American mission pilot Nicholas Goselin, 29, was killed on July 2 in Indonesia’s Papua Highlands after armed separatists attacked his aircraft. The West Papua Liberation Army claimed responsibility, alleging the flight transported government personnel. Goselin, who worked for PT Associated Mission Aviation, was fatally shot and the plane was burned. Indonesian military forces recovered his body the next day. His employer confirmed that remains are being returned to the United States for burial. The incident underscores the dangers faced by humanitarian aviation workers serving remote communities in the region. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances of the attack.
Stephen Barrett, a former missionary and NCAA wrestler, shares memories of living in the former Soviet Union. He describes meeting Pastor A. Propkhorov in Kabardino/Balkaria, who endured eighteen years in labor camps for preaching. Barrett characterizes communism as a religion that replaced God with Lenin, citing visits to Red Square. He details the harsh living conditions, housing shortages, and lack of personal freedom under Soviet rule. After the USSR dissolved in 1991, Barrett observed rising corruption and bureaucracy in Russia. The account highlights the severe religious persecution faced by Christians during the communist era. (Source: God Reports)
The Church’s Ministry among Jewish people (CMJ) in the United Kingdom has launched a campaign called Restoring the Roots. CMJ director Rev Aaron Eime warns that Marcionism, a heresy separating Jesus from his Jewish heritage, is spreading in British Bible colleges. This initiative follows a rise in antisemitism since the October 2023 Gaza conflict. Eime argues that rejecting the Old Testament distorts Christian faith and fuels division. The group urges believers to support Jewish people, citing biblical prophecies about Israel's future. CMJ, founded in 1809, continues its missionary work despite challenges in securing speaking invitations at churches across the country.
Christians in Sport celebrated its 50th anniversary with simultaneous events across the UK, including a gathering in Sheffield hosted by Christ Church, Fulwood. The ministry, founded in 1976, now operates in 150 countries. General director Graham Daniels noted that 75 percent of professional football clubs now have Christians in their first teams, a significant increase from the early days when believers were rare. Former players like Phil Starbuck and Andrew Wingfield-Digby shared stories of their early struggles and the organization's growth. The group emphasizes serving the church and supporting athletes in various sports, from football to cricket, while encouraging fellowship within local congregations.
Nurse and missionary Lily Gaynor worked in Guinea-Bissau for 35 years, establishing clinics and translating the New Testament into the Papel language. During the translation process, a correction she made to 1 Timothy 3:12 was misinterpreted. She added the word 'only' to specify that deacons must have one wife, but the editor translated the correction as '500'. This error would have suggested deacons could have 500 wives. Gaynor discovered the mistake before publication. The article highlights her medical work and faith in West Africa.
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Thomas Samuel, a former imam and descendant of Muhammad, turned to Christianity after multiple suicide attempts driven by doubt in his Islamic faith. Speaking to CBN News’ Radical Revelations podcast, Samuel recounted how he survived the attempts and experienced life-changing dreams where he encountered Jesus. He interpreted these visions as divine confirmation, leading him to abandon Islam and follow Christ. Samuel now believes that Jesus personally reveals Himself to those without access to the gospel, including radicals. His story highlights his transition from despair to hope through his new religious conviction. (Source: God Reports)
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Jan Canty on UnsplashGood news
In Guatemala City, missionary Duncan Dyason survived three separate assassination attempts where his attackers' guns jammed. During one encounter, a gang member threatened to kill Dyason but was persuaded to spare his life after the missionary shared his faith. The attacker later acknowledged that divine protection prevented the weapons from firing. Dyason, originally from Blackpool, moved to Guatemala to help street children facing exploitation and abuse. He established a rescue center and ministry focused on supporting vulnerable youth. The incident highlights the dangers faced by aid workers in the region and Dyason's continued commitment to his charitable work despite the threats to his safety.
Christian leaders report unprecedented conversion rates among Jews and Muslims. Research suggests hundreds of thousands of people of Jewish heritage in the US now follow Jesus. In Iran, evangelists claim millions of Muslims have converted despite severe persecution. In Israel, Jewish conversions are reportedly doubling. These growth trends are attributed to spiritual movements and end-times prophecies. Personal testimonies from various cities support these claims. Christian organizations view this as a significant spiritual harvest in the Middle East, highlighting the global spread of faith amidst challenging environments for believers.
In a village in Sindh province, Pakistan, a Hindu man arrived at a Christian gathering armed with a knife, intending to harm an evangelist. Instead, he listened to the message, felt convicted, and surrendered the weapon. He subsequently converted to Christianity. This incident underscores the severe risks faced by believers and evangelists in the region, where Sindh has a large Hindu population. Despite these dangers, underground ministries continue to operate, reporting significant numbers of attendees and baptisms in areas with internet access. The event highlights both the peril and the spiritual transformations occurring within this persecuted context.
