But Pierre Houssney with Horizons International poses a broader, yet more personal, question: how can American Christians engage with the increasing numbers of Muslims living around us?

“For me, that is the secret to this whole issue,” Houssney says. “Let’s share the Gospel with these people.” 

Raised in a family dedicated to sharing Jesus with Muslims, Houssney says he has witnessed countless conversions from Islam to Christ.  

“And I’ve just seen how the Gospel can actually transform a life from the inside out no matter what background somebody is from,” he explains. 

Horizons International’s training program Engage Muslims with Christ has already been utilized by more than 15,000 people interested in learning how to share the Gospel with Muslims. 

“It gives a basic crash course in what do Muslims believe? What are their attitudes? What are their worldviews? How do we have conversations about the gospel?” Houssney says. 

While American Christians support a variance of legislative policies surrounding immigration and Islamic influx, Houssney says ongoing fomentation of these issues has led to ideological extremity in opposing camps. 

“First there’s the inclusion and diversion side where we want to accept people,” he says. Those in the other camp are “afraid that accepting these people is going to be changing our culture and changing our regulatory landscape and even introducing sharia law into our society.” 

Without downplaying the real tension here, Houssney encourages believers to have Gospel eyes rather than worldly ones. Horizons International is driving this perspective shift through in-person conferences that include the Engage Muslims with Christ training. 

Houssney says the outcomes are meaningful.

Courtesy of Masjid Pogung Dalangan via Unsplash. Header image courtesy of Yusron El Jihan via Unsplash.

For example, many of the 200 attendees of Horizons International’s “The Legacy Conference” in Dallas this month began to see that – by the grace of God – we can think of Muslims in our neighborhoods as a blessing, a challenge, and an opportunity, rather than a threat. 

 “We can share the gospel with these people instead of just being afraid of them and trying to use the avenues of political power to suppress them or stop them,” he says. 

Are you interested in bringing this perspective to your own community? 

“We’ll either bring out a teacher or use the video teaching,” Houssney says. “It’s really easy to facilitate a training where you and a group of people from your church can get this basic course that really is all you need to start sharing the gospel with Muslims.” 

Alternatively, check out the list of upcoming conference locations here. 

In the meantime, Houssney says, if you find yourself confronting fear-based narratives, political or otherwise: 

“Just turn that back and say: there is no fear in love. Speak the scripture over those headlines, pray about it, and ask the Lord: what can I do to take a part in your Great Commission, in what you are doing in this?

Because Jesus is the only hope for this situation.“

Twenty million people cannot find enough to eat, including 4.2 million children suffering from malnutrition. Over four million Sudanese refugees remain scattered throughout neighboring countries.

As if they didn’t have enough to deal with, Sudanese who find hope in Christ are threatened by family and friends.

(Photo AI-generated by ChatGPT)

“Women, children, and young people are coming to Christ, and these Muslims are infuriated because they’re not in a system that punishes that. And so, they take on the role of punishment,” John of Greater Reach Alliance says.

Gospel workers helped by GRA are sharing the hope of Jesus with Sudanese refugees. “There are house churches being started; there are what we call Discovery Bible Studies,” John says.

“These are studies that are specifically for Muslims who are interested and willing to hear about Christ, but they’re not yet believers.”

While some find new life in Him, others do everything they can to contain the movement.

“We have many of those Bible studies going, and people are coming to know Christ,” John says.

“As the Gospel is spreading in refugee camps, we constantly deal with persecution, having to protect new believers and sometimes hide them.”

Militant Islam was the norm in Sudan for decades. “Muslims who have had to leave their country are so traumatized because they have never been in a situation where Sharia law wasn’t there to punish,” John explains.

“Now, they’re in refugee camps in countries where Islam does not dominate.”

Pray that persecutors will have Saul-to-Paul encounters.

“Pray for these Muslims who are so angry that they’re losing power in governments and communities that protected their beliefs and insisted people believe that way,” John says.

“Pray for strength and endurance for all of those who are serving to share the Gospel.”

Header and story images are AI-generated by ChatGPT.

Nuna with Triumphant Mercy Lebanon points out that Israel’s target in Lebanon is Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy group.

“They’re putting Lebanon inside that peace deal to keep Lebanon under Iran control,” Nuna says.

Hezbollah has itself been sabotaging recent peace efforts between Israel and Lebanon by continuing to fire missiles into northern Israel. 

“Israel is saying, ‘Yes, we want peace. Yes, we want to deal with the Lebanese. The only problem we have is that Hezbollah is in the middle of this peace talk, and they are not allowing it.’ So they want to just get rid of the Hezbollah threat,” says Nuna. 

