“Iranian children right now are victims of their wider society and the struggles that their parents face,” says Silk. “There’s a lot of very serious economic hardship in Iran today, and that is affecting the adult population in their mental health. There are a lot of people turning to drugs and alcohol. There’s a lot of joblessness and struggling to put food on the table. So that worry and stress and struggle, of course, is going to permeate the whole household. And children are very helpless in these kinds of situations.”

The weight of these challenges increases for Christian children. In Open Doors’ World Watch List, an annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most persecution, Iran ranks #9.  According to Silk, Christian Iranians have needed to be even more cautious with their faith since the 12 Day War in June, which started when Israel launched targeted airstrikes in Tehran, dramatically escalating conflict within the Middle East.

“The government is really scrutinizing everything and desperately trying to weed out the Christians, and these children have been very careful at school to toe the line and keep up pretenses that they are sympathetic, at least, to the Muslim faith. So all of that carries its toll.”

And while Iranians are free to acknowledge Christmas as a “festival,” that doesn’t mean Christians are safe to celebrate the meaning behind the day.

“People can still decorate their homes and make a fuss of that time of year,” says Silk, “but as soon as you get into a truly Christian celebration of what happened 2000 years ago, then that’s all going to be kept quiet.”

She notes that Iranian children outside of Iran are mostly refugees, with their own set of challenges: “A lot of the issues they face really affect their sense of well-being, even mental health, depression, anxiety, panic attacks.” However, evangelism efforts are much less dangerous for Iranian refugees than for Christians living within Iran.

“We do a lot of that, particularly in Turkey, where we can gather other refugee Iranians who are all living a sort of bleak life at the time,” Silk says. “And so the Christian families can say our holy celebration is coming up. So it’s a great way just to gather a community, and of course, through that, then we get to bless these families, practically and spiritually, sharing truth.”

For all Iranian children—Christian or not, within Iran or in refugee regions—Transform Iran is working to share joy through Operation Christmas Joy, a six-week program where families gather and talk about Jesus and what Christmas means, culminating with a gift for each child that helps meet a practical need.

“We talk a lot about joy and peace and hope at Christmas time,” says Silk. “We thought, well, how do we share the gospel message with children and truly allow it to penetrate their lives so that it does birth joy in their hearts? We want them to be laughing again and dancing again and enjoying community.”

To learn more about partnering with Transform Iran this Christmas, visit their website.

Header photo courtesy of Transform Iran.

A few hours after midnight on November 21, gunmen abducted 303 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s Papiri Private Secondary School in Niger state.

Greg Kelley with Unknown Nations says radical Islam may be a motive behind the kidnapping, “but there’s also a business side of it, as they’re holding people ransom in these parts of the world. We’re seeing more and more of those stories from the region.”

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

At least fifty students have since escaped. But as of Monday, no group had claimed the kidnapping. It occurred the same week that gunmen in a southern state kidnapped more than 20 schoolgirls.

Religious factors

For decades in Nigeria, there have been kidnappings and killings from radical Islamic groups such as Boko Haram or militant Fulani herdsmen. Friday’s kidnapping in Niger state calls back memories of the 2014 incident where Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok, Nigeria. Dozens of those young women are believed to still be in captivity today. 

Although it’s complicated, there is a clear religious undertone to these security struggles.

“[In] northern Nigeria, there are so many different things going on,” says Kelley. “But what people need to understand is that more Christians are killed for their faith in Christ in northern Nigeria than the rest of the world combined.” (More on that here.)

Political clout 

The government’s lackluster response to these events has caused deep frustration in the nation. Kelley explains that this comes from the roles held by the Fulani and Hausa. These majority-Muslim people groups number in the tens of millions.

A new Christian holds a communion cup as an IMB worker leads the new believer and five other new Christians in taking the Lord’s Supper. (Photo and caption courtesy of IMB)

“They have tremendous influence in the government and in business, and so the government is almost afraid to stand firmly against them, for fear of repercussions on an even greater scale,” says Kelley. 

