Closer to the Fire with Greg Musselman

By Greg MusselmanSociety & Culture Documentary News Religion & Spirituality Christianity News Commentary

Closer to the Fire with Greg Musselman episodes

October 16 Season 7: Episode 4: China: Pastor and Church Members Detained, Underground Church Raided
The persecution of Christians in China is the most severe it’s been in more than four decades. That’s the assessment of Dr. Bob Fu of ChinaAid, an organization dedicated to promoting religious freedom, advancing the rule of law, and exposing human rights abuses in China.
In this episode of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman speaks with Dr. Fu about recent reports detailing the Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing efforts to harass, detain and oppress followers of Jesus. Dr. Fu also provides an update on Pastor Wang Yi of Early Rain Covenant Church, who remains imprisoned because of his Christian ministry.
Length: 46 minutes
Episode Notes
To watch the interview with Dr. Bob Fu https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-cn-2026-10-14.htm
ChinaAid: www.chinaaid.org
Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com
46 min
October 02 Season 7: Episode 3: Iran: Dozens of Christians Killed, Hundreds Detained Amid Intensifying Crackdown
A growing crackdown on Christians in Iran has reportedly led to the deaths of at least 33 believers, including church leaders, and the detention of more than 130 other followers of Jesus in recent months. According to Iran Alive Ministries, a Texas-based organization supporting underground house churches, Iranian authorities have also banned religious broadcasts and criminalized listening to Christian programming.
On this episode of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman speaks with Shah Ahmadi, an evangelist, pastor and Director of Strategic Alliances for Iran Alive Ministries. As a former Muslim who lived under Iran’s repressive regime for 22 years, Shah shares firsthand insights into the challenges facing Christians in his homeland and explains how God continues to work powerfully amid increasing persecution.
Length: 45 minutes
Episode Notes
To Watch the Interview with Shah Ahmadi https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-ir-2026-10-02.htm
Iran Alive Ministries: www.iranalive.org
Mohammad Nikbakht Article https://articleeighteen.com/news/23834/
Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com
45 min
September 18 Season 7: Episode 2: The Rise of Persecution and the Resilience of the Church
More than 388 million Christians around the world face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith in Jesus. According to extensive research by Open Doors, that’s one in seven Christians globally.
On this episode of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman is joined by David Witt, the CEO of Spirit of Martyrdom, an organization that supports national Christian leaders and believers living in high-risk, hostile and restricted regions, including India and Mexico.
Length: 40:30
Episode Notes
To watch the interview with David Witt https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-2026-09-15.htm
Spirit of Martyrdom: https://spiritofmartyrdom.com
To purchase David Witt’s books, visit: https://sombookstore.com
Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com
41 min
September 04 Season 7: Episode 1: The Vision and Mission of VOMC: An Interview with CEO Floyd Brobbel
Voice of the Martyrs Canada continues the legacy of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand by raising awareness of the challenges faced by persecuted Christians around the world. While many believers in Canada and other Western nations may assume that financial support is the greatest need, persecuted Christians often ask for something more: for their stories to be told, their voices to be heard, their prayer requests to be shared, and governments to advocate on their behalf.
One of VOMC’s core values is serving the persecuted church according to the expressed needs and wishes of our Christian brothers and sisters. In this episode of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman is joined by CEO Floyd Brobbel to discuss how the ministry is strengthening and supporting persecuted believers around the world. Floyd also shares why VOMC recently updated its Vision Statement and what this renewed direction means for the future of the ministry.
Length: 39:45
Episode Notes
To Watch the Interview with Floyd Brobbel https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-vomc-2026-09-03.htm
VOMC’s Vision Statement: “One church, united in suffering; one voice, strengthened in fellowship; one hope, rooted in Christ.”
