All Persecuted Church articles
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Opinion
Bill Maher says there’s a genocide against Christians in Nigeria. Is he right?
US talk show host Bill Maher has attacked the media for its silence over the genocide of Christians taking place in Nigeria where thousands have reportedly been murdered by groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State. But the genocide claim is contested by the Nigerian government who say “simplistic” accusations only “fuel propaganda”. What’s the truth? Ben Cohen from Open Doors gives his view
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Real Life
Christians here are attacked, killed and imprisoned — but we are transforming our community with compassion
Born into a low-caste family in a region where Christians are treated as sub-human, Dr Amir shares how faith, love, and practical compassion are transforming communities and growing the Church in Pakistan — one of the most challenging places in the world to be a Christian
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Opinion
Chinese Christians are being arrested for tithing. But Gen Z are still hungry for Jesus
When 400 police officers swept through a province in eastern China and arrested 70 Christians, it confirmed the Communist Party’s campaign against house churches was intensifying. But could the pressure faced by the Chinese Church actually bring about growth?
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Opinion
Why I am praying for a secular government in Nepal
As an uprising among Gen Z topples the Nepalese government, the country is at a crossroads, says Narendra Chettri*. If Nepal wants more religious freedom, Christians should pray for a secular government, not a religious one
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Opinion
Mass graves are revealing the suffering of Christians in Colombia’s overlooked conflict
In a rural part of Colombia, seven Christians answered a summons from an illegal armed group and never returned home. What happened in Calamar, Ellis Heasley says, is a chilling glimpse into the price some pay in standing for justice and truth in the name of faith
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Opinion
Why Christians should be keeping an eye on China’s growing influence
25 years ago, Chris Goswami heard his Chinese professor predict his country’s rise as a global superpower. With that predication now being reality, Chris explores the forces driving China’s growth and why its growing influence is something Christians should be thoughtfully engaging with
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Opinion
The Church cannot continue to sleep through crisis - it’s time to return to the night vigil
The Church once lit up the night with intercession. If the Church wants to ignite the revival that awaits us, Jonathan Oloyede says it must reclaim the night vigil and reopen the wells of persistent prayer and fasting
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Opinion
Iran’s evangelicals are branded “enemies of the state”. They need our prayers now more than ever
Donald Trump may have floated the idea of regime change in Iran, but would it be good for Iranian Christians? That depends on who takes over, says Ben Cohen. But right now, the nation’s beleaguered evangelicals need our prayers
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Opinion
‘Even in war, God is moving’ 4 ways to pray for the Iranian Church
A Christian in Iran shares her story of God at work even among the chaos of conflict in the Middle East. She asks believers around the world to stand with the underground Church in Iran as they pray for peace and an end to the war with Israel
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Opinion
A fragile hope has returned for Syria’s Christians. Pray it isn’t snuffed out
Syria’s Christians have endured war, exile and persecution. Now, a new, seemingly more inclusive leadership and Trump’s promise to lift sanctions have opened the door to a cautious optimism. Matthew Barnes says the global Church must not miss this moment to stand with them
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Opinion
Nicaragua’s Easter crackdown on Christians is no anomaly
Christians in Nicaragua are being subjected to a disturbingly routine suppression by their government – yet, as Ellis Heasley reports, the Church remains committed to voicing its faith
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Magazine Features
Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. Why is the media silent?
Stories of Christians being persecuted around the world rarely make the headlines in the mainstream media. Heather Tomlinson investigates why
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Opinion
Shahida Bibi was forced to convert to Islam and married against her will. Now she’s free
Shahida Bibi was abducted, forced to convert from Christianity to Islam and sexually exploited. Tragically, she is only one of many girls who endure this fate. Her restored freedom is a sign of hope, but the fight against forced conversion and child marriage is far from over, says Tehmina Arora
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Reviews
This Oscar-nominated drama is a terrifying glimpse into what persecuted Christians face
Seeing a big-screen dramatic portrayal of a brutal and unjust regime brings to life the stories we hear from persecuted Christians, says Steve Dew-Jones. Here’s what he made of the Iranian film, The Seed of the Sacred Fig
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Magazine Features
The Iranians stormed this church and forced its closure. But I’ll never forget the Christians I met there
When Tara Jamali returned to Iran after an absence of 20 years, she was shocked to discover the church she attended as a student boarded up. Pressure on Iranian Christians is growing she says, but glimmers of hope are present in the darkness
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Opinion
Christians in India can break the cycle of religious violence
Despite the growing threat Hindu nationalism poses to the Christians already facing persecution in India, Joseph D’Souza urges the Church to resist retaliation and embody the love of Christ. It’s the only way to achieve lasting peace, he says
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Opinion
Almost 400 million Christians are persecuted. Why aren’t more people talking about this?
The 2025 World Watch List from Open Doors has revealed 380 million Christians are now persecuted. Henrietta Blyth is urging prayer for those whose stories are scarcely featured in the headlines
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Opinion
Christmas is non-existent for North Korean Christians
For most Christians around the world, Christmas is a time to gather and celebrate with friends and family. But for Christians in North Korea, the most dangerous country in the world for followers of Jesus, it is a time of great danger
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Opinion
Assad’s fall leaves Syrian Christians in peril
Could Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s takeover see a jihadist-inspired coup peacefully transition to a free, democratic Syria? If it does, it would be a first for the region, says David Charlwood. If it doesn’t, their long history of violence spells disaster for all non-Muslim minority groups
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Magazine Features
Secret believers: The disciple-making movement that’s sweeping the Middle East
You may have heard that Christianity is spreading like wildfire across the Middle East. But did you know that leaders in the persecuted Church are now training Western church leaders in evangelism? Phil Moore calls it a quiet revolution