Complacent church

But there’s another reason that violence in the north is stuck on repeat. 

“Yes, we want to see the government of Nigeria stand and get involved and hold people accountable and put people in prison. Absolutely,” says Kelley. “But this is an indictment on the 100 million Christians in the south of Nigeria that have not gotten fully involved and engaged in missions in their own country in the north. They’re more focused on themselves than they are the north. I have dear friends who are Nigerian who would say the same thing.” 

It’s a hard truth, but it doesn’t have to stay this way. As we pray for freedom for the kidnapped students and staff, remember to ask God to raise up missionaries from the south full of the love of Jesus for the north.

“Until that day happens, these things [kidnappings and killings] can continue to happen because the perpetrators don’t know Christ,” says Kelley. “They need to hear the gospel message. Once the gospel gets into the north, these things will end. And nothing short of that is a solution.”

Header image is a representative stock photo from Lagos, Nigeria courtesy of Doug Linstedt via Unsplash.

Who are the People of the Womb?

Alissa Hollander says LIFE International began calling preborn children the People of the Womb to be more missional in their language. The objectives of the ministry have not changed, but this way of speaking helps the Church orient the preborn to the Great Commission.

(Image courtesy of Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash)

Hollander says, “It’s more or less a framework of thinking about how we approach the family structure that God has created, the Church that God has created for us. And how the Great Commission really does call us as Christians to take our rightful place as the Church in defending the most innocent among us. Putting the term People of the Womb on babies – people that are obviously human beings from the moment of conception – really does something in people’s hearts and minds awaken them to the reality, not only the humanity of the preborn, but also our particular role as the global Church.”

A Practical Heart for People of the Womb

Practically this type of thinking in relation to the preborn helps reach more image-bearers with the Gospel. LIFE International often talks about their call to join the mission field created by abortion. Speaking about the preborn as People of the Womb highlights the missional opportunity. It also reflects God’s heart for a vulnerable group in society.

LIFE International provides worldwide training for Christian leaders. “Journey of a Life Giver” teaches both on biology and the theology surrounding life.

(Image courtesy of Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash)

“It’s about a three- maybe four-day transformational training,” Hollander says. “So the training really creates the opportunity, not only for people to understand the theology and the biology of life, but also to assess within their region of the world, or the context that they live in, the ways that life is devalued around them. And to ask the Lord to show them how they might participate in helping to either end abortion or some other way that they see life devalued.”

This training helps the Church see the truth about God’s image-bearers regardless of their context. Hollander says that many attending this training never understood the biological truths of human conception and growth before. For them, this can mean conviction.

“We also walk people through healing post-abortion, whether they themselves have had an abortion or they have gone with somebody, or counseled someone to get an abortion when that light bulb goes on for them and they realize the humanity and the image bearer that is in the womb, because most times we are interacting with people who are already professing Christians. You’d be surprised how many places in the world don’t really realize what an abortion is, don’t realize the humanity of life in the womb, and that it is an image bearer from the moment of conception.”

Join the Cause

The Great Commission call to disciple the nations involves radical changes to lives. Some of that change includes rightly valuing God’s image-bearers. Click here to learn more about the missional call to the People of the Womb.

If you want to join the mission of LIFE International, click here to learn more.

Image courtesy of Jill Sauve on Unsplash

At school, Christian children must live double lives. Home is the only safe place to explore real truth, while outside, Islamic ideology dominates.

Lana Silk from Transform Iran says, “All material has a flavor of Islam. You know, even if you’re doing math or the arts.”

Sama Kindergarten and Elementary School (Photo courtesy of Sonia Sevilla via Wikimedia Commons)

Beyond regular subjects, students take religious classes to learn Islam and Arabic so they can recite Namaz and become proper Muslims. Even familiar Bible stories are rewritten through an Islamic lens.

