Todd Nettleton of The Voice of the Martyrs, USA, says Jin was arrested after Zion Church refused to register with the government and join the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, which is the Protestant organization run by the Communist government.

Image courtesy of Milad Fakurian on Unsplash

“The thing that seems to have been the straw that broke the camel’s back is they refused to have cameras placed around their sanctuary in Beijing. That seems to have been what really brought down the wrath of the Communist government,” Nettleton says. 

Ezra Jin’s release came after U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned the imprisoned pastor in talks with Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping. China called the move a humanitarian gesture aimed at improving relations. This is good news and reason for praise. However, Pastor Jin was not the only one arrested. 

“There are still eight Zion Church leaders in prison,” Nettleton says. “One of them recently communicated that he has lost 30 pounds since his arrest. He is not getting the nutrition that he needs in prison. So they are certainly suffering.” 

The Instrument of Persecution

The government’s pattern in cracking down on church leaders over the last two years has been to charge them with fraud tied to tithe collection instead of claiming they broke a religious law. 

Image courtesy of Rafik Wahba on Unsplash

Nettleton explains: “The leaders would say, ‘Our congregation has given these tithes and offerings for our church.’ And the government says, ‘Well, you don’t have a church.’ And they say, ‘Yes, we do.’ And they say, ‘Well, show us your paperwork. Show us where you have registered your church.’ ‘Oh, we didn’t register.’ ‘Well, then you have committed fraud. You have collected tithes and offerings for a church that doesn’t legally exist.’”

When concerned Christians protest the imprisonment of church leaders, government officials tell them they are merely protecting citizens from fraudsters. 

“We know what’s going on, but they are hiding the fact that they’re persecuting Christians, and they’re making it very difficult for the Christians to defend against the charges,” Nettleton says.

Pray for the Captives

Pastor Jin gaining his freedom shows the Chinese government will sometimes listen to outside voices. Pray that political leaders will continue to press the Chinese government to free Christians from prison and grant them the ability to worship God without restriction. Also pray that Christians in prison for their faith would have courage, steadfastness, and opportunities to witness to others. 

Find out more about how The Voice of the Martyrs serves the persecuted church here. 

Header image courtesy of / Ricardo on Unsplash

Todd Nettleton of The Voice of the Martyrs USA says the latest violence included the beheading of 14 Christians by Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP), the Islamic State affiliate active in the DRC. ISCAP claimed responsibility for killing six Christians on June 3 and another eight on June 24.

Nettleton says the group’s extreme violence is intentional.

“There is an element of wanting to inspire fear.”

He explains that this is why the attacks are so gruesome. Beyond killing believers, the militants seek to terrorize entire communities.

The group’s long-term goal is to establish an Islamic caliphate in areas under its control.

Motorcyclist rides through a busy street market in the Republic of the Congo (photo courtesy of Ck Visuals via Pexels)

“They would talk about setting up a caliphate, and once the Islamists control the territory, the Christians are given the choice to convert and become Muslims,” says Nettleton.

Those who refuse often face severe persecution or death.

Nettleton says one of the defining characteristics of persecution in the DRC is how suddenly it can strike. A local church leader told him about two men who were stopped and questioned about their faith.

“One of the men said, I’m a Christian. He was shot right there, instantaneously,” he recalls.

Nettleton says this is the reality many Christians in the DRC face: “They have to be ready at any given moment to stand strong in their faith, even in the face of death.”

Such attacks leave deep trauma and fear throughout Christian communities. Yet they also reveal the remarkable endurance of believers who continue to follow Christ despite the danger!

Please pray that the Lord will strengthen Congolese believers as they face ongoing persecution. Pray also that persecutors will turn to Christ through dreams, visions, and the bold witness of Christians.

Visit The Voice of the Martyrs USA to learn how you can walk alongside Congolese believers.

Header photo: Representative photo of a man praying (photo courtesy of Abayomi Daniel via Unsplash).

Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs USA says persecution remains a reality for many Christians, especially at the local level. They are a small minority in the country. According to the 2022 census, Christians represent approximately 0.30% of Bangladesh’s population.

“They face mob violence, they face attacks at the village level, they sometimes face attacks within their own families,” says Nettleton.

Bangladeshi man sitting next to water, Sadarghat, Dhaka, Bangladesh (photo courtesy of Refat Ul Islam via Unsplash)

The current Bangladeshi government, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has made public statements supporting religious minorities:

“The controlling [BNP] party in the government has talked about being a rainbow country where people of different stripes — Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians — all have a place, but carrying that forward, especially at the village level, can be very difficult,” says Nettleton.

Despite those commitments, many believers say daily life can be challenging. In some communities, Christians remain outsiders in the eyes of their neighbors and can become easy targets for discrimination and abuse.

