The father of a Christian family in Vietnam was given a life sentence for drug possession. The drugs were found in his home during a random police search that happened less than 24 hours after a specific threat was made to the father that something bad would happen if he and his family did not renounce their faith. Front-line workers request prayer for this man and his family as they face this separation and seek justice.
Read MoreRoughly 12 million Sudanese have fled as a result of the civil war between two Islamist generals that has engulfed the country since April 2023. The displaced people include around 750,000 from predominately Christian tribes who have made a harrowing journey to reach the Nuba Mountains, an autonomous region in the south of the country. But the travel and ongoing fighting have separated families. “When the war broke out, we have many people, even my own daughter, that have been caught on [the other] side of Khartoum,” said Pastor Morris, a longtime church leader located in the Nuba Mountains. “We do not have any communication with her, and we don’t know what she is doing.
Read MoreChristians make up less than 1% of the population of Turkiye, which is 96% Sunni Muslim. When a Turkish Muslim chooses to follow Christ, they are often rejected by their families, a reality experienced by Mustafa and Basak. Mustafa grew up in a radical Islamic family but became a Christian as a teenager. His decision shocked his family, who have been pressuring him to renounce his new faith. Mustafa currently has no place to live, so a local church is housing him in their church building while he looks for work and more permanent housing. Basak was also raised in a devout Islamic home, but after she was invited to a Christian activity at her university and given a Bible, she trusted in Christ.
Read More20-year-old Mamata was the only Christian in her remote rural village. Her husband, Krishna, and other family members were strong Hindus, and they pressured her incessantly to leave the Christian faith. When she became pregnant, her pastor arranged for Mamata and Krishna to stay in a Christian guesthouse near the main district hospital when it came time for her to deliver the baby. During their two-week stay, the proprietors cared for Mamata and showed the love of God to her husband.
Read MoreSix Libyan Christians and two foreigners have been held in jail since an outbreak of religious persecution that occurred in 2022. The men have never been charged with a crime, but they are believed to be held for “being obedient to God’s Word and sharing it with others in the country,” a front-line worker said.
Read MoreOn the evening of July 23, 2024, Pastor Thongkham Philavanh, 40, died after an attack at his home in northwestern Laos. Two masked men approached him in his yard and spoke to him before shooting him several times. Thongkham’s wife rushed him to the hospital, but he died on arrival. Thongkham was a tribal Khmu leader and provincial head of the Lao Evangelical Church. He actively shared the gospel and trained other pastors throughout the province while leading a growing church. According to friends, Thongkham was closely monitored by authorities and had been warned to stop his Christian activities.
Read MorePastor Zanzhar has led a Kazakh church for more than 20 years, but the government “de-registered’ it nine years ago. When a church is de-registered, front-line workers report that it is impossible for that church to re-register, which forces congregations to either disband or operate in secret. Pastor Zanzhar’s church kept meeting even after being de-registered, but police raided one of their services last year and fined him. He appealed but lost the appeal and had to pay a large fee.
Read MoreMost countries in the Arabian Peninsula are majority-Muslim with severe restrictions for those who follow Christ, a reality experienced by three Christian men. Born into a Muslim family, Haroun moved to the Arabian Peninsula for employment and came to know Christ. After his conversion, Haroun would regularly read the Bible on his phone during work breaks. One day his Muslim boss saw what he was reading and fired him. He was later fired from another job for attending a church service instead of going to mosque. Haroun is struggling to find another job.
Read MoreBhaluwan Kumar Paiswan was serving a 20-year prison sentence for gang-related crimes when he ended up in a cell with a Christian evangelist. Annoyed at first, he eventually placed his faith in Christ and experienced new joy and peace. When he was released early, he met another evangelist who discipled him, and they began to work together. The church in that village grew to 25 people in a few years with many more showing interest.
Read MoreTwo families in one Bru tribal village in Laos became Christians in February 2023. One of the families was driven out after enduring the threats and pressure of the community, which included the destruction of crops and livestock. The other family, Xing, Nang and their three children, were then alone, facing the same daily persecution as the family who had been driven out.
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