“They have to be able to talk about the Islamic version at school, play along, and pretend that’s their reality — all while keeping the differences straight in their minds and not mixing them up. It’s a lot of pressure on the children,” explains Silk.

At home, Christian parents try to keep their children grounded in Scripture, but many lack training. That’s where Transform Iran steps in.

“We do a lot of ministry that focuses on children and have created resources focused on children to give parents the tools they need to help instill these foundations in their children at a young age, so that they grow up knowing the truth,” says Silk.

Whenever possible, the ministry organizes discreet gatherings — every few weeks or monthly — in small home groups led by trained teachers who use age-appropriate, biblically based materials.

For many children, the difference between truth and falsehood is tangible.

First day of Iranian new education year (Photo courtesy of Sonia Sevilla via Wikimedia Commons)

“They experience the love of God very early in their lives in Christian homes, and particularly in Iran’s toxic climate, they recognize that at home there is joy and peace — something lacking outside their home,” says Silk.

Yet this double life takes a toll. Many children struggle with anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem as they navigate two conflicting worlds. They need your prayers.

Pray for Iranian parents to wisely guide their children through the emotional strain of their environment. Pray for children to hold fast to the truth they know at home.

Learn more about how Transform Iran equips families and children to live faithfully in one of the world’s most challenging environments.

Header photo courtesy of Mohammad Moslehi via Unsplash.

One ministry taking that danger seriously is ZimZam Global, a church-planter training organization that approaches children’s discipleship first.

“With the rise of terror groups in Africa, you would realize that the most affected people are children,” says Francis Kataka Kubondo with ZimZam Global. “Wherever there is an attack, definitely the children suffer most.” 

Children’s school attendance and church and family life all come under threat when terrorists strike. Some may be exploited in the worst of ways.

Children are also vulnerable to accepting Islamic State jihadism themselves. Kubondo explains that extremists will sometimes enter communities the same way that Christians do. They might offer humanitarian aid or school sponsorship, gaining influence.

(Photo courtesy of Fatima Yusuf via Unsplash)

“They target areas where people are poor, [they] target area[s] where there is some form of instability, and then they present themselves as a solution,” he says. 

Yet there is a crucial difference: “For Christianity, we are driven by love, as opposed to the Islamists, who are driven by fear.” 

ZimZam Global’s vision is a church for every child. Today, they serve in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, and their reach is expanding.

“Most [other] church planting trainings focus on adults, but for us, we do it the other way around. We first of all reach out to children, and then through children, the church planter can gain access to family and then through family, now a church can be birthed,” says Kubondo.

The next generations in Africa are on the line, so please pray! Pray that instead of being exposed to Islamic extremism, many more children in Africa will accept Christ, join God’s family and serve His good Kingdom purposes. Pray for more believers to join the work to reach children for Christ in Africa. Pray for resources ZimZam Global needs to carry this mission forward. 

“Our biggest cry in Africa is for God to provide opportunities in His own ways so that we can move up to the northern part of Africa and share the goodness of Christ in those areas,” says Kubondo. “As of now, the engagement is very low.” 

Header photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Michael Ali via Unsplash. 

“I can see where, if a gang is willing to help take care of children, maybe even giving them food, that kind of thing, that would be a draw for them to join a gang,” said Yoder. “I don’t think of young children. I think of young teenage boys, especially, that I know in Port-au-Prince that I’ve got a concern about, just because that could be a draw, being able to help themselves or help their families by joining the gang.”

As much as 90 percent of Port-au-Prince is under gang influence, according to previous UN reports, resulting in blocked roads, limited public services, rapidly increasing costs for essential supplies, as well as many Haitians fleeing their homes.

Amidst the unrest and economic insecurity, CWO works with in-country leadership and staff to understand and address the emotional, spiritual, and educational needs of Haitians. Their main purpose is reaching families with the gospel, says Yoder.

“We just pray that God will speak to these children and their families as they go through this difficult time, and that the gospel takes hold with people. We’re seeing ministry continue on, not in every place where we’ve been in the past, because people have completely left one of the towns where we had a feminine training center, but in Port-au-Prince, in other places, we’re seeing ministry go on with our churches and the feminine training center and the feeding program.”