“[Israel has] been hitting Beirut. They’ve been hitting other cities like Tyre, like Sidon, all these cities that were not hit before. So it is escalating in that sense, because Hezbollah is still retaliating.” 

Lebanon has struggled for 50 years with war after war, says Nuna. Christians aren’t praying for another short-term fix. Instead, they’re praying for a real peace, one that will free Lebanon from the earthly and spiritual powers holding it hostage. 

“If it takes war, so that we will have a lasting peace, let it be,” says Nuna. “We’re not against the war.”

(Photo courtesy of Triumphant Mercy)

While no one wants the death and destruction of war, at the same time, Lebanese believers have been praying for years for God to shake the nation. In 2019, a group of ministries set up a prayer tent in downtown Beirut, which turned into a prayer movement. They didn’t imagine God’s answers would look like they do today, “but now we’re looking back, and we’re saying God has indeed answered our prayers. And He’s still answering our prayers,” says Nuna. 

As believers pray for transformation for Lebanon, they’re witnessing a startling revival. 

“Every ministry now is seeing the same thing. We’re seeing Muslims coming to church, Muslims coming to NGOs, and just saying ‘We want to know more.’ Or they want to take a Bible, or something is happening in the spirit that we are seeing,” says Nuna. 

“Many people come under the guise of humanitarian aid, but actually, what they want is to talk, because where they were in the South [of Lebanon], they had no witness. Some of them had no witness, some of them never heard about Jesus.” 

Pray for true peace for Lebanon that addresses the root of conflict and power struggles. Pray that the gospel will be proclaimed to every person in every corner of the nation. God is at work! Keep watching and praying for this nation. 

“[The Israel-Hezbollah-Iran situation] is now becoming a global problem, because the US is involved, China is involved, Turkey is involved, France is involved, of course Iran, Saudi Arabia, and everyone is involved. It’s become a whole world involvement in this small part of land,” Nuna says. 

*This web article has been updated from its broadcast with one correction. It was 2019, not 2018, when ministries in Lebanon gathered to pray in line with Haggai 2:7 for God to shake the nation.

Header photo: Beirut House of Prayer gathering October 9-11, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Triumphant Mercy Lebanon)

As Mike with Global Catalytic Ministries explains, “It’s not the absence of fear, it’s what you do with fear.”

GCM partners with Gospel workers committed to serving Jesus in places like Syria, where sharing Christ with the Druze or Shi’ite communities could get you killed. More about that here.

“As Muslims have wiped out Christians, we want to bring back Jesus in these places,” Mike says.

“It’s complex, but we want to make sure Christian strongholds are established.”

Serving where faith can cost everything

Late last year, Sister H sensed the Lord calling her away from personal safety and toward her own Shiite community in Syria. As she attempted to pass through an ISIS-controlled corridor, “She’s arrested; she’s being interrogated,” Mike says.

“She thinks things are going to get bad, so she starts to pray, ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?’” he continues.

“As they’re interrogating, she just is praying, proclaiming the promises of God.”

Suddenly and without reason, she was released and allowed to pass through.

(Photo courtesy of Global Catalytic Ministries)

“She went through all of that just to reach the single Shia person that she was connected to,” Mike says. “She’s willing to go into the pit and put her life on the line.”

Today, Sister H is embedded in a Shiite community, committed to discipling where it is most dangerous. Praise God for her faith, and pray that it will grow even deeper as she continues to follow Jesus.

Sister S, another committed Gospel worker trained by GCM, serves among Syria’s Druze community. Thanks to her steady obedience, the first Druze baptism took place in 2025. Pray for continued Gospel growth among the Druze community.

GCM wants to send three waves of disciples to deepen and expand these Jesus-centered strongholds in one of the most persecuted places on earth. Here’s how you can help.

Header and story images courtesy of Global Catalytic Ministries. 

“Muslims think that it wasn’t Isaac — it was Ishmael. There is a big discussion about it,” says Pastor Saleem Shalash. He serves at Home of Jesus the King Church, a partner of Beit Hallel Congregation in Nazareth, Israel.

Sacrifice is central to Eid al-Adha (Stock photo courtesy of Diyar Shahbaz via Unsplash)

Despite these differences between Christians and Muslims, the theme of sacrifice is a common thread between them. The holiday provides a unique opportunity for Christians to have gospel conversations with Muslim friends and neighbors.

