Floyd Brobbel with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada says, “Their report claims that since 2009, at least 190,000 Nigerians were killed, and about 70% of that would be Christians. So there seems to be a very clear targeting of the Christian community in northern Nigeria.”

(Photo courtesy Voice of the Martyrs USA)

The report lays out how Nigeria has been hiding the genocide of Christians through misinformation campaigns and misleading narratives. Instead, government officials have described the violence as regional instability and even attributed it to climate change.

“The Christian cry within the North that our government is not doing anything to counteract these problems is true, and it’s well documented.”

Boko Haram and Fulani extremists attack Christian communities and others who stand in the way of their goal to establish an Islamic caliphate.

Brobbel encourages believers around the world to take action for our Nigerian brothers and sisters in Christ.

“We need to be raising a voice and asking our governments to hold the Nigerian government accountable to these things that are happening in their country. Like, what are they doing to counteract these problems?”

(Photo courtesy VOM USA)

Pray also for the persecuted Church in northern Nigeria to be salt and light, so they can reach their persecutors for Christ.

Brobbel urges, “We really need to pray for those that remain and for those that flee, that they would be effective and bold in their Christian faith and continue to proclaim the Gospel courageously, because this is how things change.”

He also asks Christians to pray for Muslim extremists in northern Nigeria, that they would:

• encounter God’s Word and have visions of Jesus.
• have their hearts softened and eyes opened to biblical truth.
• be held accountable for their actions.
• give their lives ultimately to Christ.

Get involved with VOM Canada at vomcanada.com/engage.

Header photo: Nigerian believers pray for intervention. (Photo courtesy of VOM Canada)

Many Christian leaders had waited years for state approval. The decision comes under Egypt’s 2016 Law for Building and Restoring Churches. It marks the 30th group of churches approved by the legalization committee. To qualify, churches must meet structural and safety standards, prove land ownership, and pay required fees.

The Hanging Church, Cairo, Egypt (photo courtesy of Dilip Poddar via Unsplash)

Duane Friesen with Voice of the Martyrs Canada says, “There is dramatic difficulty for the Christian community within Egypt, but to see a step toward allowing facilities for their weekly worship is a good step, and I hope it grows.”

Still, the approvals meet only a small part of the need. Tens of thousands of churches are still seeking legal recognition.

Friesen notes that, “[Believers] still face the reality that they are a minority in a country that has long struggled to support the existence of other religious groups around them.”

“They’ve had, even recently, major challenges as families try to prevent their daughters from being forced into Muslim marriages.” Friesen also adds that if a man’s Christian beliefs become known, he may struggle to find work to provide for his family.

So, the approval of another batch of churches could be a positive sign for greater Christian recognition and freedom in the country.

At the same time, Friesen urges caution. As pressure for church registration grows, so can government oversight of Christian activity. Still, the process may also help strengthen Christianity’s legal standing in Egypt.

Please pray these developments would lead to greater acceptance and security for believers in Egypt and, as Friesen says, “that is equal citizenship within Egypt that they have the protections, the rights and the freedoms to be what God’s called them to be.”

Visit Voice of the Martyrs Canada to learn more about the challenges facing persecuted Christians around the world.

Header photo: Cairo, Egypt (Photo courtesy of PhotoByMau via Pexels).

On March 26, Finland’s Supreme Court convicted former Interior Minister Päivi Räsänen (header photo) and Bishop Juhana Pohjola of a hate crime. The case stands out not only for the conviction itself, but for how it was prosecuted. Authorities used the “war crimes and crimes against humanity” section of Finland’s criminal code — a category typically reserved for far more severe offenses.

The charges stem from a pamphlet published more than 20 years ago, in which the two outlined a biblical view of family and expressed concerns about gender-related issues. Päivi Räsänen has also previously faced accusations of hate speech for citing Scripture, including the book of Romans, though she was acquitted of those charges in earlier court rulings.

Floyd Brobbel of Voice of the Martyrs Canada explains the legal basis behind the ruling: “It’s under a hate speech law that has a very loose or vague definition of hate, that these two were convicted.”

