• Jan. 20, 2022 | Mexico

    Going Where No One Wants to Go

    [121] prayers in [8] nations have been posted for Roberto.
    Roberto takes the gospel to remote, unreached villages where no one else wants to go.

    Roberto is an indigenous evangelist who takes the gospel to communities where others will not go. He walks for days to reach these communities, often with little or no food, communication or adequate medical care. Read More.

  • Jan. 20, 2022 | India

    Pastor and Wife Jailed on False Charges of Forced Conversions

    [72] prayers in [5] nations have been posted for Pastor Arjun and Nara.
    Area pastors and church leaders visit the local judge's office to show support for Pastor Arjun.

    On Oct. 3, 2021, Hindu fanatics barged into Pastor Arjun's church building, threatened the pastor and chased members of the congregation away. The police arrived, but instead of controlling the situation, they began beating the pastor and his wife, Nara. Read More.

  • Jan. 20, 2022 | Iran

    Kurdish Man Hears the Gospel Through Action Pack Kit Christmas Card

    [74] prayers in [6] nations have been posted for Naske and her Father.
    A young woman in Iran received an Action Pack, which provided an opportunity for her to share the gospel with her family.

    Naske placed her trust in Christ after hearing a Christian friend's testimony of faith. She then began reading the Bible, praying and fasting with her friend for Naske's family to find Christ. She also received a VOM-sponsored Action Pack Kit, which included Bibles, food and a Christmas card with blessings from a Kurdish church. Read More.

  • Jan. 13, 2022 | Ethiopia

    "God Intervened and Rescued Me"

    [235] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Makda.
    Makda's husband kicked her out of her home for her Christian faith.

    After visits to traditional healers and prayers from local sheikhs failed to heal her daughter from a mental illness, Makda decided to take her daughter to a Christian church for prayer. As the Christian leaders ministered to the girl and prayed for her, she gradually experienced full healing from her illness. Because of her daughter's miraculous healing, Makda placed her faith in Jesus Christ. Read More.

  • Jan. 13, 2022 | Laos

    Police Threaten to Nail Hands and Feet of Christians Who Gather for Worship

    [199] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Kanoa.
    Authorities threatened Kanoa, 14, with prison time if he continues to worship Jesus Christ.

    In late Oct. 2021, police announced to six villages that Christians are not allowed to share about Jesus Christ and that children younger than 17 are not allowed to believe in Jesus. The officers took pictures of every known believer in each village and examined their homes, taking down any crosses hanging on the walls. Read More.

  • Jan. 13, 2022 | Iran

    Nine Christians Released from Prison Pending Review

    [157] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Recently Imprisoned Believers.
    Some Iranian believers have been released from prison after the Iranian Supreme Court stated that participating in house churches is not a criminal act.

    Nine believers who have spent nearly three years in prison have been released while their sentences are under review. The believers were arrested in Jan. and Feb. 2019 and later sentenced to five years' imprisonment for "acting against national security." Read More.

  • Jan. 06, 2022 | Bangladesh

    Militant Buddhists Attack Christian Families Constructing Church

    [248] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Attacked Christians.
    Christians in in rural Bangladesh worship in a church.

    After worshiping peacefully together in a tin hut for more than 10 years, a church of more than 20 families from the Chakma people group recently began constructing a church building in their village. Shortly after building began, a mostly-Buddhist organization known as the Underground Army destroyed the church building's windows and threatened to torture or kill the men of the church, who fled into the jungle for several weeks. Read More.

  • Jan. 06, 2022 | Lebanon

    Two Boys Experience Victory in Christ

    [176] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Boys in a Bible study program.
    This football program provides young boys with a positive community where they can hear the gospel.

    Two boys who participated in a VOM-supported sports and Bible study program in Lebanon have recently experienced emotional healing through the ministry. One of the boys came from a background of domestic violence and struggled with aggression; the other boy battled feelings of neglect and rejection because of his home life. Read More.

