MegaVoice’s Darrel Templeton says, “We know that the rebels don’t look favorably upon Christians and they’re trying to set up a caliphate. So we, Christians, are seen to be the infidels and the enemy to such a regime. So they are, unfortunately, going to be targeted, I think; perhaps even worse.”

Years ago, MegaVoice worked with Free Burma Rangers to get audio Bibles into Syria, and also distributed them to Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Rebels unfurl Syrian revolution flag inside Hafez al-Assad mausoleum, December 2024. (Photo by getty images – telegram, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=156639771)

Templeton says, “We do know that many of those who have received audio Bibles who were in Lebanon in the refugee camps there have gone back to Syria thinking that was safer.” That was before the rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power.

HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) has positioned himself to the world as a moderate. But is it enough reassurance for those Syrian Christians to stay?

“We need to be praying for our dear brothers and sisters,” Templeton urges, “that they will be bold, that they will be salt and light in their communities and their families, and that the Lord will allow them to share the Good News with many more.”

The context of Christmas approaching is especially poignant for Syrian believers living the Gospel at this time. Templeton shares, “I was mindful of that verse this morning [when] the angel said to the shepherds that this (Jesus’s birth) is tidings or ‘good news’ for all people — and that even means to those in Syria.”

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

Israeli officials say these targeted strikes are intended to keep military equipment out of the hands of the rebel extremists.

Rebels unfurl Syrian revolution flag inside Hafez al-Assad mausoleum, December 2024. (Photo by getty images – telegram, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=156639771)

“Israel looks at this as a prime opportunity to secure its future,” Eric Mock with Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) explains. “Now, without having to get in a brutal, drawn-out combat, Israel is clearing out anything that could remain on the Syrian side as a threat.”

Israel is still fighting on multiple fronts with Hezbollah and Hamas, and the people of Israel have known over 400 days of war. So how does this war-weary nation have the capacity to engage in Syria as well?

Mock offers some perspective: “Actually, this is a time in which Israel is able to engage all three fronts because there is not a specific front that is an overwhelming force. Russia has withdrawn, for the most part, from that region and is not able to be the defender of the prior [Assad] government.”

Recently, Mock reached out to SGA-supported churches in Israel. Despite the regional tensions, he reports faithful Israeli believers are persisting in ministry.

“There’s always this constant cloud of fear of what’s going to happen,” says Mock. “Are there rockets coming from the north? Are there rockets coming from the south? Are there rockets coming from Yemen? Are the rockets coming from Syria or even Iran? There’s this constant tension that exists.

“But in the middle of it, there’s a tremendous amount of peace knowing that God continues to be at work.”

Steeple in Jerusalem, Israel. (Photo courtesy of Jonny Gios/Unsplash)

This Christmas, pray Israelis and Syrians know true, lasting peace that comes from Jesus.

Mock says, “Sometimes we lose track of hearing that old Christmas passage, I believe, from Luke 2:14 where we’re talking about ‘peace on earth among men,’ and we just stop it there. We think that God’s effort has to do with the establishment of world peace.

“But they forget ‘…with whom I am well pleased,’ which is the remainder of the verse. We’re reminded that only those who are walking right with Jesus Christ by faith are those in whom God is well pleased — for in His Son, He is well pleased.

“So in this, peace comes when the Gospel comes! Peace comes when the Gospel is in the hearts of men and women!”

From Israeli believers, Mock shares, “When they ask us to pray, they ask not for their safety, not for the safety of their country, but they said, ‘Pray that we would be zealous to declare the Gospel, not taking our eyes off of Christ.’”

Learn more about SGA supporting ministry in Israel.

Header photo: Russia has naval military bases on the Syrian coast where Israel recently attacked. (Photo by Mil.ru, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=115294558)

Eric Mock with Slavic Gospel Association (SGA) explains, “Years ago, Russia established itself really as a country of authority in the Middle East. While the US continues to stand with Israel, Russia was very close in its work with Syria, in fact, supporting the Assad regime that has been a brutal regime for a little more than 50 years.

Flag of Syria (Photo by Linus Schütz from Pixabay)

“Russia established bases there and has been kind of the protectorate for Syria. The relationship between Syria and Russia allowed them to control a portion of the petroleum market.”

