Nmadu says from our standpoint as Christians, genocidal offenses are being committed; but regardless of how the UN or other international organizations choose to label the situation: 

“We can safely say that Christians are being killed in mass with the intention to coerce, to make Christians change their religious conduct,” he affirms. “Freedom of religion, or belief, is being hampered in many parts of Northern Nigeria.”

With land comes economic and political power, and the battle for control sweeps through a complex territory of cultural, political, and religious landscapes. 

Nmadu says he does not believe the present government is aiding the killing of Christians. But the administration’s refusal to take swift action, even in the form of strong rhetoric, reveals a trend towards political correctness. 

“In trying to be politically correct, they become complacent,” he says. “The government – not just this government, even past governments – have not done enough to protect lives of Christians in communities.”

The killings and abductions of thousands of Nigerians have been documented over the last few years. But Nmadu says small numbers aren’t even accounted for in those reports. 

“The evil is just unimaginable, and for a government to come out and deny that there is [any] such thing happening in the country shows their level of responsiveness in protecting lives and property, which is the number one duty of any government in the world,” he says. 

In particular, he believes the government of Nigeria must track down terrorists and hold them accountable to justice. He also thinks the administration needs to address the blasphemy laws being implemented in some Nigerian states by Muslims trying to enforce Sharia law. 

“When we say government is not doing enough, it is allowing the culture of impunity to prevail in the country,” he says. “People are emboldened to commit more atrocities because when one is committed, nothing is done.” 

Nmadu is hopeful that a surge of international interest will be a catalyst for change in Nigeria. 

President Trump has declared Nigeria a country of particular concern and has even threatened to send US troops to the country if measures to stop the genocide are not taken. It’s a move that Nmadu says has pricked the ears of government officials in his home country. 

“And if this is the only thing that this has done, I think it’s a welcome idea,” he says.

Above and featured photos courtesy of 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)

The attacks spanned through the last week of September. Militants hit multiple villages in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces, leaving burned-out churches and homes in their wake.

Arimba, a coastal town in the northern Mozambique province Cabo Delgado. (Photo courtesy of dimitry/Unsplash)

The Islamic State Mozambique Province (ISMP) later released a gruesome 20-image photoset showing executions, shootings, and arson — a chilling display meant to sow fear.

“These militants would often separate Christians from other villagers and begin persecuting them,” says Floyd Brobbel with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada. “So this seems to be the case here, and they’re not shy about reporting what they’ve done. They’re claiming responsibility for these attacks.”

Mozambique’s northern regions have faced an Islamist insurgency for years. Despite military intervention from Rwanda and neighboring countries, the violence continues.

“They can blend in, and they can suddenly rise up and cause problems and attack communities, and then they’re gone again,” Brobbel explains. “So they’re hard to locate. They’re hard to pinpoint.”

Even amid devastation, the Church continues to stand. “There are churches that continue to minister in those hot zones. They need our prayers,” Brobbel says.

“We rely on the verses in Scripture and the promises in Scripture that tell us that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against the Church. So we need to be praying and remembering those [who] are in those regions and continuing to serve as salt and light. Pray that they would get a foothold for the Gospel and that we would see many of those who are militants against the Church would become followers of Christ.”

Brobbel adds, “For ministries, pray that the leaders would have wisdom and understanding in how to reach back into their communities…and finding ways to be able to target these groups with the Gospel.”

Ask God to strengthen believers in Mozambique’s war-torn north — and for their persecutors to become disciples of Jesus.

Learn more about how VOM Canada supports persecuted Christians at vomcanada.com.

Header photo courtesy of VOM USA.

In countries where being a Christian is treated as a crime, believers are constantly on the defensive. They fight to hold on to their jobs, homes, and status — but most importantly, they fight to protect their women.

Kate, a partner with Voice of the Martyrs Canada, says, “What we see women face is that they are often targeted and trafficked across borders or into cities because of their identity in Jesus.”

The abuse is not random. There is a strategy behind the trafficking of women, forced marriages (sometimes a result of grooming), and sexual assault.

Kate explains, that it happens: “Because of their perceived purity that represents their community. So, those who want to break down the Christian community know that if they violate and break down women, they break down the whole core of that very identity of that society.”

