“After the war, they realized there are many spies [who] find government secrets and send [them] to Israel,” she says. “They are blaming everyone.”

One watchdog organization reports that journalists have been especially targeted. Baghestani adds Christians and Baha’is to the list. She says the government accuses believers of being “Zionist Christians” spying for Israel. It’s a fast track to prison. 

“More than I would say 70 Christians are in prison currently, awaiting their sentences,” Baghestani says. 

Heart4Iran knows of house churches that have been raided and at least one pastor who was arrested and tortured so severely that he shared names of other believers. 

“Some have just left their homes and cars where they are, and they just fled for their lives,” says Baghestani. “It’s sad, because we have prayed with these friends, with these Christians inside the country. We have discipled them. They are like our [children], and we are responsible for them.”

People’s fear of being monitored has kept them from calling Heart4Iran’s counseling center, which has seen its daily call volume drop.

(Photo courtesy of Heart4Iran)

“Everybody — Christian or non-Christian, the youth, the old — they all live in fear. Fear of arrest, fear of even getting killed on the streets. They come and stab you, and nobody knows why. You’re dead on the street, bleeding, and there is no answer,” Baghestani says. 

“When Mahsa Amini [protests] started, all the youth [rose up]. But now the youth are quiet. Where are they? They’re scared. They’re afraid.”

She says Iranians are placing notes and stickers in public places as signs of protest rather than taking to the streets themselves.

Let these accounts lead your prayers for the Iranian church.

“The Lord is good. The Lord is faithful. The Lord can protect them in the midst of all the persecution,” Baghestani says. 

Then, share this story. Visit Heart4Iran’s website to learn more about the Church in Iran.

“When we educate one another [about] what’s going on, when we bring awareness, we will be able to pray better for our people inside the country,” Baghestani says. 

“As much as we feel we are safe and there is no persecution, at these end times, persecution is spreading. If there is persecution in Iran, it will ooze out, and it will affect Christians all over the world.” 

Header image is a stock photo from Tehran, Iran courtesy of Seyed Amir Mohammad Tabatabaee.

If this happens in Maharashtra or other Indian states, it will become even harder to reach those who have never heard of Jesus. That’s because India is home to nearly one-third of the world’s unreached people groups. According to The Joshua Project, those 2,041 people groups in India approximate a staggering 1.39 billion people.

While anti-conversion laws won’t stop God’s plan, they create real resistance and suffering for those spreading the gospel. Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs, USA says dozens of pastors are in prison across India on charges of violating these state laws. He says accusations often include the idea of “enticement.” It’s dangerously easy to fall afoul.

“Well, what is [enticement]? ‘Oh, you invited someone to church? Oh, there was music playing at your church, someone heard it outside, walked inside, and heard the gospel? Well, that was illegal enticement,’” says Nettleton.

Although India’s constitution promises religious freedom to everyone, the persecution comes from the Hindu-majority government itself.

“They would call it purifying India. There are government ministers [who] have literally talked about ‘the soil of India is Hindu soil,’” says Nettleton. “That has gone from being sort of an outlying philosophy to now being the philosophy that drives the Indian government.”

Now that you know, please pray

• Pray for pastors and ordinary Christians imprisoned under false charges, that they will be bold witnesses for Christ there. Pray for endurance for their families during the separation. 
• Pray for a just federal government that will truly honor religious freedom for India’s 1.46 billion people. 
• Pray specifically that government officials in Maharashtra State, the second-most populous Indian state, will reverse their plans to implement anti-conversion laws. 
• Ask God to strengthen India’s Church to press forward with the gospel to India’s unreached people. 

Header photo courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs, USA.

When prison doors slam shut, believers in Iran are left face-to-face with their persecutors. In the past year alone, 96 Christians received sentences totaling 263 years. Just last month, believers Abbas Soori, Narges Nasri, and Mehran Shamloui were sentenced to over 40 years combined. The most heartbreaking part? Narges Nasri was pregnant with her first child when she was suddenly arrested.

Why such harsh sentences?

Mike Ansari of Heart4Iran explains: “Christian converts are usually charged with vague offenses such as acting against national security or propaganda against the regime, which are used to criminalize peaceful religious activities like attending house churches or sharing their faith.”

He adds that Iran’s judicial system, particularly the revolutionary courts, plays a central role in the persecution of Christians.

But persecution doesn’t have to silence us!

“Even from the safety of our homes, there are impactful ways that we can advocate for imprisoned Christians in Iran,” Ansari says.

