The West African country has been fighting Islamic insurgencies for over a decade. The junta’s suspensions are an attempt to stop foreign funds that it suspects could be fueling terrorism. But these actions also tighten the junta’s control over the nation, critics say.

Greg Yoder with Christian World Outreach says their ministry has not been affected by the recent changes, since they operate within the education and religious sphere. In fact, CWO’s women’s vocational training center, the Village of Opportunity, has been viewed favorably by government leaders.

Students at the Village of Opportunity with CWO in Burkina Faso. (Photo courtesy of CWO)

“We have had some of the directors of ministries visit the center and see what we do there. They’re excited about that part of [CWO],” says Yoder.

“If anything, we’ve gotten more negative from those that are trying to attack villages and churches, asking us to stop giving education to young ladies. We haven’t had any physical threats, but our staff there has heard that they want us to stop.”

Burkina Faso continues to experience raids from groups with ties to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Yoder says CWO staff have security measures in place as they continue serving as the hands and feet of Christ, but they are undaunted. 

“The reason we’re not in crisis mode is because we know who we serve, more powerful than any of the things going on in Burkina and the countries around there,” Yoder says. 

The context is serious. Mali and Niger border Burkina Faso. Together, the three countries make up the region known as the Central Sahel. All three countries have experienced coups within the last five years and are “marked by poverty and insecurity,“ a United Nations article reports. 

But Yoder says CWO’s staff and the people they serve press on in these circumstances. 

“People are determined to continue to get an education. These young women will do what they can to get vocational training. People are coming to know the Lord — the young ladies at the school, and through our mobile clinic when they’ve visited villages and even displacement camps,” says Yoder. “God is still working.” 

Praise God for preserving hope in the midst of challenges. Pray for the safety of CWO staff, the young women they serve, and other activities they do in Burkina Faso. 

“The determination of our staff there to continue on and to give their all — I think that’s something that we need to be encouraged by as believers, that God is working despite the things going on in the world,” says Yoder. 

Header photo: Girl pushing a bicycle on a field in Burkina Faso (Photo courtesy of Murat Kahraman via Pexels).

“A year ago, the man who’s now the president of Syria was considered a terrorist and had a $10 million bounty on his head from the US government. This month, he was in the Oval Office meeting with the President of the United States,” The Voice of the Martyrs USA’s Todd Nettleton says, noting the situation’s irony.

“The big question is, how much has the Syrian president changed?”

Despite al-Sharaa’s declaration of religious freedom, believers remain skeptical.

“In public speeches to the international community, he has talked about a Syria where different religions live side by side in harmony,” Nettleton says.

However, “Our Syrian Christian brothers and sisters are hearing what’s being said in Arabic, and they’re concerned about the future. What they’re hearing from government troops is ‘Just wait. Wait till we get established, then we’re coming for you,’” he continues.

“We have seen attacks on the Druze minority. We have seen attacks on Alawites in the last year, and Christians in Syria are understandably concerned.”

Meanwhile, authorities extend a curfew in Homs following the weekend murder of a minority couple. Syria’s third-largest city is home to Sunni and Shiite Muslims, Alawites, and Christians.

Praise God for the faithful witness of Christians who have remained in the country despite hostile conditions.
(Photo, caption courtesy of VOM USA)

While a new bout of sectarian clashes keeps Syria on edge, the instability also presents an opportunity for Gospel outreach. “People are looking for something permanent,” Nettleton says.

“They’re looking for answers, and that can be a time when people come to Christ. Let’s pray for that.”

Pray for protection and boldness for Christians in Syria. Pray for continued revival and Gospel movement in areas affected by upheaval. Consider helping Syrian Christians tangibly through VOM USA.

Header image depicts US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, US Vice President JD Vance, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in November 2025.  (Wikimedia Commons)

Mali’s capital, Bamako, has been without fuel imports since September. Surrounding cities and communities are suffering too, as insurgents use a favorite strategy. 

“They are avoiding direct confrontation by attacking many cities. By imposing a blockade, it is another way to put high pressure on the government or security forces,” says Illia Djadi with Open Doors International. He serves as the senior analyst for freedom of religion and belief in sub-Saharan Africa.

The central Sahel countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are some of the poorest in the world, Djadi explains. Though their governments are willing to fight, they have little capacity to oppose well-equipped insurgents. They are also the only countries where both an al-Qaeda-linked group and an Islamic State-affiliated group are active.

“That’s why this region —central Sahel — has become now the new epicenter of international jihad, or international terrorism,” Djadi says. “The Islamists are putting a lot of pressure on the countries and the population living there. It is a very fragile context. That’s why the pressure on the Christian minority is also high.”

