The opportunity began when Egby Medical Mission, a hospital in Nigeria, asked MAF to partner with their work in the country.

(Photo courtesy of MAF)

Andrew Sutton, MAF’s Nigeria Country Director, says, “There’s a lot in the news about Nigeria – the persecution that occurs there, some of the extreme terrorism that they’ve been dealing with for the last 20 years – and we’ve seen how MAF can come alongside groups that are working there in Nigeria to help overcome these obstacles, whether that’s challenges on the road or insecurity that they’re facing.

“The airplane is just a great tool to kind of help the ministry that’s already happening on the ground in Nigeria.”

The ministry plans to launch operations from Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city. Long-term, MAF hopes to connect remote communities through smaller airstrips closer to hospitals, schools, and ministry partners.

Andrew Sutton, left, MAF’s new Nigeria Country Director, and unidentified person from Egbe hospital, check out the airstrip being rebuilt for the hospital and MAF. (Photo courtesy of MAF)

Sutton explains those flights would meet a wide range of needs.

“Some of the requests that we’ve heard so far, it seems like the majority of those are transporting people around the country, and that could be people that need to just travel from one village to another. Sometimes those are medical flights…. also flying supplies, whether that’s for a school or a hospital.”

MAF has already cleared many administrative hurdles, but several key steps remain before flights can begin.

They hope to begin operating in Nigeria by early 2027, flying aid and ministry support in Jesus’ name. One major answer to prayer has already arrived: a donated 2025 Cessna Caravan valued at roughly $3.6 million.

“Even though some days it might feel like there’s a lot of steps left with all the regulatory process, seeing how the Lord has provided for the aircraft is a great encouragement.”

However, prayer is still needed as MAF works through the final approvals.

(Photo courtesy of MAF)

Sutton asks, “Pray through this process as we’re working through the civil aviation approval process to have visas for the country. The visas are probably the number one need at the moment, so that we can be there in the country and to help set up and to get ready for the aircraft coming over.

“Then ultimately [pray] for the airplane…. This is a big country, and it’s only one aircraft. But the Lord can work through this and to use this tool to reach inside the country.”

Find ways to support MAF’s critical Gospel aviation work here.

Header photo: Stock photo courtesy of MAF Guinea.

“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

Photo shows Port-au-Prince, Haiti. (Photo by Robin Canfield on Unsplash)

It’s part of an increasingly grim outlook for Haiti. More than 700,000 Haitians are internally displaced, more than 110,000 from the ongoing violence this year alone. What’s more, authorities estimate 30 percent of gang members in Haiti are actually children, recruited for combat, cooking, housekeeping or worse. Many kids join gangs because they need food. Others have no family and no other options.

Dierf* serves with Every Man a Warrior, a discipleship ministry of Trans World Radio. When necessary, he has made the risky journey into Port-au-Prince, which continues to be nearly 80 percent controlled by gangs.

“The only way to cross the road [to Port-au-Prince] is to meet them on the road [with them carrying] heavy guns,” says Dierf. “They ask you to pay a fee in order to be able to cross and if drivers do not want to pay that fee, they may be killed or kidnapped.”

(Photo courtesy of Every Man a Warrior, a ministry of Trans World Radio.)

One pastor connected with Every Man a Warrior was kidnapped last week while traveling to a ministry event. There’s been no word of him since then. 

Haiti has been in an increasing spiral since February, when a series of jailbreaks led to a surge of gang domination. Today, nearly 400 Kenyan troops are stationed in Haiti, ostensibly on a mission to restore order. Six hundred additional troops from Kenya are preparing to join them next month. But Dierf says the soldiers have been ineffective. 

“What the population is looking for is basically for them to engage in a fight against the gang members. But we don’t see that happening,” Dierf explains.

“We hope for that, because that’s the only way we can have a solution with the gang violence here in Haiti.”

