During a fall 2022 revival meeting in her village, 19-year-old Urbi Izegbe committed her life to Christ. Her family was not happy with her decision and responded by insulting her, threatening her and even withholding food from her. Her father also forbade her from attending church. But Urbi decided that her relationship with Christ was the most important thing in her life, so she continued participating in church services and activities. On August 11, 2023, when she returned home from a church meeting, her father attacked her and tried to kill her using a broken bottle as a weapon.
Read MoreChristians in Israel (including the West Bank and Gaza) have requested prayer amid ongoing conflict that began on Oct. 7 when Hamas fighters launched attacks along the Israeli-Gaza border. A church in one of the communities infiltrated in the initial coordinated attack asks for prayer as they seek to share the love of Christ and meet the needs of their community. Another church located in a major city struggles to meet the needs of their community as an unofficial blockade has restricted daily goods such as food and fuel.
Read MoreSince the 2011 outbreak of civil war in Syria, hundreds of thousands have fled to neighboring countries, including Jordan. Many refugees have had the opportunity to hear the gospel during their displacement, and a significant number of Syrians have become followers of Christ through the witness of Jordanian Christians. Some Syrian refugees now worry that the government of Jordan is planning to force them to return to Syria. “I could be killed at the border,” said one Syrian Christian.
Read MoreAmadou Kabore was born into the Muslim Fulani tribe in Burkina Faso. In 2021, he watched the JESUS film and placed his trust in Christ. His decision to follow Christ enraged his father and brothers, and they beat Amadou severely. Amadou fled to the nearby nation of Togo for safety. Front-line workers helped him secure housing and enroll in a vocational training program in his new country.
Read MoreBefore Khamphone became a Christian, he was a respected fortuneteller. He often helped villagers, including village elders and police officers, by consulting the spirits, and for this he was rewarded with a piece of land to farm. He hired 20 workers to help him prepare the land for rice season. In December 2022, Khamphone became a Christian. When this was discovered, the village leader told him he must recant his faith in Christ or lose his land.
Read MoreLavanya’s whole family came to faith in Christ after she was miraculously healed from paralysis and other disabilities she had struggled with since birth. She loved to travel with her father, Prakash, when he would share the gospel with others. Prakash was warned by Hindu radicals to stop his evangelistic outreach. On Jan. 16, 2023, while Prakash and Lavanya were traveling home via bike from a neighboring village, some who had threatened Prakash followed them in a vehicle and caused the bike to crash, seriously injuring father and daughter.
Read MoreA Christian in Morocco is experiencing regular pressure and intimidation by police authorities. “His moves are constantly monitored, and he is regularly questioned by police,” a front-line worker shared. He is under gradual but increasing pressure from officials, and the continual surveillance and interrogations have negatively impacted his health.
Read MorePastor Matthew leads a small church in northern Kenya. Every Sunday as he preaches, Muslims from the surrounding neighborhood pummel the church with rocks. They occasionally throw stones at the home where he, his wife and their four children live. Their family and other Christians in the town are regularly discriminated against, especially at funerals, which are usually communal events. Pastor Matthew recalled attending a funeral where he was served a meal and sat down to eat with a group of men.
Read MoreA Christian imprisoned in Eritrea several times for his faith expressed gratitude to the global body of Christ for their ongoing support in prayer: “You have been praying for us, and I want to thank you,” Joseph said. He also shared how communism is Eritrea’s most significant challenge and that its president, who trained in China, launched a brutal crackdown on the Christian community in 2004, closing most churches and arresting many Christian leaders. Those imprisoned without trial are held in inhumane conditions, including metal shipping containers.
Read MoreOn Dec. 26, 2021, Pastor Jawahar was in his home in Madhya Pradesh state, talking with other members of the church, when Hindu fanatics – including police officers – entered, accusing these Christians of trying to convert Hindus by fraud. After interrogation and intimidation in the home, the police took Jawahar and two elders to the police station and charged them with coerced conversion under the state’s so-called “Freedom of Religion” law. Pastor Jawahar was jailed for 45 days without due legal process.
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