Whether tied to al-Qaeda or the Islamic State, these insurgents share the same ideology and goal: to establish a caliphate and impose Sharia law. As they gain control, they are scattering the local church. 

“Their primary target is Christians. When they first attacked Mali in 2012, they attacked and destroyed churches. They killed Christians, and many of them fled northern Mali to elsewhere, to become internally displaced, or refugees in neighboring countries,” says Djadi.

Flag of Mali (Stock photo courtesy of Aboodi Vesakaran via Pexels)

They will tell Christians, “This is the deal: convert to Islam, or be killed.” Many believers who have the choice will escape to another region, often arriving empty-handed and having witnessed terrible violence. Christians who can’t escape either lose their lives or live under heavy restrictions and taxation.

Ask God to strengthen believers in Mali with resilience and faithfulness to the end. Pray for global support for Mali’s leaders, that they may be able to fulfill their responsibility to protect their citizens.

“This is a forgotten crisis, but it’s a major crisis which has displaced millions in the Sahel and elsewhere,” says Djadi.

“Let’s continue to pray, but let’s continue also to provide support, because they are in need of support. At Open Doors, we are working closely with partner churches locally: how to provide the basics for the Christians living there, how to provide trauma care, and how to provide food for them to feel like they are not alone in these difficult circumstances.”

Header image is a stock photo courtesy of Alfred Dena via Pexels.

On one front is the DRC and neighboring Rwanda. They signed a peace deal in June but have missed next-step deadlines to implement it. Last week, representatives of both nations met again in Washington, D.C., to work toward on-the-ground peace. 

On another front is the rebel group M23, only one of more than 100 militant groups in eastern DRC. M23 and the DRC government signed a declaration toward peace in July, but this deal has also stalled. Both sides accuse the other of violating the agreement. On October 14, the government and M23 agreed to establish an international oversight committee as another step toward peace.

“They have signed paper, and they have made a lot of statement which brought hope for the people living there, but so far, nothing tangible has changed,” says lllia Djadi, who serves with Open Doors International as the senior analyst for freedom of religion and belief in Africa.

There is another layer of the DRC’s decades of conflict that we must not forget: Islamic extremism. 

“There’s one armed group called ADF, the Allied Democratic Forces. The ADF is a radical Islamic group with a clear affiliation with Islamic State. So when we consider the ongoing violence in DRC, we need to pay attention on this particular group,” says Djadi. 

He notes that sub-Saharan Africa has become the new epicenter of terrorism. 

“What Daesh [ISIS] try to do in Middle East, that’s the same project. That’s what they [ADF] want to achieve: to set up a caliphate, to rule that state by Islamic law, by Sharia law,” Djadi says.

“They [ADF] are using the same modus operandi. They are sharing the same ideology. They are targeting particularly Christians, bombing churches, attacking Christian communities mainly in rural areas.” 

One attack on September 8th saw at least 70 Christians killed and dozens kidnapped in one village. (More on these attacks here.) It’s not the only ADF incident either.

“It has been going on for months now in eastern DRC. Why? Because the ongoing military activity and all the focus was on M23. Even the [ceasefire] agreement is only about M23 and the military forces in DRC,” says Djadi. 

“But we are saying, ‘Pay attention. This [peace with M23] is not enough to bring peace in eastern DRC. We need to consider the activity of Islamic State there.’” 

Learn more about the challenges in the DRC and what Christians there face. Pray for peace, says Djadi. 

“Let’s pray for this Church to be resilient, to stand in the midst of this violence and violent persecution, how to continue to minister, how to continue to go to church without any fear of being attacked or bombed,” he says.

Header image of DRC flag courtesy of Pixabay.

The attacks spanned through the last week of September. Militants hit multiple villages in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces, leaving burned-out churches and homes in their wake.

Arimba, a coastal town in the northern Mozambique province Cabo Delgado. (Photo courtesy of dimitry/Unsplash)

The Islamic State Mozambique Province (ISMP) later released a gruesome 20-image photoset showing executions, shootings, and arson — a chilling display meant to sow fear.

“These militants would often separate Christians from other villagers and begin persecuting them,” says Floyd Brobbel with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada. “So this seems to be the case here, and they’re not shy about reporting what they’ve done. They’re claiming responsibility for these attacks.”

Mozambique’s northern regions have faced an Islamist insurgency for years. Despite military intervention from Rwanda and neighboring countries, the violence continues.

“They can blend in, and they can suddenly rise up and cause problems and attack communities, and then they’re gone again,” Brobbel explains. “So they’re hard to locate. They’re hard to pinpoint.”

Even amid devastation, the Church continues to stand. “There are churches that continue to minister in those hot zones. They need our prayers,” Brobbel says.

