Four Christians were assaulted by a mob of approximately 50 people in northern India after visiting a family to pray for a newborn. According to Voice of the Martyrs, a pastor, a lay Christian, and their wives were dragged from a home and beaten for several hours. The attackers destroyed Christian literature and forced the victims to burn Bibles. The couples were then confined in their car while threats were made. A lawyer attempting to intervene was also injured. The incident highlights ongoing tensions against Christians in the region.
The Allied Democratic Forces, an Islamist group, continues to target Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to a pastor, his village has suffered three attacks in the past year, resulting in the destruction of all Christian buildings. The first assault killed 15 people inside a church and kidnapped 20 others. A subsequent attack claimed the lives of six individuals, including a church elder. During the third incident, the group specifically targeted the pastor. Despite these dangers, he continues to support over 100 believers who now worship outdoors under trees in the courtyard of their ruined church, as reported by Voice of the Martyrs.
According to Voice of the Martyrs, Christians in Nigeria face ongoing violence from Islamist and bandit groups. In late 2025, approximately 300 schoolchildren were abducted in one state. By early 2026, around 30 people were killed in the same region. On January 18, 172 Christians were kidnapped during worship services in three churches in another state. A frontline worker stated that the situation is worsening and that northern Nigeria is unsafe for believers. Despite the lack of government protection, Christians remain resilient and continue to live in their ancestral homeland.
A gospel worker reports that Christian gatherings in India are increasingly monitored by authorities, who view them as conversion attempts. Under the current administration, several states have enacted anti-conversion laws that make Sunday worship difficult or impossible in some regions. Dozens of pastors are currently imprisoned. Despite this pressure, the worker states that the church continues to grow and that believers are willing to endure persecution. He emphasizes that the kingdom of God is prospering even under such intense scrutiny and legal restrictions.
A pastor from Niger was abducted by Islamist militants and taken across the border into Nigeria. According to Voice of the Martyrs, captors tied the man to a tree in a remote area, claiming they intended to execute him. While his kidnappers slept, the pastor untied himself and fled through the bush for several hours before finding help. The outlet notes that Christians constitute less than 2% of Niger's population and face significant pressure from radical groups. This incident highlights the ongoing security risks for religious minorities in the region.
In early 2026, a sixteen-year-old Christian girl in Pakistan was abducted after refusing conversion attempts by a Muslim coworker. Her family reported the incident to authorities, who claimed she had converted and married the man. Since marriage under eighteen is illegal, her family is pursuing legal action to recover her. The Voice of the Martyrs reports that the groom's family has issued threats of retaliation. A frontline worker noted a recent increase in similar abduction cases involving Christian minors in the region, highlighting the severe persecution faced by believers in this area.
Read more →
Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Valerii Vasianovych on UnsplashPersecuted church
Since January 2026, authorities in a Middle Eastern nation have detained more than two dozen Christians, including converts and church leaders, without filing charges. A front-line worker reports that family members cannot contact the detainees and that at least three individuals have disappeared. The worker describes the situation as severe, noting that families are struggling with the uncertainty. According to the outlet, the group is seeking prayers for the protection and release of those arrested. The incident highlights ongoing persecution of Christian communities in the region.
Following a police raid in a city in China, a church elder and his wife were detained. The elder faces charges of inciting subversion of state power, while his wife's charges remain undisclosed. Their two children were also taken into custody during the operation. Reports indicate the minors spent the night alone before being released to their grandmother's care. This incident highlights the vulnerability of families connected to the church as they await news regarding the arrested parents.
According to Voice of the Martyrs, a mob of over 500 villagers attacked mourners in a region of India. The violence followed the burial of a deceased man on Christian property. Although the deceased was buried according to tribal rites, the mob claimed the act insulted their deities because half of his family, including three sons, are Christian. The attackers injured several people, looted property, and burned a home and three churches. Local officials eventually moved the body to a cemetery. The family fled the village for weeks to ensure their safety.
Christian groups in South Korea have launched programs to support newly arrived North Korean defectors, offering care and sharing the faith. The report highlights the positive responses of two women who fled the North. One is now assisting other new arrivals, while the other is beginning to read the Bible despite health issues. The Voice of the Martyrs notes that these efforts aim to spread the gospel through the actions of North Korean Christians themselves. The outlet encourages readers to pray for these individuals and to learn more about religious persecution in the region.