In the fall of Syria, Russia failed to hinder rebel advancement like in years past. Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted asylum to Assad and his family.

Now, Moscow is negotiating with Syria’s new government leadership to keep at least two key Russian bases in Syria.

Mock points out the war in Ukraine has weakened Russia’s military strength on multiple fronts.

“For Russia to continue to maintain its aggressive offensive in Ukraine, it really had no capacity to defend Syria when the rebels began to take over. So as much as we’re watching the lightning-fast fall of Syria in the news, what you saw behind the scenes was an utter incapacity of Russia to do anything about it.”

It is a poignant reminder that, ultimately, it is the Lord who raises up and brings down kings and political leaders. Pray God’s will be done in the nations.

“In the middle of trying to decipher world events, I would challenge your listeners to be sure not to lose sight of the calling to advance the Gospel to all people,” Mock encourages.

“It’s very easy for us to be focused on things that are passing away, rather than focused on what God would have us do. So in the middle of all the chaos we see, fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith!”

Learn more about SGA’s ministry in Russia and Ukraine.

Header photo: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visits Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2015. (By Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44378506)

Syria is a major lynchpin in international dynamics across the Middle East and Eurasia. With this dramatic power shift, everything you thought you knew about the Middle East is about to change.

Samuel with Redemptive Stories says, “What has happened is a shocking course of events that’s…been worked towards by the rebels since 2011/2012; maybe even before then, really. It’s been tried many times over the history of the Assad regime.”

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (left) and former Iranian President Seyyed Ibrahim Raisi (right), May 8, 2022. (Wikimedia Commons)

The sudden overturn in the Syrian war was made possible by the weakening of Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah, all of which were propping up Assad’s government.

Samuel says, “[The rebels] attacked shortly after the ceasefire in Lebanon, and there was no stopping them really. Once they got moving, the Assad army — due to lack of funding [and] lack of resources — just really ended up in many cases throwing down their arms and fleeing because they knew this was a fight that was not worth fighting any longer.

“Currently, the situation in Syria is that the majority of the Assad-controlled cities — so places like Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Latakia, Damascus, and Tartus — are now all under control of the rebels.”

Assad and his family are now exiled in Moscow where they have been granted asylum by the Russian government.

Samuel explains, “The transition of government so far has been fairly subdued and smooth. There has been a lot of looting currently in places like Damascus and others where just the sheer volume of people and the lack of police presence — now that the regime has fallen — has allowed for in the midst of this chaos. But places like Aleppo and others have remained fairly stable even after the rebels have taken over.”

Meanwhile, Israeli forces are advancing into southern Syria. Israel stated it has destroyed suspected chemical weapons depots in Syria to prevent them from being used by the rebels.

(Ahill34, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Amidst the radical changes, Syrian Christians and minorities are asking, ‘Does this trade one type of oppression for another?’

“There is still significant fear as to what this might mean for them,” says Samuel. “The rebels have direct ties and connections historically to Al Qaeda. You might call them ISIS adjacent. So that reality is very concerning for the future of Syria.”

Redemptive Stories invites you to join them in meaningful prayer as God is doing something significant in the Middle East.

“Those that care about this region are taking a day of fasting and praying on December 11…on behalf of Syria. We’re also praying for protection for displaced families and vulnerable communities, that God’s peace and stability might reign in Syria.”

Pray also for Syrians seeking hope to ultimately find Jesus.

Header photo of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city. (Photo courtesy of Dan/Flickr: https://flic.kr/p/4r8vQp)

In January of 2021, MAF’s airplane landed at an airstrip in the village of Pagamba, Papua, Indonesia. The airplane was quickly surrounded by armed men who identified themselves as part of a Papuan liberation group.

After removing the pilot, passengers, cargo, and all other items that could be taken out, the nearly $2 million airplane was destroyed by fire.

MAF’s burned Kodiak airplane on the airstrip in the village of Pagamba, Indonesia. Photo taken from rebel video footage briefly posted online in 2021. (Photo, caption courtesy of MAF)

After being detained by rebels for a day, local villagers guided the MAF pilot to another village for extraction by helicopter. The incident was investigated by the Indonesian government, leading to the capture of some of the rebels.

“I am pleased that this replacement airplane will continue to be used to serve the people in Papua. We are responding to God’s call to serve others and do not involve ourselves in the politics of a country,” said MAF president and CEO David Holsten.

