.

  • Dec. 31, 2020 | Laos

    Permission to Follow Christ Denied

    [229] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Wat and his wife.
    This 27-year-old woman refused to renounce Christ in spite of the threat of going to prison.

    When Wat and his wife wanted to accept Christ, the front-line worker who shared the gospel with them was afraid. He knew their village head was a tough man. So he advised them to ask for permission first. Read More.

  • Dec. 24, 2020 | Vietnam

    13 Families Beaten, Kicked Off Land

    [242] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Thirteen Hmong families.
    One of 13 Hmong families in Vietnam recently pushed out of their village after being beaten and having their land confiscated.

    Thirteen Hmong families moved from Northern Vietnam to the Dak Lak province after enduring physical beatings and having their land confiscated. Read More.

  • Dec. 24, 2020 | Pakistan

    Freed from the Brick Kiln

    [199] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Hamza.
    Hamza and his family will now operate a rickshaw business.

    A laborer in Pakistan who has experienced ongoing persecution from the owner of the brick kiln where he was indentured is now free. Read More.

  • Dec. 24, 2020 | Laos

    Six Believers Evicted from Village at Gunpoint

    [193] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Six Believers Evicted.
    Christians in Laos who were forced out of their village are praying they can return home soon.

    Near the end of July, six believers were evicted from their village in the Luang Nam Tha province for their Christian faith. Armed village leaders and others invaded their homes and demanded they leave the village. Read More.

  • Dec. 17, 2020 | India

    Angry Mob Displaces 84 Christians

    [255] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Displaced Christians.
    Christians in Odisha state experienced massive attacks that began in a similar fashion.

    A Hindu mob drove 84 Christians out of their homes in eastern India after the Christians refused to convert back to Hinduism. Read More.

  • Dec. 17, 2020 | Syria

    War, Trauma and Cancer

    [210] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Rida and Wife.
    His choice to follow Christ has been costly.

    War, trauma and a child stricken with cancer drove Rida and his wife to seek hope at a Christian church, and there they met and accepted Jesus Christ. When the couple, who had formerly been committed Muslims, told Rida's father about their conversion, he beat and cursed his son, spitting on him and telling him he would receive no inheritance. Read More.

  • Dec. 17, 2020 | Egypt

    Constant Abuse for Egyptian Converts

    [188] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Nour.
    Life is not easy for those who leave Islam to follow Christ in Egypt.

    The path to Christ for an Egyptian convert is not a smooth one. Nour has followed this road for more than 18 years after coming to faith in 2002. Read More.

  • Dec. 11, 2020 | Laos

    Pray for Families Denied Rice Following Drought

    [249] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Families Denied.
    These families remained firm in their faith when they were denied rice after a drought.

    Authorities in a Laos village denied rice distributions for Christian families. Read More.

  • Dec. 11, 2020 | Iran

    Imprisoned Christian Dangerously Depressed

    [229] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Depressed Christian.
    Christian activity is highly dangerous in Iran.

    A Christian woman in prison is dangerously depressed. Read More.

  • Dec. 11, 2020 | China

    Bob Fu Faces Continued Harassment in the U.S. by Chinese Communist Party

    [186] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Bob Fu Harassed.
    Bob Fu

    Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid, has been the target of harassment by Chinese Communist Party actors ongoing since September. Read More.

  • Dec. 03, 2020 | India

    Virus Restrictions Embolden Those Opposed to Christianity

    [255] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Families under restrictions.
    One of the affected families.

    Christians in the state of Chhattisgarh have faced a tough time since coronavirus restrictions were placed in India. According to a VOM worker, they face four main challenges: they are not allowed to farm, which is their main source of income; they live in ongoing fear of social excommunication; they are prohibited from using communal wells; and their Christian activities are closely monitored. Read More.

  • Dec. 03, 2020 | China

    Hotel Fined for Allowing Christians to Conduct Worship Activities

    [195] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Chinese Christians.
    Chinese authorities fined the Xiamen Sea View Garden Hotel for allowing Christians to gather at the hotel.

    On Oct. 16, Chinese authorities charged the Xiamen Sea View Garden Hotel with violating regulations on religious affairs. The hotel allowed Christians to gather several times from late June to early August. Authorities fined the hotel owners the equivalent of nearly $3,000. Read More.

  • Dec. 03, 2020 | Myanmar

    Woman Kicked Out of Her Village for Following Christ

    [210] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Leah.
    Leah has grown in her faith since being thrown out of her village for it.

    After her mother and sisters died, villagers isolated Leah, a Christian, to the point where she could no longer survive on her own. She traveled to a nearby village where the missionary and pastor who had led her to Jesus Christ lived. Read More.

  • Nov. 26, 2020 | Cuba

    Officials Demolish Second Church in Santiago de Cuba

    [279] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Pastor Alain and congregation.
    Authorities previous demolished another church in Santiago.

    The congregation of an Assemblies of God church stood outside singing and weeping as authorities in Santiago de Cuba demolished their church. The Los Pinos congregation has operated for more than 10 years in this city at Cuba's southeastern tip, but authorities decided it must be destroyed. Read More.

  • Nov. 26, 2020 | Laos

    Laotian Teenager Kicked Out

    [226] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Monthida.
    Monthida is now living with a pastor's family.

    A Laotian teenager was kicked out after her mother and stepfather realized she had become a Christian. Monthida, 16, accepted Christ after a friend brought her to church. Whenever Monthida would come home late from school, her mother would quiz her on where she had been and why she was late. Read More.