Another concern is the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Hindu nationalist party, in the neighboring Indian state of West Bengal, which borders Bangladesh. Movement between Bangladesh and India is common, with many people crossing the border legally and illegally for work, family, and other reasons.

Nettleton explains the ideology behind India’s ruling Hindu nationalist movement: “This is a Hindu nationalist party whose philosophy is that India is a Hindu country; only Hindus really belong there.”

Some Bangladeshi Christians worry that the spread of Hindu nationalist ideas could contribute to increased pressure on religious minorities and lead to the kind of persecution seen in other parts of India.

Pray for the Gospel to advance in Bangladesh. Pray also that God would protect believers in Bangladesh and neighboring India as they seek to follow Christ faithfully.

Visit Voice of the Martyrs USA to learn more about the persecuted Church and discover ways you can stand alongside believers facing persecution.

Header photo: Dhaka, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh (photo courtesy of Somogro Bangladesh via Pexels).

Mali Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga is encouraging citizens “not to give in to panic.”

The attackers were al-Qaeda-linked Islamists and Tuareg separatists – two distinct groups united in their goal to destabilize the government.

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

Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA (VOM) says, “That’s what we saw over the weekend was coordinated attacks between these two groups in four different parts of Mali all at the same time, including an assassination of the defense minister. So a very significant, very coordinated effort that really shows the level of cooperation between these two groups has grown significantly.”

Mali is roughly 95% Muslim, and extremist factions there want to set up an Islamic caliphate.

Meanwhile, Tuareg separatists have a different objective.

“The Tuareg is a nomadic tribal group, [and] there are many Tuareg in the country of Mali,” Nettleton explains. “They want a separate area. They want a…Tuareg nation, so they are fighting to carve out part of Mali to be independent.”

Though their end goals differ, the two groups have joined forces – proof that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Together, they are driving a wave of chaos and fear across Mali.

Although Mali’s national military is responding, civilians and minorities will likely be caught in the crosshairs.

Pray for Mali. (Photo courtesy of VOM USA)

According to the 2026 World Watch List, Mali ranks 15th among the worst countries for Christian persecution. Primary persecution threats come from Islamic oppression, organized corruption, and crime.

“Christians are only 3% of the population in Mali, so they are a small minority. They face pressure. Often, the first line of persecution is your own family members if you are a follower of Christ, if you leave Islam to follow Jesus,” says Nettleton.

“So [be] praying for them to stand strong in faith, praying for God’s protection over them. I think we also want to pray for some stability in Mali not only because it’s affecting Christians in Mali. It’s affecting Christians in Burkina Faso and Niger as well. [Pray] for some pathway to a stable government and a stable nation that would certainly be a blessing to Christians there, as well as to Muslims who would like to live in safety as well.”

Find more ways to support Christians in Mali at persecution.com.

Header image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay.

First, the praise. In 2019, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) investigated the 2017 forced disappearances or abductions of Koh and Shia convert Amri Che Mat.

Todd Nettleton of The Voice of the Martyrs USA says, “There was a special task force report about the two abductions” released after the investigation, but the government withheld this report from Koh’s wife, Susanna, and her lawyers.

“The government said, ‘No, that’s a top secret report. We can’t show that to you,’ and there was a lot of back and forth during the court case,” Nettleton continues.

Last week, “The government was ordered by the judge [to] turn over the report to Susanna (Koh) and her attorneys.”

This report should help Susanna Koh understand, at least in part, what happened to her husband when he was abducted by police in broad daylight nearly ten years ago. You can see our coverage of the Raymond Koh case here.

Roadblocks remain

Susanna Koh is suing the Malaysian government in search of answers, and she had a huge win last fall. “The victory that she won in November was very remarkable. It was a milestone victory,” Nettleton says.

“The judge said that it was the police who abducted Raymond Koh and ordered the government to pay damages and compensation to the Koh family until Raymond Koh was located. That dollar amount is going up every day until Raymond Koh is found or there’s an explanation of what happened to him.”

Pastor Raymond Koh, center, with his wife Susanna and their family. (Photo courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs USA)

Now, the reminder to pray: “The government immediately went into court and appealed that ruling, including the ruling that the police had to reopen the investigation, and the government was issued a stay,” Nettleton says.

“Essentially, the whole thing is on hold while that stay is in place. Susanna told me it could be two to five years while that works its way through the legal system.”

How to pray

Pray for strength and endurance for the Koh family. “Pray for Susanna and her attorneys. This is a long, hard road,” Nettleton says.

“This was a years-long legal process to get to that verdict, and now she’s facing another years-long legal process to fight the appeal and get through to hopefully confirming the verdict. It would be easy to grow weary and discouraged.”