From Finland to Canada’s Bill C-9

The decision is now echoing beyond Finland, fueling renewed discussion in Canada over Bill C-9, also known as the Combatting Hate Act. For more background on the bill and its potential impact on religious groups, see our previous coverage (here and here).

(Photo courtesy of VOM Canada)

Brobbel says the concern lies in how “hate” is defined and applied: “The concern remains that the loosening of the definition of hate could, in fact, in the long run, do exactly what they say the bill will not do.”

At a deeper level, the situation raises questions about how religious beliefs are interpreted in modern legal systems — whether they are assessed on evidence or increasingly through the lens of perceived offense. Some observers see parallels between the developments in Finland and what could potentially unfold in Canada.

Bill C-9 has already passed the House of Commons and is now before the Senate. If it advances, it will return to Parliament for final reading.

As lawmakers consider the bill, Brobbel is calling for prayer: “Pray that they would have the wisdom to carefully consider the implications of this bill and tighten up some of the descriptions that need to be tightened up.”

Visit Voice of the Martyrs Canada to learn more about how they serve the persecuted Church.

Header photo: Portrait of Päivi Räsänen (photo courtesy of FinnishGovernment via Wikimedia Commons)

But another headline is unfolding in Cuba — another government hanging in the balance, and a Church preparing for whatever comes next.

Duane Friesen, Vice President of International with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada, says these two nations share a defining question.

Vinales, Cuba (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Chen via Unsplash)

“We have two different countries in different parts of the world, but facing the same challenge, and that is: what does their immediate identity look like? Will they face a radical regime change that results in a radical identity change? And…what will be the response of the Christians in those places in the midst of radical change?”

Cuba is currently experiencing shortages of food and medicine, and facing a U.S. fuel blockade. The fuel crisis has led to power outages.

“This trickles down right to every village in the country,” says Friesen. “They are now in a crisis mode. They realize that they will not have power for maybe most of the day. In many cases, they’re only getting one hour of energy to charge whatever they have to supply. But in the midst of that, they’re wrestling through: ‘What will our country look like a year from now?'”

For Cuban believers grappling with economic challenges, Friesen says they still have a supernatural joy that can only come from the Holy Spirit.

“The Church in Cuba has tried to keep a Spirit-filled expression of grace in the midst of difficulty. But the reality is they have so little and continue to have less and less. [They] are in crisis just to get basic supplies of food, basic medicine, [or] be supported at a hospital.”

A makeshift baptism (Photo courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs USA)

When Cubans are looking for relief, the ones who often show up with food, medicine, and encouragement are the local Christians.

Friesen says, “I’ve heard where there are networks of a church community given permission out of Havana to supply medical equipment and drugs to support the local hospitals on the outer skirts of the island.

“From the Church perspective, they’re looking at ways to be ready – ready to share what Good News they have, but also ready to be part of the solution, of blessing a nation in its next chapter.”

Please pray for Cubans to find sure footing in Jesus Christ.

Friesen says of Cuban believers, “Their prayer is that the Spirit would work through them to demonstrate what courage looks like in the midst of fear, in the midst of change, and that they would be a beacon of light to see a nation encouraged and brought to an understanding. There’s hope in Christ.”

Header photo: Wonders in graffiti above a woman walking in Havana, Cuba. (Photo courtesy of Emily Crawford via Unsplash)

Concern is rising in Canada over religious freedom following the introduction of Bill C-9, proposed amendments to the Criminal Code aimed at addressing hate propaganda, hate-motivated offences, and intimidation or obstruction of access to community places.

However, some faith leaders warn the bill could also remove a key legal protection for people of faith. Floyd Brobbel with the Voice of the Martyrs Canada says the potential elimination of a “good faith” religious belief defence is significant.

Worship (photo courtesy of Ismael Paramo via Unsplash)

“Our concern is that removing the good-faith religious belief defense removes a protection not only for Christians, but for other religious groups as well,” says Brobbel.

Another possibility is that under expanded Criminal Code provisions, some faith-based teachings could be interpreted as “hate,” potentially limiting religious speech.

Brobbel says Christians should take the proposal seriously while avoiding assumptions about motives. “We can’t always assume that that some of these proposals are done to attack the church,” he warns.