“In this holiday, they give a sacrifice for their sins. And it reminds us of the real sacrifice: Jesus,” says Pastor Shalash.

Around 1.5 million Muslims are on pilgrimage to Mecca this week as part of their annual Hajj. Pastor Shalash says that Christians should be confident to speak out about Christ with Muslims.

“People are more open and not like before. Today we have a lot of ways to start asking about reality, about the truth, and Muslims start to ask,” he says. 

If you know Christ and have Muslim friends or neighbors, invite them to explore who Jesus — called Isa in the Quran — really is. Pastor Shalash says they can even begin by examining what the Quran says about Him. 

He points to Surah At-Tawbah 9:31 and Surah Maryam 19:33 as starting places. 

“A lot of Muslims, leaders (sheikhs), if you ask them who is the one that will come back to judge the world, they will tell you the Messiah, Isa, and they admit it,” says Pastor Shalash.

“If Jesus is the one that is coming to judge, that means He is representing God, because the one who judges is just God Himself.”

Shalash encourages Muslims to wrestle seriously with the Quran’s descriptions of Isa.

“Who is this prophet? Who is this one that He will judge? Who is this one that He can create life? Who is this one that He can raise dead people? You need to ask this question, and then you will recognize that you are talking about God Himself. No doubt about it.”

He also encourages Muslims simply to read the Bible for themselves.

(Stock photo courtesy of Afiq Fatah via Unsplash)

Shalash speaks directly to Muslims, and you can too: “It’s time to search, it’s time to ask, it’s time to show your questions to everyone around you. They will help you, they will lead you. And most important, ask God Himself. Ask God Himself to show you what is the truth, and He will lead you.”

Ask God to give you boldness and opportunities to speak to Muslims about Jesus. Even if your Muslim friends are not ready to receive this message now, Pastor Shalash points back to biblical truth about Jesus: 

“It was through Jesus Christ, the Messiah, Isa, that He came, and He was the real sacrifice, and He was crucified for our sins, and He is the one that is coming back to judge the world. If He is coming back to judge the world, that means He is God. There is no doubt about this truth.”

Header image is a stock photo courtesy of Masjid Maba via Unsplash. 

If signed into law, the bill would cut aid to Nigeria in half… unless its government meets three conditions. Those conditions hinge on stopping what US lawmakers are calling a genocide against Christians in Nigeria. Here are those three requirements:

• “taking effective steps to prevent and respond to violence and hold perpetrators accountable”
• “prioritizing resources to support victims of such violence, including internally displaced persons”
• “actively facilitating the safe return, resettlement, and reconstruction of communities impacted by the violence.”

Greg Kelley with Unknown Nations says that the nomadic Fulani people have become the main attackers of believers in Nigeria. Yet they are more than just enemies. 

“They’re fiercely opposed to the gospel. Yet what makes them very significant is they occupy more than 12 countries throughout Central Africa,” he says. “The largest concentration of Fulani happened to be in the country of Nigeria, where a lot of these atrocities that we’re speaking about are taking place.”

These disciples of Christ are passionately sharing God’s Word in North Eastern Nigeria.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Unknown Nations)

The Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa reports that the Fulani Ethnic Militias were responsible for nearly half of the 36,056 civilian deaths they documented across Nigeria between October 2019 and September 2024. The violence has only continued since then.

(Read a May 2026 report on Fulani militants from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom here.)

Kelley says the clash comes down to Fulani herdsmen and Christian landowners.

“[The conflict zone] has largely been an area in the northern part, but as grazing lands have changed, and the Fulani are moving into territories further south, that’s what’s causing the increase of these hostilities,” he says. “But they’re very aggressive. I mean, you don’t tell a Fulani ‘no.’ If you own land, and they come through and trash your land, the farmers are not happy about that. There’s a confrontation.”

What’s the answer?

The population divide between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria is right around 50/50. Kelley says the biggest frustration is over the Nigerian government often looking the other way as Christians are killed. 

“You’re talking about 100 million Christians are saying, ‘When is the government going to finally hold these people accountable?’” he says. 

The gospel is the answer. Kelley notes that some of Unknown Nations’ best missionaries are former Fulani militants who have had an encounter with Christ. Pray for more such men and women. 

“Yes, the people that are terrorizing, the people that are killing, they are our target, and we share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them,” Kelley says. “We’ve heard so many stories of Fulani coming to know Christ. It’s the Apostle Paul’s story.”

