One incident in late April saw seven Christian farmers killed by Muslim Somali herdsmen in Kwa Kamari in Mwingi North, Kitui County. A few days later, gunmen also killed a local child. 

Residents in the Mwingi area responded by blockading the Garissa-Mwingi highway in protest, calling for justice against the suspected attackers.

These are only two incidents in a string of retaliatory attacks where both Somalis and local residents have suffered loss or death. Government leaders say the escalating situation should be declared a national emergency.

City scene in Nairobi, Kenya (Photo courtesy of Nicholas Gray/Unsplash)

To Greg Kelley with Unknown Nations, the Church in majority-Christian Kenya has a clear mission. 

“There are all kinds of Christian churches — hundreds and hundreds of evangelical, amazing churches in Nairobi that really need to begin mobilizing and sending workers to the east,” he says.

Many Somali Muslims live in eastern Kenya, which borders Somalia. That neighboring country is where the Islamic terrorist group al-Shabaab is based. 

“All of the tensions in Kenya are happening along its eastern border (which is entirely with Somalia) and its northern border (which is with Ethiopia and Sudan). Those are the entire areas where the unreached people groups live in Kenya,” says Kelley. 

“These attacks and tensions that we’re hearing are happening on the road that goes to Somalia. But now that it’s creeping closer to Nairobi, all of a sudden people are starting to raise the alarm and having concern.”

Pray for the Kenyan Church to rally on mission for Somali Muslims. Kelley says that this people group is less than 1 percent Christian. 

“Kenya has every opportunity to reach the Somali people inside of Kenya with the gospel of Jesus Christ,” says Kelley. “And what that will do is trigger a movement of Somalis who then go back to their country, taking the gospel with them.” 

Header photo of children in Mwingi, Kenya (Photo courtesy of Oscar Omondi via Unsplash).

May 3, 2026, marks three years since ethnic violence erupted between the Hindu Meitei majority and the mainly Christian Kuki-Zo tribal people. In the first few days, dozens of people were killed, and hundreds of homes and houses of worship were destroyed. Today, it is estimated that 260 people have died and over 60,000 have been displaced in the conflict. (More on the reasons behind the conflict here.)

For three years, Manipur has remained divided, with ongoing unrest.

“This is something that we’ve been right in the thick of, as we have a large mission base in the southern part of Manipur state,” says John Pudaite with Bibles For The World.

Manipur church, c. 2023 (Photo courtesy of Bibles For The World)

Buffer zones between villages and even a year of tight central government control (called President’s Rule) have not brought lasting peace.

“They have installed sort of a caretaker government right now, and they’re trying to continue to police these areas,” says Pudaite, “but we’re seeing already some attacks, incidents of violence, against the tribals happening at some of these flashpoints at these buffer zone areas.” 

Attacks happen on both sides. A bombing on April 7, 2026, killed two Meitei children. Kuki-Zo militants deny responsibility, but the incident sparked new protests and clashes with police. 

Despite the long instability, Pudaite says, “God is good, and His people are extremely resilient. We have not seen any of the churches in the area whose faith is shaken. Rather, it’s been strengthened.” 

Pudaite also shares the incredible news that the southern part of Manipur is “completely evangelized.” Ask God to help believers in Manipur State spread the gospel and build true peace in this conflict. 

Header photo: Aid distribution in Manipur villages in late 2023. (Photo courtesy of Bibles For The World)

Teenagers Maria, Sidra, Niha, and Elishba are just four of countless girls who have been abducted from their homes and forced to convert to Islam in the past year. Sidra and Niha were both abducted less than a month ago, in March 2026.

The abuse goes beyond kidnapping. Maria was taken in July and forced to marry a 30-year-old Muslim man. She later gave a statement saying she had done so of her own will and was now a follower of Islam. 

Despite the efforts of Maria’s parents in court, a Pakistani high court has ruled that the marriage was valid. Sidra and Neha are very likely on the same path with the same outcome.

Pakistani girl (Photo courtesy of Assad Tanoli via Unsplash)

“While this may appear to be a legal matter on the surface, it reflects such a deeper and painful reality faced by many Christian minority families in Pakistan,” says Nehemiah with FMI. 