Yoder asks fellow Christians to pray for CWO’s staff and ministry, as well as for divine intervention.

“Just pray that somehow God will intervene and things will change in Haiti to where people can be reached for the gospel. Pray for safety of our staff as they continue on their continuing ministry, despite the difficult situation they’re in. And if they want to give, it would be great to have new donors join in and support the ministry as we continue on.”

Header photo courtesy of Christian World Outreach.

Kurt Rovenstine with Bibles for China explains, “Proselytizing kids in China is against regulations and policies, and it’s pretty closely monitored.” 

Whether you’re a Christian or a Chinese Communist Party member, it’s clear why kids are so important: “You affect kids, you change a generation,” says Rovenstine. 

Christians want the next generation to know Jesus personally. The Chinese government has different goals. This summer, officials in Shanghai trained kids to reject the religious groups the government has deemed illegal or xie jiao (“evil cults”).

(Photo courtesy of Jerry Wang via Unsplash)

Bibles for China works legally in China, without opposing the government. But Rovenstine says the situation calls for prayer and action. 

“Anytime there’s a challenge, God equips His people with creativity, opens doors and creates avenues for the gospel to move forward in spite of what is inhibiting it,” Rovenstine says. 

Today, Bibles for China is printing children’s Bibles in Mandarin outside the country, plus other resources. These can be carried into China by hand.

“I had an email [recently] from the gentleman that took some of our children’s Bibles. He’s been sharing them with people that are headed back to China, and they’re taking them back two and three at a time,” Rovenstine says. This method isn’t a problem because the Chinese government “is just trying to make sure they’re not being printed and distributed in mass.”

Pray that every Bible and resource reaches the right family and child at the right time with the good news of Christ!

Pray that God will open the eyes of kids being taught false things about God. Pray that they will look for truth and find it in Scripture. 

Header photo is a representative stock image courtesy of Note Thanun/Unsplash. 

Now imagine sending your child to school for the first time in a brand-new country — in the middle of a war.

Beit Hallel Congregation’s Back to School Project (Screenshot courtesy of Beit Hallel Congregation)

That’s the reality for thousands of Jewish immigrant families in Israel this fall.

Beit Hallel Congregation in Ashdod recently ran its annual Back to School Project, which helps immigrants and low-income families who are struggling to afford the basics.

Pastor Israel Pochtar with Beit Hallel Congregation says, “For those who are new in Israel and not well established…they struggle financially to send their kids to school. The needs are bigger than in a normal year when there’s peace.”

The church distributed backpacks and school supplies, turning the project into a celebration. Pochtar says, “We had an opportunity to tell every family and every kid that the help comes from Christians. You’re not alone in this world, but you have Christian friends. You have people who pray for you, stand with you, [and] give.

“This practical help, it’s such an expression of the love of God, and love of Christians who help you in the name of God and the name of Jesus.”

Beit Hallel Congregation’s Back to School Project (Screenshot courtesy of Beit Hallel Congregation)

Nearly all the families who benefit are Jewish immigrants from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Ethiopia.

“They are not Christians; they’re Jewish. But they hear about us, they hear about our organization and our congregation. They know we are helping people unconditionally, and they come to receive help, and they’re grateful to learn more about that.”

Beyond physical needs, Beit Hallel Congregation seeks to calm fears and encourage children.

“We see kids are nervous. Kids are under stress. So we’re talking to them, encouraging them, telling them stories of others who’ve been in the same situation. It really encourages them and makes it easier for them,” says Pochtar.

Although the main distribution is complete, the project continues in smaller ways as new immigrant families arrive daily. Neighboring cities like Ashkelon and Beersheba have even asked for help after seeing Beit Hallel Congregation’s efforts online.