Example of an advocacy campaign (courtesy of Sima Ghaffarzadeh via Pexels)

One powerful tool is social media activism. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram can be used to highlight individual cases. With the right hashtags, these stories can reach international organizations and spark global concern.

Another way is through letter-writing and petition campaigns calling for the release of specific prisoners. “This would include writing letters to Iranian embassies or international human rights organizations to apply pressure,” says Ansari.

Additionally, believers can support advocacy organizations such as Article 18, Global Christian Relief, Open Doors, and International Christian Response. “They work tirelessly to document abuses,” Ansari explains, “and support victims. So donating to or volunteering with these groups can definitely enhance their efforts and then engage with policy makers.” Partnering with advocacy groups is especially important because public exposure, if done carelessly, can worsen a prisoner’s situation. These organizations know how to handle sensitive cases wisely and effectively.

Public outcry has made a difference before!

Cases like Marziyeh Amirizadeh and Maryam Rostampour gained international attention that led to their release. The death sentence of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was also overturned after widespread advocacy.

And while Iranian believers may be behind bars, they should never be without the faithful prayers of the global Church. Mike Ansari from Heart4Iran encourages intercession: “Consider focusing on praying for the physical and spiritual strength of the imprisoned Christians and their families. Ask for fair legal proceedings and the overturning of unjust sentences!”

“For although the challenges faced by Christians in Iran are severe, our collective efforts, through advocacy, awareness, and prayer, can make a tangible difference by staying informed and actively supporting those on the front lines,” he adds.

Header photo: Prisoner (photo courtesy of Ron Lach via Pexels)

In Pakistan, for example, Christians know one wrong step could lead to a charge of blasphemy against Islam. Such accusations result in mob violence, imprisonment, long legal battles or worse, with little protection. Just last month, four people were sentenced to death under these laws. 

“It’s a huge challenge for our partners in places like Iran and Mauritania, Afghanistan [and] Pakistan, because the punishment of blasphemy in those countries is death,” says Greg Kelley with Unknown Nations.

Pakistan courts have issued many death sentences for blasphemy, even when evidence is scanty. But so far it has never carried one out. Often, vigilante justice from Pakistan’s majority Muslim population keeps things out of the courts entirely. Kelley says minority Christian villages can quickly become targets. 

“In one case, recently, over 20 churches were burnt down, houses destroyed, people’s vehicles and motorcycles torched, police standing by allowing it to happen,” he says. 

Yet Christ stands with His people in every injustice. He even saves others through their witness.

“One of the main differences between Islam and Christianity is Jesus said, ‘The world’s going to hate you, but be encouraged because they hated Me before they hated you — and furthermore, love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you,’” says Kelley. (See John 15:18–19 and Luke 6:27–28.)

“That’s the the Christian message, and that softens the heart — the Holy Spirit uses that to soften the heart of the most radical.”

Now that you know more, please pray for gospel advance where blasphemy laws rule. Pray the Christians will faithfully endure through terrible circumstances. Then, learn more.

“As the body of Christ, we need to be praying. We need to understand these issues. We need to educate ourselves about what’s going on in these countries [where] if you share the gospel that we take so freely here in the US, you literally could be killed,” says Kelley.

To understand more and pray for persecuted Christians around the world, connect with coverage by Morning Star News ands persecution.org.

Finally, pray also for resources to build up the local churches. Kelley says, “Training is critical in [these] parts of the world, especially the leaders, to give them opportunities to grow and strengthen in their faith.”

Learn more here about how Unknown Nations comes alongside believers under fire. 

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Abyan Athif/Unsplash.

Egypt’s government generally does not recognize conversions from Islam to another religion. If you are born a Muslim, to the state you will always be a Muslim. The constitution grants the right to freedom of belief and the right for followers of Islam, Christianity and Judaism to practice their faith. However, opposition from family and communities toward Christians is marked and sometimes violent. (More on Egypt here.)

“My team is constantly helping me say, ‘The goal of this is not to have these guys free. The goal of this is for these fellows to be faithful where they are, and if that means to be faithful in prison, then that’s where they’re called to be faithful,’” Ouimette says.

“I am constantly checking myself and having to back away a bit from my Western sense of justice, and instead realizing that all throughout Scripture, the Lord has placed people in prison. Paul was in prison when he wrote parts of the New Testament. I can imagine, as we all can, that in an Egyptian prison the gospel is very, very needed.”