To subscribe to VOMC’s free monthly magazine or receive our weekly Persecution & Prayer Alert emails, visit www.vomcanada.com/subscribe.
40 min
August 07 Season 6: Episode 6: Episode 24: Nigeria: At Least 25 Killed in Latest Militant Attacks
At least 25 Christians were killed during recent attacks on two villages in Plateau State, Nigeria. Among the victims were nine members of the same Christian family, including a two-month-old infant. Reports indicate that the family may have been specifically targeted by Islamic militants due to their connection with Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo, a Christian leader who has publicly condemned the ongoing violence against followers of Jesus in Nigeria.
On this episode of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman is joined by Mark Lipdo, who serves as the founder and CEO of Stefanos Foundation in Jos, Plateau State. For more than 20 years, the ministry has faithfully served hundreds of thousands of Nigerians affected by violence, providing practical support to Christians facing persecution, displacement and devastating loss. During the interview, Mark shares insights into the challenges confronting vulnerable Christian communities and explains how believers continue to find strength and hope amid ongoing attacks.
Length: 43 minutes
Episode Notes
To watch the interview with Mark Lipdo www.vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-ng-2026-08-06.htm
To learn more about Stefanos Foundation, visit:
www.stefanosng.org
www.facebook.com/Stefanosfoundation
Read a recently published security report from Stefanos Foundation: https://therisinghope.substack.com/
Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com
Be inspired by Pastor Gideon Dewal’s story of forgiveness: https://www.vomcanada.com/ng-videos/video/ng-gideon-tragedy-forgiveness.htm
43 min
August 01 Season 6: Episode 23: Pakistan: Multiple Cases Involving False Blasphemy Allegations against Christians
In Pakistan, the punishment for a blasphemy conviction is the death penalty. While no one has yet been executed under these laws, many allegations frequently result in lengthy legal battles, prolonged imprisonment, and significant other hardships for the accused and their families. False allegations have led to riots and Christians being killed.
Closer to the Fire host Greg Musselman is joined by Rev. Salim Arthur, who knows firsthand what can happen when false blasphemy allegations are made. Rev. Arthur was arrested, imprisoned, tortured and nearly lost his life, and his family had to go into hiding in Pakistan after a Muslim teenage girl came to Christ. He is the founder and president of ASRA International Ministries, which serves persecuted Christians, refugees, and vulnerable communities. Rev. Salim is also a pastor of the South Asian Bible Church in Brampton, Ontario and the author of the book “Saved to Serve”
Length: 58 minutes
Episode Notes
To watch the interview with Salim Arthur
https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-pk-2026-07-31.htm
South Asian Bible Church and Asylum Seekers Resettlement Advocacy https://www.asraministries.com
To Order Saved to Serve by Salim Arthur Saved to Serve: A Memoir: Salim Arthur: 9798385059201 - Christianbook.com
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada www.vomcanada.com
Jaranwala Persecution https://www.vomcanada.com/video/pk-2025-03-21.htm
59 min
July 09 Season 6: Episode 22: India: Why Is Christian Persecution Increasing?
Over the past decade, Christians in India have faced a disturbing rise in persecution. Throughout this time, churches were demolished, worship gatherings violently disrupted, crosses in graveyards vandalized, and Bibles confiscated and burned. Pastors have been falsely accused of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity, resulting in the physical assaults and imprisonment of these Christian leaders. In 2015, there were 177 reported incidents of persecution. By 2024, that number had surged to 834, with many more cases likely going undocumented.
In this episode of the Closer to the Fire podcast, human rights advocate Tehmina Arora, the founding trustee of Alliance Defending Freedom India, joins host Greg Musselman to discuss this alarming trend. They explore how anti-conversion laws are being misused to target followers of Jesus, the broader implications for religious freedom, and the heartbreaking issue of forced marriages in both India and Pakistan.
Length: 36 Minutes
To view the interview https://vomcanada.com/in-videos/video/in-2025-09-11.htm
Episode Notes
Alliance Defending Freedom International www.adfinternational.org/
Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com
Persecution and Prayer Alert https://store.vomcanada.org/subscribe#q40771
37 min
June 26 Season 6: Episode 21: DR of the Congo: Christians Targeted by Islamic Terrorists