“MAF has been serving the people of Papua since 1954, delivering medicine and medical personnel, teachers, pastors, Bible translators, and many basic items to meet the needs of people living in extreme isolation,” Holsten concluded.

The destroyed airplane is being replaced by another Kodiak that has less than 250 flight hours. The plane was purchased using insurance settlement funds and a donation from the family who purchased and donated the original Kodiak that was burned.

The Kodiak will be ferry flighted to Papua, Indonesia early next year.

You can support MAF’s ministry in Papua here!

Header photo of Mission Aviation Fellowship President and CEO, David Holsten, leading the dedication ceremony of the replacement Kodiak at their headquarters at the Nampa airport. (Photo, caption courtesy of MAF)

Three Chinese warships arrived in a Myanmar port yesterday amid rising security concerns. Battles unfold daily, and nearly 200 civilians have been killed since the end of October.

“The military has been bombing and attacking villages. [In] one where we work, there were six adults and three children killed in recent attacks,” AMG International’s Brian Dennett says.

Every visit brings encouragement to those who need it most.
(Photo courtesy of AMG International)

Consecutive military governments have waged war against armed ethnic groups for decades, destroying villages and uprooting more than two million people. The current rebellion started on October 27, displacing 335,000 people in one month.

“This year alone, we’ve provided thousands with food and other urgent needs. But there’s so much more to be done,” Dennett says.

“Pastors in our network have been crying out for help with health supplies, food, and other relief items that we’ve been trying desperately to provide.”

AMG partners with churches throughout Myanmar to provide help for today and hope for tomorrow. Support AMG’s work in Myanmar here.

“Everything we do at AMG revolves around the Gospel. So, as we serve, we are sharing the hope that we have in Jesus.”

Some church members rely on AMG’s food aid to make it through the week. Pray for believers in Myanmar as they navigate political instability and uncertainty.

“Several families worked in foreign factories that closed due to the military regime and their control over everything,” Dennett says.

“We heard that 80 percent of these foreign factories closed, the employees [were] all laid off; they are now without work.”

Header image depicts Myanmar army tanks. (Wikimedia Commons)

“In late October, three defense groups came together, formed an alliance, and they intend to stretch this military government beyond capacity,” AMG International’s Brian Dennett says.

“They’re calling it the Three Brotherhood Alliance.”

Over a hundred army soldiers accepted payment from the Three Brotherhood Alliance to lay down their arms yesterday. It’s the largest surrender since widespread conflict began two years ago, giving the alliance traction across northern Myanmar.

“They’ve been able to capture several key towns [and] military posts” in the past two weeks, Dennett says.

“It’s the greatest test this government has had, giving a lot of hope that maybe they (the government) could be defeated.”

Armed ethnic groups have been fighting Myanmar’s central government for greater autonomy for decades, displacing more than a million people.

AMG’s national missionaries have provided 237 families with relief packets!
(Photo, caption courtesy of AMG International)

“The people of Myanmar have suffered so much, and the level of anger and frustration at the continued horrors the military has inflicted on its citizens is just unbelievable,” Dennett says.

Relentless violence and desperation open doors for the Gospel. AMG International works alongside local Christians to deliver help and hope in the name of Jesus. More about that here.

“Both pastors and our church network in Myanmar, and our extensive team in Thailand, [have] been working to provide food, health care, relief items, [meeting] urgent needs ever since this coup began in 2021,” Dennett says.

Header image depicts armoured personnel carrier used by Myanmar army. (Wikimedia Commons)

Many of these attacks are carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist rebel group. In addition to murdering villagers, attackers often loot and torch homes.

Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs says, “There are multiple reports when they go into a village of them singling out Christians for death [and] allowing Muslims not to be killed or even to go free.

“So there is an element to this that is very much Christian persecution and Christians being targeted as they try to create an Islamic caliphate and a place where Sharia law is followed.”

Representative photo of Congolese village. (Photo courtesy of Kudra_Abdulaziz via Pixabay)

In total over the last two weeks, 72 Christians have been killed in eastern DRC. Thousands of refugees are displaced or fleeing to neighboring Uganda and Tanzania.

These attacks are having their desired effect. The Church in eastern DRC is dwindling.

