• Oct. 18, 2018 | India

    New Violence Against Christians in Uttar Pradesh

    [6] prayers in [2] nations have been posted for Believers in Uttar Pradesh.
    Two of the pastors arrested remained joyful.

    Christians in Uttar Pradesh are experiencing a new onslaught of persecution throughout the state, including the closing of churches, imprisonment of Christians and false accusations against pastors of forced conversions and kidnappings. On Sept. 5, police arrested a pastor and 270 church members in Jaunpur, accusing them of illegally converting Hindus to Christianity. Read More.

  • Oct. 18, 2018 | Laos

    Widow Threatened by Village Leaders

    [5] prayers in [2] nations have been posted for Analu.
    New believers in Analu's village were told to give up their religion or get out.

    Analu, a widow in her 60s, and eight other people in her village placed their faith in Christ after believers in a neighboring village visited to share the gospel. Shortly afterward, police visited Analu and told her that she and two young relatives she cares for would have to leave unless she abandoned her new faith. Read More.

  • Oct. 18, 2018 | Uganda

    Abandoned by Her Muslim Husband, Elizabeth Remains Strong in Faith

    [6] prayers in [2] nations have been posted for Elizabeth.
    Elizabeth's husband abandoned her after he learned she became a Christian.

    Elizabeth was a secret believer for a year before she told her Muslim husband. While working in her shop one day, she heard an audible voice saying, "Seek me and find your life." Seeking to know the God who had spoken to her, she visited a church and eventually came to faith in Christ. Read More.

  • Oct. 11, 2018 | Laos

    Pastors to Meet with Authorities About Christian Families Facing Eviction

    [272] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Believers Facing Eviction.
    Authorities in their village told the new Christians they had to get out.

    Three pastors in northern Laos are planning to meet with authorities to discuss the status of 23 Christian families who were recently ordered to leave the village. The pastors hope to persuade the authorities to allow the Christians to remain in the village by explaining a new law that allows for religious freedom. Read More.

  • Oct. 11, 2018 | Nigeria

    VOM-Supported Widow Killed in Roadside Accident

    [149] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Hasina's Family.
    Hasina was overjoyed when she received the gift of a grinding machine.

    Hasina Yakubu, whose husband was killed in a 2009 attack by Fulani Muslims, died in a roadside accident in September 2018. Since her husband's death, Hasina had been supporting her three children as well as a niece, whose father was killed in the same attack that took her husband. Read More.

  • Oct. 11, 2018 | Central Asia

    Christian Couple Faces Increasing Persecution for Evangelism

    [144] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Rinat and Richa.
    Rinat and Richa face increasing pressure because they lead a house church.

    Rinat and Richa face increasing pressure from authorities and family members for their evangelistic work, which includes leading a secret house church, distributing Christian literature and sharing the gospel in their restricted nation. Read More.

  • Oct. 04, 2018 | Yemen

    New Believer Rejected by Family

    [316] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Khalid.
    Yemeni believers face extreme persecution from their families and society.

    After leaving Islam recently and placing his faith in Christ, Khalid has faced several tests of his new faith. His wife left him, taking their two young children with her, and said she would return only if Khalid returned to Islam. And his three closest friends told him that news of his conversion had spread and he could be killed for rejecting Muhammad. Read More.

  • Oct. 04, 2018 | India

    Radical Hindus Assault Pastor and Church Member

    [193] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Pastor Nakul and Ansh.
    Pastor Nakul was beaten so badly he required hospital treatment.

    Pastor Nakul and a church member named Ansh were assaulted on June 18 by 10 Hindu radicals. The attackers hit them with sticks and punched them repeatedly in the head and chest, leaving them bleeding and bruised. Read More.

  • Oct. 04, 2018 | Sri Lanka

    Mob Threatens Christians

    [197] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Threatened Church Members.
    Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka fear that if more people become Christians, the monks will lose their status in Sri Lanka.

    In mid-July, four Buddhist monks and about 20 villagers gathered outside an Assemblies of God church as its Sunday worship came to a close. As worshipers left the building, villagers shouted insults, obscene language and even death threats at them. Read More.

  • Sep. 27, 2018 | Myanmar

    Crackdown on Christians in Ethnic Wa Region

    [298] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Wa Region Believers.
    These 14 Christian leaders were arrested by the Wa State Army.

    Many pastors, evangelists and church members in the ethnic Wa region of Myanmar's Shan state were arrested recently, while others are missing, according to VOM sources. Read More.

  • Sep. 27, 2018 | China

    More Closures, Raids and Arrests for Chinese House Churches

    [211] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Chinese House Churches.
    As officials removed the cross atop Christ Church in Henan province, it caught fire.

    Government authorities shut down Beijing's largest house church on Sept. 9 as the result of a conflict that began in April, when authorities ordered the Zion Church to install security cameras facing the congregation. The church refused, and authorities subsequently closed the church. Read More.

  • Sep. 27, 2018 | Nigeria

    Boko Haram Again Attacks Village of VOM-Supported Pastor

    [212] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Pastor Matthias's Village.
    The violence in northern Nigeria touches lives again and again.

    Boko Haram fighters have again attacked the village of Pastor Matthias Yuguda, a VOM-supported front-line worker in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The Islamists shot and wounded an 80-year-old man during the attack, and stole food and personal items from villagers. Read More.

  • Sep. 20, 2018 | Eritrea

    Agents Hunt Christians After Preacher's Visit

    [313] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Hunted Eritrean Christians.
    Mulu was arrested while attending a secret church meeting. Her husband died in prison.

    Security agents are hunting for Christians who attended an informal sermon by the well-known Ethiopian evangelist Surafiel Demssie, who visited Eritrea on the first Ethiopian Airlines flight into the country in more than 20 years. Read More.

  • Sep. 20, 2018 | India

    Faithful Families Lose Homes in Fire

    [219] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Christian Families.
    This church was also burned by Hindu activists.

    Hindu activists burned the homes of seven Christian families in May 2018 after they ignored the group's demands to stop meeting for prayer and worship. About 10 families have been meeting faithfully every week, since converting to Christianity several years ago. Local Hindu groups had warned them repeatedly to stop meeting, but the families ignored the warning. When the families planned a three-day prayer meeting in May, the Hindus again warned them not to meet. Read More.

  • Sep. 20, 2018 | Mexico

    Nearly 30 Christians Forced from Homes and Farmland

    [227] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Exiled Christians.
    Nearly 30 Christians were forced out of their homes and off their farmland because they are Christians.

    Authorities in Chiapas have forced nearly 30 Christians out of their homes and off their farmland simply because they are Christians. The men and women, who are also losing most of their personal belongings, are being humiliated, beaten and detained for days at a time by local government authorities. Read More.

  • Sep. 13, 2018 | Bangladesh

    Christian Convert Released from Prison

    [325] prayers in [22] nations have been posted for Sisir.
    Sisir is happy to be back with family after two years in prison for his faith.

    A Christian convert from Islam who had been imprisoned for more than two years was released on bail recently. Sisir Islam became a believer in 2012 and immediately began sharing Jesus with others in his community, leading 17 friends to Christ. On Sept. 23, 2014, after returning home from a VOM-supported training center, Sisir was charged with the murder of a local business man. Read More.

  • Sep. 13, 2018 | Sri Lanka

    Mob Threatens Christians

    [213] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Harvest Mission Church.
    Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka view Christian congregations as a threat.

    On July 8, about 50 villagers carrying sticks interrupted the Sunday morning worship service at the Harvest Mission Church in Kiran. Read More.

  • Sep. 13, 2018 | Nigeria

    Pastors Targeted in Fulani Attacks

    [231] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Pastor Jacob.
    Pastor Jacob is now caring for the children of Christians who were killed.

    Fulani herdsmen continue their attacks against Christians in northern Nigeria, specifically targeting pastors. Pastor Silas was talking with a church security guard after choir practice when Fulani Muslims attacked, killing the pastor and wounding the guard. "Silas was the target because he was a pastor," a VOM worker said. In a separate incident, Fulani raiders killed the Rev. Vincent Damina as he fled an attack on his church. Read More.

  • Sep. 06, 2018 | Uganda

    Couple Expelled from Family Home After Leaving Islam for Christ

    [367] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for John and Wife.
    John and his pregnant wife were forced to take shelter in a barn.

    "John" and his wife have been living in a barn on church property since being kicked out of the family house by his parents, who disapprove of John's conversion to Christianity. After becoming seriously ill, John, formerly a Muslim, eventually decided to attend a church service and seek healing through prayer. Read More.

  • Sep. 06, 2018 | India

    Pastors Arrested and Accused of "Conversion Racket"

    [215] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Arrested Pastors.
    This newspaper article accused the Christians of running a "conversion racket."

    Two pastors have been detained since July 22, when they were arrested on accusations of running a 13-year "conversion racket." The men were teaching a discipleship lesson to 18 believers when members of the Hindutva youth movement interrupted their class and accused them of converting people by allurement. Read More.