In the midst of this national unrest, Every Man a Warrior disciples Haitian men on how to have personal time with God, lead their wives and children well, endure suffering and be sexually pure. The two men who lead the ministry in Haiti and the men they serve need your prayers.

“Pray for protection and safety as we travel across Haiti,” Dierf says. “Second, for God to raise up a new generation of men who would embrace the idea of going and [making] disciples and [understanding] the Great Commission.”

Pray also for Pastor Alix, who went missing last week. 

This article has been corrected to indicate that gangs attacked Arcahaie October 9, not October 10. 

Header photo of Haitians is a representative stock photo courtesy of TopSphere Media via Unsplash.

Pre-Covid, North Korea would allow a select few of its citizens to travel outside the country for work.

However, on a podcast with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada, VOM Korea’s Eric Foley explained, “North Korea has closed its borders since the beginning of the Coronavirus. They haven’t allowed their workers to return.

“That means that for now three years, workers have been stuck in Mongolia, China, Southeast Asia, even Eastern Europe — bad for them on the one hand, good for them from an eternal perspective because it’s given us three years of time to share the Gospel with them and do discipleship and evangelism.”

VOM Korea’s radio broadcasts are produced by North Korean Underground University students. In the broadcasts, students share Scripture — both in its pure form and in North Korean-style dramas.
(Photo, caption courtesy of VOM Korea)

VOM Korea is seeing ministry growth and new Gospel doors are opening to reach North Koreans.

Foley says, “Many workers are at home so they’re more interested in listening to the Christian radio broadcasts. We had to add another radio broadcast in. The number of Bibles that we’ve distributed to North Koreans, wherever they’re found, has doubled each year of the pandemic.”

When North Korean workers find new faith in Christ and then go home, they are able to reach their own people with the Gospel.

North Korean Human Rights Database every year does studies on human rights and religious freedom, gathering information from inside North Korea, from North Koreans abroad, and from defectors.

“In the year 2000, they found that for all intents and purposes, 0% of North Koreans inside of North Korea had seen a Bible with their own eyes. It’s actually like .0006% at that time,” Foley says.

“But…as of December 2021, about 8% of North Koreans had seen a Bible with their own eyes. That’s a staggering number. That’s upwards of 2 million in a country where to see a Bible with your own eyes is to court execution.”

Whether in-country or abroad, ask the Holy Spirit to continue moving among North Koreans. Pray for new North Korean believers to grow deep roots of faith before they potentially go home to reach others with the Gospel.

Header photo of North Korean flags, courtesy of Micha Brandli via Unsplash.

So far, gangs have displaced 150,000 Haitians. Greg Yoder with Christian World Outreach says, “Where it affects us is our Feminine Training Center in Port-au-Prince. Day to day, we are not sure if the ladies are able to travel. We have some staff members that have had to evacuate their homes. They’re basically displaced people because gangs are fighting in their areas.”

“They’ve had to move out. And the gangs just come in, take over the homes, and loot.”

How bad has Haiti’s judicial system gotten? In December 2020, the head of a judges’ association went on the radio, warning Haitians to avoid getting arrested because they might be imprisoned indefinitely for any crime.

This past June, a gang took control of the Port-au-Prince main courthouse.

Food access

Humanitarian groups say the core issue in Haiti is access to food. Twenty thousand people face famine conditions in Port-au-Prince. Nationwide, 4.7 million people deal with food insecurity.

Yoder says the inflation rate keeps growing. “And so, for us to continue to feed the kids is more expensive. But the feeding program at Port-au-Prince is especially needed. Because some of these people haven’t been able to keep their jobs. Even in the countryside, prices rise but income does not.”

It’s a good way to demonstrate the love of Jesus. You can support this work or learn more here.

CWO has eight churches in Haiti, Yoder says. “Just recently, one of the churches baptized 13 people. They came to the Lord and want to serve Him and to grow in their relationships.”

Header photo courtesy of Kaufdex on Pixabay. 

