Bhaluwan Kumar Paiswan was serving a 20-year prison sentence for gang-related crimes when he ended up in a cell with a Christian evangelist. Annoyed at first, he eventually placed his faith in Christ and experienced new joy and peace. When he was released early, he met another evangelist who discipled him, and they began to work together. The church in that village grew to 25 people in a few years with many more showing interest.
Read MoreTwo families in one Bru tribal village in Laos became Christians in February 2023. One of the families was driven out after enduring the threats and pressure of the community, which included the destruction of crops and livestock. The other family, Xing, Nang and their three children, were then alone, facing the same daily persecution as the family who had been driven out.
Read MoreJaime and Ana Luz have ministered in one of Colombia’s “red zones,” areas under guerrilla control, for nine years. In early 2024, they received a phone call from a member of the guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) demanding they pay four million pesos [roughly $1000] in half an hour or their two children, ages 8 and 9, would be killed. The family paid a portion of the demanded amount but have received threatening phone calls and letters slipped under their door. Still, Jaime and Ana Luz remain committed to advancing the gospel in this area.
Read MoreIn Benin, local politicians are often strongly influenced by voodoo priests. In one part of the country, voodoo practitioners have convinced police to arrest four pastors because of songs they heard Christians singing during worship services. The complaints about the Christians’ songs have interrupted the services and activities of roughly a dozen churches in that area.
Read MoreChristians in Tunisia are finding it harder to gather and worship the Lord together. Front-line workers say the Tunisian government has banned Christians from meeting in hotels or other public gathering places without official pre-approval. “Only foreigners and officially registered NGOs [non-governmental organizations] are allowed to meet in those facilities,” said a front-line worker. The worker added that one church leader has been harassed and “can no longer lead weekly services on Wednesdays and Saturdays.”
Read MoreWhile meeting for prayer on June 28, 2023, Poonam Bind, her parents and another sister in Christ were arrested on charges of converting Hindus. They spent the next two months in jail. Poonam and the other Christian women with her used the time to minister to the other 150 female inmates in the jail and led many of the women to place their faith in Christ. “I realized God had a wonderful plan for those people to be saved, and so I was there,” Poonam said. “I saw how people were treated and troubled and how badly they needed Jesus in their lives.” She continues to disciple many of the women who came to Christ in the jail.
Read MoreMrs. Thai, a Christian widow in a Khmu tribal village in Laos, was persecuted by her own family and kicked out of her house because of her faith. She lived alone, and none of her family cared for her. She passed away on December 27, 2023. Her family did not want to take responsibility for her funeral. Members of the local body of Christ came to bury her, but the village headman would not permit them to bring it into the village cemetery, concerned that it would displease the ancestor spirits.
Read MoreTeoboldo and Denise minister in one of Colombia’s “red zones,” areas dominated by guerrilla violence and illicit activity associated with illegal drug trade. They have been threatened and confined to their house; at other times, they have been forced to cancel worship services because of threats. They’ve had friends killed for refusing to comply with the warnings from guerrillas, yet they remain faithful amid the risk. “This is the area where God has placed us. That is where we are going to stay until God tells us otherwise,” Teoboldo said. The couple has three children, but their middle child died two years ago from complications during heart surgery.
Read MoreChristians in remote parts of northern Kenya cannot easily access or afford Bibles that are often available for purchase only in far-away cities like Nairobi. Some churches in this part of Kenya have only one Bible to share among their congregations. A local pastor said that one young man refused to do his schoolwork so he could focus on studying the Bible when it was his family’s turn with their church’s Bible. Without knowledge of God’s Word, many Christians in that region have been vulnerable to the influence of Islam. VOM worked with a local group of pastors and lay ministers to distribute more than 14,000 Bibles, including illustrated and audio Bibles, in this remote region of Kenya.
Read MoreJailed as a murderer, Blawan Kumar Paswan had no hope. Then, a Christian in his prison shared the gospel with him. Blawan placed his trust in Jesus Christ and was baptized. A jailer observed the changes in Blawan’s life and recommended early release after he had served 10 years. Blawan returned to his village and dedicated his life to sharing the gospel, but persecution followed. His uncle evicted his family and took their possessions. On December 1, 2023, a group of drunken men beat Blawan and his wife, Bina. They accused the couple of spoiling their culture by preaching about Jesus.
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