  • Sep. 06, 2018 | Syria

    Religion Teacher Finds God

    [236] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Amena.
    Amena was a religious teacher before she found Christ.

    Amena had been a religion teacher for 23 years when her brother introduced her to Christ. After seeing how her brother and other Christians could talk directly to God, her heart was changed and she came to faith in Jesus. Read More.

  • Aug. 30, 2018 | Uganda

    Former Imam Faces Persecution After Converting to Christianity

    [340] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for Darweshi.
    Darweshi and his pastor during a pastoral visit.

    A former Muslim leader who placed his faith in Christ on April 14 after a debate with a Christian evangelist is now being threatened by men from his former mosque. Darweshi, who is currently receiving discipleship training as a new Christian, has received death threats and fears for his family members' lives. Read More.

  • Aug. 30, 2018 | Pakistan

    Persecuted Believer Gives Half of His Earnings to Church

    [220] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Ma'ruf.
    Ma'ruf was thankful for the gift of a rickshaw to help support his family.

    A Christian convert from Islam who received a rickshaw to help him start a small business recently gave 50 percent of his first day's earnings to the church in gratitude for God's care for him and his family. Ma'ruf was raised in a Muslim home but became a Christian as an adult. His family tried repeatedly to persuade him to return to Islam, and Muslim relatives even held Ma'ruf, his wife and their two children captive for eight days, threatening to kill them. Read More.

  • Aug. 30, 2018 | Former Soviet Union

    Orphans Receive The Action Bible

    [209] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Orphans in former Soviet countries.
    A contented Action Bible recipient and his little brother.

    This summer, several orphans in the former Soviet Union received copies of The Action Bible in their own language during a summer camp. The children, who received their first Bible during camp last summer, have shared how The Action Bible has helped them better understand parts of the Bible that they didn't understand as well before. Read More.

  • Aug. 23, 2018 | Nigeria

    Pray for Teens Who Attended VOM-Sponsored Camps

    [294] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Teen victims in Nigeria.
    Teen victims of Boko Haram violence were rejuvenated at a camp just for them.

    Some teens affected by Boko Haram attacks had the opportunity recently to work through their grief and anger at VOM-sponsored camps, where they also were able to make friendships with other teens who have suffered similar experiences. Read More.

  • Aug. 23, 2018 | Sri Lanka

    Four Christians Assaulted

    [210] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Sri Lankan Believers.
    Buddhists protested a local church in Sri Lanka. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

    A pastor, his wife and two other Christians were assaulted recently after leaving a birthday party at the home of another Christian. Five villagers confronted the Christians, threatening and verbally abusing the pastor. When the Christians continued walking away, the attackers began throwing stones at them, injuring the pastor's wife and another female. Read More.

  • Aug. 23, 2018 | Uzbekistan

    Judge Forbids Christians from Meeting for Prayer

    [212] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Khamid and Ziyatullo.
    Believers in Karshi were penalized for praying together.

    Police in the city of Karshi raided the homes of two Christians recently, taking them and five other believers in for questioning. On May 23, police raided the homes of Khamid Rakhmonov and Ziyatullo Rakhmonov (no relation) before taking both to the police station for questioning. Read More.

  • Aug. 16, 2018 | Central Asia

    Authorities Harass and Detain 10 Christians

    [301] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Detained Christians.
    Believers in Central Asia desire to share the gospel with their countrymen.

    On Aug. 6, authorities entered a house where 10 members of a church group were staying and confiscated passports, phones, Christian literature and DVDs. They pressured and threatened the five men and five women before detaining them. Read More.

  • Aug. 16, 2018 | China

    House Church Receives Large Fine

    [198] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Hanzhuang Church.
    The Hanzhuang church is a simple village church which will have trouble paying the fine.

    Shi Xinping, leader of a house church in Zongdian, Henan Province, was fined 50,000 yuan, or about $7,500, by the regional religious affairs committee for organizing illegal activities without reporting them to the department of religious affairs. His church, the Hanzhuang Village house church, received three government notices in one week. Read More.

  • Aug. 16, 2018 | Tanzania

    Church Closed in Zanzibar

    [212] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Pastor Daniel and Congregation.
    Authorities want to close all of Zanzibar's churches.

    In May, authorities in Zanzibar interrupted a church service before arresting the pastor and closing the church. Pastor Daniel Kwileba Kwiyeya was in mid-sermon when police officers entered the church and took him by the arm. After the pastor's daughter protested his arrest, she also was arrested and taken to the police station with her father. Read More.

  • Aug. 09, 2018 | Bangladesh

    Former Muslims Forced Back to Islam

    [336] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Sujan.
    Sujen led almost 100 families to Christ in nearby villages.

    Thirty families turned back to Islam after facing intense community pressure, said local church planter Sujen, who became a believer through a Bible correspondence course several years ago. After becoming convinced Jesus was the Way, the Truth and the Life, he began gradually sharing with others in his community. Though his parents rejected him, Sujen went on to lead all his brothers and their spouses to Christ. Read More.

  • Aug. 09, 2018 | Eritrea

    Believers Hopeful for Change Under New Peace Deal

    [206] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Eritrean believers.
    Eritrean believers are praying for change in their country.

    Eritrean believers inside and outside the country are cautiously hopeful a new peace deal between Ethiopia and Eritrea will end decades of animosity and promote greater freedom within Eritrea. "All our family in Eritrea are holding their breath with high expectation, hope and prayer," wrote a VOM contact. Read More.

  • Aug. 09, 2018 | Uganda

    A New Name and a New Life for a Young Mother

    [230] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Mary Lusabe.
    Mary's parents threw her out of their home after she came to Christ.

    Mary Lusabe was the promiscuous daughter of a Muslim businessman before she met Christ. Mary had two children by different men and was pregnant with a third child by another man when she began having health problems. Her mother, though a Muslim, advised her to ask the Christians for prayer. Their prayers cleared up her health problems, and Mary started attending church. Read More.

  • Aug. 02, 2018 | Central African Republic

    Pastor and Other Christians Driven Out of Capital

    [312] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Pastor Panhoue and his family.
    Some of the children receiving VOM assistance in eastern CAR.

    Almost five years after being forced to abandon their home in the Central African Republic's capital, Bangui, a pastor and his family are still unable to return. Pastor Panhoue Fidele Pamphile, who had served in Bangui since 1990, was forced to flee with his family in 2013 after angry Muslims began to intimidate his congregation and disrupt services. Read More.

  • Aug. 02, 2018 | Uzbekistan

    Police Warn Christian to Cease Religious Activity

    [241] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Saidjon.
    In Uzbekistan, believers meet in secret.

    Police in Urgench, Uzbekistan, broke into Saidjon Urazov's apartment recently and warned him to stop participating in illegal Christian meetings (evangelical churches are denied registration in Uzbekistan). Read More.

  • Aug. 02, 2018 | China

    Church Raided for Third Time in 30 Days

    [230] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Pastor Huang and the Bible Reformed Church.
    Police officers take down names of church attendees at the Bible Reformed Church. (Photo: China Aid)

    On July 15, local authorities entered the Bible Reformed Church in Guangzhou, Guangdong, for the third time in a month. As in previous raids, the officials detained and interrogated the pastor and several others. According to Pastor Huang Xiaoning, about 30 government officials entered the church during a service, told the Christians to stop gathering and required everyone to show their ID cards. They then took Pastor Huang and at least five others for interrogation, which lasted for hours. Read More.

  • Jul. 26, 2018 | Kenya

    Police Defuse Bomb in Church

    [292] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Pastor Galgallo and Church Members.
    Churches in Kenya remain on alert.

    Local police defused a bomb placed in an evangelical church in eastern Kenya. Pastor Galgallo noticed a strange item in his Evangelical Victory Church in Merti before the start of the morning service on May 12. He immediately took a photo and reported it to the police. Read More.

  • Jul. 26, 2018 | Turkey

    New Regulations to Affect Christians

    [212] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Turkish Christians.
    New regulations will hinder Christian meetings in Turkey.

    Following a June election, the president issued several decrees that will affect Christians in Turkey. According to a Turkish pastor, meetings in homes are now illegal. Though the law may be intended to hinder Islamic sectarian meetings, it will definitely hinder Christians meetings as well. Read More.

  • Jul. 26, 2018 | India

    Falsely Accused Christians Released

    [219] prayers in [12] nations have been posted for Sudarshan, Sumanti, Rupash and Neelam.
    The two men and two women were held for over a month on anti-conversion charges.

    A group of Christians who have been in prison since May 29 were released in July. Sudarshan, Sumanti, Rupash and Neelam were arrested under the state of Jharkhand's anti-conversion laws. Villagers accused the four of beating Sumanti's father with a bamboo stick because he refused to convert to Christianity. Read More.

  • Jul. 19, 2018 | Azerbaijan

    A Challenging Existence for Believers

    [264] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Christian in Central Asia.
    An evangelist shares the gospel in Central Asia.