He adds that “religious freedom” is a broad category, and limits do not always harm Christians. In some cases they can protect religious communities. For example, some Jewish groups support Bill C-9 as a safeguard against antisemitic hate. He also notes that Canada already draws lines when a claimed religious practice causes harm:

“If the Aztecs had a group in Canada and they wanted to continue with their human sacrifices, we would say, ‘No, no, no, no, no, you can’t do that.’”

Photo courtesy of Malachi Cowie via Unsplash

This is why he believes careful study matters before drawing conclusions. He points to groups reviewing the proposal,

including the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the Christian Legal Fellowship, along with denominational leadership, as helpful guides for Christians trying to understand what the law would mean in practice.

He adds, “The concern should not be turned to fear.”

Because Bill C-9 has not passed, Canadian believers need to get informed, listen to trusted faith and legal voices, and speak up if risks become clear. There is a need to respond to laws with both wisdom and faithfulness to Scripture, since some can be harmful.

“So for Canadian Christians, I would just encourage them that we need to know our Bibles and know what is true,” urges Brobbel.

Visit VOM Canada to learn more about the Gospel work they do worldwide.

Header photo courtesy of Cam Fattahi via Unsplash.

Ukraine (MNN) — In Ukraine, Russian forces are increasing their control over occupied regions. Churches, in particular, are facing heightened surveillance.

Russian authorities are tightening their grip on occupied territories of Ukraine. Churches are under special scrutiny because sermons and prayers can either strengthen believers in faith and courage or pressure them to compromise with the occupying regime.

Pastor Mykhailo Brytsyn, a partner with Voice of the Martyrs Canada, says the crackdown has intensified especially against unregistered congregations.

“There are a lot of such churches,” Brytsyn explains, “because Ukrainian laws allowed churches to exist without registration.”

Church in Vesele village (Kherson region of Ukraine) after Russian strike with guided air-dropped bombs on 5 May 2023 (Photo courtesy of National Police of Ukraine via Wikimedia Commons)

Under Russian rule, churches must register so authorities can monitor sermons. Those who refuse risk punishment, and some gatherings are raided.

Brytsyn experienced these limitations and oppression firsthand:

“I saw it during the occupation, when it was forbidden to go to church, when our church buildings were already confiscated. People go to home groups for Bible study, as during the Soviet Union.”

Brytsyn’s own church in Melitopol was seized and transformed into an entertainment club. For believers who remain, even walking past the building brings deep pain.

“Russians cut off the cross,” he recalls. “They painted it brown and put up some picture instead.”

In occupied Berdiansk, pastor Ilya and his wife Kateryna led a small church — until persecution forced them to flee.

“In 2024 he was twice arrested,” Brytsyn says. “He was tortured, and the third arrest — it could be the end. They escaped from the territory.”

Representative photo of a man praying over his Bible (photo courtesy of Malachi Cowie via Unsplash)

Believers who remain in the occupied territories now worship quietly in small groups, echoing the secret gatherings of the Soviet era. Fear of informants keeps trust fragile, yet faith endures.

“I saw a lot of people who weren’t so dedicated to church attendance, but they made a decision and went to church firmly and bravely,” Brytsyn says. “For them, it was like their repentance — they were turning to Christ or renewing their commitment to Him.”

Even as suffering deepens, believers see God moving in remarkable ways — through unity, mercy, and His protecting hand. Some ministers continue their training online as they pray for strength and hope in Ukraine’s darkest hours.

Learn how you can support believers in Ukraine at Voice of the Martyrs Canada.

Header representative photo: A copy of the Bible in Ukrainian, opened to the Book of Joshua (photo courtesy of Tyshkun Victor via Wikimedia Commons)

Currently, about a dozen of India’s 28 states have anti-conversion laws, according to Greg Musselman of Voice of the Martyrs, Canada. Most of these laws have been implemented after Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took up power within the Indian government. 

“It is definitely intensifying,” says Musselman. “People are coming to the Lord, and then that can, you know, put these evangelists and pastors and those that have converted into great danger. But there’s also the daily aspect, the psyche within the Christians to keep their faith very quiet and silent. And that was not the case, you know, 10, 20 years ago, when you could be a Christian, you could meet openly, no problem.”