He calls the situation “modern-day slavery,” as underage girls are kidnapped and then pressured into conversion to Islam and marriage.

“When I say underage girls, we are not talking about 17 or 18 years old, but we are talking about 12-, 13-, 14-year-old girls,” he says.

This pattern has been going on for years. When Christian or Hindu daughters go missing, their families often encounter police inaction, falsified birth records for their underage daughters, and long legal battles. 

Even if a girl escapes or the marriage ends, says Nehemiah, she may still be in danger from her captors and unable to reunite with her family. That’s because Islamic marriage ceremonies require a profession of faith in Allah. 

“Once someone is recognized as a Muslim, leaving Islam, known as apostasy, is not permitted,” says Nehemiah. “In some strict interpretations [of Islam], the penalty for apostasy can be death. And it’s very, very common in Pakistan.”

Pakistani girl (Photo courtesy of Muhammad Taha Khan via Unsplash)

FMI partners share the hope of Christ in the midst of these realities — trusting that even in suffering God is at work. One partner shared Romans 8:38-39 with Nehemiah, remembering that nothing is able to separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus the Lord.

“The situation is like walking on thin ice, yet they continue to bring hope, truth, and the message of Christ to those who are searching,” says Nehemiah. 

Pray with believers in Pakistan for protection for their young women.

“Pray for justice and meaningful legal reforms in Pakistan’s legal system, and pray for courage and safety for FMI partners serving on the ground,” says Nehemiah. 

“Pray for healing for victims and their families. And pray that even in the midst of suffering, many will encounter the love and hope found in Jesus Christ.”

Header photo of Pakistani young women is a stock image courtesy of Assad Tanoli via Unsplash.

When conflict recently broke out between the U.S. and Iran, a team with LIFE International was en route to Bangladesh to conduct their Redemptive Conversations workshop.

Luke Salik, LIFE International’s pastor of partner care, says, “Halfway through that flight is when the U.S. and Israel did the joint attack on Iran. We didn’t find out until I got woken up by the intercom there and the pilot explaining the situation and diverting us to Cairo rather than Doha.”

Training with LIFE International partners in Bangladesh. (Photo courtesy of LIFE International)

The LIFE International team eventually had to return to the U.S. But in Bangladesh, ministry partners were already gathered. Rather than cancel the training altogether, the local leaders pivoted.

“When they found out that we weren’t able to make it, they decided to hold the training anyway.”

Salik says, “The leadership team, they’re from several different countries in South Asia, they kind of banded together and thought, ‘Hey, what can we do together to help equip a lot of these pastors or ministry leaders who are coming together?’”

The leaders went on to conduct training sessions with the attendees — turning a potential setback into a locally led effort.

The training equips Christian leaders to support women facing crisis pregnancies in light of biblical hope. Its tools are also applicable to many other crisis counseling situations.

Salik explains, “We’re spending time giving people tools to love people well, listen to people well, and be a place where they can safely talk about their situation.”

(Photo courtesy of Theodore Goutas/Unsplash)

At its core, pro-life trainings with LIFE International point people to lasting hope and make known the Father’s heart for life.

“The goal…is to specifically bring the redemptive work of Christ into the story,” Salik says.

Pray for the leaders in South Asia who stepped up to continue this training, that God would strengthen and equip them for further ministry. Ask the Lord to open doors for future life-affirming trainings to happen safely and effectively. Finally, pray that women facing crisis pregnancies would ultimately encounter the hope of Christ and choose life!

Learn more about LIFE International at lifeinternational.com.

Header photo: Training with LIFE International partners in Bangladesh. (Photo courtesy of LIFE International)

Samuel* with Redemptive Stories says multiple reports are circulating, but the basic outline is this: Muslim men were allegedly harassing a young woman in the predominantly Christian town of Suqaylabiyah on Friday. When men in the community came to her defense, it quickly escalated. 

“There were reprisal attacks on the people who were harassing her,” says Samuel. “Then the group that was harassing the young lady attacked a Christian village.”