    A believer in Azerbaijan intended to purchase some land for a small business. However, he did not want to pay the usual bribe to the mayor. Read More.

  • Jul. 19, 2018 | China

    Four Christians Detained in Guangzhou Church Raid

    [307] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Pastor Detained.
    Authorities arrested Pastor Huang Xiaoning mid-sermon. (Photo: China Aid)

    Authorities raided a small house church in China's southern Guangdong province during a service on June 14, detaining Pastor Huang Xiaoning and three church members. Read More.

  • Jul. 19, 2018 | West Africa

    Pastor's Wife Traumatized after Fleeing Islamists

    [365] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Pastor's Wife.
    Caption: Christians who had returned to the North are now fleeing again.

    Pastor Trevor and his wife, Clarice, worked in the north of their country pastoring a church until Islamists overtook the area. Read More.

  • Jul. 12, 2018 | Uganda

    Pray for a Family Separated After Turning to Christ

    [351] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Yassin and Family.
    Yassin and his family have been living separately after their house was burned down.

    Yassin, a former imam, and his wife became Christians two years ago after Yassin's wife was healed from a serious illness during a church service. When Yassin told his mother of their conversion to Christianity, they and their six children immediately began to face persecution. Read More.

  • Jul. 12, 2018 | India

    Hindu Extremists Burn Pastor's Home

    [239] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Pastor Baiga.
    Hindu activists also burned down the house and church of this Indian pastor.

    Hindu activists burned Pastor Chaitu Baiga's home in the middle of the night, leaving his family homeless. Pastor Chaitu, who was born into a Hindu family, came to know Christ in 2010 and completed Bible training before becoming a pastor. When Hindu activists learned of his effective evangelistic work - he currently leads three congregations in three villages - they began harassing him and attacking him physically. Read More.

  • Jul. 12, 2018 | Gaza Strip

    Young Muslim Learns About Jesus Online

    [239] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Mohammed.
    Mohammed found Jesus online.

    After hearing a university professor mention the name of Jesus four years ago, Mohammed began to seek information about Christianity online, eventually connecting with a group of Christians. His new interest in Jesus soon led to conflict with family members. When his sister saw him watching a Christian TV program, she reported him to their father, who then restricted Mohammed's access to the Internet and social media for the next year. Read More.

  • Jul. 05, 2018 | Bangladesh

    Church Planter Shows Grace to Threatening Neighbor

    [293] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Nazmul.
    Bangladeshi Christians face society harassment and family persecution.

    A church planter who was harassed and threatened by his Muslim neighbor used the conflict as a way to model God's grace and forgiveness. After Nazmul and his family rented a house next to a Muslim family, the Muslims began to criticize Christians and shout curses at their new neighbors. Nazmul eventually decided to move, but the harassment didn't stop. Read More.

  • Jul. 05, 2018 | China

    Two Pastors Arrested During Seminary Class

    [201] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Two Arrested Pastors.
    Police interrupted the Bible Reformed Church in Guangzhou mid-service on Sunday, June 10, 2018. They detained the pastor and three others. (Credit: China Aid)

    Chinese officials in eastern Jiangsu province interrupted a seminary class on May 28 and arrested two pastors without showing a warrant. Police and agents from the local religious affairs bureau also threatened to arrest the teacher and more than 20 students, who later went to the police station demanding to know why the pastors were arrested. Read More.

  • Jul. 05, 2018 | Nigeria

    More than 200 Killed in Attacks on Christian Villages

    [239] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Attacked Christian Villages.
    Two-year old Melody, who was injured in the attacks, is improving and has started taking liquids.

    Muslim Fulani herdsmen attacked 10 Christian villages near Jos over the weekend of June 23–24, killing more than 200 people and displacing thousands. Several VOM-supported widows who had lost their husbands and homes in previous attacks have again lost their homes and been separated from their children. Read More.

  • Jun. 28, 2018 | India

    Four Christians Charged with Forced Conversions

    [279] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Pastor Sudarshan, Sumanti, Rupash and Neelam.
    Some village churches in India meet in the open air.

    On May 29, four Christians in Jharkhand were arrested and charged with forcibly converting people to Christianity. A group of villagers who follow a traditional animist religion told police that Pastor Sudarshan, Sumanti, Rupash and Neelam beat a man with a bamboo stick because he refused to convert to Christianity. Read More.

  • Jun. 28, 2018 | Nigeria

    Seventeen Members of Boko Haram Surrender and Seek Forgiveness

    [249] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Former Boko Haram Members.
    Boko Haram wants to establish a kingdom in Northern Nigeria.

    On May 28, 17 members of Boko Haram surrendered to the Nigerian military after President Muhammadu Buhari offered amnesty to any fighters willing to turn in their weapons and seek peace. Those who surrendered said they had been forced to join Boko Haram after their town was raided four years ago. Read More.

  • Jun. 28, 2018 | China

    Christian Couple Detained for Sharing Their Faith

    [201] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Liang and Li.
    Li Yinxiu, in an Instagram post prior to being arrested. (Photo Credit: China Aid)

    Pastor Liang Ziliang and several other church members in Heshan, Guangdong, were distributing Christian brochures and carrying anti-abortion banners in a local park when police began to photograph them. That night, Liang and his wife, Li Yinxiu, were called to the police station and detained on arrival. Following their arrest, police searched their home without a warrant. Their family later received two criminal detention notices accusing Liang and Li of violating Article 80 of China's criminal law and organizing and supporting illegal gatherings. Read More.

  • Jun. 21, 2018 | Bangladesh

    Muslims Intimidate Church and Demand Pastor's Arrest

    [292] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Church Facing Intimidation Tactics.
    Islamists in Muslim-majority Bangladesh regularly intimidate Christians living in their villages.

    A group of Muslims are demanding that police arrest a pastor, after he and other believers spoke to authorities about the construction of an Islamist school next door to their church. Read More.

  • Jun. 21, 2018 | Central African Republic

    Continue to Pray for Pastor Sylvain

    [204] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Pastor Sylvain.
    Muslim rebels often target Christian communities in Central African Republic. (Photo Credit: World Watch Monitor)

    When the leader of the Seleka Muslim rebel coalition resigned from power in January 2014 at the height of the civil war, riots broke out across the capital city of Bangui. During the riots, which included violent attacks on Christians, a Muslim mob destroyed Pastor Sylvain Boynguiza's home and church, located just 650 feet from the city's central mosque. Read More.

  • Jun. 21, 2018 | India

    Hindu Radicals Attack Four Christian Families

    [200] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Attacked Families.
    Mobs of Hindu radicals often beat believers in India to pressure them to return to Hinduism.

    About 150 Hindu radicals attacked four Christian families who had gathered for worship in a believer's home, beating the Christians severely, destroying musical instruments and damaging the home. Following the attack, the Christians were summoned to a community meeting, where they were asked to abandon their Christian faith. Read More.

  • Jun. 14, 2018 | India

    Eight Christians Arrested During Church Service

    [325] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Subash and Arrested Christians.
    As a regular practice Hindu activists accuse Christians of forced conversions so they are arrested.

    On Sunday, April 29, about 25 police officers and Hindu activists burst into a church service and arrested eight Christians, accusing them of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity. Read More.

  • Jun. 14, 2018 | Syria

    Evangelist from Druze Background Faces Continued Persecution

    [213] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Ziyad.
    This Syrian man was blessed with a copy of the Bible.

    Five years ago, Ziyad, who grew up in the Druze religion, placed his faith in Jesus Christ. Since then, he has experienced persecution in a variety of forms. Following his conversion, his family immediately kicked him out of their home. Read More.

  • Jun. 14, 2018 | Nigeria

    Christian Girl Remains in Boko Haram Captivity

    [371] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Leah Sharibu.
    Leah Sharibu (Source: World Watch Monitor)

    Leah Sharibu remains in captivity almost four months after Boko Haram kidnapped her and 109 other school girls on Feb. 19 from the Government Girls Science and Technical College in Yobe state. Most of the girls were returned about four weeks after the kidnapping, but five were reportedly killed and Leah is still being held. Read More.

  • Jun. 07, 2018 | Saudi Arabia

    Muslim Calls Christian TV Ministry Fearing for His Life

    [343] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Endangered Christ-seeker.
    Television and radio ministry can reach where few evangelists can go.

    A man called a Christian TV ministry recently, saying he wanted to become a follower of Christ but was sure he would be killed for leaving Islam. Read More.

  • Jun. 07, 2018 | Laos

    New Law Further Restricts Front-line Workers

    [217] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Laotian Front-line Workers.
    The new law may limit the important gospel work of men like these.

    Under a new law, all religious activity in Laos must be approved by multiple government offices. Approval is rarely, if ever, given. This means the work of VOM-supported front-line workers and other evangelists would be considered illegal. Read More.

  • Jun. 07, 2018 | Iran

    Pray for a VOM Conference Speaker Who Has Lost His Vision

    [254] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Hormoz Shariat.
    Hormoz is experiencing significant vision loss.