“We rely on the verses in Scripture and the promises in Scripture that tell us that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against the Church. So we need to be praying and remembering those [who] are in those regions and continuing to serve as salt and light. Pray that they would get a foothold for the Gospel and that we would see many of those who are militants against the Church would become followers of Christ.”

Brobbel adds, “For ministries, pray that the leaders would have wisdom and understanding in how to reach back into their communities…and finding ways to be able to target these groups with the Gospel.”

Ask God to strengthen believers in Mozambique’s war-torn north — and for their persecutors to become disciples of Jesus.

Learn more about how VOM Canada supports persecuted Christians at vomcanada.com.

Header photo courtesy of VOM USA.

One ministry taking that danger seriously is ZimZam Global, a church-planter training organization that approaches children’s discipleship first.

“With the rise of terror groups in Africa, you would realize that the most affected people are children,” says Francis Kataka Kubondo with ZimZam Global. “Wherever there is an attack, definitely the children suffer most.” 

Children’s school attendance and church and family life all come under threat when terrorists strike. Some may be exploited in the worst of ways.

Children are also vulnerable to accepting Islamic State jihadism themselves. Kubondo explains that extremists will sometimes enter communities the same way that Christians do. They might offer humanitarian aid or school sponsorship, gaining influence.

(Photo courtesy of Fatima Yusuf via Unsplash)

“They target areas where people are poor, [they] target area[s] where there is some form of instability, and then they present themselves as a solution,” he says. 

Yet there is a crucial difference: “For Christianity, we are driven by love, as opposed to the Islamists, who are driven by fear.” 

ZimZam Global’s vision is a church for every child. Today, they serve in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, and their reach is expanding.

“Most [other] church planting trainings focus on adults, but for us, we do it the other way around. We first of all reach out to children, and then through children, the church planter can gain access to family and then through family, now a church can be birthed,” says Kubondo.

The next generations in Africa are on the line, so please pray! Pray that instead of being exposed to Islamic extremism, many more children in Africa will accept Christ, join God’s family and serve His good Kingdom purposes. Pray for more believers to join the work to reach children for Christ in Africa. Pray for resources ZimZam Global needs to carry this mission forward. 

“Our biggest cry in Africa is for God to provide opportunities in His own ways so that we can move up to the northern part of Africa and share the goodness of Christ in those areas,” says Kubondo. “As of now, the engagement is very low.” 

Header photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Michael Ali via Unsplash. 

The US military re-entered Iraq in 2014 to help counter the influence of ISIS in Iraq as well as Syria. Today, the fight against ISIS continues. Iraq is more stable, though some complexities exist because of America’s presence.

In an interesting paradox, Samuel* with Redemptive Stories says the stability is reversing how authorities interact with local Christians. 

“In the past, they were too busy fighting wars between ISIS and/or civil war. There were higher things on the hierarchy of needs in terms of what the police force and the government [were] focused on,” he says.

(Representative stock photo courtesy of mhrezaa via Unsplash)

“But now, there’s enough space for them to again begin to attack Christians. So we’re seeing persecution, unfortunately, rise in Iraq.” 

Although the influence of ISIS in Iraq is significantly diminished, don’t miss this fact: “To ‘get rid of’ them is a misnomer,” Samuel says, “because the ideology of that part of Sunni Islam is still there, and it will stay there. It is in the hearts and the thoughts of people.” 

Jesus can transform people’s hearts and is doing this even now. Samuel says that in northern Iraq, witnessing boldly for Christ is possible. “God is working there, particularly among minority groups, including Christians [who] have stayed.” 

Southern Iraq, where Shia Islam is predominant, is the most unreached area of the nation, Samuel says. “Yet one of the greatest tools God is using right now is continued media reaching into that space. We’re seeing lots of people come to faith and seek God.”

The gospel will continue to spread in Iraq at a price. In regions of the Middle East and across Africa where Islamic extremism is rampant, Christians need to prepare for suffering.

A house destroyed by war with ISIS in Sinjar, Iraq.
(Photo courtesy of Levi Meir Clancy/Unsplash)

“The Christian life isn’t fair across the board. For me to be a Christian in certain contexts is easy; in other ones, much harder,” says Samuel.

Find your place in this story through prayer.

“We need bold leaders who are willing to walk that line of hearing God’s voice and knowing which way to go, like Paul did when danger came, and knowing which risks to take versus which not to,” says Samuel.

“We need to encourage our brothers and sisters, pray for them, and help them walk a path that’s bold and courageous, even in the midst of what they have to suffer.” 

*Pseudonym

Header photo: A house destroyed by war with ISIS in Sinjar, Iraq. (Photo courtesy of Levi Meir Clancy/Unsplash)

That’s good news, but for Christians in places like Syria and West Africa, ISIS still presents a daily threat. 