A girl in Syria (Photo courtesy of Ahmed Akacha via Pexels)

The National reports that on Saturday, gunmen entered Suqaylabiyah and damaged businesses, cars, and a statue of the Virgin Mary. Thankfully, no casualties were reported. 

In response to the attack, Syria’s Greek Orthodox and Catholic patriarchs have issued a joint statement: Easter this year will be celebrated “only with prayer inside the churches.” Maronite Archbishop Joseph Tobji was careful to say that it was not a decision made out of fear. 

Samuel puts it this way: “Not the whole of Syria, but a lot of Christian communities are standing with this one community that was attacked. In solidarity, they’re limiting their celebrations external to the church over Holy Week.”

Samuel says that especially in Syria, Easter is normally a time of great celebration, with marching bands and songs of lament and joy.  That makes this restrained observance of Easter “a sad realization of the pressures that Syrian Christians face these days,” he says.

Please pray for believers in Syria. Ask God to bless them in unexpected ways this Easter, even though it won’t look like what they had hoped. 

“As the government becomes more restrictive in Syria, [pray] that the Church will just continue to be a bright light in the midst of that,” says Samuel. “[Pray] that Christians would not leave the region, because the more Christians leave, the less the voice of the Church can be powerful to communicate hope.” 

Header photo: Syria (Stock photo courtesy of Abd Alrhman Al Darra)

Within Yemen, persecution of Christians also occurs, whether or not the rest of the world hears about it. Floyd Brobbel with Voice of the Martyrs Canada says, “We don’t always hear about these things because the information is not easy to leave the country.” 

Yet a February 9 news report from Human Rights Watch says more than 20 Christians have been arbitrarily detained by Houthi authorities in recent months. Enforced disappearances can look like this, says Brobbel: “Their relatives don’t know where they are. They can’t communicate with anybody. The officials who arrest won’t even give any indication that they have these Christians.”

(Photo courtesy of Lara Jameson/Pexels)

Brobbel says the detentions point to broader issues in Yemen — issues that merit advocacy and which other governments should be aware of. “Religious freedom is virtually non-existent in the region,” he says. “There’s been violence and tortures. There have been martyrdoms of pastors in the past. Christians are forced to hide.” 

Yemen once had 41,000 believers, according to the U. S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. But today, there are estimated to be only a few thousand. Brobbel says years of civil war, not just persecution, have also contributed to the drop. 

“A lot of Christians and religious minorities have left, but you’re always having those that stay,” he says. “Despite all these things that we’ve talked about, there is an underground church that is expanding despite the dangers that they’re facing on a daily basis.” 

Pray for strength for Christians in Yemen to share the gospel in the midst of hostile and, in many cases, unknown circumstances. 

“Pray that they would be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Pray that they would be effective in reaching their enemies for Christ,” says Brobbel. “You know, with opposition comes opportunity.”

Then ask yourself, what are you doing to share the gospel in your own nation and community? Ask God to help you see and take the opportunities all around you.

Learn how you can help Voice of the Martyrs Canada serve persecuted Christians at www.vomcanada.com.

Header photo is a representative stock photo of a boy in Yemen courtesy of Nazar Alareqe via Pexels.

Russia (MNN) — There’s encouraging news to share about a South Korean missionary detained in Russia — and many are calling it an answer to prayer.

Ms. Park Tae-Yeon, 69, has been held by Russian authorities since January 15. Earlier this week, Mission Network News reported on her arrest and an online petition calling for her release. That story was picked up by South Korean media, and quickly reached people who could help.

(Photo courtesy of VOM Korea)

Eric Foley with The Voice of the Martyrs Korea says those headlines mattered.

“We really believe it is [an] answer to prayer. The Voice of the Martyrs Korea has confirmed that Ms. Park met for 40 minutes with a representative from the Korean consulate on the afternoon of February 3.”

Park is also in a better living situation now. “We can confirm that today, Ms. Park was moved from the detention center to house arrest after submitting a pledge not to leave Russia until the end of the investigation,” Foley says.

Park was targeted at the same time as Child Evangelism Fellowship in a months-long investigation by Russian officials. The charges against her remain unchanged, which means the hard work is still ahead.

Foley says the situation highlights a broader pattern.