Representative photo courtesy of
Quang Nguyen Vinh via Unsplash

Many of these abused women — mothers, wives, and daughters — find little refuge or support in their churches. “The reason that violating women in this way is so effective is because of the poor status and voice that they often have within the church community itself,” says Kate. Shame silences them. In some cases, they are even seen as cursed.

“That’s a distortion of belief systems and cultural norms that comes into that,” Kate adds.

Healing begins when biblical values are restored in the heart of the community. Stories like Hagar, the Samaritan woman at the well, and Jesus’s own treatment of women break the false narrative that suffering must be hidden.

That’s why the ministry has launched Restorations training, especially in South Asia. It directly addresses harmful theology and cultural views while pointing to Jesus’s example of restoring dignity to women. “And as her pastor or brother or father, we are going to make sure, with her permission, that she has a voice, or we are her voice for her,” says Kate.

Pray that as the Gospel continues to spread around the world, it will bring healing to the societal and cultural wounds that most deeply harm the vulnerable. Visit the Voice of the Martyrs Canada website to learn more about how they support persecuted women.

“If we’re neglecting to fully understand the violence that women suffer, then we’re truly not understanding huge swathes of the Church around the world. Jesus very clearly demonstrated His love, His compassion, and His care for both men and women alike,” says Kate.

Header photo courtesy of Ron Lach via Pexels.

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)

Voice of the Martyrs Canada supports persecuted Christians and helps them to remain firm in their faith. Stephen Wesley explains their needs today.

“What we’re seeing happening is that in the persecuted church, there is a need for understanding why persecution is happening, what they are going through, and how God has used persecution to bless and strengthen the church,” says Wesley.

“Where there’s persecution, it’s primarily for the reality of their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.”

Last month, Chinese authorities raided Beijing Zion Church and arrested a dozen people. Most were released the same day, but one church elder was charged with “organizing illegal gatherings” and kept in custody for a 14-day administrative detention. Similar stories regularly occur in countries with limited religious freedoms.

Persecution is more common and severe in some areas of the world, but it is a shared experience of all disciples of Jesus. On the last night with them before his death, Jesus told his disciples, “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours” (John 15:20).

Wesley says, “We have to recognize that if I’m going to look like Jesus in the world, all those who live godly in Christ Jesus, will suffer persecution.”

So how do we respond and support fellow Christians enduring persecution? Wesley says we can start with prayer. Jesus set the example when he prayed for his followers and for all those to come:

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:20-23).

“We need to pray for unity,” says Wesley. “We need to love one another as Christ has loved us.”

Jesus gave this same command to His disciples the night before He was crucified (John 15:12).

Wesley says, “The world is looking at us. They are hearing our message. But then they’re saying, ‘Am I seeing in your activity the reality of what you’re teaching?’”

To pray further for the persecuted, use this resource from VOM Canada. Want to learn more about what the Bible teaches about persecution? Read this book.

Header photo courtesy of VOM International.

“We’ve talked a lot about all the attacks in these Christian villages in the north, but it’s also happening a lot in the Middle Belt and further into the south,” Musselman says.

Nothing is standing in the persecutors’ way, and they have much to gain by targeting religious minorities.

(Photo courtesy of Voice of the Martyrs Canada)

“These attacks are spreading across the country, and the violence is getting out of control. The government doesn’t seem to help protect it. In this most recent case, in Benue state, by the time the military and soldiers arrived, 18 people had already been killed,” Musselman says.

“It’s not only the Islamic part in converting Christians to Islam but also intimidation and grabbing the [Christians’] land.”

The situation may seem unchangeable, but you can help these persecuted Christians. VOM Canada supports various projects and partners in Nigeria, providing everything from medical aid and job training to biblical trauma counseling.

Connect with VOM Canada here to get involved. Most importantly, pray. “These are real people in real time,” Musselman says.

“Many Christians have seen their pastors killed; the intimidation goes on. We can’t lose that passion to be praying for them.”

Header and story images courtesy of VOM Canada.

Although today’s challenging circumstances remain, Jesus provides hope for tomorrow.