Some of the men in now in prison accepted Christ in refugee camps in Egypt. (Representative stock photo courtesy of Donald Tong/Pexels)

A beautiful part of this story is that some of these men aren’t even Egyptian. They accepted Christ in refugee camps in Egypt. 

“I can only imagine how the Lord as He [was] putting all this into action [was] thinking, ‘Oh, I’m gonna do something really neat here by taking a refugee, showing him the truth in Egypt, and then allowing him to be a spreader of the gospel,” Ouimette says, “Whether it’s in prison or whether it’s free, that’s what these fellows are doing.”

It’s impossible to tell how long these seven men might be in prison. But in the meantime, believers in Egypt are stepping forward to help their wives and children left behind. If God leads you, would you give toward their families’ support?

And, of course, pray for them. 

“One of the ways that we can pray for someone on the other side of the earth that we’ve never met is to be specific. These seven families will have dinner tonight, and their husband [or] father won’t be with them,” Ouimette says, inviting us to imagine what our own families would be like if someone was missing tonight. 

“Pray for these wives who are having to step up and do extra work and extra attention to the family, but they’re doing it alone. Pray for these kids.” 

A gift to Uncharted Ministries designated “Egypt” will help support the families. Connect with the team at unchartedministries.com. 

Header photo of Kairo Wan, Ash Shamashargi, Egypt is a representative stock photo courtesy of Sophia Valkova via Unsplash.

“The believers still don’t connect to each other because they’re afraid because the persecution,” he says. “They have this fear to connect and to share and to witness.”

That persecution largely stems from a lack of stability in Libya’s government and leadership. Some countries face eras of violence or conflict over specific issues; Libya faces these obstacles constantly. “Libya has plunged into chaos and divisions with government[s] competent for the power,” Jaballah says. “The government is like two states in one.”

The one thing that seems to remain consistent is that Libya is a primarily Islamic country. Unfortunately, this means that extremists take special offense to Christians who have converted from Islam. “If anybody left Islam… they believe they can kill them or persecute them.”

Right now, at least six believers are languishing in Libyan prisons awaiting sentencing for illegal converstion from Islam. One of the potential punishments they could face is execution.

What’s the solution? Jaballah says it’s important to fall back on God’s plan and pray. “We keep praying for the stability and the peace,” he says. “Persecution is not something new. It’s not something just happened for our believers there in Libya; persecution [is] part in our faith.”

Especially pray for the leaders. They’re the ones who other Libyan Christians, sometimes terrified and questioning Libyan Christians, are looking to for comfort and guidance. In turn, those leaders are turning to God.

Jabllah likes to remind the Church in Libya that while they have a history spotted by persecution, that history is also one held up by strong Christian leaders and a heritage of God-given strength. “And so we encourage them through many ways: prayer, teaching, and discipling.”

If you want to follow the stories of the Libyan Church, you can do that alongside us here at Mission Network News. You can also read stories from believers on the ground in Libya, especially those working with Voice of the Martyrs Canada, right here.

Header photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs Canada.

How bad is persecution in China? Eric Foley with Voice of the Martyrs Korea says that since February 2018, “it has become a crime to be an underground Christian.”

But being a part of the registered church presents its own problems. Foley says that China is trying to “Bring the state churches under greater control in terms of their involvement in spreading communism through the church and through the church services.”

That leaves many Chinese believers with a nearly-impossible choice. They can either be associated with an underground church that is now illegal or be part of a church in which sermons are censored and surveillance efforts take attendance rather than providing religious privacy.

Keep Quiet

So where do silencing efforts come in? Foley says one of the major tools used against the Church is

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

interrogation. Investigations focus “not only your own involvement in that church, but you’re expected to talk about, for example, does the church have any connection with outside churches? Have there been foreign speakers?”

If authorities release someone after interrogation, they are then committed to silence. If they tell anyone they were questioned in an interrogation setting, they could face jail time. “The person who exposes that information, which is called revealing state secrets, can face between 7 to 15 years in prison simply for indicating that they were interrogated,” Foley says.

Preserving Public Image

But why is silence so important to maintain? Foley says it’s all about keeping up appearances. “China actually does pay attention to how the church and the rest of the world responds,” he says. “It also cares what governments think… if governments around the world recognize that the Chinese government is engaged in religious persecution, this creates real problems for the Chinese government.”

To dissuade such problems from cropping up, China attempts to “undermine the claims of persecution on the part of underground Christians and on the part of Chinese refugees who are now fleeing the country.” Take members of the Early Rain Covenant Church, who are trying to make asylum claims so they can enter the U.S. China is currently doing what it can to stop that from happening.