Russian flag (Photo courtesy of Dimmis Vart/Unsplash)

“This is an example of the increasing restrictions on religious liberty, especially for evangelicals in Russia. So let’s make sure we’re praying for both of those situations — one, the release of Ms. Park, but also that this is really the tip of a very big iceberg.”

The Voice of the Martyrs Korea continues to collect signatures for a petition calling for Park’s immediate release. The ministry will deliver the petition to the Russian embassy shortly after the Lunar New Year.

Access the petition here.

Please pray for Park’s encouragement, protection, and full release. Pray also for Christian ministries in Russia, asking God to guard believers and keep the Gospel moving forward despite growing pressure.

Header photo of Ms. Park Tae-Yeon, courtesy of VOM Korea.

Pastor Ilya Butolin, worship pastor with Beit Hallel Congregation in Ashdod, says the issue does not center on outreach activities, but on whether the congregation may use the property for regular church functions. He describes how authorities have framed their objections.

Beit Hallel Congregation’s new building in Ashdod. (Screenshot courtesy of Beit Hallel Congregation)

“We have a building that we purchased, and they are trying to say that we can’t use this building because we cannot share the Gospel in Israel, like we cannot be missionaries in Israel. So they’re trying to prevent it in any way possible,” says Butolin.

“We’ve [had] physical persecution. They used to come to our building and shout in front of our doors. But now it’s more official. I would call it persecution with suits.”

According to Open Doors USA’s World Watch List 2024 Israel Full Country Dossier, the influence of ultra-Orthodox Jewish ministers nearly led to the passage of a bill in January 2023 that would punish Christian evangelism with prison time. Ultimately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blocked the bill. Even so, Messianic Jews in Israel continue to encounter legal and cultural challenges in ministry.

Israel flag (Photo courtesy of Oleg Vakhromov/Unsplash)

Despite these pressures, Butolin says his commitment to Israel and to prayer for the country remains strong.

“It’s important for us as Christians to stand and support Israel, even [though] there is persecution in Israel. There will be always. The Christians were persecuted all over the world. But the great part is that there [are] salvations in Israel.”

He adds that a believer’s hope is not rooted in political systems or governing authorities, but in God’s sovereignty.

“We’re never going to get satisfied. But it’s important to separate that, and that there is still God’s will. The fact that there is an Israeli government, it’s God’s will. So I don’t care if they’re left or right, I will pray for them — same like I’m praying for my enemies. I’m praying for the Muslim brothers to come to Christ because I want them to be saved, same as I want the Jews to be saved.”

As Beit Hallel Congregation approaches an upcoming court date, Butolin is asking believers to pray that “God will give us also wisdom — what to say, what to speak.

“We can stand not only for Beit Hallel Congregation, but this court will be really important for the Body of Christ in Israel because we’re representing not only our congregation, but also the Messianic Jews in Israel.”

Learn more about Beit Hallel Congregation’s ministry at beithallel-israel.org.

Header photo: The coastline of Ashdod, Israel. (Photo courtesy of Lio Voo/Pexels)

Internationally, many Venezuelans are celebrating the removal of Maduro, who maintained his authoritarian grip on power despite widespread accusations of corruption and contested elections.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (Photo by Khamenei.ir, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=120463671)

Under Maduro’s regime, Venezuela suffered from extreme economic instability and social collapse. Restrictive socialist policies contributed to hyperinflation, severe food and medicine shortages, drug trafficking, civilian disarmament, gang control and violence.

Greg Yoder with Keys for Kids Ministries shares reports from a Christian contact in Venezuela: “He says no Venezuelan wants chaos or bombs, but what they do celebrate is a ray of hope after decades of darkness.”

Meanwhile, Maduro ally Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in Monday as interim president with the backing of Venezuela’s military. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado says “nobody trusts” the interim president.

Those still living in Venezuela are watching with caution. Yoder says, “There are literally gangs that are going along the street trying to find people that had anything to do with the ouster of Maduro. So it’s quite a challenging situation right now.”

Instability worsened by food insecurity

Another risk is civilians’ heavy dependence on the government for basic provisions.