(Graphic courtesy of VOM Canada)

“The battles Syria [has] seen in the cities and from home to home, from street to street, is over. But the results [are] very difficult,” says Voice of the Martyrs Canada partner Fayez Youssef, a pastor serving in the Middle East/North Africa region.

“Life is so difficult in Syria. There is no free gasoline for heating; [there are] electricity problems [with] maybe two, three hours a day [of electricity] maximum. When the dollar equals 6500 liras, the person whose income was $500 is now about $10 or $15.”

Nearly seven million Syrians are displaced inside the country, while over five million live as refugees in neighboring countries. Islamic State violence drove a mass exodus of Christians out of Syria in 2014 and 2015, but those who remain today shine brightly.

“It’s the natural role of a church to be light in the places of this darkness, to show God’s love and mercy towards the people and share the Good News. The church in Syria is [doing] a great job,” Youssef says.

“This was one thing that amazed me in Syria: to see the Church growing and opening the doors for everybody from all backgrounds to come.”

With help from VOM Canada, believers are reaching out to vulnerable populations, including Syria’s next generation. Pray their efforts will be successful.

“Many, many children are not in regular schools. Some of them lost their parents, so they are growing up as orphans. You’re talking about [a] traumatized generation,” Youssef says.

Header and story images courtesy of The Voice of the Martyrs Canada.

“The Turkish Government wants to wipe out Christianity and its history,” Greg Musselman with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada says.

“They see Christianity and the spreading of the Gospel as a national security situation.”

The Turkish government drove nine foreign Christian leaders out of the country in recent years because they were sharing the Gospel.

“The Secret Service report in Turkiye said these leaders were violating the security of the country,” Musselman says.

Although believers took legal action to refute that decision, Türkiye’s highest court just ruled that the government’s expulsion does not violate religious freedom.

(Photo courtesy VOM-AU)

“One of the knocks against Turkey has been their violation of human rights. So, this is pretty interesting that they would do something this public because that pushes them away from being accepted in the EU,” Musselman says.

Six of the court’s 13 judges disagreed with the majority opinion. “Those six are thinking, ‘No, if we set this precedent, it will be very dangerous for our country,’” Musselman says.

Believers can now appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

“That will put Turkey on the defensive, so it’s, again, a situation that we’re watching very closely,” Musselman says. “It will be interesting to see how the international community responds to that.”

Pray for strength and endurance for believers in Türkiye. Connect with VOM Canada here to learn how you can help persecuted Christians.

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Spyros Papaspyropoulos/Flickr.

Marina*, a Libyan Christian from a Muslim background, describes everyday examples of persecution in a recent conversation with The Voice of the Martyrs Canada:

“When one young lady’s dad discovered she was a Christian, he beat his daughter many times and closed and locked the door. He didn’t allow her to use the toilet. She was treated like an animal. She was beaten again and again.

“Another lady’s Muslim husband divorced her when he found out she was a Christian. When her son was born, the husband wouldn’t allow his son to have his name. So, the boy won’t be able to go to school or have an identity. She has suffered since she has become a Christian.”

Libya remains under interim rule, and the Christian minority faces persecution from authorities, security forces, and independent militia. There are few believers in Libya, and it is extremely difficult for them to practice their faith openly.

Christians are beaten, rejected by their Muslim families and friends, and sometimes killed.

“Let me tell you a story about a brother,” says Omar*, another Libyan who left Islam to follow Jesus.

“When he accepted Jesus into his life, he started to share his faith with his family, and they told the radical Muslims about it. They were going to kill him as an infidel,” Omar continues.

“Under Sharia law, he was put in jail, and the judge said he should be killed.”

Pray that believers from a Muslim background will stand firm in Libya despite threats of suffering and death.

(Photo courtesy of Prayercast)

“If they are growing in their faith and know that Jesus said they will be persecuted, they will resist giving up their faith under persecution. But those who are not growing will return to Islam,” Marina says.

Hope remains for Libya, yet so does the danger. Please pray using the prompts listed alongside this report.

“Many people are curious to understand and know and have good questions, but some say bad things about us,” Omar says.

“I share the Word of God and my new life and Christ in very closed groups. I can’t share with just anyone.”

*Pseudonyms

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Benjamin Price/Unsplash.