Samuel* with Redemptive Stories explained, “An interpretation of Islam creates the scenario for ISIS to exist. It is one strict interpretation that is not held by many. Maybe 10 percent of all Muslims would think that this is a legitimate interpretation.” 

But those who do hold this interpretation often embrace it violently. Because it’s an ideology, Samuel believes ISIS will keep resurfacing worldwide even when networks are dismantled. 

“Anytime those power vacuums exist and chaos reigns, it gives a license and opportunity for organizations like [ISIS] to, again, grow,” he said. 

There’s a misconception that military action will stem terrorism. But military action won’t change a person’s beliefs.

“There are other forms of transformation that are required for someone to be willing to step out of that understanding of Islam into something else,” Samuel said.

Transformation comes through the gospel! That’s why it’s so important to pray for believers in West Africa and Syria. They are the witnesses for Christ in the midst of chaos today. 

“For the gospel to go forth in our part of the world and across Africa, I think we are going to be walking a path of suffering,” Samuel said. “I think Jesus told us that as much in His farewell discourse to us, and was very clear that ‘what they did to me, they will also do to you.'”

Suffering is a hard road to choose. Syrian believers desire stability just like most people in the world. 

“I was talking to a Syrian brother who said, ‘If they opened up the pathway for Christians in Syria to go to Canada, 70 percent of them would go, and I would be one of them that would be on the plane, ready to go right away,’” Samuel said. 

“May we just be in prayer for them and stand with them by being generous, by being encouraging, by sharing their story with others.”

*Pseudonym

Header photo: A minaret and a church steeple side-by-side in Syria. (Stock photo courtesy of Ali Wassouf/Unsplash)

Christian communities continue to suffer raids, sexual violence, killings at roadblocks, and kidnappings. Recent victims include two teenagers and a nine-month-old baby.

Jihadist groups like Boko Haram, Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Lakurawa also pose an ongoing threat.

“In the void of ethical leadership, there’s always going to be these bad actors that try to swoop in and gain access to the resources,” Unknown Nations’ Greg Kelley says.

“Then you’ve got the agenda of Islam, which is to take over the entirety of that country.”

Believers aren’t the only ones who suffer. Fulani herdsmen, although Islamist, also attack properties owned by Muslims.

“It’s not like every Muslim in Nigeria is applauding what’s going on. They’re just as dissatisfied and frustrated as the Christians are, but it opens their heart,” Kelley says.

“Their worldview is challenged, and they’re open to the Gospel.”

The Fulani were among Nigeria’s first converts to Islam, and this religious system is central to their identity. Yet hope remains for this people group. “We’re seeing God move in very unique ways,” Kelley says.

“He’s saving people who come from these aggressors and using them as missionaries. There are 300 Fulani leaders that are going to be trained in the next few weeks.”

Ask the Lord to put His words into the mouths of Fulani Gospel workers.

“The most passionate and enthusiastic laborers are coming out of the three largest Muslim people groups,” Kelley says.

“When you’ve come out of that darkness, you understand the significance of it (salvation) way more than someone who came from a majority [Christian] people group.”

Header image is an AI-generated photo depicting Fulani herdsmen created using GenCraft.

The extremist opened fire in the sanctuary of the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus before detonating an explosive belt, killing at least 25 people and wounding more than 60.

This attack marks the first suicide bombing targeting a church in Syria since rebel groups ousted former president Bashar al-Assad in December, ending more than a decade of civil war.

Nuna with Triumphant Mercy Lebanon says, “It was a big tragedy for all of them. This is a church I know, a convent where my husband and I used to stay when we visited Syria, so I know the community there very well.”

The Islamic State claimed several attempted attacks on churches following Assad’s fall, but this was the first to succeed, one security source told Reuters. In the aftermath, Syrian police closed all churches in the region due to fears of further violence.

(Wikipedia)

“There have been threats that this would happen again in other regions of Syria,” Nuna says.

“They have been writing on the walls of a church, ‘Your time is coming soon.’ So, these are real threats from ISIS.”

Though diplomats applaud Syria’s political transition, minority advocates warn that persecution is on the rise.

“During the older (Assad) regime, the Christians were protected because the regime [leader] was a minority, so he needed all the other minorities to be with him,” Nuna says.

“Now, the government is more Islamist; this is a new threat for Christians.”

Despite the fear and uncertainty, many believers in Syria are drawing strength from their faith and church history. Nuna urges prayer for courage and perseverance: “We want that same boldness. The first Christians were going to lions, and they still went on their mission.”

As violence escalates, you can stand in prayerful solidarity with Syrian Christians facing renewed threats. Ask the Lord to empower believers as He did the first Church.

Header image depicts the Syrian flag.