Churches in Algeria have been closed by the government. Pastors have been threatened. But the ministry continues. Pastor Abraham and Sara are back this week to continue our conversation about God’s work in the Middle East and North Africa—and the Christian persecution that Christ’s followers face.

Hear the story of one pastor who has repeatedly changed his phone number because of constant threats. Yet he remains in his country and continues to share the gospel with Muslims.

They will also offer an update on the situation for Christians in Syria as we near the one-year anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime.

Abraham and Sara will also share how Christians fleeing violence and danger in the region are going as missionaries to their new homelands—sometimes reaching their countrymen even in far-off lands!

Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and their countries amidst war and upheaval in the Middle East. Pastor Abraham and Sara are living as representatives of God’s love to displaced people in the Middle East. The ministry can be messy and difficult, yet they persist in demonstrating love in practical ways. And they are seeing great fruit for their ministry.

Abraham and Sara will share how one woman—the widow of an imam—had heard all kinds of negative things about Christians. But when she came to the church, she found something very different: people who loved her and helped her. Listen to hear the story of how God answered the woman’s prayer within 24 hours, and how a dream led her to commit her life to Jesus.

Leaving Islam behind to follow Jesus comes with a cost, though. Abraham and Sara will also share what Christian persecution looks like in the region, including pressure from families or tribes as well as Islamists or government authorities.

“We are planting seeds,” Sara says, “we are the tools for His Kingdom.”

In Malaysia, every citizen carries an ID card that includes religion; every person is classified as either ‘Muslim’ or ‘Non-Muslim’. The Malaysian constitution promises religious freedom and the right to choose one’s religion. So, what happens if a citizen changes their faith?

Brother ‘Samuel’ was born into a Muslim family, but he chose to leave Islam behind to follow Christ. At first, he kept his newfound faith quiet, knowing that being publicly identified as a follower of Jesus could bring all kinds of trouble.

But as he grew in faith, he felt convicted about his silence. Jesus had died for him. How could he be unwilling even to acknowledge Christ?

Learning of his conversion, Samuel’s family encouraged him to dive more deeply into Islamic training and activities. Wanting to honour his father and his family, Samuel agreed to attend Islamic classes. But instead of bringing him back to Mohammed, the training forced him to become more rooted in Biblical truth and more capable of explaining and defending Christian doctrines.

In 2018, Samuel began the process of applying for a new national ID card, changing his religion from “Muslim” to “non-Muslim”. Seven years later, his court case is still dragging on.

Listen to part two of Noah and Patrick’s conversation as they highlight what life is like in a Muslim dominated country of Southeast Asia [name of country withheld for security]. Being a Christian convert from Islam presents life-altering legal challenges to individuals who wish to marry the person of their choice! Hear about VOM Australia’s work in this country to send the small yet faithful church.

Listen also about the nation of Brunei, where Muslim background believers are offered bribes from the government to return to Islam.

This week on VOMAus Radio, hear from our partners in Nigeria, Kent and Ruth of Christian Faith Ministries (CFM).

As they choose to love their enemies, God continues to work powerfully through CFM.

CFM is a valued long-term ministry partner of VOM Australia, equipping the church for evangelism in dangerous regions and caring for those affected by religious violence.

Interview courtesy of our friends at Vision Christian Radio.

Australians are keen travellers to many Southeast Asian countries, but day-to-day life for small populations of local Christians can be a struggle.

This week on VOMAus Radio, Patrick and Noah discuss Christian life in a Muslim-dominant Asian nation [name of country withheld for security], including a special education outreach project for children without identification documents, and much sought-after leadership training for local pastors.

This week on VOMAus Radio, Noah and Patrick discuss the persecution of Christians in the extensive and hugely populous nation of India.

While India’s constitution guarantees religious freedom, in reality, anti-conversion laws are commonly used against pastors and evangelists, and attacks on pastors have become more common.

In the north of the country, where it’s a Hindu stronghold, anti-Christian sentiment is strong. In the south, persecution is most likely to occur in rural areas. Hear about how VOM Australia is at work in supporting pastors, providing training, Bible distribution and a safehouse for new converts who have been abandoned by family. Through this work, Christians are reminded that they are not alone.

This week on VOMAus Radio, Dr Yousaf Sadiq returns to continue his conversation with Todd Nettleton.

After dozens of churches and Christians’ homes in Jaranwala, Pakistan, were attacked, looted and burned by a mob, Christians gathered in and around the ruins of their former church buildings to sing and worship the Lord. The words they sang were directly from Scripture: Psalms of lament; reminders that even in times of suffering, we can come to the Lord and trust in His sovereignty.

“I want the world to know this fascinating story and what it means for the church in Pakistan.” Yousaf says, “It’s such a precious heritage.”

Dr Yousaf will also share about his work to support and include the ministry of persecuted Christians in the work of the Lausanne Movement.

This week on VOM Aus Radio, here from Dr Yousaf Sadiq. He was born into a Christian family in Pakistan.

His mother worked as a cleaner at a local school so that Yousaf and some of his ten siblings would have an opportunity to be educated. In the evenings, he would help his mother clean the school where he was a student during the day. Despite their deep poverty, Yousaf gratefully recounts how his family’s needs were always met.

Today Yousaf is a professor at Wheaton College and co-leader of the Lausanne Persecuted Church Initiative. He remembers how his parents invested time and energy in training their children to walk with the Lord, and how they led by example.

Yousaf also shares what it looks like to live in Pakistan as a Christian. There are many pressures within the society, but Yousaf understood at a young age that Christian persecution is part of following Christ.

“I felt not only strengthened but also privileged that this was happening,” he says.

This week on VOMAus Radio, we hear from Brother ‘Enfu’, the pastor of an illegal house church in China. Listen as he shares why and how he prepares his wife and children for the day he may eventually be arrested and sent to prison.

He will give an update on Christian persecution in China and how believers there are responding faithfully despite increasing government pressure.

Instead of large church events, the gospel is spreading through one-on-one conversations with co-workers or neighbours as Christians share what Jesus has done in their lives.

Brother Enfu encourages pastors and church leaders he trains to stay in China and serve Christians there, rather than leaving China for a more comfortable position in the West. He says that when he hears of a brother or sister imprisoned for their faith, it’s an encouragement to him, even as he acknowledges the suffering they are enduring.