In Pakistan, a distorted concept of “honour,” strict blasphemy laws and systemic injustice contribute to the ongoing persecution of Christians – especially young women. Each year, hundreds of female followers of Jesus face abduction, forced marriage, coerced conversion to Islam, and various forms of abuse.

In her newly published book, Our Sisters, author Anna Townsend draws on extensive research and a compassionate interviewing style to share the powerful stories of Christian women in Pakistan who have been forced into marriage. Throughout the process, she highlights the courageous faith of these women and their families, as well as the tireless efforts of activists who are working to help them.

In this episode of Closer to the Fire, Anna joins podcast host Greg Musselman to discuss the heartbreaking realities experienced by our Christian sisters in this region of the world – and what we can do to stand with them in their fight for justice.

Length: 56 minutes

Episode Notes

To watch the full interview with Anna Townsend https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-pk-2025-11-23.htm

Dislocated Christians: https://www.facebook.com/DislocatedChristians

To purchase your copy of Anna’s recently published book, Our Sisters, visit: https://ko-fi.com/anna3369/shop

Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

Violence against Christians in Nigeria has sparked sudden international attention and debate, with some referring to the ongoing crisis as genocide. In September, news commentator Bill Maher stated that “Islamists and Boko Haram [militants] were systematically killing Christians in Nigeria, attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country.”

More recently, U.S. President Donald Trump declared Nigeria “a country of particular concern” and warned of military intervention if the Nigerian government failed to protect its Christian population. However, Nigerian authorities deny the claims that followers of Jesus are being deliberately targeted and that a genocide is underway.

In this powerful episode of the Closer to the Fire podcast, Rev. Yunusa Nmadu, the CEO of Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria, joins host Greg Musselman to explore the facts behind the headlines. During the interview, they address the ongoing suffering of believers in Nigeria and examine whether the repeated acts of brutal violence – and the resulting large number of fatalities – amount to genocide. CSW Nigeria is a partner with VOM Canada.

Length: 40 minutes

To watch the interview with Yunusa Nmadu https://www.vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-ng-2025-11-06.htm

Episode Notes

Christian Solidarity Worldwide: www.cswng.org.ng

Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine rages on, evangelical Christians are facing intensifying persecution. In this episode of the Closer to the Fire podcast, host Greg Musselman is joined by Rev. Mykhailo Brytsyn, Director of the Religious Freedom Initiative for Mission Eurasia and pastor at Grace Church of Evangelical Christians.

Rev. Brytsyn, who also serves as secretary of the International Council in southeastern Ukraine, discusses recent Russian court rulings that have forcibly shut down at least five church buildings and placed three others under investigation. A sweeping court order issued in September 2024 now threatens the activities of approximately 2,500 evangelical congregations within Russia.

Additionally, Rev. Brytsyn shares sobering insights into the dangerous realities facing believers residing within Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine, inviting us to stand in solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters who continue to follow Jesus amid war and oppression.

Length: 51 minutes

Episode Notes

Mission Eurasia: www.missioneurasia.org

To read Rev. Brytsyn’s report, “Faith Under Russian Terror: Analysis of the Religious Situation in Ukraine” visit: https://missioneurasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-Mission-Eurasia-report-on-Ukraine-ENG.pdf

Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

Ranked number one on Open Doors’ World Watch List, North Korea remains the most dangerous place in the world for followers of Jesus. Church life is virtually nonexistent, gathering for worship or prayer is impossible, and even secret expressions of faith carry grave risks. Christians live under constant surveillance from government spies, neighbours, teachers, and even family members. Being reported for Christian activities can lead to execution or lifelong imprisonment in brutal labour camps. Yet, despite such intense persecution, the Gospel message continues to reach hearts in this Hermit Kingdom – including through the powerful Christian radio broadcasts that are being supported by VOMC.

In this episode of the Closer to the Fire podcast, host Greg Musselman speaks with Dr. Eric Foley, who serves as CEO and Co-Founder of Voice of the Martyrs Korea. Although listening to foreign broadcasts is illegal and highly punishable in North Korea, Dr. Foley shares how God is using shortwave radio programs to disciple believers and spread the hope of Christ throughout one of the most restrictive nations on earth. During the interview, he also discusses the launch of a new program that’s aimed at further strengthening the country’s resilient underground church.

Length: 1 hour 12 minutes

Episode Notes

To view the interview with Dr. Foley: https://www.vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-kp-2025-09-24.htm

The Voice of the Martyrs Korea: www.vomkorea.com

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

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

Christians in Somalia encounter life-threatening persecution not only from the militant Islamic group al-Shabab, but also from hostile members of their families and local communities. In particular, those who have left Islam to follow Jesus risk harassment, intimidation and even the threat of death. According to the World Watch List from Open Doors (an annual ranking of the top 50 countries where Christians encounter the most extreme persecution), Somalia remains the second most dangerous region in the world for followers of Jesus. Despite the intense opposition, this East African nation is home to one of the fastest growing church movements in the world.

