Pastors in Central Asia need prayers for encouragement amidst hardship. One pastor told a front-line worker that he felt lonely and discouraged. “He realized he needed to say ‘no’ to some things that he can’t take on and to delegate more,” said the worker. “He also longed for the opportunity to share his feelings and weaknesses with other pastors but knew they would tell him he shouldn’t be sharing his weaknesses with them.” Another pastor who serves in the region reported that his entire flock of chickens had been wiped out by disease.
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Serving as the Regional Leader for VOM’s work in Latin America, Isaac Santiago tells what it’s like to be a Christian today in countries like Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Colombia. He has witnessed the shift since 2018 in Nicaragua—listed as a Restricted Nation in VOM’s 2026 Global Prayer Guide—through more laws that directly affect the church and severe restrictions and government pressure similar to what Christians face in Communist nations like Cuba and China. While some Christians in Nicaragua are weary and struggling to adjust to the new persecution reality, Christians in Cuba have dealt with such restrictions for more than 60 years. Isaac says pastors and leaders in the church there continue to be obedient to the Lord despite threats from their government. Isaac will also share thoughts on what the change in leadership in Venezuela means for the church there. In the last two years, he has seen a revival break out in the country and the gospel advance in many parts of the country. In Colombia, people in the cities are often oblivious to what is happening in the “red zones” where Christians are being persecuted by Marxist guerillas and other armed groups. With the current president of Colombia being a former guerrilla, persecution of the church has increased as guerrilla forces have become more powerful. Even though pastors are afraid, they are choosing to be faithful where the Lord has called them. Isaac will also share the miraculous story of a woman held at gunpoint for reaching out to youth in her area and bringing them to Jesus. To learn more about each of these nations and how you can pray, request your free copy of VOM’s 2026 Global Prayer Guide. Also, check out the new Spanish language podcast called VOM Radio: La Voz de los Mártires on Spotify, Amazon Music, Spreaker, and more! The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily in 2026 for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria, Iran and Bangladesh, 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 Laotian Christian woman has been abandoned by her family and forced from her home for her faith in Christ. In 2022, Mai Yea visited her uncle, a Christian, who shared the gospel with her. She decided to believe in God. After Mai Yea returned home, her husband was angry. He beat her and threatened to kill her, fearing that her Christian faith would anger the house spirits. She returned to her uncle’s house and in 2024 went to live with her married son and his family. When Mai Yea’s husband visited and told his son that sickness would come because of Mai Yea’s beliefs, he kicked her out.
Read MoreDespite Benin having a significant Christian population of 30%, front-line workers were recently told they could not import audio Bibles into the country. “We have a shipment that had been repeatedly turned away by customs officials,” said a front-line worker about the devices that are very effective in a country with around 50% illiteracy. “We kept resubmitting the boxes for approval, and finally they told us that shipments of audio Bibles would no longer be allowed into the country.”
Read MoreAs the Taliban government is working to eliminate all religions other than Islam, pray that they will be won to Christ. “The secret police go to homes at random to look for evidence of people practicing a different faith,” said a front-line worker. “People are being detained and tortured and become vulnerable to revealing information. It is exhausting having to constantly look over your shoulder.”
Read MoreProtests have been going on for weeks across the nation of Iran. The Islamic government has cut off communication networks and attacked protestors; thousands have been killed. Dr. Mike Ansari, a board member of the World Iranian Christian Alliance and the outgoing CEO of Heart4Iran, joins VOM Radio this week with an update on the current situation in Iran and how persecuted Christians are still demonstrating Christ’s light and loving their neighbors even as the entire country is in turmoil. As happened during previous protests in Iran, Christians were among the first to be targeted by authorities. The Revolutionary Guard and Iranian government leaders see followers of Christ—especially those from a Muslim background—as apostate traitors to their nation and the Islamic Revolution. Dr. Ansari says despite being targeted for Christian persecution followers of Jesus are boldly serving and spreading the light of Christ. Some Christians are even risking arrest to bring injured protestors into their own homes to care for them. Learn what life is like for Christians in Iran right now, and how the government is using this organic uprising to target and persecute Christian believers. Dr. Ansari will also introduce listeners to the World Iranian Christian Alliance, and share how this movement is uniting Iranian Christian leaders to increase unity, cooperation and serve as a voice for Iranian Christians. He’ll also give us specific ways to pray for our Iranian brothers and sisters in Christ right now. You can get a copy of Dr. Mike Ansari’s book entitled Heart4Iran: The Forbidden Stories here. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily in 2026 for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria and Bangladesh, 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 MoreFront-line workers in Kenya and Ethiopia report that distributing Bibles has provided new opportunities to advance the gospel in predominantly Muslim areas of the country. Last year, courageous Christians distributed 800 Bibles in 11 communities, some of which have been known to be hostile to the gospel. “Some of the beneficiaries of this Bible distribution included new believers from Muslim and traditional backgrounds whose lives would forever be impacted by the Scriptures,” a front-line worker said.
Read MoreOn Nov. 24, 2025, jihadi militants attacked the small village of Langnoassi in the northern part of the country, killing four men. They also burned homes, storage buildings and several motorcycles and bicycles. Two pastors managed to escape, but they lost their homes, household belongings and motorbikes in the attack. Christian villages in Burkina Faso have been regularly attacked by Islamist rebel groups in recent years.
Read MoreA pastor who serves Kurdish-Iranian followers of Christ in Iran lost contact with them in early January when the Iranian government cut all forms of communication within the country because of wide-scale demonstrations against the Iranian regime. Kurdish-Iranians number around 5 million inside Iran and are predominantly Muslim. A small number are believed to be followers of Christ.
Read MoreJohn Burrough, CEO of Partners International, is a former mission trip leader and played in the NFL—including playing in a Super Bowl. Listen as he shares how taking a mission trip completely changed his outlook and how that experience could impact and change your perspective in every area of life. Partners International began in the early 1940s with a missionary to China, Duncan Roberts, and from there continued to support and grow local leaders advancing the gospel in China. Later, the ministry’s work expanded into Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The focus today is on reaching the unreached parts of the world for Christ. John will share how Partners International invests in local ministries and church networks advancing the gospel in the 10/40 window, and how they come alongside locals to help them go further and faster in achieving the mission God has given them. “All missions begins with prayer,” John says, and shares how the Lord is mobilizing prayer for the unreached in restricted nations and hostile areas. Listen for the amazing story of a former Boko Haram member in West Africa who came to Christ while spying on a Christian leadership training session. The former terrorist is now advancing the gospel among the people he used to work with. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily in 2026 for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria and Bangladesh, 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.
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