One way to reach the Fulani is through audio resources, since they are oral learners. That’s why Unknown Nations has distributed thousands of solar-powered audio Bibles, micro SD cards, and their Bible app into northern Nigeria, “because they gather around and they listen to the Word of God, and God changes their hearts,” says Kelley.

“Praying for the same-culture missionaries that are Hausa, that are Fulani, that are Kanuri is going to be how we reach northern Nigeria with the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Header photo: Audio Bibles bring the Gospel to people from oral cultures. (Photo courtesy of Unknown Nations)

India’s Supreme Court (Photo courtesy of Subhashish Panigrahi via Wikimedia Commons – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

The bill is made worse because Maharashtra is the economic center of India and the second-most populous state, says Greg Kelley with Unknown Nations. “Because of its influence, because of its power, that probably is just going to continue now, the cascading domino effect of additional states coming along [with their own such laws].” 

Twelve Indian states already have anti-conversion laws in place. They are meant to protect people from being coerced into converting through force, fraud, or inducement. However, Kelley says the laws disproportionately target Christians.

“I’m sure there are some bad actors,” he concedes. “And this isn’t just Christians, but it’s also dealing with Hindus marrying Muslims, for example, and forcing them to become Muslim. So there are other dynamics. But Christians, being the minority, are persecuted and targeted by not just Hindus but also Muslims.”

Anti-conversion laws require the accused to prove that any conversion(s) in question was not done through force or allurement. In other words, they must prove themselves innocent. 

Kelley says that although the Maharashtra bill has a few more legal hurdles to jump through, it’s basically certain. “Because of the precedent that’s already been set by 12 other states, this is just going to kind of push through the process. It’s not chartering new ground. This is becoming an established pattern.”

One piece of good news is that India’s Supreme Court is in the process of a landmark review of anti-conversion laws and their constitutionality. Their ruling will affect all of India’s states, including Maharashtra and Bihar States, which are both at different stages with anti-conversion legislation.

In the meantime, don’t miss the bigger picture of the Great Commission in India. 

“What most people don’t realize is that within probably the next 25 years, India will simultaneously be the most populated Hindu country and the most populated Muslim country,” says Kelley.

“So it is ‘ground zero’ for what we call unreached people groups. So the church has to have a missional presence in India. [There are] over 1.2 billion people living there, and most of them without a gospel witness. It has got to be a priority.”

Photo from Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, India (Courtesy of Jannes Jacobs via Unsplash)

Pray for wisdom for gospel workers in Maharashtra State, as they will soon have to navigate the effects of the new law. Pray for innocence and also shrewdness as they pursue the call to share Jesus.

Pray for a stronger Christian presence in India. Pray for India as a whole. Learn how you can partner with gospel workers already there, making Jesus known in India alongside Unknown Nations. 

Header photo is a stock image courtesy of Joe Gratz/Flickr. 

Violent protests broke out on Sunday in Pakistani cities after the Saturday assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei by the United States and Israel.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli strike on February 28, 2026 (Wikimedia Commons, CC by 4.0)

Nehemiah with FMI explains that after Iran, Pakistan has the world’s highest population of Shia Muslims.

“There is sadness, there is anger, and there is pain in the Shia population in Pakistan, because Khamenei was their Islamic spiritual leader,” he says. 

Thousands of demonstrators rallied across Pakistan on Sunday, with many attempting to attack US consulates or United Nations buildings. At least 22 people were killed, and more than 120 were injured in clashes with police. The unrest led the US to order the evacuation of non-emergency personnel from its consulates in Lahore and Karachi on Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, local Christians walk on the edge of a sword, says Nehemiah, and Muslim-background believers are the most vulnerable.

“There is a common understanding among Pakistani Muslims — Shias — that we need to understand: They think that every American is Christian, and they think that Pakistani Christians who are living in Pakistan have a soft corner for America and have divided loyalties,” Nehemiah explains.

“Local believers and ministry partners are navigating heightened tensions with public anger fueling large gatherings and anti-foreign sentiment.”

Fear is a natural response to such pressures, but the call to share Christ always remains. Please stand with FMI partners and all gospel workers in Pakistan by praying for their protection, for discernment in crisis, and for a sense of God’s peace. Ask God to open people’s hearts to Christ despite the anger in the nation today. An ongoing conflict with neighboring Afghanistan is also adding to the chaos. 

“If you would like to support our partners who are working in such a hostile situation, please step forward. Pray for them, support them. They would know that they have extended family who are living across the world,” says Nehemiah. 

Learn how you can support one of FMI’s frontline partners by visiting forgottenmissionaries.org. 