VOMC’s Closer to the Fire host, Greg Musselman, is joined by Dr. Aweis Ali from the Somali Bible Society to discuss the many dangers facing the country’s Christians, why the church is experiencing remarkable growth, and the exciting efforts of ministry workers who are reaching out to Somalis with the Gospel message. During his conversation with Greg, Dr. Aweis also shares the story of how he personally came to faith in Jesus – and the price he and other Muslim-background believers have paid for choosing to follow Christ in this restricted nation.

Length: 43 minutes

To watch the interview with Dr. Aweis https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-so-2025-05-06.htm

Episode Notes

Somali Bible Society: www.somalibiblesociety.org

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

Christians in Somalia encounter life-threatening persecution not only from the militant Islamic group al-Shabab, but also from hostile members of their families and local communities. In particular, those who have left Islam to follow Jesus risk harassment, intimidation and even the threat of death. According to the World Watch List from Open Doors (an annual ranking of the top 50 countries where Christians encounter the most extreme persecution), Somalia remains the second most dangerous region in the world for followers of Jesus. Despite the intense opposition, this East African nation is home to one of the fastest growing church movements in the world.

VOMC’s Closer to the Fire host, Greg Musselman, is joined by Dr. Aweis Ali from the Somali Bible Society to discuss the many dangers facing the country’s Christians, why the church is experiencing remarkable growth, and the exciting efforts of ministry workers who are reaching out to Somalis with the Gospel message. During his conversation with Greg, Dr. Aweis also shares the story of how he personally came to faith in Jesus – and the price he and other Muslim-background believers have paid for choosing to follow Christ in this restricted nation.

Length: 43 minutes

To watch the interview with Dr. Aweis https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-so-2025-05-06.htm

Episode Notes

Somali Bible Society: www.somalibiblesociety.org

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

Following Ayatollah Khomeini’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran became the world's only country to be governed by an Islamic theocracy. Today, many of those living under the Islamic regime are filled with despair. Yet, their disillusionment has opened new doors for the Gospel, which is sweeping across the nation via satellite TV, the Internet, as well as a growing number of house church movements.

Even so, the government continues its attempts to thwart the spread of Christianity by persecuting the nation’s followers of Jesus. Many Iranians are also coming into a relationship with Christ after leaving the country and moving abroad, where they are passionate about seeing fellow Iranians – both inside and outside of the nation – come to faith in Jesus. One such person is Shah Ahmadi of Iran Alive Ministries, a U.S.-based organization and trusted ministry partner of Voice of the Martyrs Canada. In this episode of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman sits down with Shah at the Iran Alive headquarters in Texas.

Length: 42 minutes

Episode Notes

Iran Alive Ministries: www.iranalive.org

Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

In this episode of the Closer to the Fire podcast, host Greg Musselman reports on the escalating violence committed against Christians in the North Central Nigerian state of Benue. In June, militant Fulani herdsmen launched a brutal attack on the Christian community of Yelwata, killing an estimated 200 villagers – many of them internally displaced people who had fled previous violence. The attackers used fuel to set the villagers’ homes ablaze, leaving devastation in their wake.

Just weeks later, in early July, four members of Christian Faith Ministries were also tragically killed in Benue State. In this podcast report, Greg is joined by Ruth and Kent Hodge, the founders of Christian Faith Ministries, to discuss these recent heartbreaking attacks, the broader persecution of Christians throughout Nigeria, and how God is still working powerfully through His people – even in the midst of suffering.

Length: 38 minutes

Episode Notes

To watch the interview with the Hodge’s www.vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-ng-2025-07-11.htm

Christian Faith Ministries: https://www.cfaithnews.org/

Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

Why Are Men and Women Persecuted Differently for Their Faith?

There is plenty of evidence indicating that men and women suffer differently when they are persecuted for their faith in Jesus. In this episode of Closer to the Fire, podcast host Greg Musselman is joined by Emma, the director of an organization that is dedicated to addressing gender-specific religious freedom issues. (Due to the nature of her work, Emma’s surname cannot publicly disclosed.)

During the interview, this valued ministry partner of VOMC discusses the various ways in which gender-specific persecution affects the church, the devastating consequences that occur when these realities are overlooked, and how the body of Christ can respond with greater understanding, wisdom and compassion. Most importantly, she highlights the hope and healing that Jesus is bringing into the lives of persecuted believers in the midst of suffering.

Length: 56 minutes

Episode Notes

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com