A Sudanese refugee has been sentenced on false charges as retaliation for placing her faith in Christ. Around 1.5 million Sudanese live as refugees in Egypt, including Christians who have fled persecution. Among these is Maida, who became a Christ follower years ago and fled after her Muslim husband rejected her and took their children away as she feared for her safety. Recently, she learned that she has been tried in absentia in Sudan and sentenced to two years in prison on false accusations that she assaulted her husband.
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“What is key is that many of these pastors and leaders have understood the true gospel.” Despite government threats of exile, prison, or death, Pastor Chico, a front-line worker in Nicaragua, says pastors are still preaching the truth of God’s Word—no matter the cost. They know, as the Bible says, that “faith comes by hearing” (Rom. 10:17). The price of their preaching can be high. Listen as Chico shares about a pastor who lost his Nicaraguan citizenship when he left the country to attend a Christian conference, and pastors imprisoned without a trial or any legal process in which to defend themselves. “The main struggle…for people in churches in Nicaragua is that they are afraid to obey the Lord,” Chico says. He encourages us that, as followers of Christ, each of us need to decide who is the Lord in our lives. Nicaragua’s government is actively working to co-opt and control churches. Christians who won’t cooperate are labeled “terrorists.” Listen as Chico explains government efforts to influence and control churches, and why every believer in Nicaragua needs a Bible in their hands. Chico and other Nicaraguan Christians have been inspired by the story of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand and his wife, Sabina, the founders of The Voice of the Martyrs. At a meeting where the communist government of Romania was trying to influence church leaders in the 1940s, Sabina famously challenged Richard to speak out by saying, “I do not wish to have a coward for a husband.” Chico says there are many pastors’ wives in Nicaragua similarly encouraging their husbands to boldly proclaim the gospel despite the danger of Christian persecution. Chico says, “The best testimony we can have as Christians is: Am I really committed to following Jesus as my Lord and Savior?” Hear how you can pray for specific needs of persecuted Christians in the restricted nation of Nicaragua, and request your free copy of VOM’s 2026 Global Prayer Guide to help you know how to pray throughout this year for Christians in India, Iran, Nigeria and many more hostile areas and restricted nations.
Read MoreMany Christians have been displaced in Niger, including farmers from rural areas who need to reach their croplands to harvest their crops but struggle to do so because of ongoing threats. “Christians in Niger face danger and challenges,” said a front-line worker. In western Niger, the violent JNIM Islamist group is very active. Its name is an acronym for the Arabic phrase “The Group Supporting Islam and Muslims” and is an offshoot of al-Qaida.
Read MoreOn Aug. 2, 2025, Li Guiwen, a Christian leader among the Lisu people group, was arrested for opening his home to other Christian villagers for prayer and worship. During the arrest, police confiscated Bibles, books, audio-visual materials and sheet music. Li Guiwen was found guilty of using an unapproved religious venue and conducting illegal religious activities and sentenced to six months in prison.
Read MoreWhen a woman from an Arabian Gulf nation placed her faith in Christ, her conversion came at great personal cost. Upon sharing her Christian faith with her family, she was met with anger and rejection. Her relatives viewed her decision as a deep dishonor to their heritage and traditions. As a result, she was cast out of her home and formally disowned by her tribe. A court ruling stripped her of her tribal affiliation, meaning she has lost not only her family name but also her inheritance rights.
Read MoreChristians in Laos know they will face persecution when they follow Jesus. Brother Sionh, founder and president of Khmu Christian Connection, says he doesn’t have to make a special effort to prepare Christians for persecution because they already know it will come. He says some Khmu follow Jesus privately and secretly because they fear the loss of opportunity that comes with being known as a Christian. Brother Sionh remembers how his parents and many others came to faith before World War II when an American missionary walked to their village and told them Jesus has power over evil spirits and that if you believe in Him, He will protect you. Today, Sionh reaches Khmu people all over the world through his work as a Bible teacher for Khmu Gospel Radio Broadcast. The largest populations of Khmu people are in Laos, Vietnam and China. In Laos, Christians are often seen as troublemakers and agents of Western influence. Most Khmu are animists, worshipping spirits of their ancestors or of things in nature. When they are sick or have trouble, they call on witchdoctors and perform ritualistic practices. They constantly live in a spirit of fear, afraid of offending the spirits and bringing trouble. Brother Sionh also shares the story of Pastor Thongkham, who was martyred for his Christian work, gunned down in front of his wife and children in July of 2024. (Brother Thongkham was interviewed by VOM Radio the year before he was murdered.) Brother Sionh shared more of his personal testimony and how God called him to ministry service during his first interview on VOM Radio. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria, Iran, and India, 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 MoreMuslim protesters formed a human chain to block Christian worshipers from attending a planned Christmas worship service on Dec. 14, 2025, near the capital city of Jakarta, Indonesia. Videos on social media show the group holding anti-Christian banners and shouting jihadist slogans. Some protesters held or pushed Christians who tried to get through the line. “We only want to worship peacefully,” one Christian said in a video. “We have no intention of disturbing anyone.”
Read MoreA front-line worker visited a remote part of northern Sierra Leone to participate in the first baptismal service of a newly planted church. Reaching the church required traveling by truck and then motorcycle for hours over a series of rough dirt roads and paths. After the worker arrived and participated in a church service, the congregation walked to a river for the baptism ceremony. By the time they arrived, the sun had set. “So, using the motorcycle’s lights, we had a beautiful baptism ceremony in which 31 believers entered into the baptism waters,” the front-line worker said.
Read MoreA Christian convert from Islam who is now a pastor received facial surgery as he continues to recover from an attack 15 years ago. Pastor Umar Mulinde, a former Muslim leader, left Islam to follow Christ in the 1990s. While on his way to a Christmas party with his church members on Dec. 24, 2011, he was attacked by a radical Muslim who poured acid on his face. Since then, Umar’s wounds have continued to cause pain and discomfort.
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