Beninese churches, especially those located in the north, have been facing increasing pressures by Islamists. On Sunday, 27 July 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. Witchcraft is deeply ingrained in the local culture and is openly

Source: Voice of the Martyrs Australia, Voice of the Martyrs Korea, Voice of the Martyrs Canada A Voice of the Martyrs partner has reported the release of Deacon Jang Moon Seok, also known by his Chinese name Zhang Wen Shi, who was imprisoned in North Korea and returned home to China on 5 November. Deacon Jang, who ministered to North Koreans in Changbai, China, alongside martyred Pastor Han Chung-Ryeol, served more than 12 years of a 15-year sentence. Deacon Jang is an ethni

Source: Voice of the Martyrs Australia, Article 18 A Christian convert who has been detained in the women’s ward of Tehran’s Evin Prison since February has suffered a spinal fracture after falling from her bunk bed. Aida Najaflou, who is 44 years old, was taken to Taleghani Hospital for an X-ray after suffering the injury in the early hours of 31 October, but despite the severity of her injuries and ongoing health problems, she was denied proper medical treatment and returned

Each modern Western democracy fares better or worse at a given time depending on the place God’s wisdom holds in the hearts and minds of its voters. To the extent that the electorate is ungodly, the corrupt and godless officials they choose become a self-teaching lesson and even a self-inflicted punishment. The form of government may not be inherently flawed, but no system can thrive without embracing God’s wisdom. Communism is different. Founded explicitly on a rejection of

Sources: Voice of the Martyrs Canada, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Open Doors Canada, Release International, Christianity Today, CNN On 13 February 2017, Pastor Raymond Koh was abducted from his car by 15 masked men in the Malaysian city of Petaling Jaya. The incident, which was captured on security cameras and took only 40 seconds to unfold, appears to have been executed by professionally trained individuals. From the beginning, there were strong indications of official g

On 14 September 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.” The officials then confiscated some of the church’s written materials and t

On 12 October 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 watch

Jonathan and his family had to flee after Muslims threatened them and posted videos of them online. In northern Nigeria, Christians are cautious with outreach to Muslims as thousands of Christians have been murdered by Islamists. For example, Fatima, a Muslim student, approached a Christian teacher, Jonathan, wanting to know more about Christ. Jonathan cautiously shared the gospel with Fatima, and she became a Christian. She later recanted, however, claiming that Jonathan and

Regional 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 h

Five Christian families facing increasing pressure in northern Laos meet for worship and prayer. In a village in northern Laos, five Christian families have faced increasing persecution because they will not return to spirit worship. The village head confiscated their family registration books, which contain vital records including birth and marriage certificates, residence permits and education and professional records. This village head has refused to register births, issue