“If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”
[Apr.07.2022] The American Christian Headlines recently introduced a column titled “Top five trends and takeaways from this year’s World Watch List”.
1) North Korea has been at (or near) the top of the World Watch List for the past 20 years, but this year the country lost its top spot to Afghanistan. To be clear, this doesn’t mean things are improving for Christians in North Korea; it means things have gotten worse in Afghanistan. Across all the top 10 countries in this year’s World Watch List, there is an overarching rise in pressure and persecution.
2) The deadliest place in the world for Christians gets deadlier.
Last year, to our best estimate, 4,761 Christians were killed for their faith. This year, that number increased by nearly 24% to 5,898 (in actuality, this number is probably much higher). Of this number, 4,650 took place in Nigeria —that’s 13 Christians martyred, every day.
Nigeria accounts for nearly 80 percent of Christian deaths worldwide, but violence against Christians continues to spread rapidly throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Out of the top ten most violent countries against Christians, this part of Africa retains seven of those: Nigeria, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
3) Constant surveillance of worship services
For a long time, China’s surveillance system has encroached on the religious freedoms of Christians and other religious minorities. But it’s only gotten worse.
As China’s technology continues to spread to places like Laos, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and even countries in the West, the possibility of further persecution against the Church continues to rise.
There are reports that cameras are present in all state-sanctioned religious venues. In 2021, some Bible apps were taken down from online stores, Christian content was taken off social media and the restrictions of online life have grown tighter.
4) Muslim extremists
When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in September, it was a victory for Islamic extremists. But the Taliban weren’t the only extremist group to make strides in 2021: in Nigeria and Cameroon, Boko Haram continues to wreak havoc, and the Islamic State group is active in West Africa.
Mozambique and al Shabab also control large portions. Islamic extremism continues to spill from one country to the next. God’s Church can never be destroyed, even by Islamic extremism. The Church might go underground, but it continues to grow outward, attached to Jesus at the root.
5) Countless people were driven out of their homes for Jesus.
In many African countries, like Nigeria and Mozambique, where extremist military groups are heavily active, it is safer for believers to flee than to stay. In Eritrea, Christian women flee to avoid obligatory military service, where they could be beaten, assaulted, or worse.
But these trends should not discourage us or make us despair of God’s action in the world. If anything, what’s happening to God’s people should drive us to prayer—and deepen our faith as we watch our brothers and sisters follow Him, no matter what(Source: Christian Today Comprehensive).
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.(John 15:18,20)
God, we pray that You look upon the nations where violence towards Christians and danger are increasing resulting in many casualties and refugees. Even though the number of martyrs is increasing and the freedom of worship is deprived, may the believers of the persecuted nations rejoice and endure the current hardships by following the steps of Jesus Christ. May the churches stand firm on the faith in Christ, continue to pray for the persecuted believers, and attach to Jesus at the root and grow.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