  • Jan. 06, 2022 | Ethiopia

    Pastors Killed by Violent Rebels

    [187] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Kejela Mekonnen's and Tole Geramu's Families.
    Violent rebels killed two Ethiopian pastors when they refused to renounce their faith in Christ.

    Pastors Kejela Mekonnen and Tole Geramu were killed by violent rebels in late 2021 because of their faith in Christ. Members of the Oromo Liberation Front rebel group threatened these pastors, telling them to stop preaching about Jesus and instead lead their congregations back to the traditional Oromo religion. Read More.

  • Dec. 30, 2021 | Central African Republic

    Finding Healing Through Trauma Ministry

    [244] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Ipolite Kimono.
    After losing his family in an attack on his church in 2014, Ipolite has found healing through a VOM-sponsored training in trauma ministry.

    Ipolite Kimono attended a VOM-sponsored training in 2021 to learn strategies for helping those who have experienced trauma. Rebels attacked Ipolite's church in 2014 and assassinated his wife, two children, and brother along with many others. Read More.

  • Dec. 30, 2021 | Laos

    Couple Forced Out of Village After Placing Faith in Jesus Christ

    [185] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Phan and Yun.
    Phan and Yun lost everything after being forced out of their village.

    After visits to hospitals and a witchdoctor failed to heal Phan from his ongoing illness, his wife, Yun, decided to bring him to her Christian relatives. When Phan and Yun heard the gospel and Phan soon experienced healing, the couple decided to put their trust in Jesus Christ. Read More.

  • Dec. 30, 2021 | Burkina Faso

    Church Destroyed, 400 Bibles Burned

    [186] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Christians in Obiri village.
    Religious extremists attacked this church, destroying equipment and burning 400 Bibles.

    Christians in the village of Obiri seek to rebuild their church after it was destroyed in a recent attack. Religious extremists tore down the church walls, ruined a generator and sound equipment and burned 400 Bibles. Read More.

  • Dec. 23, 2021 | Syria

    Replanting What ISIS Destroyed

    [230] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Aaron and Khalil Hassan.
    VOM is helping these brothers replant their apricot farm after ISIS destroyed it.

    Aaron and Khalil Hassan are two brothers who fled to Lebanon after the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) chased them from their apricot farm in 2013. While in Lebanon, the brothers heard the gospel and placed their faith in Christ. When they returned to Syria, they found their farms pillaged; ISIS had chopped down all the apricot trees and used them for firewood. Read More.

  • Dec. 23, 2021 | Malawi

    Christians Targeted in Response to Gospel Revival Among the Yao People

    [166] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Yao Christians.
    A mob of Muslim extremists recently destroyed a church in Malawi in response to the growing number of those leaving Islam to follow Christ.

    Many members of the Yao people group have come to faith in Christ over the past 18 months, leading to a rise in Islamist attacks on Christians in the region. "Tensions have reached a new level over the last part of this year," a front-line worker shared. "Christian converts from Islam are being physically attacked and hunted." Read More.

  • Dec. 23, 2021 | Uganda

    Explosives in the Shape of Bibles

    [177] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Threatened Christians.
    Churches in Uganda have been warned about planned attacks by extremists.

    Church leaders in Uganda have received reports that violent extremists are planning attacks on churches, some even using explosives in the shape of Bibles to carry out their attacks. Read More.

  • Dec. 16, 2021 | Iran

    Sharing Jesus in the Stable

    [229] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Abid.
    Abid, an Afghan refugee, has been reading the Bible and is eager to know more about Jesus. Pray for his salvation.

    A Christian worker in Iran has distributed Bibles and Christian literature at the stables where his daughter takes horse-riding lessons. Though he questioned leaving the materials in a dirty stable, he felt led to evangelize there as he reflected on Christ's birth in a manger in a stable. Recently, the worker discovered an Afghan refugee, Abid, reading one of the Bibles left by the worker. Read More.

  • Dec. 16, 2021 | India

    Hindu Extremist Mob Disrupts Church Service, Burns Family's Home

    [179] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Kabir and his family.
    Members of a Christian family examine the remains of their home, burned down by Hindu extremists.