In the northern state of Uttarakhand, an amendment to the existing anti-conversion legislation was passed into law this past summer, introducing more stringent penalties along with a ban on digital propaganda

“Uttarakhand is the first state to include digital media, and this of course now is a major concern, because social media is used for evangelization. You know, Christians there want to share their faith.” 

In the state of Chhattisgarh’s capital, Raipur, more than 200 house churches were notified that worship gatherings within private homes are no longer permitted, restricting worship to officially registered buildings. 

“They allege these illegal conversions are taking place in these house churches, and the reality is that people are converting and coming to Jesus,” says Musselman. “One pastor was detained for violating that order, and then a legal petition objecting to the police directive has now been filed. There’s court hearings going on, and so it is putting pressure on the church.”

Anti-conversion laws can also make it illegal to use anything that could be considered allurement to convert others to Christianity. This can include preaching about heaven or hell—even caring for the poor and those who are dying would be considered “bribing people, because you’re showing compassion and kindness,” says Musselman. 

The impact, he says, is that “many Christians are being arrested. Leaders are being pressured. They’re stopping these house church meetings.”

“But the positive side is that the gospel is going forward. In spite of all these restrictions, these anti-conversion laws, the pressure and everything that’s happening, the gospel is still going forward. And, you know, our Indian brothers and sisters are aware that this is a spiritual battle and that they need to be praying. They need to be asking the Lord for wisdom.”

Spreading awareness is important, although Musselman acknowledges the voices of advocates are often drowned out by politics. Overall, he emphasizes the importance of prayer. 

“In terms of where we go now, is prayer. We need to be praying for our brothers and sisters, and then through that, really praying that God will give wisdom to our brothers and sisters in India.”

Header photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs Canada

The report was released by The Anambra-based International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), led by Christian criminologist Emeka Umeagbalasi. It also estimated “no fewer than 7,800 others were violently seized and abducted for being Christians.”

(Photo courtesy Voice of the Martyrs USA)

Christian Faith Ministries serves in Benue, a state in North Central Nigeria. In early July, four of their members were tragically killed in an attack.

Ruth Hodge, who co-founded Christian Faith Ministries with her husband Kent, discussed the persecution facing Nigerian believers in a podcast interview with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada’s Greg Musselman.

Ruth explains that many Christian villagers in Northern Nigeria have fled their homes and sought refuge in an old IDP (internally displaced people) camp. “That camp is occupied…but there’s no aid going there. Mostly, the men are staying in the villages to protect them, to try to drive out the Fulani when they attack, and to try to continue farming.”

Benue State is known as the food basket of Nigeria. “It’s the most fertile state of the whole nation,” says Ruth. “A lot of food is produced in Benue every year.”

However, violence and instability have devastated food production. “At the moment, nothing is coming out of Benue State. Very little food is coming out. The roads aren’t safe. People are being kidnapped on the roads. Trucks — if they’re going out with the produce — they’re looted, they’re stolen. The Fulani are well armed, full of ammunition, and the military is doing very little.”

(Photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs USA)

Even in the face of persecution, Nigerian Christians long for their attackers to hear the Gospel — that even those who kill them might find salvation in Jesus Christ.

The provost of Christian Faith Ministries’ Bible school is ethnically Fulani, and Ruth notes, “We have about 50 Fulani students in our Bible school — that’s the ones I can think of immediately.”

These Fulani believers are reaching their own people with the Good News of Jesus.

Please pray with them for Fulani Muslims to turn from violence to the forgiveness and joy of Christ. Ask God to give persecuted believers in Northern Nigeria wisdom and protection as they care for their villages and families. Pray for the Church to be a bold witness of faith in the fire.

Header photo courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs Canada.

Between 2017 and 2019, the world was shaken by leaked reports of China’s modern reeducation camps, where nearly 3 million ethnic Uyghurs were detained. Since then, global coverage has subsided — but what is happening to them now?

Following international outcry, the Chinese Communist Party appeared to close many internment camps. However, some remain in operation.

Bob Fu, a contact with Voice of the Martyrs Canada, says, “According to one report, there are over sixteen thousand still in the camps.”