Clashes between protestors and police have killed dozens since the December arrest of former president Pedro Castillo. Human rights groups say police have used firearms against protestors. The protestors themselves have improvised explosives and other weapons.

Annabel Torrealba with Trans World Radio (TWR) says, “Our partner said that the cause of these riots really emanates from the discontent of the population. But it’s also motivated by politicians or groups of politicians in Peru. He said that some of them could be foreign groups.”

“In the background, it seems like they want this new president to go out of power, and some of the members of the Congress also.”

Sitting president Dina Boluarte, Castillo’s vice president has said she will not resign. She is the first woman to serve as Peru’s president.

Castillo, a former elementary school teacher, enjoyed wide public support. But he was forced out of office and arrested after trying to dissolve congress.

TWR

TWR programming reaches about 60 percent of Peru, pointing to hope in Jesus. Torrealba says, “Pray for the opportunity to buy more frequencies, to have more radio stations in the country.”

Pray also for peace and justice in Peru. Ask God to strengthen the TWR team. Torrealba says, “Please pray for them that they can be salt and light in the midst of this darkness that is in the country right now. And pray that society can change, knowing that God is our head. As the church of Christ, we have an obligation to have an impact in the lives of those that don’t have hope.”

The header photo shows a protest in Lima on December 12, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Mayimbú, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

Peru has seen a week of fierce protests following the arrest of former President Pedro Castillo. Brian Dennett with AMG International says, “There’s been looting, robberies of businesses, even private homes. And in the process, I think we’re up to nearly a dozen people being killed. In one location, tear gas was released from helicopters, and a police station was set on fire. Some policemen were taken hostage.”

“Our partners are seeing a lot of unrest and some very angry people.”

In one area of the Amazon, protestors hindered travel by placing trees over the road and covering them with dirt. Dennett says, “So they’re having difficulty getting supplies around the country. People are purchasing whatever is in stores at the moment, and there is just a lot of fear.”

Future outlook

Why are people so angry? Castillo enjoyed broad public support. He was removed from office after trying to dissolve parliament, but his supporters want him reinstated. Others have called for new elections. New president Dina Boluarte offered to hold elections in December 2023, but the protestors want something more immediate.

Dennett says things could get worse as more protests have been planned. Please pray wisdom for the AMG team as they act as the hands and feet of Jesus during this unstable time; and pray for peace. “There are innocent civilians now being affected, and churches. I know among many families that we’re working with, there’s a lot of fear right now. And as always, the Lord can calm these situations and bring hope amid desperate times.”

The header photo shows clashes between police and protestors on December 8th. (Photo courtesy of Voice of America, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Nehemiah says the content is stored on solar-powered mp3 players. “Right now, we are in the process of editing and proofreading. That was one of the struggles we had. Because there were not many Christian children who were able to speak good Urdu. They are able to speak street Urdu.”

FMI has worked on an Urdu print Bible as well.

Nehemiah’s trip

Nehemiah will soon take a trip to visit Christians in Pakistan. He plans to visit the FMI partners, many of whom have suffered severe persecution. Nehemiah says, “Pastor Adam saw his sister and brother-in-law killed by a militant attack a few months ago.” You can read more about that story here.

The family is still on the run. Nehemiah says, “They tried to relocate them in one city. But there was another situation they had to flee from there. I am sure that meeting will be very emotional.”

“When I meet our persecuted partners and hear their stories, honestly, I get encouraged because of their faithfulness.”

Nehemiah will also take time on the trip to visit churches and partners in Kenya, near the border with Somalia.

These churches also endure stiff persecution and the risk of extremist violence. Nehemiah says, “There was a time when even Kenyans were not allowed to go there. This part of Kenya is opening up a little bit now.”

How to pray

Post-COVID air travel can be chaotic, so pray Nehemiah can catch all his flights. Pray also that his presence will be a blessing to the churches.