A pastor in Pakistan (Photo courtesy of FMI)

Header photo of Pakistan church group courtesy of FMI. 

Bruce Allen of FMI says the true winners are Bangladeshis. “They have been living under a caretaker government for the last year and a half, and it has been chaotic,” Allen says.

“With this election, it seems that stability is returning to the country, and most likely, some needed reforms in the government. So, people are giving a big sigh of relief.”

A return to stability

Bangladeshis headed to the polls on February 12 for the first time since mass protests ousted long-time leader Sheikh Hasina in 2024. Uncertainty and instability followed, putting believers at risk. Christians also remained concerned in 2025 when it appeared radical Islamists would fill the leadership vacuum created by Hasina’s ouster.

Protestors in Bangladesh on August 2, 2024.
(Wikimedia Commons)

FMI partners continued Gospel work under the caretaker government “during this past year and a half, when there has been chaos socially, but they’ve had to be very careful,” Allen says.

Church planters hope Bangladesh’s return to stability under Rahman will remove some of the caution surrounding their work.

“They believe that the new prime minister is going to bring some reforms, healing to the nation, as well as stabilize the fragile economy, curbing inflation, things like that.”

Local BNP leaders recently extended an olive branch to the previously-banned Awami League political party, a move Allen calls both bold and encouraging.

“Many Bangladeshis found that to be stunning, as previously, any winning party or individual in an election immediately began treating their political opponents vindictively,” Allen says.

“Pastor Rajiv, one of our supported church planters in the country, said actions like that are very encouraging for Bangladesh, because [they mark] this shift away from vindictive tactics.”

Renewed hope

It’s been a tough season, with many Christians facing persecution in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Now, however, “Christians in the country are feeling refreshed and invigorated by the election results, and they’re ready to hit the ground running,” Allen says.

A Bengali pastor poses for a portrait.
(Photo courtesy FMI)

FMI partners in one location hope a calmer atmosphere means their church can finally take shape. “That (construction) had been delayed because of persecution from radical Muslims in the area where the church was to be [built,]” Allen says.

“This week, it (construction) began again, so hopefully that will get completed soon. Our partners are excited.”

Pray for an upcoming training and Bible distribution in March.

“I’m in the middle of visiting several countries, and so are other staff members, so we cannot be in Bangladesh, but we’re going to participate via Zoom, so be praying for strong internet connections,” Allen says.

“Pray for the recipients of the Scriptures: if they’re believers, pray that they would have great understanding and obedience to God’s Word,” he continues.

“For those who are not yet followers of Jesus Christ, pray that what they read would captivate their hearts and they would fall in love with this Savior.”

Header image courtesy of Bornil Amin via Unsplash. 

But for countless Christians, Ramadan means a special season of praying for Muslims to encounter Christ.

(Photo courtesy Prayercast)

“When God’s people pray, He moves,” says Suzanne Heegaard with Prayercast. “It’s a mysterious work — I don’t understand it. And it’s so exciting because He does not need us to save those who He’s going to save, but He invites us to be a part of the process.” 

If you know Christ, Heegaard invites you to join this year’s 30-day Ramadan prayer campaign. God has already been revealing Himself to Muslims in recent years in incredible ways, and you can be part of that mission. 

“He’s moving by the thousands. He’s showing up through Jesus in dreams and visions to Muslims worldwide, whether they have contact with a believer or not. He is showing up as Issa, their Messiah, telling them that He is the true light,” Heegard says.

Muslims have amazing faith, Heegaard says. “I’m pretty awestruck at their devotion, their discipline, to their faith. And yet, in their faith, there’s a lot of seeking to please Allah. There’s a fear of not being able to please him well. So for us to be praying for them during this time to know the love of Jesus that’s so freeing — [it] is just profound.”

Join this year’s Prayercast Ramadan challenge at www.prayercast.com.

“Sign up. Put your email in. You’ll get a prayer video each day from a Muslim-background believer, and you’ll get to pray along with that Muslim-background believer for Muslims,” says Heegaard.

(Photo courtesy Prayercast)

This year’s prayer challenge also puts you in sync with even more believers around the world. Prayercast has partnered with several other ministries to follow the same daily topic calendar of people groups, nations, and issues in the Muslim world. 

“It’s such a privilege to pray with fellow believers, to be a part of the work God’s already doing but He invites us into,” says Heegaard. 

The Prayercast Ramadan challenge is also available in Arabic on Facebook, Mandarin on YouTube, Portuguese on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and Spanish on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

(Graphic courtesy of Prayercast)

Header photo courtesy of Prayercast.