    Hormoz Shariat, president and founder of Iran Alive Ministries, recently lost 90 percent of his vision while speaking at a VOM conference in Virginia. He underwent emergency surgery to repair a detached retina, but his vision has not yet returned. His other retina is also at risk of detaching. Hormoz's condition could lead him to postpone the scheduled launch of the 412 School of Ministry, which is designed to help strengthen the underground church in Iran. Read More.

  • May. 31, 2018 | Syria

    Pray for the Family of a Christian Convert from Islam

    [338] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Enaam.
    Syrian children

    Enaam, a Kurdish Syrian Christian, left Islam more than 10 years ago after having a dream about Jesus. "I now own the world and am feeling like the richest person out there," he said. Read More.

  • May. 31, 2018 | China

    Schools Working to Eliminate Christianity

    [239] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Chinese Students.
    Chinese students watch an "anti-cult" film.

    Teachers in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, recently sent messages to the parents of elementary and middle-school students, demanding that the parents disclose their religious beliefs. Read More.

  • May. 31, 2018 | Bangladesh

    Pray for Evangelist Ministering to Rohingya Refugees

    [210] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Evangelist to Refugees.
    A new Rohingya convert is baptized.

    A former Muslim in Bangladesh is sharing Christ with some of the thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees from neighboring Myanmar. In October, he shared with 100 people, and 60 gave their lives to Christ. This evangelist baptized five of them and plans to baptize the rest soon. Read More.

  • May. 24, 2018 | Indonesia

    Coordinated Attack on Three Churches

    [328] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Attacked Church Members.
    Security guard Bayu lost his life in the attack, leaving behind his wife and child.

    Three churches in Surabaya, Indonesia, were attacked by suicide bombers from a single family on Sunday, May 13, resulting in at least 13 deaths. Read More.

  • May. 24, 2018 | Mauritania

    Increased Penalties for Apostasy

    [213] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Christians in Mauritania.
    Already careful, Christians in Mauritania face increased penalties.

    Christians in Mauritania are worried about recent changes to the laws regarding religious conversion. On April 27, the Mauritanian National Assembly approved changes that increase the possible penalty for apostasy. Read More.

  • May. 24, 2018 | India

    Christian Convert from Buddhism Kicked Out by His Brother

    [214] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Anaram and Family.
    Anaram Bokar and his wife stand in front of their demolished living space.

    A Christian man and his family are living under a tarp in a field after being kicked out of the family home by the man's brother. Anaram Bokar was a Buddhist before coming to know Christ in 2004. He planted a church in 2007 and led a congregation of 47 believers who met in a family home he shared with his brother. As word spread that Anaram was sharing the gospel, he began to face opposition from villagers. Read More.

  • May. 18, 2018 | Pakistan

    Two Christians Arrested After Sharing Literature

    [316] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Samir and His Friend.
    There are Christians in Pakistan who are willing to approach even the most intimidating person in order to share the gospel.

    A Pakistani Bible school student was arrested and detained for a day after giving Christian literature to a Muslim man who had asked for it. Samir was in the market with a friend when a Muslim shop owner asked for a set of his Christian books. After Samir gave them to him, the shop owner called police. Read More.

  • May. 18, 2018 | China

    U.S. Pastor Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Missionary Work

    [292] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for John Cao.
    US Pastor John Cao may spend the next several years in prison.

    A court recently sentenced North Carolina pastor John Cao, 58, to seven years in prison and fined him $3,000 for "organizing illegal border crossings." The pastor, who has been detained since his arrest in March 2017, allegedly crossed the China-Myanmar border to minister to 2,000 impoverished minority children in Myanmar's norther Wa state. Read More.

  • May. 18, 2018 | Central African Republic

    Christians Attacked by Seleka Muslim Rebels

    [204] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Severin Bassala and Family.
    Many of those who fled have ended up in refugee camps like this one. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

    Severin Bassala, who served as an elder in his church, was sleeping in a field at his farm on Dec. 5, 2013, when Seleka Muslim rebels attacked his village. The rebels went house to house, breaking down doors and stealing whatever they could find. Read More.

  • May. 10, 2018 | India

    Pastor Beheaded by Maoists

    [437] prayers in [22] nations have been posted for Pastor Topno's Family and Church.
    Pastor Abraham leaves behind a wife and children. (Credit: World Watch Monitor)

    A pastor serving one of India's minority tribal groups was murdered last week by suspected Maoists. On the evening of May 2, about 25 masked men abducted Pastor Abraham Topno from a taxi he was riding in, and the pastor's beheaded body was found hours later along with a note signed by a communist rebel group operating in nearby Odisha state. Read More.

  • May. 10, 2018 | Tanzania

    Pray for Pastor David, Under Threat in Zanzibar

    [253] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Pastor David.
    Zanzibar's beauty disguises an agenda to drive out Christians.

    Less than 18 months ago, a group of local Muslims tried to burn down Pastor David's house in broad daylight, while only his wife and children were at home. The attackers doused the back of the house with gasoline before tossing a match through the window. Thankfully, David's family escaped unharmed, but the home and everything inside were destroyed. Read More.

  • May. 10, 2018 | Central African Republic

    Christian Towns Destroyed by Local Muslims

    [245] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Christian Villagers.
    These ministers received training as they prepared to return to rebel-held areas.

    About 60,000 Christians in southeastern Central African Republic (CAR) have been forced to flee their towns after a series of attacks by local Muslims. Several months after joint U.S. and Ugandan forces pulled out of the region last year, area Muslims launched a campaign to drive Christians out by razing Christian-majority towns and villages. On Nov. 20, villagers in Dembia were awakened by gunfire at 4 a.m. as local Muslims attacked without warning. Read More.

  • May. 03, 2018 | Bangladesh

    Local Muslims Angered by Literature Distribution to Children

    [286] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Accused Church Members.
    Locals complained about Christians giving children Christian literature.

    When a Christian group distributed literature to children in a Bangladeshi village, Muslims blamed a local church. After receiving complaints about Muslim children being evangelized, police said Christians are allowed to talk about their faith only with other adults and that no one under 20 is allowed to convert to another religion. Read More.

  • May. 03, 2018 | Turkey

    Pray for Haddad and Other New Believers

    [237] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Haddad.
    New believers in Turkey often face family opposition.

    Haddad, a former Muslim, placed his faith in Christ recently after an elderly woman prayed for him at a bus station. His search for truth began with the woman's simple prayer that God would guide him to salvation. He first abandoned Islamic fanaticism and thoughts of terrorism after listening to apologetic programs on the Arabic Christian television station Al Hayat. Read More.

  • May. 03, 2018 | China

    Christians in Henan Monitored by Government Officials

    [234] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Henan Province Believers.
    Some believers are now afraid to attend church.

    A Christian in the Zhoukou area of Henan province said that under new government restrictions, area churches are required to sing the Chinese national anthem at the beginning of each service and a nationalistic song titled "No Communist Party, No New China" at the end of service. Local authorities also issued an order forbidding anyone under 18 from entering a church. Read More.

  • Apr. 26, 2018 | Laos

    Christian Family Remains in Village Despite Persecution

    [341] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Christian Family.
    This Christian couple's home was torn down by villagers who didn't want them there.

    A young Christian couple and their toddler son have chosen to stay in their animist village even though persecution has caused many other villagers to abandon the Christian faith they once professed. After authorities destroyed the couple's home in an attempt to drive them out, they instead gathered the remains of their dismantled home and built a small hut. Read More.

  • Apr. 26, 2018 | Turkey

    Trial for American Pastor Andrew Brunson Further Delayed

    [279] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Andrew Brunson.
    Andrew Brunson (Credit: World Watch Monitor)

    Following his long-awaited court hearing on April 16, Andrew Brunson was ordered to another prison, and the remainder of his trial was postponed until May 7. Andrew was arrested on Oct. 7, 2016, on terrorism and espionage charges, and he faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted. Read More.

  • Apr. 26, 2018 | Pakistan

    Two Christian Men Killed in Third Attack in Quetta

    [226] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Shooting Victims.
    Sunila

    On April 17, four Islamic militants on motorcycles rode into a predominantly Christian neighborhood and shot two young Christian men. Rahib Khalid, 16, died at the scene, and Azhar Iqbal, 26, died later at the hospital. Read More.

  • Apr. 19, 2018 | India

    Pray for Family of Grandmother Killed for Praying in her Home

    [408] prayers in [24] nations have been posted for Subbaravamma's Family.
    Subbaravamma's family is mourning her passing.

    A family in India is mourning the death of their 65-year-old wife and mother. Subbaravamma used to climb the stairs of her home every evening and kneel to pray for her city. Stone workers in a nearby Hindu temple observed her prayers. One of the workers took offense and attacked the elderly woman to death with a stick on March 21. Read More.

  • Apr. 19, 2018 | China

    Pray for Believers as Government Passes Restrictions, Bans Online Bible Sales

    [234] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Chinese Believers.
    The need for Bible distribution is more critical today with the ban on online Bible sales.

