VIETNAM: Christians Face Opposition and Violence

Source: VOMC
Source: Voice of the Martyrs Australia Contacts

A village in Vietnam.

Christian workers in Vietnam are requesting urgent prayer on behalf of believers who have recently experienced situations of severe persecution. In response to the ongoing concern, VOMC's partnering ministry office in Australia has been providing the affected Christians with greatly needed financial assistance.

In one village, a group of believers were forced to leave their homes due to the pressures they encountered in the community. Even though these displaced followers of Jesus have thankfully been able to find temporary accommodations with fellow believers, they presently remain without permanent residences of their own. Another Christian known as Mr. Bah was also forced to leave his house after refusing to renounce his faith. He is temporarily staying in the kitchen of his pastor's home.

Pastor Dan is an elderly Christian leader who uses his home for church gatherings. On December 23rd, when a group of believers had gathered at the pastor's residence for worship, local authorities – accompanied by other hostile community members described as "thugs" – broke into the pastor's home. The convening church members were physically attacked during the invasion. When Pastor Dan attempted to intervene, the authorities proceeded to severely beat him, consequently breaking his arm and leg.

Brother Ting and his family members regularly held church gatherings in their home as well. When local authorities requested that these believers stop meeting for worship, Ting refused. Soon after, the Christian leader was found beaten to death along the side of a road. In addition, the authorities had ordered Ting's wife, Mar, to do community work. After explaining that she was too busy and unable to help, Pastor Ting's wife was found dead in her home about a week after Ting was murdered.

Christians in Vietnam, particularly those who live within tribal areas, frequently face opposition from local authorities.

To learn more about the suffering of our Vietnamese family in Christ, visit VOMC's country profile.

• Prayerfully uphold each one of the Vietnamese believers who have been personally affected by these recently occurring acts of opposition.
• For those who were forced to leave their homes, pray for God's intervention, provision and protection to take place in their lives.
• Ask the Lord to also provide necessary physical and emotional healing to all who sustained injuries as a result of the devastating attacks.
• On behalf of the grieving family and friends of Brother Ting and his wife Mar, pray that they will tangibly sense God's unfailing love, comfort, as well as His "peace that surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7).
• In general, pray that all believers in Vietnam will continue to entrust their lives to the One who holds the future in His hands.

COLOMBIA: Pastoring Family Assassinated

Source: VOMC
Sources: El Tiempo, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, VOMC Contact, Defensoría del Pueblo

Pastor Marlon Lora and his family. Photo: The Lora family

Police are currently investigating the drive-by assassination of Pastor Marlon Lora and his family, which took place on December 29th. Pastor Marlon, his wife Yurlay Rincon – along with their two children, Angela and Santiago – had been finishing lunch when they were suddenly gunned down by men on a motorcycle. The violent attack occurred just metres away from the police station in Aguachica, northern Colombia.

In addition to providing leadership to 36 churches across the region, Pastor Marlon personally pastored the Prince of Peace Villaparaguay Church in Aguachica. According to the couple's supervisor, Pastor Giovanni Bermúdez, "Marlon was like many of us pastors; we keep quiet about many things so that everything runs smoothly, even while we carry heavy burdens inside."

The motive behind the attack is not yet clear. However, there has been speculation that one of the perpetrators may have previously attended a service at Pastor Marlon's church. Authorities are investigating whether there may have been extortion threats in an attempt to obtain offering money that was collected by the church.

The office of the ombudsman in Colombia has warned that incidents violating religious freedom increased by 31 percent within the first nine months of 2024. In particular, the report noted a concerning increase in cases involving death threats against religious leaders.

For further information on Christian persecution in Colombia, and/or to view informative video interviews, visit our country report.

• May the comfort of the Holy Spirit rest on all those who are now mourning the heartbreaking loss of this dear family of believers.
• Pray that God will mightily protect Colombia's church leaders and their families from those opposed to the Gospel message.
• In fact, ask the Lord to strengthen and encourage all believers throughout Colombia, empowering them to stand firm in the face of opposition and faithfully serve as testimonies of God's love and grace to those around them.

