Kyrgyz converts from Islam to Christianity face various forms of harsh persecution. In many rural villages, Christian burials are prohibited. One Christian convert’s body was exhumed by villagers angry that it had been buried in a traditionally Muslim cemetery, and they forced the family to rebury the body far away in a cemetery designated for Christians. One village prohibited Christians from grazing their animals, forcing them to choose between recanting their faith or allowing their livestock to die.
Read MoreThe Turkish government has deported around 200 missionaries plus their families from the country in recent years, leaving many local churches to survive with limited leadership experience. “In the long term, it is going to be good because now we are utilizing many more local people,” said a senior Turkish pastor. “But in the short term, it has really impacted Turkish churches.”
Read MoreMembers of the Druze community attacked a Lebanese Druze family that had become followers of Christ. The beating was severe enough that the couple’s young son was hospitalized and they had to flee their home. “A friend had to find them and take them into hiding for their protection,” said a front-line worker. The Druze are a Middle Eastern people group who follow a unique religion with roots in Islam and mysticism.
Read MoreWilliam, a pastor in Chin State, Myanmar, and another Christian man, Pu Nam Ceu, were arrested by soldiers from Myanmar’s military on May 16, 2026, and later killed while in military custody. Before his arrest, the pastor sent his wife and five children to the relative safety of a larger city while he returned to the jungle where some members of his congregation were hiding because of ongoing civil conflict. He did not want to abandon his church members, especially those who were most vulnerable and exposed to danger.
Read MoreA Christian man in northern Mozambique remains faithful to Christ after extreme torture. In 2019, Felizardo Lourenco, now 40, was captured by Islamic State insurgents in the region. While in captivity, Felizardo was tortured severely and set on fire when he would not renounce Christ. He required months of medical care after the attack and still has health complications. Because of Felizardo’s disfigurements, his wife left him.
Read MoreAn evangelist in northeast India remains in exile from his village after a violent attack and false accusations. Rangja began evangelistic work in his native village in 2020. By 2024, seven families had come to Christ. On Jan. 18, 2026, village leaders called a meeting with these families, threatening consequences if they would not return to the local religion, but the families stood firm. That same evening, a mob attacked Rangja’s home. He was struck on the face, dragged to a field and beaten.
Read MoreA 17-year-old girl named Nogosa fled from her home on Sept. 13, 2026, after being severely beaten by her family for her faith in Christ. Nogosa had recently become a follower of Christ and was attending church services, angering family members who had dedicated her to become the wife of a voodoo priest. After the assault, they told Nogosa she must participate in upcoming voodoo initiation ceremonies. “These ceremonies often involve horrific assault and abuse,” said a front-line worker.
Read MoreIn Oromia, Ethiopia, a local Islamic sheikh led an attack on a church that left nine Christians injured. On Sept. 13, 2026, a group of Muslims led by the sheikh attacked Christians during their weekly worship service and injured nine of them, including a pregnant woman. A local missionary lost three front teeth, and all of the injured required hospital treatment. The condition of the unborn infant was still being monitored at the time of writing.
Read MoreThe body of Christ is caring for a widow whose family rejected her for her faith in Christ. Toon Simom, 73, is a widow from a Laotian minority group and has followed Christ for five years. She had lived with her only daughter, Thon, since Toon’s husband died in 2006. Thon is opposed to her mother’s Christian faith and has verbally abused Toon, threatened to poison her and cut up all of Toon’s clothing to drive her out of the house.
Read MoreA Pakistani evangelist, his wife and two young children are homeless after local Muslims, angered by his Christian ministry, set fire to his home. Evangelist Salim Chaudhry regularly traveled throughout the area near his home village to share the gospel. He also constructed a small church on land he owned. When he put a cross on top of the building, members of the community objected and began harassing his family, regularly calling them derogatory names.
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