Tom Rudelius, a theoretical physicist at Durham University in England, has converted from atheism to Christianity. The former skeptic, who previously viewed the faith as intellectually weak, began reconsidering his beliefs after his twin brother Steve converted. Rudelius attributes his final shift to a polygraph test administered during a National Security Agency application. He failed the test due to nervousness and a realization that he was lying about being a good person, as biblical concepts of sin affected him. He now serves as an assistant professor and speaks on the compatibility of science and faith, detailing his journey in his 2023 book, Chasing Proof, Finding Faith. (Source: God Reports)
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a young survivor endured a violent rebel attack that claimed the lives of villagers and missionaries. He suffered severe injuries, including a crushed skull, and required extensive hospital care. After recovering, he returned to his community to teach teenagers about the Bible. Authors who reported on the incident view his transformation as a significant spiritual development. The narrative underscores the enduring trauma of the violence while highlighting the survivor's emergence as a dedicated youth leader and teacher within his local church context.
A remix of the song 'Suffer They (A Garden Rises Up)' by the band Widow’s Mite has been released to honor persecuted Christians in northeastern Nigeria. The project highlights the ongoing violence faced by communities, particularly those connected to Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN). Recent attacks in Borno State, including raids in various villages, have resulted in abductions, deaths, and destroyed churches. EYN President Rev. Daniel Y. C. Mbaya condemned these acts. The musical initiative serves as a memorial, aiming to restore human presence to the suffering and express resilience amid devastation.
Following repeated attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, millions in Kyiv faced subzero temperatures and prolonged power outages. According to God Reports, local churches became vital centers of refuge, offering warmth and light to residents. International Christian Response provided generators and heaters to congregations, enabling them to continue worship services despite freezing conditions. These facilities also assisted families, such as that of Tatjana, with heating and basic needs. Additionally, believers like Egor used restored power to distribute humanitarian aid. The article states that churches served as essential community hubs for safety and spiritual support during the crisis.
Pastor Darthanian Nichols of Breaking Chains Outreach Ministries in Detroit, US, faced a youth brandishing a gun at a funeral on March 28. Nichols calmly evacuated attendees and de-escalated the situation, recognizing the threat as grief. Police arrested the youth and four others for weapon possession. Nichols credited divine guidance for his composure. Following the incident, ten attendees accepted Jesus, according to Nichols. The Detroit Police Department praised Nichols for his heroism in safely resolving the tense confrontation.
Jaydon Cintron, an 18-year-old employee at a Chick-fil-A in Kinston, North Carolina, returned $10,000 he discovered in a restroom during Good Friday weekend. According to People magazine, Cintron found two envelopes containing approximately $5,000 and $4,333 next to a toilet. He immediately handed the cash to human resources to ensure it reached the rightful owners. The teenager stated that his Christian faith motivated him to act with integrity, noting that he declined any reward for his honesty. He emphasized that doing the right thing aligns with his religious beliefs.
A new book details the abduction and forced conversion of young Christian girls in Pakistan. The author reports that victims, some aged 12 or 13, are coerced into marrying Muslims and adopting Islam under threat of violence against their families. The article claims that Pakistan's blasphemy laws facilitate this persecution, often resulting in the arrest of victims rather than perpetrators. The outlet argues this abuse stems from a culture that devalues non-Muslims and links these actions to broader antisemitic trends affecting Israel and the UK.
Joel Rosenberg of the Joshua Fund states that conversions to Christianity among Jews and Muslims are reaching unprecedented levels in the Middle East. He cites an estimated one million Jewish believers globally and millions of former Muslims embracing the faith. Specific data includes 871,000 Americans of Jewish heritage identifying as Messianic and 20,000 to 30,000 believers in Israel. Rosenberg also highlights significant growth in Iran, where he claims over four million Christians exist despite persecution. He attributes this surge to spiritual movements occurring during the End Times, contrasting current growth with historical resistance to the faith in the region.
Author and missions leader Doug Cobb told God Reports that the global task of spreading the Christian gospel is nearing its end. Cobb, who manages the Finishing Fund, stated that the number of unengaged people groups has dropped to fewer than 50. He also expressed optimism about completing Bible translations in every language by 2033, aided by artificial intelligence. Additionally, a new initiative called the Achieve Alliance aims to establish a church presence in every village. While Cobb avoids predicting specific dates for the return of Christ, he believes the work is in its final stages. He continues to lead strategic evangelization projects at age 68.
A pastor and engineer in Iran fled the country after being investigated for allegedly witnessing a secret government facility. Warned of execution, he escaped illegally through snowy mountains to Turkey, then traveled to England. There, he converted to Christianity after hearing the Gospel. He now leads a ministry in the US. He reports that eight family members in Iran also converted through visions, with 32 relatives now part of the underground church. Persecution for Christians in Iran remains severe, with prison sentences ranging from five to thirteen years depending on involvement.
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