“All they can say is, ‘These people were part of cult organizations or their churches were illegally connected to foreign organizations that are seeking to undermine the Chinese government,’” Foley says. If China can undermine Christian credibility within China and the Chinese Church’s credibility outside of China, it can silence dissenting voices that could tarnish China’s image.

Pastor John Cao, arrested in 2017 (Photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs)

How to Stay In Touch

So what can you do? First and foremost, Foley says, you can stay up to date with what’s happening around the world, particularly in China.

“You have situations like Early Rain Covenant Church, you have situations like Pastor John Cao, and with those situations the Chinese government is very willing to draw those situations out as long as they can, because their belief is that Christians around the world will lose interest and move on to the next case,” Foley says.

In other words, don’t lose sight of the problem. China expects people to forget about how bad persecution actually is in China. “What China counts on us doing is simply losing interest,” Foley says.

So don’t.

Stay up to date with organizations like Mission Network News. Send letters to the Chinese standing office at the United Nations. Send letters to support prisoners in China.

“We also need to be aware that the changing religious regulations mean that China is digging in for the long haul, so we have to be ready to dig in for the long haul too.”

Header photo courtesy of pixabay.

Last week’s trial was preceded by rumors that Brunson would be released. However, the courts did not decide at that time to release Brunson. Instead, they sent him back to prison after scheduling a hearing for October 12.

Todd Nettleton of the Voice of the Martyrs USA says, “At the end of the day last week when he was sent back to prison, and the next hearing was scheduled for October, everyone was kind of like, ‘Wait a minute, we thought there was going to be some good news here.’

Andrew and Norine Brunson (Photo courtesy of Open Doors USA)

“That good news apparently came [yesterday], a week later…Andrew is being moved from prison to house arrest. He is being allowed to go home and stay at home, pending the outcome of his trial. So that is a huge praise to the Lord, a huge answer to prayer, and shows that some of the scuttlebutt we heard a week ago, even though it was a little slower than we thought, there really was good news coming.”

The terms of Brunson’s house arrest are not clear at this point. However, it is clear that he has been ordered not to leave the country. The World Watch Monitor reported yesterday that Brunson’s wife, Norine, was on her way to meet him at the prison and make sure his release order arrived promptly.

Brunson has been accused of having ties to terrorism and espionage, and of working with the Fethullah Gülen movement which the Turkish government holds responsible for the failed military coup of 2016.

At the trial on July 18, members of Brunson’s congregation testified against him. However, Brunson responded to their painful testimonies with forgiveness. So far, no solid evidence has been produced.

(Photo courtesy of Middle East Concern)

While this news is a wonderful relief, Brunson still may have a long road ahead of him. By the time his next hearing of October 12 comes around, he will have been in detainment for over two years.

Nettleton says our best bet is to pray:

“I think the first prayer today is just a prayer of thanksgiving. This is something that we have prayed for, that Andrew would be released from prison. His wife Norine had posted on social media how difficult his life was in prison, particularly in the summertime, it’s so hot. It’s very difficult to sleep and rest. And so, I think our first prayer is, ‘Thank you Lord! Thank you for answering our prayers on behalf of Andrew Brunson.’

“The second then is praying about the future. This is one step. He is out of prison, released to house arrest. But this is not the dismissal of all these charges. He is still on trial in Turkey. There is still the potential of a 35-year prison sentence. So, we definitely want to continue to pray that all charges will be dropped and that Andrew Brunson will be set completely free.”

Header stock image courtesy of pixabay.

Miles Windsor of Middle East Concern says it can be very challenging to be a Christian in Iran. “That notwithstanding, it’s a place where we see the Church growing and developing and Christians being, really, very bold with their faith in the spread of the Gospel. So there are reasons for encouragement there as well.”

Windsor shares the case of Assyrian pastor, Victor Bet Tamraz, who he says has been a target of harassment for many years now. Tamraz was arrested, along with several other Christians, including Amin Naderi Afshari, at a Christmas celebration on December 26, 2014.

Originally, they were released on bail.  However, Amin was rearrested two years later at a picnic along with Hadi Asgari and several others. They were then held in Evin Prison in Tehran, a prison notorious for its poor conditions. Amin was finally released on bail last July, and Hadi was likewise released this past April. However, it seems their troubles are far from over.

“There was a hearing on the 11^th of June last year. And a judge called Ahmadpour issued his verdict in July, sentencing Pastor Victor and Hadi Asgari to ten years imprisonment and Amin Naderi to 15 years imprisonment for conducting evangelism and illegal house church activity. So, these are charges which are entirely directed at their Christian faith.”