    On Nov. 28, Kabir, his four sons and their families went to a 9 a.m. church service in a nearby village. As the service started, about 50 members of the Hindu extremist group Vishav Hindu Parishad disrupted the service and called the police, making false accusations against the pastor. The mob threatened to demolish the church building. Read More.

  • Dec. 16, 2021 | Nigeria

    One Killed, Three Abducted in Church Attack

    [182] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Kidnapped Christians.
    Islamists armed with guns attacked a Christian worship service, killing one and abducting three others.

    Islamists attacked an evangelical church in Kabba, Kogi during a Sunday service, killing one and abducting three others. Read More.

  • Dec. 09, 2021 | India

    Hindu Nationalist Mob Assaults Christians; Police Arrest Believers Instead

    [235] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Attacked Christians.
    Christian men held in Nandini police station in Chhattisgarh, India until after 3 a.m. (Morning Star News)

    On Oct. 17, about 500 Hindu nationalists beat and stoned more than 60 Christians and detained them, accusing them of forcefully converting Hindus to Christianity. When police arrived, they watched the attacks occur, but then detained the Christians instead of those in the mob, who even vandalized vehicles belonging to the believers. Read More.

  • Dec. 09, 2021 | Lebanon

    80 Children Hear the Gospel at Sports Camp

    [171] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Children hearing the gospel.
    Dozens of children heard the gospel at an evangelistic sports camp in Lebanon.

    Front-line workers held a "sports day" evangelistic outreach event in November for youth of all backgrounds, including several Muslim children. Read More.

  • Dec. 09, 2021 | Nigeria

    Ten Killed, Dozens Kidnapped in Attacks on Christian Villages

    [185] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Families of murdered believers.
    Many believers have lost loved ones after a recent attack on a church service in Nigeria.

    Militant Fulani Muslims attacked a church service in southern Kaduna state, killing two and kidnapping dozens. Eight others, including a pastor, were killed in earlier attacks on predominantly Christian villages. Read More.

  • Dec. 02, 2021 | Burkina Faso

    Displaced Pastor Reaches Refugees for Christ

    [218] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Pastor Pierre.
    This pastor fled his village when extremists attacked and began shooting. Now, he is reaching other refugees with the gospel in his new city.

    Pastor Pierre led a church in northern Burkina Faso until 2019 when jihadists attacked his village. When the attackers entered his village and began shooting, Pastor Pierre was warned that "the terrorists are coming to kill you; you have to leave." Read More.

  • Dec. 02, 2021 | Myanmar

    Family Expelled from Land, Home After Placing Trust in Jesus Christ

    [170] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Aung Hte and Family.
    Aung Hte's family after losing their home and land for deciding to follow Jesus.

    After Aung Hte and his wife came to faith in 2017, his in-laws expelled him and his family from their land and home. His family became destitute and was forced to live in a tent on rented land while Aung Hte worked in a remote fishing village to provide for their needs. Read More.

  • Dec. 02, 2021 | Iran

    Iranian Christians Shine Light in Dark Economy

    [158] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Christians in Iran.
    While Iranians grow discouraged with the state of their country, our Christian brothers and sisters inside Iran share the hope available in Christ as they reach out to meet needs in the name of Jesus.

    Iranian Christians have a unique opportunity to advance the gospel amid increasing challenges due to Iran's struggling economy. Rapid inflation, high unemployment and the impact of the pandemic have created severe economic woes for many inside Iran. Read More.

  • Nov. 25, 2021 | Myanmar

    Authorities Hunting Down Church Leader for His Faithful Witness

    [255] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Maung.
    A church leader in Myanmar is on the run as authorities seek to silence him for his faithful witness.

    Following the military coup that occurred earlier this year in Myanmar, authorities have been searching for local church leader Maung, seeking to detain him for his faithful Christian witness and leadership among congregants. Read More.

  • Nov. 25, 2021 | Iran

    House Churches Impacted By Economic Crisis

    [183] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for House church members.
    Houses churches in Iran face challenges due to the country's struggling economy.

