Lydia Ishaya lost her husband in 2015 after Boko Haram shot and killed him. A year later, Lydia was in the market when Boko Haram attacked again, this time bombing the area multiple times.
Read MoreEmmanuel Dounia lives in an IDP camp in the Central African Republic. He was driven from his home after Seleka rebels attacked his village, burning his home and sexually assaulting his wife in front of him. His sons were killed in cannon fire, and he was also tortured.
Read MoreIn recent weeks, militant Fulani Muslims have attacked villages in the Miango area of Plateau state, Nigeria, killing many and displacing thousands. As the violence escalated over the following days, the Islamists destroyed hundreds of homes and churches as well as the villagers’ crops, which were being prepared for harvest, eliminating their food source and livelihoods.
Read MoreNastaran is a mother of two who regularly receives a Christian magazine that contains stories from VOM’s Courageous series. Recently, her brother-in-law visited her home with his family, and her son read the story of Patrick to her nephew while excitedly showing him the magazine.
Read MoreRahila and Ibrahim met in Niger when Ibrahim began attending Rahila’s church. Ibrahim had grown up in a Muslim home, but he heard the gospel while working in Niger, and he started attending church. Ibrahim and Rahila eventually married, and after the birth of four children, they felt called to return to Nigeria where they had two more children.
Read MoreAlimayu grew up in in a Christian home in the northern part of Ethiopia. As a young man, he placed his faith in Christ and became an active member of a local church. He is married with two children, and he runs a small café in Shashemane. In July, youth mobs destroyed Alimayu’s business in riots that targeted the homes and businesses of non-indigenous people and Christians.
Read MoreLiao Qiang and his family, members of the Early Rain Covenant Church, fled to Taiwan in July 2019 after repeated interrogation and harassment by the police. On June 29, the family of six arrived safely in the United States, where they will apply for asylum. Following the government raid of Early Rain Covenant Church on Dec. 9, 2018, Liao and his family were repeatedly interrogated, constantly surveilled, and harassed by police.
Read MoreFariba is married to a drug addict, and they have a teenage son. They live in a small room in a machine shop, and Fariba works long hours as a housecleaner to try to make ends meet. Desperate and hopeless, Fariba decided to commit suicide because she felt her life was worthless.
Read MoreAlthough prison officials have officially stated that Wang Yi, pastor of Early Rain Church, is doing well in prison, a source familiar with his condition has said the opposite is true. The source shared that prison authorities are holding the pastor in a highly restricted cell. He is not allowed to have visitors or even speak with other inmates, except for two criminal offenders who are charged with watching him.
Read MoreFatima Koroma graduated from a VOM-supported sewing center in Kabala last year and moved to another village where she set up a sewing shop. All was going well until a year later when her older sister found her in the new village with a new job and going to church.
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