(Image courtesy of Middle East Concern)

He explains that usually, this type of persecution against Christians is veiled under charges like “undermining national security”. Initially, terminology was used like this in the case against Pastor Victor, Hadi, and Amin. But now, the fact that this is about their Christian faith has been spelled out in the charges.

And if this case is any indication, Christians could be facing longer prison sentences in the future.

“Whilst Christians have consistently been put in prison for their faith in Iran in considerable numbers, the length of the sentence has seemed to have increased in the recent year or so,” Windsor says.

Before this, Christians could typically expect to serve 18 months to five years in prison.

The defendants had an appeal hearing on April 25^th. Windsor says a degree of encouragement came out of that hearing.

“It’s interesting what causes encouragement for Christians facing persecution in Iran because the encouragement wasn’t necessarily that they felt that they were about to receive an acquittal but rather that they were allowed to give their side of the story.”

Additionally, the judges overseeing the appeal hearing seemed to be respectful of the defendants and their lawyer.

The relationship between the United States and Iran means that there’s little that can be done politically on behalf of Pastor Victor, Hadi, and Amin. However, there is still something very important and powerful that all of us can do.

“The key for us, hearing and watching this from a distance is to be praying for them—praying for their continued witness to the love of Jesus in Iran, praying for their continued strength under extraordinary pressure, and praying for justice to be done in their situation.”

Middle East Concern encourages you to stay up to date on what is happening with believers like these so that you can continue to pray for them. Learn more, here.

“We ultimately have the most powerful figure, if you like, to go to… for advocacy, with our cases, and that’s the Lord Jesus. So, I’d encourage that as a primary sort of activity.”

Finally, you can let these believers know you are standing with them by signing this petition at avaaz.org.

Richard Wurmbrand was the founder of Voice of the Martyrs. The production of ‘Solitary Refinement’ was inspired by the impact of his book, Tortured for Christ.

(article continues after promo video for ‘Solitary Refinement’ below)

VOM Canada’s Doug McKenzie explains, “That book was only written in three days, but it took 14 years to compile during his time of solitary confinement in the prisons of Romania. He was one who even the prison guards couldn’t really understand in terms of his tenacity, his refusal to back away from his faith in Christ. But it was his book that came out in 1967 which then revolutionized the Church.

“It occurred to me that we might be able to, in a sense, recreate by God’s power and spirit what actually happened back in 1967. In other words, maybe there could be another rebirth that would sweep across North America and impact the North American Christian Church.”

(Photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs Canada)

It’s been one year since ‘Solitary Refinement’ premiered, and the play is still touring in churches across Canada. Dennis Hassell, an award-winning playwright, takes on the role of Richard Wurmbrand in ‘Solitary Refinement’. The play is directed by triple Dora Award nominee Tom Carson. Between Hassell and Carson, it took four years to bring this production to light.

Ultimately, McKenzie says the story and drama in ‘Solitary Refinement’ is about “portraying a man who so loved God and so loved Christ that he was prepared to suffer all in order to present Christ and to be faithful to him and be pure in his life and to be simply a believer who followed Jesus.”

It is free for churches to bring ‘Solitary Refinement’ to their locations. The production only collects a voluntary offering to cover tour expenses.

If you live in Canada, click here to learn more about inviting ‘Solitary Refinement’ to come to your church!

(Photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs Canada)

McKenzie says those who witness the live drama storytelling of Richard Wurmbrand’s suffering and faithfulness to Christ are spiritually challenged and encouraged.

“I can tell you, if you stood for ten minutes in the lobby after one of these performances, you would be in tears along with the people who have just come out of the performance. And I promise you, you would be impacted by God’s Spirit in terms of being challenged and compelled to engage and to do something about it and to become that extra arrow in the quiver that defines the mission of the Church today.”

While the play is still only available in Canada, VOM Canada is in conversation with sister ministries who are interested in touring the stage-show in other countries.

But one thing believers around the world can do is commit to praying with Christians suffering persecution, just as Richard Wurmbrand did.

(Photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs Canada)

“There are our publications, with which comes notification of turbulence in the world,” says McKenzie. “For instance, every week we have an electronic distribution of something called the Persecution and Prayer Alert.”

You can stay informed with prayer alerts on the persecuted Church with VOM Canada here!

If you’d like to learn more about the ‘Solitary Refinement’ tour and performances, click here.