HeronIsL3

Christian persecution is getting worse. The persecution and oppression of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world is getting worse, according to a report from Aid to the Church in Need UK. This report on the persecuted church found the “oppression of Christians has worsened in 55% of countries . . . without any country showing an improvement.” According to the report, which looked at persecution between August 2024 and June 2026, Christians “are being forced from their homes through conflict, extremism, and religiously motivated violence in 18 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.” This means 220 million Christians are “directly exposed to persecution worldwide.” The report listed a few examples of what this persecution looks like: “Chinese authorities have intensified their oppression of Christians, as they aim to align religious doctrine more closely with communist principles. This has led to mass detentions, clergy being jailed on legal technicalities, churches closing, and online religious content being controlled. “The report tells of the persecution in Nicaragua, where the regime increased its crackdown on Christians, arresting and exiling clergy, preventing ordinations, seizing Church institutions, and preventing people entering the country with Bibles. “[In Iran] the arrests of Christians doubled within 12 months . . . as crackdowns have intensified.” This month, November, is designated by Voice of the Martyrs as a month of international prayer for the persecuted church. So many of our brothers and sisters are suffering at the hands of extremist groups, hostile governments, or even angry family members. The Bible commands us to remember our fellow Christians, as if we were in prison with them: “Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you yourselves also are in the body.” (Hebrews 13:3) I encourage you to take time to remember and pray for our fellow believers who are suffering in ways we can’t imagine. VOM encourages believers to pray specifically for four things: 1.Pray that God will lead them to places where they can worship and fellowship with other Christians. 2.Pray that they will continue to witness boldly in the face of persecution. 3.Pray that they will know Christ is with them and that they are not alone. 4.Pray that their ability to forgive their family members will lead many to faith in Christ. As Christians, we aren’t surprised by persecution—Jesus told us it would come, and we’ve seen waves of persecution all throughout church history—but reports like this are a sobering reminder to those of us who experience relative freedom to practice our beliefs that we need to remember those who are suffering for Christ and lift them up in prayer. And remember, America is not exempt from persecution happening here as well. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)