A Christian organization reports that the underground Christian community in Eritrea is growing through radio broadcasts and business support for former prisoners. The organization's representative explains that exiled believers send daily radio programs to provide news and training. Released inmates also receive funding to start small businesses. Inside prisons, inmates share relief supplies with non-Christian prisoners, leading to conversions. Despite this growth, over 600 Christians remain detained in harsh conditions, including shipping container jails. The government continues to ban unregistered churches and imprison leaders without trial, maintaining severe restrictions on religious freedom.
International Christian aid groups trained and supported eleven pastors in Burkina Faso who fled jihadist violence. Rather than offering long-term refugee assistance, these organizations facilitated economic self-sufficiency through livestock farming and vocational skills. This approach enabled the clergy to support their families and establish new congregations in government-designated safe areas. The initiative seeks to prevent dependency by allowing recipients to generate income while continuing their ministry. According to the groups, this model sustains the local Christian community despite displacement caused by ongoing violence in the northern region.
A Christian ministry in Korea reports that rising semiconductor prices are complicating its work with North Koreans in neighboring regions. The group distributes Bibles and training materials to underground believers. Increased demand for AI processors has shifted production resources, causing prices for memory chips and storage devices to surge. This makes it harder to buy the audio Bible players needed for the work. The organization says it is carefully managing supplies to ensure safety and efficiency. It also notes that while AI helps share information, it increases hacking risks for persecuted Christians. The group continues to seek secure ways to deliver resources despite these financial and technical challenges.
Translated from 한국어
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In Pakistan, a frontline missionary reports that more Bibles were distributed in early 2026 than in previous years. The worker states that access has improved in areas previously completely restricted. The ministry received encouragement from news that imprisoned Christians have received God's word. However, the group notes that local instability and conflict forced the cancellation of some distribution plans. Despite these challenges, the missionary believes God's plan is proceeding smoothly and that the scripture is impacting lives across the region.
In Morocco, Christian translators have begun publishing the complete Bible, including the Old Testament, in Darija, a local Arabic dialect. This initiative, reported by Voice of the Martyrs Korea, aims to demonstrate that Christianity is not solely a foreign religion. The project seeks to help local believers read Scripture in their native tongue and share it with Muslim neighbors. The translation reflects a deep love for God and Moroccan culture, addressing the spiritual hunger of the local population for accessible religious texts. This marks a significant step for indigenous Christian expression in the region.
In Burkina Faso, Christians are receiving audio Bibles to maintain their faith despite threats from Islamic extremists. Many believers have been displaced, losing physical copies of scripture. A blind man, who lost his sight in a mining accident, now uses audio Bibles to study for ministry. He previously lacked access to scripture due to his blindness and his mother's illiteracy. Christian groups are distributing these audio resources to visually impaired and illiterate believers, providing spiritual comfort and hope during ongoing instability. The outlet reports that these tools help recipients find encouragement in difficult circumstances.
Voice of the Martyrs Korea is distributing Christmas gift boxes to children of persecuted Christian families in ten countries, including Pakistan, Nepal, and Ethiopia. The initiative aims to support believers facing violence and discrimination during the holiday season. Hyun Sook Foley, the organization's representative, highlighted the risks involved and shared stories of resilience, such as a woman in Nepal who survived an arson attack. The boxes contain Bibles, clothing, and supplies tailored to local needs. The group plans to deliver hundreds of packages by early January to provide spiritual encouragement and material aid to those in danger.
A representative of a Christian ministry reports that a North Korean defector, who survived a political prison camp, is translating a historic New Testament. The organization employs mobile ministry to reach defectors in rural areas, training them to update the 140-year-old text for modern readers. This project aims to make the original dialect accessible to both South and North Koreans. The first volume, Luke, has been published, with plans to release the full New Testament by 2027 for distribution inside North Korea.
In Myanmar, a man converted to Christianity after enduring years of abuse from his wife. Raised in a devout Buddhist family, he found peace upon hearing the gospel. When his wife revealed her new faith, her husband assaulted her, even attacking her with a knife. Despite advice to divorce, she remained committed to the marriage and prayed for his salvation. Years later, her husband accepted Jesus Christ, quitting alcohol and tobacco while attending church services. The couple now leads a joyful Christian household, with additional family members also converting from Buddhism to Christianity.