PAKISTAN: Three Christians Shot on Christmas Day

Source: VOMC
Sources: Morning Star News, The Friday Times

Arif Masih, one of three men wounded in the attack. Photo: Christian Daily International-Morning Star News

Three Christians were injured in a violent attack on Christmas Day outside the home of a pastor in Lahore. The incident happened just one day after a confrontation between Pastor Shahzad Siddique and a group of militant Muslim youth who had been harassing guests at a church event. Speaking of the incident, Pastor Shahzad stated, "I had returned home from church on Christmas Day and was resting when gunmen opened fire on a gathering outside my house in Maryam Colony."

Witnesses attest that though more than a dozen gunmen were involved in the initial attack, no one was wounded at that time. However, after police arrived at the scene 25 minutes later and began investigating the initial incident, several youths on motorcycles suddenly appeared and opened fire. During this second attack, three people were injured – including Akash Patras, a believer who suffered a serious abdominal wound.

Although one suspect was caught immediately, the others fled on foot, leaving five abandoned motorcycles behind. Since the shooting, at least four other perpetrators have been arrested. While police officials continue their investigations, additional security measures have been deployed in the area.

Violence against Christians in Pakistan, which is often instigated by false accusations against them, appears to have escalated over recent years.

More information, as well as previously published reports of concern, may be viewed at our country profile.

• Pray that the Lord will minister His healing touch upon all the injured church members, including Akash who is recovering from the severe abdominal wound.
• Also prayerfully uphold Pakistan's governing authorities as they work to bring about justice on behalf of this targeted group of believers.
• May Pastor Shahzad and the members of his church be filled with courage, peace and greater determination as they seek to serve God despite the opposition they encounter.

David Livingstone - God Answers Prayer!

NIGERIA: Dozens Killed in Christmas Week Attacks

Source: VOMC
Sources: Release International, International Christian Concern, Morning Star News

Christians in NIgeria have faced violence for years. Photo: VOMC

Nearly 50 Nigerian Christians were killed in a series of attacks that took place during the week of Christmas. On Sunday, December 22nd, believers in a village located within Nigeria's Plateau State had gathered to celebrate the season by singing carols. As they were leaving, a group of armed Fulani militants opened fire, killing 14 of the attending Christians, including a pregnant woman and a one-year-old child.

In a series of separate attacks, Christmas Day became a nightmare for five other Christian communities in the state of Benue. Invaders entered the villages of Anwase, Ubutu, Tse Azege, Nyiev-ya and Ityuluv, setting fire to homes and killing approximately 33 people. In the wake of the devastating raids, which resulted in several deaths and the destruction of many properties, the members of these communities have been left reeling. One resident from Anwase stated that the assault "left the community in shock and mourning."

These attacks are reminiscent of the violence that took place in Plateau State during the 2023 Christmas season, resulting in the fatalities of more than 140 citizens.
For further reports concerning the suffering of our Christian family in Nigeria, visit VOMC's country profile.

• Pray for greatly needed peace, comfort and encouragement on behalf of all those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones as a result of these brutal attacks.
• Ask the Lord to also minister to believers otherwise affected by the violent raids – meeting the spiritual, practical, physical and emotional needs of those who were injured, or have lost their homes, properties and/or livelihoods.
• May Nigeria's governmental forces take increased action against the horrific destruction caused by militant groups, bringing an end to the reign of indiscriminate terror across large areas of the nation.

INDIA: Hindu Nationalists Disrupt Christmas Celebrations

Source: VOMC
Sources: International Christian Concern, Evangelical Fellowship of India, Morning Star News

A church in India during the Christmas season. Photo: Wikimedia / Sandipanraha (cc)

A wave of violent incidents marred Christmas celebrations across India, even as Prime Minister Modi extolled the virtues of "love" and "harmony" in his Christmas speech and social media posts. The recently occurring acts of violence against followers of Jesus, which took place in at least ten states across India, were particularly instigated by Hindu nationalist groups in their determination to rid the nation of Christian influence.

