I N C R E A S E O F P E R S E C U T I O N
We thought Covid-19 was going to minimize the effect of persecution, but it has been the opposite. Persecution has increased”, says the director of Open Doors Spain. The organization releases its annual World Watch List.
The coronavirus pandemic has intensified hostilities against Christians throughout the world, as reflected in the latest edition of the World Watch List (2021) published by Open Doors.
According to the report, the epidemic has “highlighted and exacerbated underlying discrimination experienced by Christian minorities, and legitimised increased surveillance and restrictions”.
The report quantifies that, during 2020, around 340 million Christians worldwide have suffered “discrimination, unequal treatment and violent persecution”. Last year, 4,761 people were killed because of their Christian faith in Jesus, the organization says. In total, 60% more than the previous year.
Furthermore, 4,277 Christians were arrested without legal proceedings or sentenced while already in prison, and 4,488 Christian places of worship were attacked.
There is a serious increase in persecution!
For the first time ever, all top 50 countries score levels of at least very high persecution; the top 12 scoring extreme levels of persecution, up from 11 the year before”, Open Doors says.
These numbers are heart-breaking. And yet, they do not tell the whole story. James 1:2-4 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” That joy is what we see when we hear and work with Christians all over the world who suffer because of they serve Jesus. God cares for His people, and He will never leave or forsake them.
We have dedicated this page for public awareness of some 200 million suffering believers and ask that you would join us in prayer on their behalf, and help us raise awareness of their plight, especially in the West where the mainstream media neglects to report their suffering. Countless Christians around the world are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Few seem to be aware of them, and fewer seem to care. T.T.U.F. stands with organizations such as The Voice of the Martyrs in support of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted for their involvement in spreading the gospel. We pray that you will become pro-active in prayer support and join us in raising awareness of and reaching out to the persecuted Church!
CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION
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We have dedicated this page for public awareness of some 200 million suffering believers and ask that you would join us in prayer on their behalf, and help us raise awareness of their plight, especially in the West where the mainstream media neglects to report their suffering. Countless Christians around the world are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Few seem to be aware of them, and fewer seem to care. T.T.U.F. stands with organizations such as The Voice of the Martyrs in support of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted for their involvement in spreading the gospel. We pray that you will become pro-active in prayer support and join us in raising awareness of and reaching out to the persecuted Church!
CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION
Top News Around The World:
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Latest News:
Eight Christians were abducted by armed men who attacked their church bus as it travelled along Akure-Ilesa Road in Ondo State, Nigeria.A crowd of around 150 Hindu extremists attacked and destroyed a church building which was being constructed in the village of Bodoguda, Odisha State, India.
05/31/2021 DRC (International Christian Concern) – Local officials report that at least 50 people were killed by the suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) over the weekend in the villages of Boga and Tchabi in DRC’s eastern Ituri region.
05/28/2021 Nigeria (International Christian Concern) – According to Morning Star News, suspected Fulani herdsmen killed 22 Christians during two separate village attacks in Plateau State, Nigeria, on Sunday, May 23rd. In April, an additional 15 Christians were killed by suspected jihadist herdsmen in the state.
Uganda: Pastor Slain After Leading Muslims to Christ
Ugandan Pastor Thomas Chikooma was recently invited by local Muslims to participate in an open-air religious debate in the community of Pallisa. After giving his defence of Christianity, he was privileged to lead 14 people to faith in Christ, including six who had been Muslims. While many at that meeting were excited by the response to the Gospel, there were some Muslims who were angry, and they confronted the father of 11 children later that night and killed him. Thomas was a well-respected pastor who planted 50 churches in eastern Uganda. VOM Canada’s Greg Musselman explains what happened and to pray for Thomas’ wife Jessica, his 11 children, the Christians of Uganda and those who were responsible for this act violence.
Liberia: Christian Women and Girls Increasingly Vulnerable to Persecution
Some of the worst persecution experienced by Christians around the world is directed towards those who come from Muslim backgrounds. In Liberia, life after conversion to Christianity is especially difficult for women and girls who are frequently targeted – often by their own families – for their decision to follow Jesus. VOM Canada’s Greg Musselman spoke to Liberian Pastor Clinton Gbawoh and VOM Canada’s Gender and Freedom Consultant, Emma Dipper, about the rise of persecution in the west African nation, the cost for Christian women and girls who have left Islam, and what we can do to help these sisters in Christ.