Churches in the western Democratic Republic of Congo face severe challenges amid an Ebola outbreak. Local pastors report rapid spread due to refusal to change burial customs or seek timely medical care. Several clergy members have died, leaving congregations struggling to care for orphans and vulnerable individuals. In response, a local ministry group has educated over 150 church members on proper safety protocols. This situation highlights the profound impact of the health crisis on religious communities in the region, testing their resilience and commitment to community welfare during a public health emergency.
A Christian media outlet reports that a Somali Christian convert petitioned for the release of two Muslim men who attacked her. The group states that after the assailants were imprisoned, she felt a divine call to intercede for them. She signed documents at a police station in a West African country to secure their freedom, despite officials warning of a lengthy sentence. The outlet notes that one attacker later converted to Christianity after struggling with guilt. This widow and refugee now shares her faith with thousands of Somalis in East Africa, demonstrating forgiveness after enduring violence from relatives who opposed her conversion.
A Christian organization reports that believers in North Africa endure intense persecution in regions where Muslims constitute over 99 percent of the population. A representative highlights the efforts of a local pastor who assists new converts in an area where apostasy is both illegal and socially dangerous. The outlet describes a harrowing case where a woman was expelled by her family after converting, with her mother stating she would prefer prostitution to her daughter being Christian. This pastor provides shelter and training for believers who must hide their faith. Despite threats and violence, the group says the church continues to grow through mutual support.
A Christian media organization announced it will increase daily radio broadcasts to North Korea from four to five sessions. This decision follows the cessation of most US and South Korean government-funded transmissions. The new program features sermons by early Korean Christian leaders and Bible readings by defectors, designed to be theologically accessible and less detectable than traditional worship. The organization's CEO states that radio remains a primary way for underground believers to access Christian content without drawing suspicion. The increase aims to fill the void left by halted government transmissions, ensuring continued access to scripture for North Korean listeners.
Christianity is growing rapidly in Laos, with estimates suggesting hundreds of thousands of believers today. To protect their identities from hostile families and local authorities, Bibles are distributed discreetly by local leaders rather than through public channels. This careful approach addresses the high demand for Scripture among new converts. Local pastors face significant risks of detection by authorities who view Christianity as a foreign threat. Despite these dangers, they continue to deliver Bibles individually to ensure the safety and spiritual growth of believers in the region.
In Burkina Faso, a Korean aid organization and its Polish partner are assisting ten local pastors displaced by jihadist violence. Reports indicate that over ten percent of the northern population has become refugees. The project helps clergy establish small businesses, such as sewing shops or poultry farms, in safer villages. This allows them to support their large families and remaining congregants without fleeing the country. The Korean representative stated that the initiative aims for long-term economic stability rather than temporary relief. The program will continue for ten months to help more leaders maintain their ministries amid escalating attacks.
A Christian organization reports that deceased North Korean workers who died in China were repatriated, while thousands more were sent home due to health issues. The group received letters from workers expressing gratitude for Bibles distributed in Korean. The organization's representative stated that recipients found hope despite difficult conditions. Data cited by the group indicates a rise in residents who have seen Bibles, increasing from nearly zero in 2000 to about eight percent by late 2020. The organization continues to distribute religious materials to workers in China and inside North Korea.
Voice of the Martyrs Korea held a teacher training workshop for its Bold Children's Bible School on April 19 at its Jeongneung office in South Korea. The program, designed for kindergarten through sixth-grade students, teaches children about persecuted believers in countries such as North Korea, China, Nigeria, India, and Egypt. Hyun Sook Foley, the organization's representative, stated that the curriculum uses games and role-playing to help children learn about faith under pressure and encourage them to pray for persecuted Christians. All proceeds from the educational materials support ministries aiding persecuted believers. The organization plans to host additional workshops in Daejeon later this year.
Martyrs of Korea conducted service training events in various South Korean cities, attracting 127 North Korean defectors. The organization aims to empower defectors as active ministers rather than passive aid recipients. Participants engaged in translating the John Ross Bible into modern Korean, leveraging their linguistic familiarity with northern dialects. The program included camping ministry training and role-playing activities to share Christian history. Organizers encouraged attendees to join the Underground University for further missionary preparation, emphasizing their unique capacity to reach people in North Korea. (Source: Voice of the Martyrs Korea)
A young girl was rescued and adopted by local believers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo following an extremist attack that killed her parents. The incident occurred near a lake when rebels targeted a prayer gathering. The child suffered severe burns covering nearly half her body. She underwent multiple surgeries and received care from medical professionals and volunteers. Despite the trauma, she has shown remarkable resilience. She continues to attend hospital services while recovering, supported by the local Christian community that saved her life.
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