While the southern state of Kerala is generally known for its communal harmony, right-wing activists attacked a government-operated school in Palakkad during the Christmas celebrations, leading to widespread protests. Elsewhere in Kerala, a manger scene was destroyed.

In Punjab, a Pentecostal pastor had been attacked for allegedly attempting to convert Hindus. In Rajasthan, teachers and students in schools celebrating Christmas were also assaulted. Additionally, in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, protestors barged into a house where Christians had gathered for worship and demanded that the believers stop the service.

Other recent incidents perpetrated by Hindu militants around the country include: harassing a food delivery employee who was dressed as Santa Claus, destroying a statue of Mary (the mother of Jesus), and chanting loudly to drown out the sounds associated with Christmas festivities. In multiple cases across the nation, worship gatherings were also disrupted by protestors.

One of the most violent incidents that occurred during the Christmas season involved two women and a man who were severely beaten in Odisha for alleged conversion activities. The women were then tied to a tree and forced to chant the names of Hindu gods.

In the aftermath of this sudden surge in attacks, more than 400 Christian leaders and 30 church groups submitted an urgent appeal to India's president and prime minister calling for "immediate and decisive action" to curb this type of mob violence and deal with systemic concerns, including anti-conversion laws and escalating anti-Christian hate speech. The December 31st letter stated that "rising hate speech, especially from elected officials, has emboldened acts of violence against Christians."

In 2024, the Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of India recorded more than 720 incidents of violence targeting Indian Christians.
For more details on the concerning challenges experienced by followers of Jesus in this South Asian country, and/or to access previously posted written and video reports, visit our country profile.

• Pray that appropriate action will be taken by India's governing leaders to quell the divisive demands of violent nationalist groups and establish lasting sectarian harmony.
• Prayerfully uphold the many believers throughout the nation who are continuing to faithfully gather together for worship despite the opposition and threatening risks, asking the Lord to provide them His divine protection and peace.
• Ask for God's wisdom to be granted to Christian leaders and advocates in their endeavours to raise a voice on behalf of Indian believers who have suffered terrible injustices and abuses for their faith in Jesus.

IRAN: Christian Leader Released from Prison

Source: VOMC
Sources: Church in Chains, Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Matthias Haghnejad Photo: CSW

In 2012, Matthias Haghnejad was among three Christian leaders who were charged with "spreading corruption on earth" and "action against national security." As a result, he was sentenced to six years in prison. In December 2014, the Christian man was thankfully acquitted of all charges.
For more information on this earlier situation, visit this page.

Despite the positive news of Matthias' acquittal, unfortunately it was not the end of his ordeal. In January 2022 – three weeks after being re-released from prison (where he served an additional three years on a separate charge) – the Christian leader's acquittal relating to the 2014 charges was overturned, and he consequently had been forced to serve his former sentence. In the summer of 2023, the believer was then transferred to a prison located 1,600 kilometres away from his family.

We are thankful to report that Matthias was recently released on December 14th after completing his sentence. Regrettably, another court case against him remains pending, dating back to December 2022 when the Christian leader had been arrested – along with several other church members – during his short furlough from prison.

• Praise God that Matthias was recently released from prison.
• Pray that the Lord will grant this Christian leader peace, guidance and the provisions he now needs to integrate back into Iranian society.
• Please remember to prayerfully uphold the numerous other followers of Jesus who are continuing to serve time in Iranian prisons because of their faith.
• In general, pray for renewed courage, strength and perseverance on behalf of Iranian Christians across the country, so that they will remain steadfastly committed to following Christ in all circumstances.

Voice of the Martyrs Canada - Special Video Edition - Praying for the Persecuted