Beit Hallel Congregation’s Back to School Project (Screenshot courtesy of Beit Hallel Congregation)

“If there are friends who want to help, they are welcome to join,” Pochtar says. “There’s still opportunity!”

Donate to Beit Hallel Congregation’s Back to School Project.

Above all, he asks for prayer. “Pray for us. Pray for Israel. Pray for Jewish people and our team in Israel who are working hard to be a blessing and a light.”

Header photo: Beit Hallel Congregation’s Back to School Project (Screenshot courtesy of Beit Hallel Congregation)

“Their children often will panic; some will wet themselves. They struggle with sleeplessness and emotions every time the siren goes off…”

Eric Mock from Slavic Gospel Assosiation recounts conversations he had with Ukrainian families and children about how they endure the war. The situation is grim, as Russian attacks intensify, wiping out families and stealing nights’ rest.

Despite active shelling and attacks, churches remain determined to organize summer camps for kids. Mock says, “In the middle of the sirens blaring, in the middle of the difficulties and the trials, they said it’s summertime. So we’re going to reach these kids with the gospel.”

Photo courtesy of Slavic Gospel Association (SGA)

Many Ukrainian children age eleven and younger don’t know a reality without war, having been born into it. Those from areas under frequent attack carry deep mental traumas. This reality underscores the vital importance of children-focused ministry.

“The summer camps become like an oasis away from the storms of life. They hear of joy and peace and of a love that will never leave them — a God who will never forsake them, a God who has poured out immeasurable grace and mercy. Especially for these children, who have known only difficulty, the message is one of warmth and care,” says Mock.

SGA partners with Ukrainian churches that organize summer camps. “God raises up the right people to take his gospel to the right communities in a way that only they can, and so SGA enters into their ministries,” explains Mock. Visit SGA website to learn more!

The summer camps take different forms — from day programs in city centers surrounded by apartment blocks to gatherings in the woods or at rented facilities. Yet in every setting, a faithful group of believers continues the work, pressing on for the sake of the gospel despite many difficulties.

“These faithful believers fix their eyes not on their own safety but persevere, knowing that even one child or family might hear the gospel for the first time through these summer camps and find peace,” says Mock.

Pray for the seeds of the gospel to bring hope for the future of these children. Pray also for the protection of civilians and the end of war.

Header photo: Boys playing in the forest (photo courtesy of Muhammed Aktürk via Pexels)

Bruce Allen with FMI says the attackers incorrectly believed the prayer house was an unregistered church.

“Men armed with wooden sticks smashed the building’s windows even while women and children were still inside. Kids crying and screaming could be heard as they were forced out by the group. It was very terrorizing for them.”

Two children, ages 8 and 11, were injured by the attackers throwing objects. Police have arrested nine men in connection with the assault.

An Indonesian pastor hikes through a rainforest on the island of Borneo over a broken-down bridge to reach a ministry site. (Photo, caption courtesy of FMI)

The incident follows another attack on a Christian youth camp last month, raising concerns about the trend of anti-Christian violence in Indonesia.

While Indonesia officially recognizes Christianity and guarantees religious freedom in its constitution, believers often face harassment and discrimination in Muslim-majority regions.

Allen points out that Indonesia has appeared on Open Doors’ World Watch List for Christian persecution for years. “For the last couple of decades that I’ve been tracking, Indonesia has been on it,” he says. “Except this year, it did not make the top 50. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that things are improving in Indonesia. It could just mean that things got a lot worse in other countries and they had a worse score than Indonesia.”

Despite growing pressure, Indonesian Christians remain steadfast in their faith. Allen urges fellow believers to pray.

“Pray for that resilience and perseverance of the Christians — especially those young, tender students — that they would learn much from this experience that they endured. Pray for the Christians’ ability to forgive and to bless.”

Learn more about FMI’s ministry in Indonesia.

Header photo: Nestled in the rainforests of Sumatra, flanked by volcanoes, Christian churches and prayer houses continue to grow despite radical Muslim oppression. (Photo, caption courtesy of FMI)