Pray for courage and faith for persecuted Christians throughout Malaysia. Nettleton says, “The Raymond Koh case really is kind of a warning to Malaysian Christians: ‘We can find you. We can punish you.’”

Header image courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs USA. 

Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA (VOM) says, “People came in on bikes and motorcycles, opened fire. The initial reports were at least 30 people killed. I think that number is going to rise as some were badly injured.”

This coordinated attack targeted believers, as the affected community in northern Jos is almost entirely Christian.

“The gunmen were yelling, ‘Allahu akbar,’ or ‘Allah is great,’ as they were conducting this attack,” Nettleton says. “So there clearly was an Islamist ideology that was driving this – and the fact that it was on Palm Sunday, I don’t think that is insignificant in this story as well.”

(Photo courtesy Voice of the Martyrs USA)

Northern Nigeria remains a hotspot for Christian persecution. That reality makes it difficult for believers to discern between empty threats and imminent danger.

Nettleton says, “Our Nigerian contact said there had been threats in Jos. Even in the last two or three weeks, there had been threats made against Christians, against churches…. The threat level is always elevated. So [it means] differentiating between, ‘Is this sort of a regular threat? Or is this really serious? Do we need to pay extra attention to this?'”

Boko Haram and Fulani militants frequently carry out attacks on Christians in Nigeria’s Muslim-majority north. While neither group has officially claimed the attack in Jos, Christian holidays often become opportunities for Islamist violence.

“One of the things that we…at The Voice of the Martyrs try to do is bang the drum for us to remember Christians are at extra risk on these holy days – on Christmas, on Easter. During times when there are a lot of Christians gathering, the gatherings are obviously known. They’re very public, and so the risk is greater in these holidays.”

(Photo courtesy of VOM USA)

With Easter quickly approaching, the Church in Nigeria needs your prayers.

Nettleton urges, “Think about brothers and sisters who are worshiping and celebrating the same resurrection we are, but they’re doing it in a place where they are in danger, where the threat is very real to them – to pray for them, to remember them as Hebrews 13:3 tells us to do. I think, honestly, that adds a depth to our celebration of the resurrection.”

Header photo courtesy of VOM USA.

The Tigray conflict that lasted from 2020 – 2022 took a high toll on the area. Even with a peace deal that was reached in 2022, tensions have remained high. Lately, conflict has increased.

Persecution or War?

Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA says with such longstanding volatility, it can be challenging to discern what some of the violence means. When a group of Christians are attacked, is it part of the violence of war or is it targeted persecution?

Nettleton says, “That’s one of the things that’s happened over the past couple of years in Ethiopia, is we’ve seen these attacks. It’s like, okay, was that warfare? Was that persecution? But when you see none of the other buildings in the neighborhood got blown up, except the church, it’s like, well, wait a minute, somebody was targeting that church. That was persecution. That was a targeted attack against that church.”

(Representative image courtesy of Hervé Clootens via Pixabay)

Violence crossed the line into persecution in February. There was an attack at a market in the East Arsia Zone in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. This region is home to the Oromo ethnic group which is primarily composed of Muslims; however, it also includes a significant Orthodox Christian population.

“In this attack, twenty Orthodox Christians were killed, as well as a Muslim guard at the market. Some others are missing, so they are believed to have been kidnapped by the attackers. A priest was among those who were killed when the attackers actually entered into a church building. So again, this is not just a market. This is a church that they entered into. They were shouting religious chants as they went in,” Nettleton says. “So this does seem to be a very targeted attack.”

Stand with the Church in Ethiopia

As the Church in Ethiopia faces increased warfare and persecution, Nettleton notes that Christians need prayer. Pray for safety, but also for a heart to continue to share the Gospel.

“I think we want to pray for God’s protection over them, obviously, but also, I think just praying for a spirit of forgiveness. Praying that this won’t create bitterness and anger within the hearts of Christians as they face this kind of pressure. As they face these kinds of attacks, it would be very easy to grow weary. It would be very easy to grow bitter. And so pray that the Lord will help them to keep a soft heart towards the people around them, and even for opportunities to share the Gospel.”

If you want to help support persecuted Christians through the ministry of The Voice of the Martyrs USA, click here.

Representative header photo courtesy of Tep Ro via Pixabay.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“We still enjoy good, solid, strong religious freedoms here in South Korea,” he affirms. 

Currently there are four ongoing cases of religious freedom in South Korea, which Foley says are best understood as involving the application of election laws to churches rather than a general crackdown on religious freedom. He points out that anytime there is a change in government, politically vocal pastors or ministry leaders become subjects of investigations. 

“The bottom line is it doesn’t indicate a trend of a South Korean government crackdown on religious liberty,” Foley says. 

