On Jan. 7, 2026, a group of Christians celebrating Christmas in southern Ethiopia were targeted by Muslim extremists. Ethiopian Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7, according to the Julian calendar, and a Muslim mob violently attacked this group during their festivities, stabbing and hospitalizing several of the believers. The attack occurred in a region where the rise of radical Islam has resulted in routine attacks against Christians.
Read MoreA Christian girl who was sexually assaulted has been denied legal justice because of her faith in Christ. In August 2025, Pa Sia Tho, 14, was collecting food for her family in the forest when a 38-year-old man followed her and assaulted her. When Pa’s parents reported the assault to authorities, the man was ordered to pay a fine. He refused and instead said he would marry Pa. Pa and her family rejected this offer, requesting justice instead.
Read MoreA Kazakh pastor said that secret police showed his wife fabricated videos generated by AI to convince her to spy on him. “The methods they used were extremely surprising to me, as they were low and dirty,” said the pastor, who denied that the videos are real. “I ask you to pray for me, my wife, our children and our ministry. We are going through one of the most difficult times, but we believe that Jesus is the Lord.”
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In Part 2 of our interview with Pastor Hassan Abduraheem Taour, he shares how his heart remained upbeat, even as the judge pronounced him guilty and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. He’ll talk about how reading the Bible is different inside prison than when you’re free. Hassan says he experienced persecution as a blessing from God—a blessing that brought him tears of joy. “It is really a privilege to be persecuted,” he says. Pastor Hassan recounted how fellow members of the Body of Christ in Sudan encouraged him in prison with faith that the Lord would release him. His prayer life also grew in prison, as he became a prayer warrior, quoting Bible verses as he prayed with tears. Your faith will be encouraged and you’ll be challenged to pray for Sudan, Christians imprisoned for Christ, and their families as you hear Pastor Hassan’s amazing testimony this week on VOM Radio. Hear Part 1 of our conversation here. Pastor Hassan was imprisoned alongside VOM’s Africa regional director, Petr Jasek. You can hear Petr’s side of the story here. Pastor Hassan’s story was also featured in the I Am N virtual event, which you can watch online. 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 MoreIslamists are threatening at least nine Malian churches in an area close to the border with Burkina Faso. “The jihadis showed up on motorcycles on September 25, locked the doors to the churches and demanded each church pay the equivalent of a $1,200 tax to reopen,” said a front-line worker. “The brethren from these churches were also denied the right to harvest their crops unless they pay the demanded amount or they deny Christ.” The front-line worker said people in those communities fear what will happen when the terrorists return because the churches don’t have the money to pay.
Read MoreBrother Andreas, who has a passion to show the love of Christ to Muslims in Egypt, was diagnosed with a serious liver issue. Further testing, including a biopsy, is needed to find the cause. “Brother Andreas no longer receives a salary or healthcare due to his evangelistic activities among Muslims,” said a front-line worker.
Read MoreA Pakistani Christian was imprisoned for more than 18 months after being falsely accused of blasphemy. Her accusers are Muslim men offended that she had a Christian cross on the outside of her home. They didn’t want to pass underneath it and demanded that she take it down, but she refused. Angered, the men ripped apart a Quran and scattered the pieces outside her home. When she stepped outside, saw the shreds of paper and picked them up to see what they were, the men ambushed her.
Read MorePastor Hassan Abduraheem Taour helped train Sudanese pastors to be ready for persecution. He didn’t know that he was also preparing himself for the day he’d be arrested in Sudan, charged with aiding espionage alongside VOM’s Africa Regional Director, Petr Jasek, and sentenced to 12 years in prison. There were difficult days in prison, yet Pastor Hassan experienced the joy of the Lord—joy so powerful it brought tears to his eyes. It is because of that joy, and because of the ministry God gave him in prison, that Pastor Hassan looks back on those long months as “one of the best times of my life.” 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 MoreA Christian couple in a northern province of Laos continues to suffer painful persecution after the unresolved death of their son. On Sunday, Nov. 2, Khong, 22, missed the church service because he was searching for his stolen motorbike. He did not return, and two days later, his body was found in a nearby rice field. No cause of death has been determined. Khong’s parents, Dan and Tee, wanted to bring the body home for a Christian funeral, but the head of their village refused to allow it unless they paid an exorbitant fee.
Read MoreIn December 2024, Adam Amdou, the adult son of a pastor, was kidnapped from his home and his whereabouts are still unknown. The abductors are members of an Islamist terrorist group who were angered that Adam’s father refused to obey their orders to stop his Christian ministry activities. Since Adam’s abduction, his family, including his father, his wife and his two children, have received no word on his condition.
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