Yemen
December 5th

“Yemen, the LORD will rejoice over you with gladness!”

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”(Zephaniah 3:17,NIV)

》 Country Profile

Continent | Middle East
Population | 30.98 million
Area | 527,968㎢, located at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, near the entrance of the Red Sea.
Capital City | Sana’a (3.18 million people)
People Groups | Total 29 groups: Northern Yemenis 43.7%, Yemenis 22.6%, Tihami Arabs 15%, Hadhrami Arabs 6.4%, Muhammasheen 5%, Somalis 1.5%
Unreached People Groups | 20 groups (99.7% of the population)
Official Language(s) | Arabic
Total Languages | 26
Bible Translations | Completed 12, New Testament 2, Partial 7
Religion | Islam 99.7%, Christianity 0.2% (Protestant 0.04%, Orthodox 0.08%), Hinduism 0.1%, Evangelicals 0.02% (approx. 6,000 people)

》 About Yemen

Yemen became a capitalist state in 1962 following a military coup led by Salal, which led to the establishment of North Yemen as the Yemen Arab Republic. In the south, previously under British control, the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen was founded in 1967 with support from the Soviet Union. In 1990, North and South Yemen were unified to form the Republic of Yemen. However, tensions between the two regions led to a military conflict in 1993, which escalated into a full-scale war in 1994. The war ended with a unilateral victory by the North, leading to reunification. In 2011, widespread protests inspired by the Arab Spring (Jasmine Revolution) led to the ousting of President Saleh, who had ruled for 33 years. Vice President Hadi assumed leadership in 2012 as the head of a transitional government. By 2015, military conflict had intensified between the Houthi rebels—Shiite forces backed by Iran—and the anti-Houthi coalition aligned with President Hadi and supported by Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia. Yemen’s internal instability is further complicated by around 1,700 tribes, each with its own armed forces. Southeastern tribes, opposed to the northern-based leadership, have operated almost as a “state within a state.” Terrorist activity by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has further exacerbated the chaos. Despite UN-brokered power-sharing agreements in 2018 and 2019, hostilities continued, including missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. The war has resulted in over 130,000 deaths and displaced more than 4 million people. A temporary ceasefire, renewed every two months, began in April 2022 but collapsed in October due to a lack of agreement between the government and the Houthis. As of now, the civil war in Yemen persists.

Yemen remains the poorest country in the Arab world due to the late development of its oil and gas sectors. While agriculture and fishing are practiced, the country cannot produce enough food to be self-sufficient due to harsh climatic conditions and outdated infrastructure. Qat, a narcotic plant widely consumed by the population, has become a serious social issue. The war has triggered severe inflation and sharply limited the import of essential goods like food and fuel. Yemen faces a humanitarian catastrophe: it has recorded nearly 1 million cholera cases—the largest outbreak globally—over 7 million people are at risk of famine, and more than 80% of the population is in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
Yemen’s GDP per capita is approximately $430.

》 Scripture Focus

》 Prayer Points

1. Yemen is 99.7% Muslim, with about one-third being Shia and the rest Sunni. It ranks fifth in the world for Christian persecution, with 13 missionaries martyred since 2000. Persecution comes not only from the government, but also from Islamic extremist groups, local tribes, communities, families, and especially Al Qaeda, all of whom actively target Christian converts. Since the civil war began in 2015, suffering in Yemen has intensified, yet the gospel has also spread more widely during this time. In the southern region, many have turned to Christianity as doubts about Islam deepened amid the conflict. Despite the serious danger of being exposed as a Christian, believers continue to serve their communities. A small number are joining Christian fellowships, and interest in Christian media is growing, leading more people to seek out churches. Reports suggest that in every region of Yemen, at least one convert can be found.
Though Yemen’s churches are few and under constant attack, let us pray that believers will not fear or grow weary, but will seek and trust the Lord. May the Almighty God be in their midst and bring them salvation. Let us pray that through the Yemeni church, the gospel will be proclaimed with joy to all people, that God will delight in them, love them quietly, and rejoice over them with singing.

2. Converting to Christianity in Yemen is considered a capital offense. If even one family member becomes a Christian, the entire family is shamed. Converts are often attacked, fired from their jobs, abandoned by relatives, and forced to prepare for the possibility of death. As a result, Christians worship in secret, either at home or in small outdoor gatherings. While Bibles exist in Yemen, they are hard to access—but many are now reading Scripture online via smartphones and computers. Underground church leaders receive remote theological training through broadcasts and the internet, while evangelists are supported to carry out ministry safely. The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) helps local believers not only share the gospel but also provides aid to Christians suffering due to the civil war. Through various media platforms, they work to spread God’s Word more effectively in Yemen. Let us pray that foreign mission organizations and churches will continue to intercede for Yemeni believers, supporting and encouraging the advance of the gospel. May Yemenis who are suffering from prolonged conflict, famine, and disease experience the saving love of the Father and overflow with joyful songs of praise from their hearts.

3. Yemen is facing one of the world’s most dire humanitarian crises due to its prolonged civil war. According to UNICEF, 11.3 million children in Yemen need urgent assistance to survive. Of these, 2.3 million children under the age of five are severely malnourished, and 400,000 are at risk of imminent death. Over 80% of the population requires aid for food, water, and sanitation, and more than 7 million people are on the brink of famine. In addition, over 4 million Yemenis have fled their homes and now live as refugees in various countries. In 2018, more than 500 Yemenis arrived on Jeju Island in South Korea seeking asylum, but only two were officially recognized as refugees. The Houthi rebels, a Zaidi Shia faction supported by Iran, continue to wage war against Saudi Arabia under the banner of religious ideology and anti-American sentiment. They engage in plundering and oppression, blocking humanitarian aid from reaching civilians in occupied areas, while also persecuting Christians and executing converts. Let us pray that God will bring justice to those who afflict Yemen, rescue the broken and scattered, and deliver Yemen from global disgrace. May He gather the Yemeni people at the foot of the cross, turning them from bondage to sin and death, and raising them up as a people known for their honor and praise among the nations.

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