Yet imprecise reporting continues to characterize mainstream media coverage of South Korea. 

For example, as South Korea and the United States cease to broadcast radio in North Korea, reports suggest that Christian broadcasts are among those no longer airing. Foley says that simply isn’t true. 

“The broadcasting that was curtailed by the US and South Korean governments was political broadcasting,” he explains. “Now, more than ever, when North Koreans turn their short-wave radio dials, what they’re going to encounter is more and more Christian broadcasts.” 

Beyond mischaracterizing the situation of Christians in South Korea, inaccurate reporting also overshadows actual concerns related to ministry. The current outlook for Christians ministering to their North Korean neighbors is especially dicey and, indeed, impacted by South Korean politics. 

As of September, South Korea has banned balloon launches into North Korea, likely a result of pressure from the North Korean government. The new law carries a jail term and fine.

View of North Korea from Odusan Observatory, South Korea. Courtesy of Tim Winkler via Unsplash.

For ministries who focus heavily on distribution of Gospel leaflets via balloon, this is a significant setback. In fact, when VOM began working in the region twenty-five years ago, North Koreans asked for two things: broadcasting and balloons. Foley views legislation against the latter ministry pillar as a reminder of where concerns around Korea should concentrate:

“Which is not about general news or religious freedom violations in Korea, but about specific decisions being made that do pose a challenge to North Korean ministry,” he says. 

Despite present and historical challenges, the North Korea Human Rights database shows the percentage of North Koreans who have seen a Bible increasing every year since 2000, with a high estimate of up to 8% of the population. 

“That’s remarkable because when we started it was literally zero percent,” Foley says. “So we know a difference is being made by the broadcasts we do, by the Bibles we get into North Korea through all available methods.” 

Please ask the Lord to guide Korean ministries as they face questions and concerns over how legislation will impact their work. Foley knows the Lord can use even restrictions for His good. 

“Things are always, in God’s plan, greater than we can perceive,” he says. 

In the spirit of Matthew 10:16, please ask the Lord to bless Korean ministry leaders with both wisdom and innocence; and pray they would maintain willingness before the Lord as He closes and opens doors in unexpected places. 

Pray also for North Koreans – for those who have heard the Gospel and those who have yet to hear – that all would receive God’s gift of salvation and grow in His likeness. Come what may, the Word of God will not be bound.

View of North Korea, courtesy of Unsplash. Featured photo: Evangelist in Seoul, courtesy of Theodore Nguyen via Pexels. 

Pastor Koh was driving to a meeting in 2017 when a convoy of masked men surrounded his car. Security footage showed at least 13 men and several vehicles kidnapping him from the street. Pastor Koh hasn’t been seen since.

When Susanna reported him missing, police questioned her about their ministry to Muslims instead of looking for her husband.

(Photo of Raymond Koh and his wife, courtesy TheStar.com)

Todd Nettleton with The Voice of the Martyrs USA (VOM) says Pastor Koh was targeted — not just for sharing the Gospel, but for who he was reaching.

Nettleton explains, in Malaysia, “Persecution of Christians is very much dependent on your ethnicity. If you are Chinese, like Pastor Raymond Koh, then that’s fine for you to be a Christian. But if you are ethnically Malay, according to the constitution of the country, you are a Muslim…. Pastor Raymond was accused of reaching out to ethnic Malay Muslims with the Gospel.”

Susanna sued the Malaysian government and several police officers in 2020 after the nation’s Human Rights Commission found evidence of state involvement. In this week’s ruling, the judge confirmed that evidence showed police acted under government orders — not as rogue officers.

Although Nettleton says the decision may be appealed, Susanna called the verdict a step toward closure.

“That is good news for this family that has been suffering now for almost nine years, waking up every morning wondering, ‘Where is Pastor Raymond Koh? Is he alive? Is he dead? Is he sick? Is he well? Is he being mistreated?”

Nettleton says, “Hopefully, the ruling and especially the ongoing nature of the penalty will produce some really concrete answers about what happened to him and where he is.”

Malaysian flag (Photo courtesy of Izdihar Sahalan/Unsplash)

Pray that the truth of Pastor Raymond Koh’s fate would come to light. And — for the mission dear to his heart — pray for all peoples in Malaysia to know Jesus Christ.

“We want to pray for [Susanna], for God’s protection over her and her family,” Nettleton says. “But I think the biggest thing today is just, thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord, for this judgment. Thank you, Lord, for steps taken towards closure for this family, towards knowing what happened; and please protect them and open the vaults of information. Allow them to know the truth.”

Header photo: Pastor Raymond Koh, center, with his wife Susanna and their family. (Photo courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs USA)