    Pray for Christians in China as the government continues to further restrict Christian activity. In February, churches were ordered to report their religious activities to authorities. In March, the Communist Party disbanded its Religious Affairs Bureau and the Communist Party's Central Committee absorbed the duty of managing religious life in China. Read More.

  • Apr. 19, 2018 | Egypt

    Pray for Christian Widow who Resisted Parents' Wishes to Marry a Muslim

    [251] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Muna and Daughter.
    Muna chose her Christian faith over her family's wishes.

    A young Christian widow's family tried to force her to get remarried to a Muslim, but instead she chose Jesus. During her first marriage, Muna and her husband secretly converted from Islam. Muna's husband died when their daughter was 8 years old. Muna's family quickly insisted she remarry. They gave her a choice between two Muslim men. Read More.

  • Apr. 12, 2018 | Tajikistan

    Pray for Church Raided and Monitored by KGB Officials

    [330] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for Raided Church.
    Most Tajik are Sunni Muslims.

    KGB officials walked into an ongoing church service on Sunday, March 11 and began taking photos and recording video. When church leaders protested, the officials said it was an official examination, though they did not provide documentation. The officials also walked around the church premises and collected Christian literature from various rooms. Read More.

  • Apr. 12, 2018 | Bangladesh

    Pray for the family of Tayub Ali, Former Muslim and Evangelist

    [238] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Family of Tayub Ali.
    Martyr Tayub Ali

    Tayub Ali passed into the arms of the God he served. Tayub became a believer in 2004 after growing up in a Muslim majority tribal group. Immediately following his conversion, he was driven from his community and could not return home for three weeks. Read More.

  • Apr. 12, 2018 | Nigeria

    Pray for Christians Recovering from Repeated Attacks on their Village

    [276] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Miango Christian Villagers.
    Families in the village weep over their losses.

    Christians in a central Nigerian village are feeling betrayed after Muslim herdsmen attacked and killed several people and then attacked again after the funerals. Fulani herdsmen attacked Miango, a village in Jos state on March 8 around 10 p.m. A family on the edge of town lost three boys when the Fulani came in wielding machetes and shooting. Read More.

  • Apr. 05, 2018 | Myanmar

    Pray for Christian Orphans Abducted After Sharing the Gospel

    [396] prayers in [22] nations have been posted for Abducted Orphans.
    VOM serves children in Myanmar with the gift of Christmas Care packs.

    Several orphans from the Pa'O ethnic group were abducted by angry Buddhists in February 2017 after they distributed gospel tracts during a large Buddhist festival. The orphans, who live under the care of a Christian worker, had distributed gospel tracts in 18 Pa'O villages before being confronted by Buddhist monks at the festival. When the monks called for their arrest and attempted to shave their heads, the youth fled to their home with the Christian worker. Read More.

  • Apr. 05, 2018 | Iran

    Two Believers Await Ruling on Eight-Year Prison Terms

    [258] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Eskander and Suroush.
    Soroush and Eskandar (courtesy of Middle East Concern)

    Two Iranian Christians continue to await a judge's decision on their appeal of prison sentences they received in December 2017. Eskander Rezaie and Suroush Saraie, both of whom have been previously imprisoned, face eight-year sentences if their appeal is denied. Read More.

  • Apr. 05, 2018 | Uzbekistan

    Police Interrogate 8-Year-Old Christian Boy in Ongoing Harassment

    [271] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Nicolay Pivtev's Son.
    Christians are thought of as extremists in Uzbekistan.

    Local officials in Navoi, Uzbekistan, took an 8-year-old boy out of school without his parents' knowledge in order to interrogate him about his family's church attendance. Two days after raiding Nikolay Pivtsev's home, confiscating the family's Bible and computer, police picked up his son from school on Jan. 26 and took him in for questioning. Read More.

  • Mar. 29, 2018 | India

    Pray for a Family Facing Persecution Following Their Daughter's Death

    [375] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Grieving Indian Family.
    VOM provides Bibles to children in India to help them grow in their faith and be ready to face persecution.

    A family that recently converted from Hinduism to Christianity has faced protests and threats from the community for burying their 7-year-old daughter, who died from an illness on Feb. 26, on their own land. Read More.

  • Mar. 29, 2018 | Israel

    Pray for a Bible Book Store in Tel Aviv

    [247] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Bible Store Owners.
    A Christian bookstore in Tel Aviv is at risk of being closed.

    A book store in Tel Aviv owned and operated by the Bible Society of Israel is currently on trial, accused by the property owner of conducting missionary activities and violating its rental agreement. Read More.

  • Mar. 29, 2018 | Laos

    Pray for Christian Families Evicted from Their Village

    [230] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for "Sanyahak" and Family.
    Sanyahak and his family

    Several Christian families, including the family of a man recently released from jail for his evangelistic work, have been forced to leave their village. Read More.

  • Mar. 22, 2018 | Tanzania

    Pray for Christians in Zanzibar

    [413] prayers in [22] nations have been posted for Christians in Zanzibar.
    Worshippers in Zanzibar

    The government of the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar is actively working to expel Christians, according to VOM workers who recently visited the area. All schools, even private Christian schools, are now required to teach Arabic and Islam; the construction of new churches is prohibited; and government authorities allow and even encourage Muslim citizens to intentionally drive out Christians. Read More.

  • Mar. 22, 2018 | India

    Pray for Families Shunned Because of Their Christian Faith

    [252] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Shunned Christian Families.
    These Christians have determined to remain faithful to God in spite of the shunning.

    During a village meeting on Feb. 28, a group of Christians and their pastor were ordered to give up their Christian faith or be "socially excommunicated" by the community. Read More.

  • Mar. 22, 2018 | Bangladesh

    Pray for Christian Brothers Who Were Beaten and Threatened

    [281] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Bhargav and Paynam.
    Paynam's leg was badly injured by the Hindu attackers.

    In January 2017, a Hindu man named Bhargav heard the gospel and came to faith in Christ. A week later, he shared his faith with a Muslim friend, who didn't respond to the gospel but told his Hindu neighbor about Bhargav's conversion. The Hindu neighbor then spread the news that Bhargav had become a Christian and was sharing his faith with others in the village. Read More.

  • Mar. 15, 2018 | Pakistan

    Pray for a Church Attacked in the Sahiwal District

    [404] prayers in [20] nations have been posted for Sahiwal Church Members.
    This young man was seriously injured in the attack.

    On March 4, about 15 Muslim men attacked a church in the Sahiwal district. The attack was led by the landlord of the building next door, who doesn't want Christians beside him and is fighting to regain control of the land for his own use. The church members had gathered to build a boundary wall around their property when the Muslim men entered the church and started beating them. Read More.

  • Mar. 15, 2018 | Israel

    Pray for a Family of Messianic Jews Facing Threats for Evangelistic Work

    [294] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Eitan and Family.
    The ultra-Orthodox oppose Eitan's evangelistic work.

    Eitan and his family, who are Messianic Jews, face threats from ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel because of Eitan's work on videos for the One for Israel YouTube ministry. Eitan, his wife and their young child were forced to move after they received death threats. Read More.

  • Mar. 15, 2018 | China

    Pray for Shenzhen Church, Closed for Unfounded Safety Concerns

    [236] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Shenzhen Church Members.
    Authorities placed a seal and an official notice across the double doors of the Shenzhen International Church.

    Authorities in the southern Guangdong province recently closed Shenzhen International Church, claiming the building was in violation of the fire code. The church received a notice on Jan. 19, saying the building failed to meet regulations for fire safety. On Feb. 5, a government seal was placed over the church building's doors, preventing worshipers from entering. Read More.

  • Mar. 08, 2018 | Laos

    Pray for Four Believers Arrested for Leading Others to Jesus

    [416] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Christians Arrested for Teaching.
    Four believers were arrested after leading others to Christ.

    Four Christians were arrested recently after 16 villagers came to know Christ as a result of their teaching. The Christians were from a community that VOM helped two years ago when they were evicted from their village for refusing to give up their faith. Read More.

  • Mar. 08, 2018 | Algeria

    Pray for Churches Closed by Authorities

    [259] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Closed Churches.
    Authorities placed a seal on the doors of one of the closed churches.

    On Tuesday, Feb. 27, police closed two churches in Oran after informing them that they did not have state approval to operate. Since December, government officials have visited 25 of 45 churches affiliated with Algeria's main protestant church. And on Nov. 9, 2017, a church that had trained and discipled more than 7,000 former Muslims since 1997 was forced to close its doors. Read More.

  • Mar. 02, 2018 | Nepal

    Pray for a Mother and Daughter Staying in a VOM Safe House

    [429] prayers in [24] nations have been posted for Sarala and her mother.
    Sarala's mother was baptized even though she knew the consequences.