In West Java, Indonesia, a 70-member church held Christmas services on December 24, 2025, despite pressure from Muslim leaders to cancel. Authorities cited potential attacks by radical Islamist groups but provided no specific threat details. Pastor Irianto Budy admitted to being pressured in a video announcing the cancellation, though the congregation proceeded with worship. The Voice of the Martyrs reports that Indonesia has become more conservatively Islamic, with extremist groups increasingly targeting churches through demonstrations and legal complaints, despite government efforts to protect minorities. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Christian communities in the region.
Read more →
Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Ricardo IV Tamayo on UnsplashPersecuted church
A pastor in Cuba is appealing for assistance to secure the release of his son, who is currently detained in a military prison. The family reports that the young man was conscripted into the army and subsequently court-martialed due to his disability. They believe this harsh treatment is retaliation for their Christian ministry activities. The pastor states that his son is being held in poor conditions with inadequate food. The family is also enduring significant hardships, including power outages and health issues affecting the mother, which severely restrict their ability to communicate or travel. These details were shared with a frontline worker to highlight the ongoing persecution.
According to Voice of the Martyrs, at least 64 Christians in Algeria are currently awaiting trial for activities connected to their religious beliefs. A front-line worker reported the situation, noting that the individuals are enduring a legal process that impacts their families. The organization highlights the need for justice and mercy as these cases proceed. This development underscores the ongoing challenges regarding freedom of worship for religious minorities in the North African nation.
Two Christian evangelists were severely assaulted by extremists in a market in central Ethiopia. The attackers inflicted serious head injuries, requiring immediate hospitalization. Despite Ethiopia's predominantly Christian population, believers face violence in certain Muslim-majority regions. A frontline worker reported the incident, calling for prayers for the victims' recovery and for the attackers to repent. This event underscores the persistent dangers faced by religious minorities in specific areas of the country, highlighting the ongoing persecution challenges within the region.
A pastor and three coworkers were arrested in northern India, specifically Uttar Pradesh state, after police accused them of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity. The group was detained while eating a meal, not during worship. Authorities subjected the four men to threats, beatings by a mob, and confinement in unsanitary conditions. Despite pressure to renounce their faith, the pastor remained steadfast, sharing his beliefs with fellow inmates and his wife. The incident highlights ongoing tensions regarding anti-conversion laws and the treatment of Christians by local authorities in the region.
A young woman, daughter of a pastor in the Democratic Republic of Congo, survived an attack by tribal spirit worshipers. The assailants demanded church instruments for occult rituals; when the pastor refused, they returned to kill him. Finding only the daughter, they shot her in the head. She was transported to a neighboring country for emergency surgery. A front-line worker states she remains confident in her faith despite needing further medical procedures. The incident highlights ongoing persecution against Christians in the region.
A Christian widow in Yemen and her four children are receiving care from the local Christian community after her husband was executed by Islamist militants affiliated with al-Qaida. The execution occurred after his conversion to Christianity angered local Muslims. The global Christian community helped the family relocate to a safer area within the country. This support aims to provide stability for the family following the traumatic loss. The outlet highlights the ongoing persecution of Christians in Yemen and the challenges the family faces in maintaining their faith under pressure.
A Christian woman in Laos was abandoned by her family after converting to Christianity. Her husband beat her and later expelled her from her son’s home, claiming her faith would bring sickness. She refused to renounce her beliefs to return. She now resides on her uncle’s property in Laos with her young daughter. The Christian community is assisting them in building a hut for shelter. The outlet reports this as an example of persecution against Christians in the country.
Customs officials in Benin have prohibited the importation of audio Bibles, according to a report by Voice of the Martyrs. This decision affects a nation where approximately 30% of the population identifies as Christian and nearly half the people are illiterate. Front-line workers stated that their shipments were repeatedly rejected until they were informed that such devices would no longer be allowed entry. The group notes that these audio resources are highly effective for reaching the local population. Workers are currently seeking ways to appeal the ban, which they describe as a prohibition against religious texts. The outlet highlights the challenges Christians face in distributing scripture in the region.
Read more →
SermonWave writes its own short summaries and links to the original reporting. Every story belongs to the outlet that reported it. About World News · Our sources · RSS feed