Islamic militants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo claim to have killed more than 80 Christians during several recent armed assaults in the northeastern region of the country. The deadliest incident is believed to have claimed the lives of an estimated 60 believers, whom the attackers referred to as "Christian combatants."
The Islamic State Central Africa Province claims to have killed nearly 1,000 Christians in northeastern DRC since December 2024.
Dr. David Kasali serves as the founder of the Congo Initiative, a Christ-centred educational institution that seeks to bring spiritual transformation to the country. He joins Closer to the Fire host Greg Musselman to discuss the recent violent attacks on followers of Jesus in the DRC, the many other challenges facing the nation’s believers in the northeast of the country.
Length 43 minutes
Episode Notes
To view the interview with Dr. David Kasali https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-cd-2026-06-25.htm
Congo Initiative: https://congoinitiative.org
Pray for the Democratic Republic of the Congo: https://www.vomcanada.com/drc.htm
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada
www.vomcanada.com
44 min
June 14 Season 6: Episode 20: Somalia: How Christian Media Is Transforming Lives! (encore)
Ranking second on the 2026 World Watch List, Somalia remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for followers of Jesus. Public Christian worship is forbidden; conversion from Islam is illegal; and the militant terrorist group, Al-Shabaab, continues its violent campaign to eliminate Christianity – openly executing anyone suspected of having faith in Jesus.
In the midst of this intense persecution, God is powerfully at work. Through the ministry of Somalia Christian TV, countless Somalis are hearing the Gospel, and thereby encountering Jesus for the first time. The media ministry, led by former Somali Muslims Shino and Shania Gabo, is reaching deep into Somali communities with the hope, truth and life-changing message of God’s salvation through Christ.
During this episode of Closer to the Fire, podcast host Greg Musselman is joined by Shino and Shania who will be sharing their remarkable testimonies. In addition to revealing the tremendous impact that this couple’s growing media outreach is having on so many lives in Somalia, the interview will also address the real dangers they continue to face because of their courageous faith.
Length: 58:30
Episode Notes
To watch the interview with the Gabo’s https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-so-2025-02-04.htm
Somalia Christian TV: https://somalichristiantv.org
Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List: https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/
Learn more about persecution in Somalia: https://www.vomcanada.com/somalia.htm
1 hr 1 min
May 29 Season 6: Episode 19: Pakistan: Protecting Christian Girls and Young Women
The governor of Pakistan’s Punjab Province recently signed the "Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026" into effect, raising the minimum age for marriage to 18 and strengthening protections for vulnerable youth. It is hoped that this legislation will help prevent the kidnapping, forced conversion and marriage of Christian girls across the country.
In this episode of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman is joined by Shulammite Nasir, a Pakistani Christian now living in Canada, to discuss the potential impact of this new law on the nation’s Christian minority. Drawing from her own experiences, Shulammite shares insight into the many challenges faced by girls and young women in Pakistan. She also speaks about her passion to encourage believers in her homeland and share the Gospel with those seeking truth.
Shulammite moved to Canada in 2018 with her parents, three sisters and brother. During her conversation with Greg, she reflects on why her family left Pakistan and how God redirected her life from a career in business to a calling in ministry.
Length:
Episode Notes
To watch Greg’s full interview with Shulammite Nasir, go to:
https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-pk-2026-05-28.htm
Church of Pentecost Pakistan: www.churchofpentecostpakistan.com
Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com
36 min

About Closer to the Fire with Greg Musselman

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The “Closer to the Fire” podcast addresses the persecution of Christians in various restricted nations around the world. By presenting informative interviews with Christian leaders on the front lines, this regular podcast serves to raise awareness, support and prayer on behalf of those who are suffering for their faith in Jesus.