    Sarala and her mother became Christians in early 2017. When Sarala's father learned that they planned to be baptized, he beat them and forbade them from doing so. On the day of the baptism, he locked Sarala in the house, though her mother was baptized. Read More.

  • Mar. 02, 2018 | Indonesia

    Pray for an Evangelist Arrested on False Charges

    [273] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Abraham Ben Moses.
    Moses and his wife Ayu, before his arrest

    Well-known Christian apologist and former Muslim Abraham Ben Moses was arrested on the evening of Dec. 5, 2017, after authorities learned of a video in which he questions Muhammad's teachings and shares the gospel with a Muslim taxi driver. The 53-year-old evangelist, from Tangerang, Java, was charged with blasphemy, hate speech and violating Indonesia's information and electronic transactions law. Read More.

  • Mar. 02, 2018 | Pakistan

    Pray for a Teenage Boy Accused of Blasphemy

    [310] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Patras Masih.
    Patra Masih in prison (Credit: Morning Star News)

    Patras Masih, a 17-year-old boy from Lahore, has been accused of blasphemy in connection with a post on his Facebook page. Patras said someone else posted the content to his Facebook page after he lost his phone. After the post became public knowledge, thousands of Muslims gathered outside the police station and Patras's home, demanding his execution. Read More.

  • Feb. 22, 2018 | India

    Pray for Persecuted Christians Who Received a New Water Well

    [365] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Persecuted Christian Villagers.
    The believers prayed at the well location before construction began.

    After two years of planning, delays and construction, a new water well benefiting nine Christian families is now operational in a Christian village. The area was the site of large anti-Christian riots in which many Christians died and many others were injured. Read More.

  • Feb. 22, 2018 | Indonesia

    Pray for Church Members Attacked by a Man with a Sword

    [268] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Pastor Prier and Church Members.
    Church members were surprised when a man with a sword burst in their worship service.

    On the morning of Feb. 11, a man with a sword attacked members of a church in Sleman, Central Java. After entering the building, he used his sword to cut one church member on the back of his head and neck. Read More.

  • Feb. 22, 2018 | China

    Pray for Churches Facing Large Fines and New Restrictions

    [257] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Fined Churches.
    Officials imposed a hefty fine on impoverished Christians in this unregistered village church in Xuzhou, Henan.

    New Religious Affairs Regulations went into effect on Feb. 1, causing many believers to fear for the future of their house churches. In addition, house churches in Henan have received notices that their services will be suspended. Read More.

  • Feb. 15, 2018 | Laos

    Five Christians Detained for Celebrating "European" Religion

    [373] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Detained Khmu Believers.
    These five men were arrested for holding a Christmas celebration.

    Five Khmu believers were arrested and fined for holding a Christmas celebration on Dec. 15. The Christians had received permission from village authorities, but district officials arrested them after learning they had invited a pastor from a neighboring village. The five believers were held in prison for a few nights and fined about $600 before being released. Read More.

  • Feb. 15, 2018 | Bangladesh

    Pray for New Believers in a Safe House

    [259] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Safe House Inhabitants.
    The new believers at the safe house are learning to study the Bible.

    After focusing on an unreached area for the past 11 months, an evangelist has seen hundreds of Muslims come to faith in Christ. As a result, some have experienced persecution. A young married couple took shelter in a VOM-supported safe house for several months when they were kicked out of their family because of their Christian faith. Read More.

  • Feb. 15, 2018 | Kenya

    Pray for Naomi, Whose Husband Was Killed by Islamists

    [298] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Naomi.
    Naomi recovered enough after the death of her husband to continue to farm her land.

    Christian widows whose husbands were killed in Islamist attacks are gradually returning to their coastal Kenyan homes. After an attack in June 2014 in which Islamists went door to door killing Christians, Naomi and her four children fled to her parents' home in another village. Read More.

  • Feb. 08, 2018 | China

    Pray for Christians Sentenced to Prison on False Charges

    [418] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Ju Dianhong and Liang Qin.
    Christian Tu Yan has spent nearly a year in jail awaiting trial for her alleged involvement in the cult.

    On Jan. 16, a court in Lincang, located in China's southern Yunnan province, sentenced Ju Dianhong and Liang Qin to 13 years and 10 years in prison, respectively. The two believers, along with others who received shorter sentences, were convicted of participating in cult activity. Read More.

  • Feb. 08, 2018 | Myanmar

    Pray for the Family of a Murdered Burmese Christian

    [307] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Aung and children.
    Than left behind his wife and four children.

    "Than," a 37-year-old Christian father of five, was brutally murdered by unknown attackers recently. His wife, Aung, discovered his body on the side of the road, covered in blood, as she returned from collecting firewood for cooking. Than's killers had slit his wrists, stabbed him in the chest and beat him severely. Read More.

  • Feb. 08, 2018 | Nigeria

    Pray for Christians Suffering from Recent Attacks

    [262] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Kitibu Christian villagers.
    Muslim Fulani herdsmen have long sought to remove Christians from grazing lands, but in recent years their close ties with Boko Haram have worsened attacks.

    On Jan. 16, Fulani herdsmen attacked the village of Kitibu, Taraba state, in northern Nigeria, killing more than 100 people. They burned more than 1,000 homes, some with people still inside, and many people are still missing. Read More.

  • Feb. 01, 2018 | Tajikistan

    Pray for Gulnora, Wife of Imprisoned Pastor

    [429] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Gulnora and Bakhrom.
    Pastor Bakhrom and Gulnora Kholmatov before his imprisonment.

    While making the six-hour journey to visit her imprisoned husband, Gulnora suddenly became ill. She was taken to a local hospital, too sick to even visit her husband. After being diagnosed with high blood pressure, she was transferred to a hospital closer to her home. Gulnora's problems with hypertension began in April 2017, after the secret police arrested her husband, Pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov. Read More.

  • Feb. 01, 2018 | India

    Pastor Gideon Murdered by Hindu Activists

    [274] prayers in [14] nations have been posted for Pastor Gideon's church.
    Pastor Gideon was murdered by Hindu activists after he planted a church.

    Hindu activists murdered a VOM-supported pastor in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in January. Pastor Gideon Periyaswamy's body was discovered in his home on Jan. 20, 2018, by members of his congregation. The pastor's killers hanged his body with a noose around his neck to make it look like a suicide, but it was clear that he was killed before being hanged. Read More.

  • Feb. 01, 2018 | Tanzania

    Pray for Pastor John, Whose Church Was Burned

    [266] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Pastor John.
    Tanzania has a large Christian population, but evangelists in Muslim majority areas face intense persecution.

    Pastor John serves with his family in an area of Tanzania that is almost entirely Muslim. When his denomination sent him to the area, there were no members in the church. Over time, however, John built the church up by knocking on doors and sharing the gospel. Then, during an all-night prayer meeting, a group of men came and set the church on fire, burning the simple thatch church to the ground. Read More.

  • Jan. 25, 2018 | China

    Pray for Christians Whose Church Was Destroyed

    [424] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Golden Lampstand Church Members.
    Officials destroy the Golden Lampstand building this month. Inset: the church shortly after completion.

    Authorities used explosive charges to demolish the Golden Lampstand Church in Linfen, Shanxi, on Jan. 9, destroying the place of worship for 50,000 believers. VOM has supported the church since the building's construction in 2009, and church members have faced ongoing persecution. Read More.

  • Jan. 25, 2018 | Sri Lanka

    Pray for Church Members Recovering from an Attack

    [263] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Attacked Church Members.
    VOM staff members encourage Sri Lankan Christians.

    On Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, three Buddhist monks and two other men interrupted worship at the Lighthouse Church in Pupuressa, threatening the congregation and asking the pastor if he had government approval to worship in the building. They then dragged the pastor outside to beat him and assaulted a church member who attempted to intervene. Read More.

  • Jan. 25, 2018 | Nigeria

    Pray for Rebecca, a Widow Who Fled Boko Haram with Her Children

    [287] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Rebecca.
    This pastor was injured as he fended off attackers.

    Rebecca, one of the many widows VOM serves in Nigeria, was forced to relocate to Jos after Boko Haram attacked her village in Adamawa state at the end of December. She and her children fled to another village, where a VOM worker met them and brought them to Jos. Read More.

  • Jan. 19, 2018 | Tanzania

    Pray for a Christian Boy Being Persecuted at School

    [505] prayers in [23] nations have been posted for Persecuted Christian Student.
    A pastor's son has been punished and bullied in school because of his faith.

    A young boy who is one of only two Christians at his school in Zanzibar has been punished by teachers and bullied by students because of his faith. One day a group of Muslim boys locked him in an outhouse for several hours, and another day they held him down and forced him to drink urine. The Muslim boys were never punished. Read More.

  • Jan. 19, 2018 | China

    Pray for Churches Whose Christmas Eve Services Were Shut Down

    [230] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Pressured Chinese Churches.
    Chinese Christians are arrested in an undated photo from China Aid.