    Iran's house church network faces challenges as a result of the country's struggling economy. With limited access to food and fuel and a job shortage, believers face increasing difficulty in opening their homes to share the gospel with friends and family or disciple new believers. Read More.

  • Nov. 25, 2021 | Cameroon

    New Believer Threatened, Homeless

    [187] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for New believer facing hardship.
    One of our Christian brothers in Cameroon is on the run after his Muslim family locked him up and threatened his life because of his newfound faith in Christ.

    A Christian brother is facing hardship after leaving Islam to follow Christ. This brother came to faith in Christ just weeks ago. After his girlfriend found out about his newfound faith, she reported him to his Muslim family, who locked him in a room for more than 24 hours to try to force him to recant his faith. Read More.

  • Nov. 18, 2021 | China

    Authorities Detain Family from Early Rain Covenant Church

    [245] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for Dai Zhichao, wife and sons.
    Dai Zhichao and his family.

    On the morning of Nov. 1, government authorities detained Dai Zhichao along with his wife and their two sons. Dai, a practicing preacher of Early Rain Covenant Church and the leader of a small group, was about to take his family to another province for a vacation. Read More.

  • Nov. 18, 2021 | Kazakhstan

    Officials Monitor Unregistered Church

    [167] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Religious Affairs Department officials.
    Unregistered churches are sometimes monitored by the government.

    An unregistered church in Oral was fined after a police raid in January, and officials continue to monitor the congregation regularly. On Jan. 8, police and officials from the Religious Affairs Department raided the church's Christmas service, taking several members of the congregation to the police station. Read More.

  • Nov. 18, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Former Islamist - "I Don't Get Peace If I Do Not Witness for Jesus"

    [197] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Sheikh Ashim Hussein.
    Sheik Ashim Hussein is a former Islamist who now boldly preaches the gospel.

    ​Sheikh Ashim Hussein, 41 and father to nine children, grew up as a devout Muslim. Zealous for Islamic teachings, he sought to destroy Christianity and once mobilized his students to set fire to a church. But when the church members gathered at the sight of their burned church and prayed aloud for the forgiveness of those responsible, their witness bewildered Sheikh Ashim and shook his spiritual foundations. Read More.

  • Nov. 11, 2021 | Uganda

    Pastors Blessed with Motorbikes

    [221] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Nine Christian leaders.
    These pastors received new motorbikes to help their ministry efforts.

    Nine Christian leaders caring for and serving persecuted believers in Uganda recently received new motorbikes to increase the effectiveness of their ministry outreach. Some of these workers faced difficult terrain on foot in order to minister, and their range had been limited because of traveling challenges. Read More.

  • Nov. 11, 2021 | India

    Two Men Attacked at Water Pump

    [189] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Attacked father and son.
    Villagers joined drunks to attack the family.

    A Christian father and his adult son were attacked by villagers while pumping water in Rajasthan state. The two men went to the village water pump one evening for their nightly needs. A group of villagers were near the pump partying and drinking. They began yelling at the Christian men, saying, "You are Christians and have no right to have water!" Read More.

  • Nov. 11, 2021 | Nigeria

    Christians Discouraged After Months of Relentless Attacks

    [199] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Christians in Plateau and Kaduna states.
    Relentless attacks on villages, homes and churches in predominately Christian areas of Nigeria have left thousands displaced.

    Front-line workers report that Christians in Plateau State and Southern Kaduna are battling fear, anger, bitterness and unrest after Muslim Fulani herdsman attacked and killed many in these predominantly Christian areas over the last few months. Read More.

  • Nov. 04, 2021 | Nepal

    Pastor Dies After Contracting COVID-19

    [265] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Lomas Shrestha's family and church.
    Pastor Lomas Shrestha

    Believers in Nepal are mourning the death of a beloved pastor who died from complications of coronavirus. Lomas Shrestha had served as a pastor for the last 20 years after coming to Christ. Last year, Pastor Lomas enthusiastically distributed Christmas Care Packs and supplies to pastors during the first wave of the pandemic. "This is the right time to help people who are in need," he said. Read More.

