After a Christmas worship service in December 2023, Pastor Raj Kumar Yadav received a phone call from an unknown person. At first, the caller asked seemingly innocent questions about the celebratory service, and the pastor answered in general terms. Then the person asked how many people were fed cow meat during the meal. The question raised concerns in the pastor’s mind, since Hindus consider cows sacred and have sometimes made trouble by claiming that Christians have slaughtered and eaten cows.
Read MoreWhen Somanid came to faith in Christ in 2000 at age 17, he immediately faced persecution. He decided to move to a new province, where he built a home, started a family in his new village and became part of a fellowship of more than 100 Christians. Recently, village leaders demanded that all families, including Christians, must donate money for the traditional spirit ceremonies, but the Christians all refused. On May 15, 2024, the leaders announced over loudspeakers that all Christians were required to leave the village, on the grounds that they were disobedient to village authorities.
Read MoreSome governments in Central Asia have outlawed all ministry to children. Nevertheless, Christians in the region remain committed to teaching young people about the Bible and Jesus Christ. In recent years, numerous pastors have had to pay fines for their outreach efforts. “The bank accounts of one pastor were checked and analyzed. When his activities were found, he had to pay a huge fine,” said a front-line worker.
Read MoreGeorgieta’s family worshiped demonic spirits in an area where human sacrifice is said to still occur. When Georgieta became a Christian, she refused to participate in her family’s occultic rituals, so her parents threw her out of the house. Homeless, Georgieta lived with a pastor and his family. Later, Georgieta’s father became sick, and her family planned to ritually sacrifice her, hoping it would heal her father. Georgieta escaped, but when her father later died of the illness, Georgieta’s mother blamed her for his death.
Read MoreNasser, a political prisoner in Iran, tried to commit suicide while imprisoned. A Christian inmate witnessed the attempt and prevented Nasser’s death. The Christian then shared the gospel with Nasser, and he came to faith in Christ. Nasser now meets with imprisoned Christians for times of secret prayer and worship. Another prisoner named Darius, a Muslim, reported a desire to know more about Christ after experiencing him in a dream.
Read MoreTuan has been a bold evangelist among the Hmong for more than two decades. Born into a family of fortune-tellers and witch doctors overseeing spirit worship in their village, Tuan began working among them at age 14. Living in that spiritual darkness, Tuan became addicted to drugs and alcohol until he came to faith in Christ. Soon after, he began to tell people about the Jesus who gave him not just physical life but also spiritual freedom. Pastor Tuan has been a prolific evangelist ever since, leading hundreds to Christ and praying to reach a growing number each year.
Read MoreWhen Dinara came to faith in Christ, her Muslim family members beat her severely. Dinara fled from the abuse, but her family tricked her into returning by telling her that her grandfather was ill and urgently needed her attention. When she returned, she arrived to a room full of people waiting for her, including a Muslim man who was going to take her as his second wife. Dinara escaped and eventually fled to another nation, where she is working to start a new life.
Read MoreNigerian church leaders request urgent prayer for Pastor Paul Musa. In March 2023, Pastor Paul and his wife, Ruth, were abducted from their home in northern Nigeria’s Borno State by militants belonging to Boko Haram, a radical Islamist group. The kidnappers posted video of Pastor Musa in late June 2024 and threatened to kill him if their demands were not met. Church leaders worry that the Islamists may have already killed Ruth.
Read MoreA family involved in gospel outreach in the isolated and restricted nation of Bhutan has been separated as the government has refused them proper documentation because of their faith. In addition, the government has not allowed any of the family members to leave lockdown since the coronavirus pandemic began in 2019. They request prayer that the Lord would intercede in their difficult situation.
Read MoreBassam has been attacked by people angered that he left Islam, but their outrage doesn’t deter him from sharing his faith. “He is not afraid to tell people that his life has been changed by Christ, and that has put a target on his back,” said a front-line worker. Bassam was walking through a dim alley when he felt compelled to move toward a main street with more light. Just as he reached the main road, two men wearing black masks attacked him with a wooden rod, swinging it at his head. Bassam blocked the strike, but the rod broke his arm. “He believes the attack was a part of the cost of being a Christ follower,” said the front-line worker.
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