Nehemiah asks for prayer for his family as well. “It’s about a six-week trip. So please pray for my wife that God will grant her strength to take care of our two children.”

The header photo shows Urdu writing published in 1920, outlining the history of the Urdu language. (Photo courtesy of Русский: Лаал, ВаазFrançais : Laal, WaazEnglish: Laal, Waaz中文：拉阿尔，瓦阿兹Português: Laal, Waazالعربية: واز لالEspañol: Laal, Waaz, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Kidnappings in Haiti have greatly increased over the past two years. Over 1,200 people were taken in 2021 alone.

Fighting between gangs

Fighting between gangs has severely disrupted daily life in Haiti, says Greg Yoder with Christian World Outreach. “It has caused some issues with traveling from one place to the other, especially in Port au Prince, but even going out to some outlying areas near Port au Prince.”

The fighting once spread to a CWO ministry site. Yoder says, “One of the seminaries had to move its location because the gangs were fighting. They were on each side, sort of fighting across the seminary. So they needed to move.”

Shootouts between the gangs have closed 1,700 schools in Port-au-Prince and the surrounding areas. After the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, the gangs fought each other and the local police in a power struggle.

CWO

CWO has operated in Haiti since 1978. They work with eight churches, training and strengthening leadership. The ministry also provides vocational training for women and meals for children. Since 2010, CWO has worked in a tiny farming community called Laluene, offering healthcare, nutrition, and Bible studies.

Pray for the safety of CWO staff. Yoder says, “They do need to travel, especially in Port-au-Prince, and out to the feminine training centers. Pray for the safety of the church there. We’ve ministered in that neighborhood for a long time. We’ve got a good reputation in that neighborhood because we’ve helped a lot of those families.”

CWO hasn’t been able to visit the churches in Haiti since before COVID-19. Pray for peace in Port-au-Prince.

Header photo courtesy of David_Peterson on Pixabay.

As we reflect on waiting in the Advent season, Ed Weaver with Spoken Worldwide says a posture of faithful waiting before the Lord is a good thing, even if it’s hard.

(Photo courtesy of Milada Vigerova via Unsplash)

“This is the posture the Lord wants us to have anyway on a daily basis. And the good that’s coming out of the pandemic is just feeling like we’re in a crucible [and] that there is a purpose in mind by God Almighty to teach us things that we should have been doing all along and that is being helpless before Him, but being hopeful in how He’s going to deliver.”

Spoken Worldwide provides Scripture access to oral learners around the world. Restricted travel because of COVID-19 means Spoken Worldwide has had to change plans many times.

Weaver says, “We’re trying to launch 20 new language projects in the next two and a half years from this point. We’re struggling at some level to say, ‘How in the world are we going to launch 20 new oral Bible translation projects in two and a half years when we’re not sure which countries we can get into? How to develop the right skill sets amongst translators?’ It just seems to be overwhelming.”

But because they work mostly with indigenous partners in other countries, God is opening doors.

(Photo courtesy of Spoken Worldwide)

Weaver says, “We’ve been able to launch some of our programs virtually. We can actually do training from here in the United States to wherever they are and allow them then to go forth into their particularly more rural regions and do work with oral learners. We don’t always have to be present.”

So how do we “wait well” during Advent? Whether it’s waiting for open ministry doors, waiting for family to safely gather, waiting to travel somewhere, or waiting for God to move?

“Particularly, as we think about the Advent season, it’s all based on hope,” says Weaver. “So I think one of the things that all of us that believe and have confidence in is that there is a future hope, which also means that there’s a present hope. Which means that we truly can pray and say, ‘Lord, whatever ways I’m exhibiting unbelief right now, help my unbelief. Give us wisdom and insight how to navigate in a place that we don’t even know how to do this.'”

Pray for God’s peace in waiting this Advent season.

Click here to learn more about Spoken Worldwide!

Header photo courtesy of Max Beck via Unsplash.