On Sunday, July 27, 2025, Islamists entered a church building in northeastern Benin near the end of the service and abducted its pastor and three elders. Persecution is prevalent in the northern part of Benin, where Christians are beaten and sometimes killed and church buildings are routinely destroyed.
Read MoreOn Aug. 7, 2021, Pastor Wang Xiaoguang; his wife, Yang Rongli; and other leaders of the Linfen church in Shanxi Province were arrested. They were accused of fraud, which is how the Chinese Communist Party characterizes the collection of tithes in the church. After almost four years of detention, Pastor Wang Xiaoguang was sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison. In a separate trial, Yang Rongli was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Together, they also face fines of 2.3 million yuan, or more than $320,000.
Read MoreChristians in Gaza have suffered greatly amid the ongoing regional conflict that began on Oct. 7, 2023. “We had about 900 [Christians], and after the war about 200 of them, at least, left Gaza,” said Pastor Hanna Massad of Christian Mission to Gaza. He also said that living conditions for those who remained have been difficult: “It has been really hard for them. Many of them [have] lost a lot of weight.” Many of the Christians unable to flee from Gaza are sheltering in a Catholic church, which was struck by an Israeli tank shell on July 17, 2025, killing three people.
Read MoreOn September 14, 2025, government officials entered a church, began recording the service and ultimately arrested two church leaders. The officials first demanded to see documents authorizing the religious meeting. Two church leaders explained that the fellowship had been meeting since 1992 and that, under Article 34 of the Kyrgyz constitution, they were guaranteed “freedom of conscience and religion.”
Read MoreAn Iraqi Christian who often helps disciple Christian converts from Islam was arrested and detained alongside two other Christians. They were released after a few days but are being accused of evangelizing, which is a criminal act as the country’s official religion is Islam. A front-line worker has requested prayer for the Lord to intervene in their cases and that all three Christians will be able to return to their families.
Read MoreAs Islamists in Burkina Faso attack Christians and force hundreds of churches to close, ministry leaders and their families feel confusion and doubt, especially the women. Over 2 million Burkinabe have been displaced, and VOM provides emotional and spiritual support to ministry leaders among them, who sometimes struggle emotionally. “Many women expressed feelings of idleness, as they are no longer able to teach other women or engage in ministry,” said a front-line worker. “Their identity, closely tied to their roles in the church, has been deeply affected.”
Read MoreIn northern Nigeria, Christians are cautious with outreach to Muslims as thousands of Christians have been murdered by Islamists. “Many churches in northern Nigeria do not reach out to Muslims and are even reluctant to allow Muslim converts into their churches,” said a front-line worker. He added that while this kind of attitude should change, we should not judge them but “seek to understand the great amount of pressure they are under and pray for them. They are truly in the lion’s den.” For example, Fatima, a Muslim student, approached a Christian teacher, Jonathan, wanting to know more about Christ.
Read MoreRegional instability has created an environment causing some Syrians to be more receptive to the gospel. “Syria is at a turning point,” said a front-line worker, telling how Islamist attacks against an Alawite community in March 2025 led some Alawites to question their faith and be more open to Christ. Additionally, battles between Sunni Bedouins and Druze militias in July 2025 also resulted in disillusionment with Islam. “We need to pray for the church to be ready for the harvest,” said the worker.
Read MoreAccording to an announcement issued by the Xi’an Civil Affairs Bureau on July 29, 2025, Xi’an Living Spring Church was determined by the government to be an illegal social organization and banned. Because of the government’s coercive efforts for total control, many house churches do not register, making them highly vulnerable to crackdowns from authorities. Such incidents usually occur out of public view, so it is difficult to accurately estimate the number of churches affected.
Read MoreOn Oct. 12, 2025, three families in a remote area of Laos were driven from their homes while villagers demolished their houses and confiscated their land and livestock. This attack followed weeks of growing aggression that included the chaining of a local Christian leader, Lom, to a house post for four days; Lom’s family was among those driven from their home. Since the attack, the families have been forced to live under a lean-to in the center of the village, closely watched and prohibited from seeking help.
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