Although the official label for these facilities is “vocational education and training,” the reality is far more disturbing. Detainees face forced sinicization — pressured to abandon their faith and adopt Communist ideology. Uyghur culture and language are systematically suppressed. Inmates are forced into labor and punished for minor offenses, such as owning religious books — among them, the Bible.

Persecution of Uyghur Christians

Representative photo courtesy of Cake Cat via Pexels.

Uyghur Christians are a small minority within an already oppressed group. Many came to faith through foreign missionaries. These workers not only shared the gospel but also supported the local economy, composed Uyghur worship songs, and translated several Bible books.

“They were not just doing evangelism, but they were helping the local people. [They] were taking care of the poor, the needy, the children,” says Fu.

These missionaries were deported from Xinjiang, leaving Uyghur believers exposed to double persecution.

First, from the Communist Party — for being both ethnically different and Christian. “Secondly, those Uyghur Christians also face their own people,” Fu explains, referring to Muslim Uyghurs who reject their conversion. Islam is the predominant religion among Uyghurs, and conversion is often viewed as a betrayal of ethnic identity. As a result, converts face discrimination, isolation, and even estrangement from family.

One such believer, Pastor Alimujiang Yimiti, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. His crime?

“In his own home, he was sharing with the American missionary that he was being spied on by the Chinese State Security, and that he was under surveillance,” says Fu. “So this Chinese State Security Agency basically accused him of leaking a state secret — that was the only state secured secret!”

Another believer was released from prison, only to be resentenced to an additional twelve years within days. Voice of the Martyrs Canada brings to light cases like this.

“This is totally lawless and arbitrary, and is nothing but religious persecution in the most cruel way,” adds Fu.

Pray for the freedom of imprisoned Uyghur believers and comfort for those still enduring hardship in the camps.

Header — representative photo: Woman kneeling near a cross (photo courtesy of Jametlene Reskp via Unsplash)

“Of course, they try to use this way for accusing them as an illegal border crossing. I mean, they’re afraid to cite their so-called crime is attending a Bible study conference, or a worship meeting, or kind of a praise and worship conference,” Fu says. “The Communist Party chose to use this legal term to prosecute many of those pastors.”

Stepping Up the Arrests

This method of punishing Christians is not new. In 2021, the government imprisoned a pastor from Shanxi Province for five years because he attended an overseas Bible study conference. More well-known is the case of Pastor John Cao, who served a seven-year sentence for “organizing illegal border crossings.” This charge was doled out because he organized Chinese Christians to help school Burmese minority children across the border. They were using the Bible as a textbook.

(Photo courtesy of El Jusuf on Pexels)

Fu continues, “In recent weeks, we have seen more cases. Like five pastors in Shanxi Province also received a criminal sentence for going to Malaysia – in Kuala Lumpur – attending a Bible conference by a preacher [nicknamed] China’s Billy Graham: Pastor Dr. Stephen Tong from Indonesia. Also, in recent weeks, we have learned another four Christians were criminally arrested for going to South Korea and Malaysia, attending Christian conferences. So, they are going to be tried and sentenced to criminal imprisonment. So, this is a new trend, showing the Chinese Communist Party trying to cut off the Universal Church, the fellowship of the church.”

A National Security Threat?

This sends a chilling message to believers. Ramping up persecution for Christian fellowship across borders means Christians will need to take even greater care when deciding what events to attend. Soon, Christians may not even get to travel outside the country.

In some areas, the government has already implemented a new measure called the National Security Filter. One of the items on the assessment for this filter is whether or not a person is a Christian. Chinese Christians and especially Christian leaders would be treated as national security threats.

“You would be forbidden to travel,” Fu states. “You would be banned from obtaining a new passport or renew your old passport.”

Connected in Christ

However, despite the grim outlook for Chinese Christians’ physical presence with the global Church, Fu says there is hope.

“They will never succeed. Maybe physically, geographically, they try their way, but the Holy Spirit is our real connector, right? They can never cut off the Holy Spirit. Through the prayer of the meetings of the saints the body of Christ in China will not feel alone.”

Please pray that God would strengthen Chinese Christians as their physical isolation from the Church increases. Pray for steadfastness for those facing imprisonment. Pray for VOM Canada as they share stories and support Chinese Christians. Learn more here.

Header Photo courtesy of muffaddal qutbuddin on Pexels