    Authorities throughout China worked to shut down Christmas Eve services and other holiday activities in late December, going so far as to arrest three believers two days before Christmas on "illegal publication" charges. Several churches were warned that if they gathered in unapproved locations their church buildings would be destroyed. Read More.

  • Jan. 19, 2018 | Kyrgyzstan

    Pray for a Church Recovering from an Islamist Attack

    [265] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Recently Attacked Church.
    This altar Bible survived the fire that destroyed the rest of the Evangelical Christian Baptist Church.

    Islamic militants threw Molotov cocktails through windows of the Evangelical Christian Baptist Church in Kaji Say early on Jan. 3. Although the inside of the church was badly damaged by the resulting fire, an open Bible on the altar survived the flames even though the altar cloth was destroyed. Read More.

  • Jan. 11, 2018 | Pakistan

    Pray for Aliza, Injured in a Deadly Church Bombing

    [455] prayers in [22] nations have been posted for Aliza.
    Several children were seriously injured in the blast.

    Aliza, a 1-year-old girl, lost her foot as a result of an injury suffered in the Dec. 17 Quetta church bombing that killed 11 people and seriously injured 50 others. Read More.

  • Jan. 11, 2018 | Laos

    Pray for Five Christians Arrested at a Christmas Celebration

    [276] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Arrested Christians.
    Public evangelism is prohibited in Laos.

    Four Hmong Christians and one Khmu Christian have been in prison since Dec. 30, when they were arrested for hosting a Christmas celebration without the permission of village authorities. Read More.

  • Jan. 11, 2018 | Korea, North

    Pray for Missionary L, Releasing Gospel Balloons

    [444] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Missionary L.
    This missionary often comes dangerously close to North Korean border guards while dropping gospel-printed balloons in the river bordering North Korea.

    "Missionary L" is using a simple, time-tested method of sending the gospel into North Korea, but it's not without risk. The missionary releases orange plastic gospel balloons printed with the first chapter of Genesis into the river, where the current carries them to North Korea. Read More.

  • Jan. 04, 2018 | Vietnam

    Pray for Three Families Evicted from Their Village

    [474] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Evicted Families.
    The three families are living under a tarp in the jungle.

    Three Christian families were recently forced from their homes by relatives, with the tacit approval of village authorities. The attackers demolished the Christians' houses and took their farmland, so the believers and their children have been forced to live under a tarp in the jungle. Read More.

  • Jan. 04, 2018 | Sri Lanka

    Pray for a Pastor Forced to Stop Holding Services

    [303] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Sri Lankan Pastor.
    Churches in Sri Lanka often face opposition from Buddhist monks.

    Local authorities in a Sri Lankan village have ordered a pastor to stop holding Christian worship services. On Dec. 9, a police officer and a member of the local peace committee questioned the pastor about his church's worship activities. According to the officer, a number of villages in the area had complained about the Christian services. Read More.

  • Jan. 04, 2018 | Indonesia

    Pray for Pastor Abraham, Charged with Blasphemy

    [328] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Pastor Abraham.
    Pastor Abraham Ben Moses (Photo Credit: UCA News)

    An Indonesian pastor was charged with blasphemy recently after he shared his Christian faith in a taxi. In a widely circulated video, Pastor Abraham Ben Moses, also known as Saifuddin Ibrahim, is heard speaking with a taxi driver about the Prophet Muhammad's teachings on marriage. He can also be heard asking the driver to convert to Christianity. Pastor Abraham's Internet evangelism has also been cited as a basis for the blasphemy charges, which were filed against him after Indonesia's second-largest Islamic organization complained to authorities. Read More.

  • Dec. 28, 2017 | Myanmar

    Pray for the Family of Tai Tai, Killed for His Faith

    [519] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Tai Tai's family.
    Tai Tai's family

    "Tai Tai," a recent Christian convert in Shan state, was killed this past summer because of his Christian faith. After becoming a believer in January 2017, the 41-year-old had been active in his church and in sharing the gospel with the Palong people. Read More.

  • Dec. 28, 2017 | Uzbekistan

    Pray for Irina, Facing Charges for Possessing Christian Materials

    [309] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Irina.
    Uzbek Christians are at risk for even having a Bible in their home.

    On Nov. 10, police in Andijan, in eastern Uzbekistan, raided the apartment of Irina Stepanova, a member of a local Baptist church. Read More.

  • Dec. 28, 2017 | Uganda

    Pray that Leticia Will Get Her Daughter Back

    [357] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Leticia.
    Leticia lost her daughter after she became a Christian.

    When Leticia told her Muslim family she had become a Christian, they waited until she had left the house and then cleared her room of all her belongings. Her father cursed her and told her she was no longer his child. Read More.

  • Dec. 21, 2017 | Pakistan

    Eleven Killed in Church Attack

    [453] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Injured Pakistani Christians.
    A VOM partner prays with one of the bombing victims.

    At least 11 people were killed and 50 seriously injured in an attack Sunday, Dec. 17, on a Methodist church in Quetta, Pakistan. Read More.

  • Dec. 21, 2017 | China

    University Bans Christmas as "Western Religious Culture"

    [249] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Christians celebrating Christmas.
    The notice banning Christmas

    The Communist Youth League at Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, in northeastern China, published a notice recently prohibiting student associations from holding Christmas celebrations. Read More.

  • Dec. 21, 2017 | Sri Lanka

    Pray for Christians Ordered to Stop Worshiping

    [281] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Sri Lankan Believers.
    Sri Lankan Christians have refused to stop worshiping.

    On Nov. 17, three officials from the Mahaweli Development Authority and three Buddhist monks entered the Church of Gospel Ministry, Palatiyawa, and threatened to take the Christians' land if they continued to hold worship services. Read More.

  • Dec. 14, 2017 | Belarus

    Pray for Christians Detained for Distributing Christian Literature

    [352] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Harassed Church Members.
    Members of an evangelical church in Belarus were detained after distributing literature on the street.

    Police have detained and questioned members of an evangelical church in northern Belarus three times in the last two months for distributing Christian literature. On Oct. 14, police arrested Andrei Fokin as he and other believers distributed Christian books and magazines in the Lepel town market. He was released after a warning, but later fined for repeat offenses. Read More.

  • Dec. 14, 2017 | Iran

    Pray for Two Iranian Christians Recently Released on Bail

    [252] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Mohammad Ali Torabi and Abdol-Ali Pourmand.
    Mohammad Torabi (left) and Abdol-Ali Pourmand (right) were released on an exorbitant bail sum. (Photo Credit: Mohabat News)

    Mohammad Ali Torabi and Abdol-Ali Pourmand were each released from prison on $60,000 bail in late November, following their arrest in mid-October on unspecified charges related to their Christian activities. Read More.

  • Dec. 14, 2017 | China

    Pray for Pastor Li Wanhua, Harassed and Pressured by Chinese Police

    [260] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Li Wanhua.
    Pastor Li Wanhua (second from left) in front of a police station.

    Chinese police have repeatedly harassed a house church pastor in recent months, pressuring him to join the state-run Three Self Church. On Nov. 9, security officials arrested Pastor Li Wanhua at his home and took him in for interrogation. Read More.

  • Dec. 07, 2017 | India

    Pray for Christian Leaders Charged with Forced Conversions

    [342] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Christian Leaders.
    Nearly every week, a pastor is arrested in India after sharing the gospel.

    In September, six Christian lay leaders were invited to a man's house to pray for his sick wife. While praying, a group of people arrived at the house, forced the Christians outside and beat them. Read More.

  • Dec. 07, 2017 | Algeria

    Pray for Algerian Christians Facing Increasing Intimidation

    [242] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Intimidated Algerian Christians.
    Christians in one group met in the mountains for communion.

    Authorities in northwestern Algeria shut down a church and arrested several Christians recently. "Over the past few months, it seems that the Algerian government is doing this all over the country," a VOM worker said. On Nov. 9, authorities in Ain Turk closed a church, confiscated its equipment and arrested several worshipers after accusing the church of illegally printing materials for evangelism. Read More.

  • Dec. 07, 2017 | China

    Pray for Christians Forced to Reject Their Faith

    [246] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Pressured Chinese Christians.
    Village Christians have been forced to remove religious images and replace them with images of President Xi Jinping.

    Government officials in Jiangxi province have pledged to help Christians living in poverty under the condition that they reject their faith, follow communism and replace their pictures of Jesus with pictures of President Xi Jinping. Read More.

  • Nov. 30, 2017 | Myanmar

    Pray for Htin and His Wife, Kicked Out of Their Village

    [432] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Htin and Wife.
    Htin and his family continue to serve the Lord.

    After placing their faith in Christ in December 2016, "Htin" and his wife became the only Christians in their village. When family and friends learned of their conversion to Christianity, they told Htin that he and his wife were no longer welcome. Read More.

  • Nov. 30, 2017 | Korea, North

    Pray for Hoon, Learning About Jesus in China

    [377] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Hoon.
    Missionary Lee with some of the trafficked North Korean women.