Nettleton says, “In the area where this attack just happened, there is one denomination that before the violence broke out this denomination had 25 churches in this area. Today they have eight. Another denomination before the violence had 54 churches. Now they have 11.”

Yet, the story isn’t over. God is still at work in DRC, and the persecuted Church needs our support and prayers!

“Those brothers and sisters are a part of our family, and if a part of our family is suffering, of course, we should care. We should care very much about that.”

Nettleton says, “I think one of the ways we can pray is for the government response to this…. ADF is active on both sides of the border. The DRC government and the Ugandan government have tried to cooperate to get more stability, to get more control and more peace in this region. We can pray for those efforts to be effective.”

For persecuted Christians, Nettleton asks, “Pray for a sense of God’s presence with them even as they go through major suffering and these kinds of attacks. Pray that their faith will remain strong.”

Header photo courtesy of Imani Bahati via Unsplash.

Pierre Houssney, executive director with Horizons International explains, “Northern Syria is just a patchwork of different really kind of fiefdoms. There are certain areas that are controlled by government groups there and government-aligned groups, militias, and things. There are other areas that are controlled by different other armed groups that are against the [government] — the rebels, the Kurdish people, and there [are] all kinds of militias. It’s a huge patchwork.”

(Photo courtesy of Horizons International)

It’s a complex challenge for the ministry providing emergency relief. “We have to go through different checkpoints [and] avenues to get into the affected areas,” says Houssney.

“There are some areas where our Lebanese staff are not able to get into, so we have to send Kurdish-Syrian staff members into the Kurdish areas because they can pass through the checkpoints. We have different partnerships with churches that let us into different areas.”

Another threat to earthquake relief is the war of attrition between various groups in nothern Syria. Starvation is the violent method used to inflict harm as different factions keep aid from reaching certain people.

Houssney says, “In that kind of a landscape where people are just struggling to survive and all the factions are struggling against each other — armed struggle and economic struggle and intentional starvation of different people — how is aid going to get to the right places in that kind of a climate?”

This is where the Syrian Church is going against the grain and serving their neighbors, no matter their ethnicity or religion.

(Photo courtesy of Horizons International)

“One miracle that we can just thank God for is that there are still evangelical churches in this region. People don’t know that. People don’t seem to realize that,” Houssney says.

“Muslims are streaming into churches. They’re sleeping in churches in shifts, day and night, 24 hours a day on the pews of churches. Church people are helping them and feeding them and caring for them.

“One person said, ‘There’s no difference between Muslim and Christian anymore in that area. They don’t even care where the aid comes from or where the aid is going. Everybody is helping each other, and that has really opened doors for the Gospel.’”

You can support Horizons International’s ministry here.

Houssney says Syrian believers need the prayers and vigilant support of the global Body of Christ.

“It’s my fear that the headlines are going to move on and then the churches are going to be left again. After having helped the people around them, they’re going to be left without support. So I want to make sure that people don’t forget the Church in the Middle East just because a few months passed since the earthquake.”

Houssney asks, “Be praying that the Lord would keep this open door for the Gospel open, that people’s hearts would still be open in northern Syria.”

Header photo courtesy of Horizons International.

Fighting between the military and rebel groups also makes travel difficult. Joe Handley with Asian Access says, “I have friends that when I’m talking with them, they have bombs go off within a block or so of their houses, causing their entire house to shake.”

Meanwhile, the country’s economy has crashed. Handley says, “They estimate that poverty is going to be doubling compared to just a few years ago. And 40 percent of the population is living below the national poverty line this year. All of this tests the resilience of the people. And that’s the challenge the church is facing today.”

Christians in Myanmar

Christians in Myanmar especially reach out to marginalized people groups within the society. As a result, many of these people have become believers.

Pray many people across Myanmar will discover the love of Jesus. Christians continue to share this message.

Handley receives regular communication from one partner who works to share the Gospel among minority groups. “I would say, on average, he is seeing at least five to 10 people come to Christ every time he’s sharing with me. Every three to seven days, I get a report from him telling me how he’s gone out to visit an under-resourced community.”

“He’s bringing them rice, supplies, water, or whatever they need.”

The header photo shows Aung San Suu Kyi in 2012. (Photo courtesy of Htoo Tay Zar, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)