Saman, a rural Sri Lankan pastor, has been persecuted for months as he faces charges in court and threats against his life. Because of the growth of the church that meets in Saman’s home, Buddhist monks from throughout the area filed noise complaints and charges of illegal meetings. In a preliminary hearing, the judge said Christianity was not illegal and that the house was too distant from its neighbors for noise to be an issue. As the case is ongoing, Saman requested prayer for a favorable outcome. He also reported that the church has continued to grow, due in part to the local Buddhist monks trying to incite people against them, which has led to growing interest in the church.
Read MoreA front-line worker in Lebanon shared what the Lord has taught him through “walking people home” over years of serving persecuted Christians. “The people we walk alongside carry heavy, layered wounds,” he wrote. “They are dealing with trauma, anxiety and the terrifying insecurity that comes from losing their homes, livelihoods and families because of their faith. I’ve learned to listen for what lies beneath the words ? the fear someone is too ashamed to name, the hope they’re hesitant to whisper, the grief they’ve carried alone for years. We are walking people home.
Read MoreA Christian man was disowned and forced to flee after placing his faith in Christ. Boukary’s father is a village chief, or king, as they are often called in Burkina Faso. He is also a Muslim. When Boukary started listening to an audio Bible and eventually placed his trust in Christ, his father was furious. “The family considers Boukary’s conversion to have placed a huge amount of shame on them as Muslims,” said a front-line worker. “His father immediately took Boukary’s wife away and sent her back to her family.
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Maya and her husband were constantly under pressure from police in Turkmenistan. Then her husband was thrown in jail. Maya says many times she questioned God. “So many times I prayed to God and asked, ‘Why is this happening in our lives? We’ve done so much to serve you!'” Amid her questions, Maya sensed a challenge: she needed to surrender her thoughts to God and go back to his Word. Listen as Maya shares how she and her husband met, how the Lord changed her husband’s heart after he began to follow Jesus, and how she came to know Christ after six years seeing her husband live out God’s love. You’ll hear how her husband, Ilmurad, abused her and struggled with addiction before he knew Christ, and how Christ changed him so radically that friends and neighbors asked, “What happened to you?!” Because of his Christian ministry, Ilmurad was sentenced to four years in prison. However, he viewed his time in prison as continued ministry as he led other prisoners to follow Christ. While in prison, Ilmurad was listed on The Voice of the Martyrs’ letter-writing website, www.PrisonerAlert.com. Though he was never allowed to see or read incoming letters, a prison custodian told him he was receiving mail from all over the world. Ilmurad knew he was not forgotten and that Christians were praying for him. “I was surprised and encouraged to hear that people outside our country were praying for us,” Maya says. “I’m so appreciative that you didn’t forget us when we had trouble.” Since her husband’s death from illness in 2024, Maya continues serving as a gospel worker among women in Turkmenistan. Please pray for her ministry and her health. You can encourage persecuted Christians in prison—just like Ilmurad and Maya were encouraged—when you write letters through PrisonerAlert.com. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria, China and Iran, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content, and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.
Read MoreA notable history of severe illness and death marks Maldivian Christians, foreign missionaries to the island nation and translators working to produce a Bible in the native language, explained by front-line workers as a significant form of spiritual warfare for those committed to making Christ known in the Maldives. Samuel is one such Maldivian Christian, with a passion to reach his family and friends with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has suffered severe health problems in recent months that resulted in the need for intensive hospital care.
Read MoreA church in the town of Semey, located in far eastern Kazakhstan, was raided during Sunday morning services on May 24, 2026. According to the police, someone had called the Kazakh police emergency number to report that religious activities of an unregistered community were taking place. “A police squad of about 10 people arrived during the service,” said one of the leaders. “After the service ended, everyone present except for mothers with children was told not to leave. Officers explained the reason for their visit and said that the church members were violating the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan by performing religious rites.”
Read MoreChristians in Algeria need prayer for encouragement, fellowship and effective ministry. Fewer than 1 percent of Algerians are Christians, and many Algerian followers of Christ live in areas where there is not a single church. A front-line worker met with one of those isolated Christians. During their visit, the two walked through the man’s city, praying for him and praying that more of the city’s residents would hear the gospel and learn of God’s love for them. “He is a very lonely brother,” said the worker.
Read MoreHow do you discern God’s call and determine where He’s leading you? How much of your prayer time is spent listening to Him? Ben Barrett, who’s led The Voice of the Martyrs’ work in South Asia, will help us answer those questions as he shares how God has led him and his wife into a new season of ministry. His new role—with one of VOM’s strategic partner ministries—includes raising up indigenous Christian leaders, supporting church planting efforts and encouraging pastors to continue making disciples to multiply the gospel work. “We want to come alongside them in the midst of persecution and difficulty,” Ben said. One of the parts of Ben’s new role that excites him—and draws on his experience serving at VOM—is bringing church planters and leaders from different places where Christians are persecuted together to share with each other experiences and hard-won wisdom. Listen as Ben shares some of the stories that have impacted him greatly during his time serving our persecuted brothers and sisters with VOM, the current state of persecution in South Asia and how Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims are coming to know Christ. He’ll also encourage listeners to lean into where the Lord may be calling you, and share how making yourself available may be just what God is asking of you. Pray for Ben and his family during this transition and for their ongoing service to the Lord in the next season of their service to Him. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria, China and Iran, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content, and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.
Read MoreRadical Muslims have attacked several churches in Sudan and made false accusations that the pastors of these churches are responsible for the attacks. The pastors have been ordered to appear in court on June 16, 2026, to answer the charges against them. Despite the accusations, the pastors remain committed to continuing their ministry work. “We trust God, knowing that nothing will be successful in stopping the ministry,” one of the pastors said.
Read MoreOverwhelmed by Ministry Challenges
Violent Islamist groups, some aligned with the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS), have been attacking, abducting and murdering Christians in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Hundreds of Christians have been killed, some when Islamists attacked churches during services. “Pastors find themselves overwhelmed by the current situation,” said a Congolese church leader. “Some are discouraged.” As Christians flee the Islamist attacks, many pastors continue serving their congregations, but the attacks take a toll on these ministers.