    "Hoon," a North Korean working in China, has been learning about Jesus from a Chinese missionary for several months, but they may no longer be able to meet. Missionary "Lee" gave Hoon an MP3 player to help him study Scripture, and Lee could tell that Hoon was open to the gospel. Recently, however, China has tightened its control over those working with North Koreans, and one of Lee's friends who is a pastor was recently interrogated by Chinese police. Read More.

  • Nov. 30, 2017 | Bangladesh

    Pray for Imam Fedu, a New Christian Convert

    [275] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for Imam Fedu.
    Imam Fedu heard the gospel from a Christian worker.

    Imam Fedu, a Muslim scholar and teacher in Bangladesh, recently placed his faith in Christ after receiving a Christian tract and hearing the gospel from a Christian worker. "Jesus is the Savior," Fedu said. He immediately resigned from his Muslim work and made plans to be baptized. Read More.

  • Nov. 23, 2017 | Eritrea

    Pray for Arrested Christian Students and Children of Arrested Parents

    [402] prayers in [23] nations have been posted for Arrested Christian Students.
    Eritrean Christians have been under attack for the past seven months.

    Sixteen Christian students were arrested earlier this month, the latest in a series of arrests since May 2017. The students, who were arrested after being discovered praying together, were held for more than two weeks before being released. Read More.

  • Nov. 23, 2017 | Iran

    Pray for Pastor Mohammed Ali Torabi, Being Held in an Unknown Location

    [275] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Pastor Mohammed.
    Pastor Mohammed Ali Torabi was arrested. (Photo Credit: Mohabat News)

    The leader of a house church in Khuzestan province, Pastor Mohammed Ali Torabi, was arrested on Oct. 18 at his workplace and taken to an unknown location. Two Christian converts from Islam were arrested the same day in the same city, but they were released after interrogation. Read More.

  • Nov. 23, 2017 | China

    Pray for Li Aijie, Beaten for Refusing to Divorce Her Husband

    [271] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Li Aijie.
    Li Aijie's own family beat her.

    The wife of an imprisoned Christian human rights lawyer was severely beaten by family members recently for refusing to divorce her husband. Li Aijie has been an outspoken advocate for her husband, Zhang Haitao, since his arrest in June 2015. Authorities have pressured her family to persuade her to stop speaking out on his behalf, even threatening Li's 80-year-old mother. Read More.

  • Nov. 16, 2017 | Laos

    Praise God for the Release of Four Men and Faithfulness of Seven Families

    [345] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Released Laotian men.
    Sanyahak is thankful to be back with his family and is ready to continue sharing the gospel.

    Four Christian men arrested over the past two months were released from jail recently. The first believer to be arrested, "Sanyahak," was detained in early October after 40 people came to know Christ through his witness. The three other men were later arrested, amid ongoing harassment of seven Christian families in the community. Read More.

  • Nov. 16, 2017 | Central African Republic

    Pray for Mary, Widowed by Islamists

    [310] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Mary.
    Christians in CAR were targeted by the rebels, including Mary's husband. (Photo Credit: World Watch Monitor)

    Mary's husband, Pastor Jean-Paul, was shot to death on Feb. 7 outside his church in Ramandji. Mary said he was killed by Islamists who want to eliminate all Christians from the community. Read More.

  • Nov. 16, 2017 | Pakistan

    Pray for VOM Workers and All Pakistanis Affected by Sickening Smog

    [231] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Smog-affected believers in Pakistan.
    Pray the smog will lift soon so children like these can receive Action Packs.

    Thick smog has blanketed parts of Pakistan for the past two weeks, affecting every aspect of life. The smog has dangerously reduced visibility and caused health issues for many in the affected areas. It has also hindered VOM's work in the country, delaying the distribution of Action Packs and other work that requires travel. Read More.

  • Nov. 09, 2017 | Sri Lanka

    Pray for Believers Receiving Christian Literature

    [330] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Sri Lankan Believers.
    Sri Lankan Christians received materials to help them grow in their faith.

    About 50 people gathered at a 250-year-old church in Matara, on Sri Lanka's southern coast, in mid-October to receive books intended to help them grow in faith. Two students led a worship service to express gratitude to God for the books. Days later, a second distribution took place in north-central Sri Lanka. Read More.

  • Nov. 09, 2017 | Eritrea

    Pray for the Children of Believers Who Are in Detention Camps

    [300] prayers in [21] nations have been posted for Children of Detained Believers.
    Eritrea has arrested more than 200 Christians this year, leaving many kids orphaned.

    Fikadu Debesay, a mother of three children, died a few weeks ago at Metkel Abiet, an Eritrean detention camp. Fikadu had been imprisoned for worshiping in a Lutheran church not recognized by the government. She and her husband were among 33 believers arrested on the same day in May. The harsh treatment she endured in the camp and the extreme desert temperatures reportedly contributed to her death. Read More.

  • Nov. 09, 2017 | China

    Pray for Pastor Zheng, Whose Church Was Forced to Close

    [255] prayers in [16] nations have been posted for Pastor Zheng.
    The Chinese government forced this fellowship to close.

    After resisting government pressure to join the state-run Three Self Church, the Ci Ai Fellowship in China's southern Guangdong province was forced to close on Oct. 25. Government authorities took church members' ID cards, confiscated the church's Christian literature and summoned Pastor Zheng Shaoyun for questioning. Read More.

  • Nov. 02, 2017 | Indonesia

    Pray for a House Church Being Pressured to Close

    [373] prayers in [18] nations have been posted for House Church Members.
    This church in Bekasi, Indonesia was ordered to close in 2010, so believers met outdoors.

    A house church in East Java, Indonesia, is being pressured by local authorities and the Islamic group Wahidiyah to stop meeting in a pastor's home. Although neighbors did not initially object to the house church, some have begun to complain since authorities and the Islamic group publicly criticized the pastor for meeting without a religious permit. Read More.

  • Nov. 02, 2017 | Pakistan

    Pray for Zhafar Bhatti, Imprisoned Since 2012

    [302] prayers in [19] nations have been posted for Zhafar.
    Zhafar

    Zhafar Bhatti, who was arrested and charged with blasphemy in July 2012, remains in prison, where he has been beaten several times. Zhafar, a traveling salesman for various medications, often used his door-to-door presentations to also share the gospel. He established a small NGO called "Jesus World Mission" with the purpose of helping the poor. Read More.

  • Nov. 02, 2017 | Laos

    Pray for Christians Imprisoned and Harassed by Local Authorities

    [249] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Imprisoned and Harassed Christians.
    Officials in Laos often put the greatest pressure on new believers.

    Local authorities in a Laotian village have imprisoned four Christian men and harassed numerous other Christian families in recent weeks. Police arrested the first believer, "Sanyahak," in early October after he had led nearly 40 people to Christ. Read More.

  • Oct. 26, 2017 | India

    Pray for Six Christian Leaders Recently Released from Prison

    [369] prayers in [17] nations have been posted for Christian Leaders.
    Radical groups often have Christians arrested for alleged proselytism.

    Six house church leaders were released on Oct. 16–17 after being detained for a month on false charges that they forced Hindus to convert to Christianity. The five men and one woman rejoiced that during their time in jail they were able to share the gospel with fellow prisoners. Read More.

  • Oct. 26, 2017 | Pakistan

    Pray for Pastor Zalaal as He Prepares to Build a New Church

    [241] prayers in [15] nations have been posted for Zalaal.
    VOM has served with Pastor Zalaal for many years.

    Pastor "Zalaal" is ready to purchase land and begin construction on a new church building to replace one destroyed by angry Muslims while it was being built in late 2013. The Muslims were upset that Pastor Zalaal had led many Muslims to Christ, and as a result his congregation has faced repeated persecution. Read More.

  • Oct. 26, 2017 | Laos

    Pray for Christians Detained and Pressured to Renounce Their Faith

    [239] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Detained Christians.
    These believers also run the risk of arrest for worshipping Jesus in their village.

    In September police arrested six Christian couples and interrogated them for eight hours, pressuring them to renounce their faith and stop conducting worship services. "Whoever is a Christian will not be able to get any help from the government," they told the couples. Read More.

  • Oct. 19, 2017 | Kazakhstan

    Pray for Yklas Kabduakasov, Recently Released from Prison

    [270] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Yklas.
    Yklas Kabduaksov was released earlier this month.

    Yklas Kabduakasov, a Christian convert from Islam, was released from prison on Oct. 2 after spending more than two years in detention for "inciting religious hatred." He was arrested on Aug. 14, 2015, and spent time in pre-trial detention, under house arrest and finally in a labor camp. Read More.

  • Oct. 19, 2017 | Indonesia

    Pray for Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Imprisoned for Blasphemy

    [284] prayers in [13] nations have been posted for Basuki.
    Former governor and Indonesian Christian Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, aka Ahok, began his prison sentence this month. (Photo Credit: World Watch Monitor)

    Jakarta's Christian governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, was sentenced recently to two years in prison after being convicted of blasphemy against Islam. Read More.