Yoder explains, “He says the deepest suffering now is physical hyperinflation. It’s crushed salaries to about 130 bolivars, which is about 40 cents — the same for pensioners. Food prices rise daily. Families often eat only once a day in tiny, poor-quality portions.

“The government distributes food boxes of rice, pasta, and oil. They’re often expired, always irregular. According to my friend, WhatsApp groups repeat the propaganda message: If this government falls, this box will never return and you’ll lose your subsidy.

“It’s not that they believe in the government. It’s the only thing that separates them from starvation. They’re so dependent on this food and these rations that they get. So he rejects the claim that Venezuelans have never fought. He says that they protested… [and many] were killed in those demonstrations.”

How to pray

We may not know what 2026 holds for the future of Venezuela. Yet, we pray to the Lord who is shaping Venezuela’s future.

Caracas, Venezuela (Stock photo courtesy of Bona Lee via Unsplash)

“Even though it has been a dark chapter in Venezuela’s history because many people are suffering, there is a huge spiritual hunger,” says Yoder. “People are seeking peace. They want Jesus. Churches are growing. Churches are helping the poor as they’re able to. Churches are growing as Venezuelans look to the only unshakable refuge they have, and that’s God Himself.”

Yoder asks believers to focus prayer on two critical needs: protection and provision.

“Pray for the lives of people there, because this could go south very quickly. There’s so much corruption in Venezuela that even though one man who headed the nation is gone, there are so many more that are underneath him, and so it’s going to be a question of who wins control.

“The second prayer would be praying for resources to get into the hands of some of these pastors and Christians within Venezuela who want to make a difference, who just want to provide hope for their nation.”

Header photo: Venezuela flag (Image courtesy of Jean Manzano/Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/photos/flag-venezuela-pole-1275937/)

“Many people are talking about it, this anniversary. They’re planning to make it a national holiday,” says Nuna* with Triumphant Mercy Lebanon, who recently visited Syria. “However, people are very cautious, especially the Christians.” 

That caution is well merited. Sectarian violence has checkered the new government’s first year, especially among minority Druze, Alawite, and Christian communities. Nuna describes it as “the waiting season” to see what direction the nation will go.

U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio meets President of Syria Ahmed al-Sharaa in New York City, New York on 22 September 2025 (Photo by U.S. Department of State via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

Still, Syria’s leaders press forward. Last week, the administration welcomed a delegation from the United Nations Security Council — only one of many efforts to reforge ties with the international community. 

But for many Syrian families, the nation’s political complexities simply no longer matter. 

“Some of them are just saying, ‘You know what, we don’t care. We just want to live,’” says Nuna. “They’re not even thinking about what Syria will be. Will it be allied with Israel? Will [there] be expansion? Will the Galilee be taken? They’re not even talking about it.”

Life remains extremely hard, even for Syrians who are not displaced. Inflation is high. Nuna says the government is planning a 400% increase in electricity prices. “People cannot afford this because the wages have not gone up,” she says.

One NGO that Nuna visited in Syria serves many displaced people. She heard story after story of tragedy — destruction, killing, suicide, and abuse. One boy lost his father. His mother had to work and left him in the care of others who beat him so badly he suffered brain damage.

“This is real life here, and what can we do? What can we do?” says Nuna. “Seeing kids like that is difficult. You just look at it, and you see these are effects of war, and this is something that men should not be living with.”

Syrian children (photo courtesy of Jonathan Ramalho via Unsplash)

Although that NGO in Syria can’t meet every need that comes its way, they do what they can as the hands and feet of Christ. Nuna says that the organization is also preparing a Christmas celebration and sharing the Christmas story. “This is a beautiful thing to see, just to see that light in the midst of the darkness there,” she says.

Please remember Syria in your prayers. Ask for God’s mercy and His gospel of peace to spread across Syria. To learn more about Triumphant Mercy Lebanon’s outreach to Syrian refugees within Lebanon, visit their website.

*Pseudonym

Header photo: A gathering of the people and residents of Daraa city in Al-Karama and Al-Hurriya Square after the fall of Bashar Al-Assad (Photo, caption courtesy of Mahmoud Sulaiman via Unsplash)