Diya’s story
It was midnight. Diya* and her family had returned from a prayer meeting several hours earlier and now slept soundly in their South Asian home. All was quiet except for the occasional nocturnal animal as it prowled through the night. No one suspected other, more sinister prowlers might be awake, and the first, faint crackle that split the peaceful night went unnoticed.
But the crackling roared louder, and with it came the hint of an acrid odor that strengthened until, finally, Diya’s husband awoke. “Fire!” he yelled, alerting his wife and children. “Fire!” The family hurried from their home, still rubbing sleep from their eyes, and turned to see the entire back portion of their house engulfed in flames. Already, they knew their motorcycle and scooter were gone. “Help us!” they yelled, begging their neighbors to wake up and assist in their attempts to put out the growing inferno.
But no one came, for it was these same neighbors who had set their house on fire.
The family watched as the entirety of their home collapsed in on itself. Their clothes and furniture—all of their memories—became ash. Even the crops they’d so carefully stored to sell at the market were gone.
This was the third—and perhaps worst—persecution Diya and her family faced as believers in a village hostile to the gospel. Two years ago, her daughter was attacked when she attempted to gather water at the community well. Several months later, cattle were purposely let loose in the family’s field to destroy all of their crops.
“This family is withstanding a lot of persecution,” a native ministry leader said. “But they are still standing strong in their faith.”
Farhan’s story
Under cover of darkness, Farhan*, a Christian worker in South Asia, hurried to his next hideout. Night after night, he sought a new safe place as he tried to evade those who wanted to harm him because of his faith. Already, he’d said goodbye to his wife and children before they boarded a plane to a safer location with the help of colleagues in America.
Now, Farhan was on his own, hiding in the shadows as he tried to formulate a plan to reunite with his family. Despite the many unknowns, he trusted Jesus, especially since witnessing God’s protection when men searched for his family before they evacuated. “The Lord was good and gracious,” he said. “He blinded the eyes of the enemies of the cross. The radicals who came to our house searched every nook and cranny of the five-story building except our sanctuary. Halleluiah!”
Live a life worthy of the gospel
The regions in which Diya and Farhan live have become hotbeds of Christian persecution. Nearly 250 churches were totally destroyed last year in and around Farhan’s community, and gathering together to worship on Sundays has become impossible. In December of 2023, a local pastor was brutally beaten as he decorated his home for Christmas and another pastor was threatened to renounce his faith. “A great trial has come upon us,” said one ministry leader. “And no media has the courage to speak up on Christian persecution.”
“A great trial has come upon us. And no media has the courage to speak up on Christian persecution.”
More than 365 million Christians are suffering intense persecution and discrimination across the world, according to Open Doors International. In Asia alone, two of every five Christians experience persecution. “The attacks on Christians are becoming ‘dangerously violent,’” reports one news source, “with churches and Christian institutions targeted while Christians face digital surveillance and tens of thousands are displaced across the globe.”
In some South Asian countries, thousands have been chased out of their villages, and some have been murdered. Others, like Farhan, have separated from their families to ensure their children are safe. But even in the midst of these great challenges, native missionaries refuse to back down. In fact, they are more determined than ever to unite, with some having recently joined together in a secret location to fellowship and encourage one another. “In such a time as this, a leadership conference was a huge blessing,” a ministry leader said. “We’re beginning to see quite clearly that we were brought here for a purpose. God doesn’t waste our heartbreaks.”
“God doesn’t waste our heartbreaks.”
“Please continue to uphold the persecuted saints here,” Farhan said. “Our hope is in the Lord who said, ‘I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’”
And please consider a donation to help support the persecuted church as they stand against the enemies of the cross.