  • Nov. 04, 2021 | Afghanistan

    "A Dangerous Time for Believers"

    [201] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Believers in Afghanistan.
    Pray for God's grace for Christians in the country right now.

    A front-line worker who spent years living in Afghanistan says it is a dangerous time for believers in the country but that God is working in spite of the Taliban advance. The front-line worker said believers inside the country are making different choices: some have fled the country, some are in hiding and some are choosing to stay in order to be a light. Read More.

  • Nov. 04, 2021 | Ethiopia

    "Jesus Is My Relative"

    [204] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Chaltu Abdalla.
    Chaltu's family refused to help her when her husband died unless she returned to Islam.

    Chaltu Abdalla was born and raised in a Muslim family, but she found faith in Christ when she was young. She later married a Christian man and started a family. Earlier this year, her husband was killed by gunmen, and their home, crops and possession were burned to the ground in violent ethnic-based conflicts that targeted evangelical Christians. Read More.

  • Oct. 28, 2021 | Cuba

    Government Prohibits Church from Meeting

    [230] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Amparo Gallo and congregation.
    Amparo Gallo's congregation has been banned from gathering by the Cuban government.

    A house church of 1,000 members has been banned from gathering for services by the Cuban government. Read More.

  • Oct. 28, 2021 | Somalia

    Somali Christians Mourn Loss of Fellow Believer

    [188] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Friends and family of a Somali Christian.
    A key Somali believer died recently.

    Somali Christians are mourning the loss of an influential Christian woman. A man who served alongside her wrote, "Those of us left behind may grieve because we miss our brothers and sisters, but the believers who die are happy to be with Christ." Read More.

  • Oct. 28, 2021 | Central Asia

    Pastors Train Children with Illegal Gospel

    [196] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Children learning the gospel.
    These children desperately need to learn the truth about who they are in Christ.

    Pastors in Central Asia are faithfully teaching the gospel to children even though such action is against the law. In many post-Soviet countries, teaching religion to children under age 18 is illegal. As followers of Christ, however, these pastors know it is important for young people to learn about the Bible and faith in God from a young age. Read More.

  • Oct. 21, 2021 | Ethiopia

    Congregation Rejoices At New Building

    [234] prayers in [18] 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

    [178] prayers in [15] 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

    [188] prayers in [13] 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

    [285] prayers in [19] 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

    [171] prayers in [14] 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

    [195] prayers in [18] 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

    [224] prayers in [16] 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

    [163] prayers in [15] 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

    [177] prayers in [16] 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

    [226] prayers in [19] 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"

    [182] prayers in [15] 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

    [167] prayers in [15] 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

    [252] prayers in [19] 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

    [179] prayers in [17] 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

    [167] prayers in [16] 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

    [299] 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

    [181] prayers in [15] 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

    [187] 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

    [226] prayers in [16] 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

    [177] prayers in [17] 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

    [167] prayers in [15] 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

    [222] 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

    [184] 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

    [171] 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

    [256] 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

    [163] 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

    [177] 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

    [230] 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

    [198] 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

    [176] 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

    [197] 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

    [228] 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

    [268] 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

    [174] 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

    [179] 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

    [254] 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

    [204] 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

    [186] 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

    [234] 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

    [170] 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

    [179] 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

    [284] 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

    [188] 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

    [184] 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

    [236] 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

    [187] 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"

    [190] 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

    [262] 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

    [173] 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

    [191] 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

    [278] 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

    [189] 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

    [169] 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

    [177] 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

    [166] 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

    [270] 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

    [191] 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

    [189] 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

    [314] 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"

    [286] prayers in [22] 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

    [198] prayers in [17] 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 [18] 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 [18] 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 [16] 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 [16] 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 [19] 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 [17] 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 [20] 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 [20] 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 [17] 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 [20] 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 [18] 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 [16] 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 [14] 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 [22] 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 [19] 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 [15] 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 [16] 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 [15] 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 [15] 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 [20] 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 [20] 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 [15] 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 [17] 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 [14] 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 [17] 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

    [346] 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.