  • Nov. 26, 2020 | Iran

    Imprisoned Christian's Son Expelled from School

    [206] prayers in [11] nations have been posted for Ali and his son.
    Believers are imprisoned for their Christian activities, but others continue to share the gospel in spite of the risks.

    An imprisoned Christian is asking for prayer specifically for his son. Ali was arrested for his participation in a house church, and he is being kept in a prison separate from other Christians arrested at the same time. He also says he is often insulted by other prisoners for his faith. Read More.

  • Nov. 19, 2020 | Myanmar

    Front-Line Worker Accused of Denigrating Buddhism

    [259] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Aung Tun Oo.
    Buddhism has a strong hold in Myanmar.

    A Christian accused of speaking against Buddhism has been told that a verdict will be delivered this fall. Aung Tun Oo was accused by two radical Mahbahtah monks of denigrating Buddhism in 2017. Read More.

  • Nov. 19, 2020 | Mali

    Kidnapped Swiss Missionary Dead

    [203] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Beatrice's Family.
    Beatrice was known for distributing tracts like this one, called "Have you read the Bible?"

    Swiss missionary Beatrice Stockli arrived in Mali in 1998 as part of a missions team. Beatrice grew close to a local pastor's family, staying in Timbuktu for several years and becoming known for distributing tracts. She was kidnapped in April 2012 during an Islamist insurgency in the country and held for 10 days before being released. She briefly returned to Switzerland but returned to Mali in 2013 against her family's wishes and the advice of her government. Read More.

  • Nov. 19, 2020 | China

    Early Rain Elder Twice Banished

    [196] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Li Yingqiang and family.
    Elder Li Yingquiang spent time in prison, then exile before returning to Chengdu. He's been forced out again.

    A leading elder from the Early Rain church has been forced out of Chengdu again after intense pressure. Elder Li Yingqiang was arrested in Dec. 2018, a few days after lead pastor Wang Yi had been arrested. Li Yingqiang spent eight months in prison before banishment from the city of Chengdu for one year. Read More.

  • Nov. 12, 2020 | Kazakhstan

    Pastor Jailed

    [269] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Pastor Zhetis.
    Pastor Zhetis has long dealt with harassment from the local authorities as he serves in Shymkent.

    A pastor in Shymkent spent 10 days in prison on a false charge of breaking pandemic quarantine requirements, the latest in a string of harassments. Read More.

  • Nov. 12, 2020 | Indonesia

    Village Will Not Allow Renovation for Christian Home

    [198] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Christian accused of causing unrest.
    Christians are allowed to worship in Indonesia, but Muslim radicals often use laws to restrict them.

    A Christian in Indonesia has been told by local officials that she cannot renovate her house if she intends to use it for Christian purposes. Read More.

  • Nov. 12, 2020 | Laos

    Pray for Village Elder Ostracized by Family for Faith

    [200] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Khampang.
    Khampang is discouraged by his family's rejection.

    Khampang came to Christ after witnessing God's goodness and being healed. Only two others in his village were Christians, and both had experienced harsh reactions from their families. Read More.

  • Nov. 05, 2020 | Ethiopia

    Christian Loses Hand in Beating

    [346] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Kofi.
    Kofi is willing to sacrifice his life for Christ.

    When the young Ethiopian man came to faith his community turned against him, but he remains committed to following Christ. Kofi grew up as a Muslim, but when an evangelist introduced him to Christ, he was instantly drawn to the saving grace of God and became a Christian. Read More.

  • Nov. 05, 2020 | Myanmar

    Lingering Effects of Imprisonment

    [214] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Aikhun Plot.
    Christianity has been rendered illegal in Myanmar's Wa State.

    A key denominational leader targeted by Communist separatists continues to suffer lasting effects from his imprisonment. In 2018, the Wa State Army arrested Christians and at least 120 pastors in northeastern Myanmar, including Aikhun Plot. In prison, he spent most of his time with a metal leg chain digging into his ankle, causing long-term bone damage and pain, and he also contracted a skin disease. Read More.

  • Nov. 05, 2020 | Lebanon

    Pastor in Lebanon Struggling as He Serves

    [237] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Baki.
    Serving among the Muslim majority people in Lebanon can be discouraging.

    A pastor in Lebanon is struggling under repeated challenges. Pastor Baki grew up in a Muslim family but later converted to Christianity. He became a pastor and now often leads other Muslims to Christ in his mountain community in Lebanon. Read More.

  • Oct. 29, 2020 | Uganda

    Woman Poisoned by Family

    [297] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Anna's children.
    Anna is now healthy at home with her heavenly father.

    A VOM-supported Christian woman died earlier this month from complications due to poisoning. Anna came to Christ from a Muslim background, and her family did not accept her choice. Read More.

  • Oct. 29, 2020 | Syria

    Pray for Pastor Zaki in Damascus

    [205] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Pastor Zaki.
    A pastor distributes a Bible along with food aid to a refugee.

    Christian leaders in Syria are struggling to operate fully after years of trying circumstances and constant instability. War, economic struggles, and now coronavirus all contribute to a constant influx of displaced peoples in need. Read More.

  • Oct. 29, 2020 | Colombia

    Paramilitary Groups Close at Least 60 Churches

    [207] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Pastors and members of closed churches.
    A secretly-taken photo of one of the closed churches.

    In the last few weeks, field workers in Colombia have been inundated with reports of paramilitary groups closing churches throughout northern Colombia in the states of Antioquia, Bolívar, Chocó and Córdova. They began compiling a list, which has grown to 60 churches. Read More.