The number one request of persecuted Christians is “Pray for us.”
“…His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” – Psalm 91:4b
Major governmental law and regulation changes within the following nations are deeply affecting our brothers and sisters in numerous nations around the world. Many nations are already experiencing an increase in persecution due to the changes, while others may experience less persecution if changes do occur. Please pray for our brothers and sisters in each of these nations.
China – Non-religious, Buddhism, Chinese folk religion
Strict new regulations by the religious affairs bureau went into effect earlier this year, requiring all places of worship, staff members and religious leaders to be registered and receive authorization by the government. Under these new regulations, the religious affairs bureau will tightly govern every move that is made in every religious meeting place and take total control of religion. Chinese religious groups are beginning to see the worst persecution since the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976).
India – Hinduism
Seven states in India have passed the anti-conversion law, which criminalizes forced or bribed conversion.
“But then you come into how you interpret that law. If I tell someone that the only path to salvation is Jesus Christ, is that undue inducement? Is that pressuring them to convert?” said Todd Nettleton of The Voice of the Martyrs. Another major reason for the pressure on Christians is the ideology that 100 percent of nationals in India should be Hindu. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have further advanced these Hindu nationalist ideals — or Hindutva. BJP leaders have announced their goal to make India a “Hindu Rashtra” (Hindu nation) by 2024. This goal of a “Hindu Rashtra” in India has gravely jeopardized the safety of Indian religious minorities, including Christians.
Nepal – Hinduism, Buddhism, Animism
Anti-conversion laws went into effect in August. Sharing the gospel is forbidden under Nepal’s 2015 constitution, but new restrictions under the anti-conversion laws removes even more religious freedoms and punishment for those convicted. Some believe this is due to great pressure from India to “Hinduize” their neighbors. Nepali Christians and missions organizations are already seeing an increase in persecution.
Saudi Arabia - Sunni and Shiite Islam
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman is proposing freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia as well as major changes being made to the Hadith, a significant source of Islamic religious laws, moral guidance and where extremist branches of Islam draw its support. The proposed changes are due to younger generations of Saudis growing frustrated with religious restrictions and fundamentalist Islam. These epic changes have the potential of reducing persecution for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and of opening doors for Gospel work within this Muslim nation.
Uzbekistan – Sunni Islam
Uzbekistan has added two new requirements for religious organizations applying for legal status. First, any religious community that is seeking religious status must provide a notarized copy of the country’s official recognition of religious education. Second, the head of the religious educational institution must provide a notarized copy of the state’s official recognition of the religious education that was completed by the head of the institution. Currently, little information is available as to what type of education is considered acceptable under the requirement. There appears to be no official agency which currently recognizes foreign religious education in Uzbekistan and fulfilling these new restrictions is presently impossible.
These requirements have made some Christian churches and groups fearful. The requirements are also against Uzbekistan’s international human rights obligations.
Strict new regulations by the religious affairs bureau went into effect earlier this year, requiring all places of worship, staff members and religious leaders to be registered and receive authorization by the government. Under these new regulations, the religious affairs bureau will tightly govern every move that is made in every religious meeting place and take total control of religion. Chinese religious groups are beginning to see the worst persecution since the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976).
India – Hinduism
Seven states in India have passed the anti-conversion law, which criminalizes forced or bribed conversion.
“But then you come into how you interpret that law. If I tell someone that the only path to salvation is Jesus Christ, is that undue inducement? Is that pressuring them to convert?” said Todd Nettleton of The Voice of the Martyrs. Another major reason for the pressure on Christians is the ideology that 100 percent of nationals in India should be Hindu. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have further advanced these Hindu nationalist ideals — or Hindutva. BJP leaders have announced their goal to make India a “Hindu Rashtra” (Hindu nation) by 2024. This goal of a “Hindu Rashtra” in India has gravely jeopardized the safety of Indian religious minorities, including Christians.
Nepal – Hinduism, Buddhism, Animism
Anti-conversion laws went into effect in August. Sharing the gospel is forbidden under Nepal’s 2015 constitution, but new restrictions under the anti-conversion laws removes even more religious freedoms and punishment for those convicted. Some believe this is due to great pressure from India to “Hinduize” their neighbors. Nepali Christians and missions organizations are already seeing an increase in persecution.
Saudi Arabia - Sunni and Shiite Islam
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman is proposing freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia as well as major changes being made to the Hadith, a significant source of Islamic religious laws, moral guidance and where extremist branches of Islam draw its support. The proposed changes are due to younger generations of Saudis growing frustrated with religious restrictions and fundamentalist Islam. These epic changes have the potential of reducing persecution for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and of opening doors for Gospel work within this Muslim nation.
Uzbekistan – Sunni Islam
Uzbekistan has added two new requirements for religious organizations applying for legal status. First, any religious community that is seeking religious status must provide a notarized copy of the country’s official recognition of religious education. Second, the head of the religious educational institution must provide a notarized copy of the state’s official recognition of the religious education that was completed by the head of the institution. Currently, little information is available as to what type of education is considered acceptable under the requirement. There appears to be no official agency which currently recognizes foreign religious education in Uzbekistan and fulfilling these new restrictions is presently impossible.
These requirements have made some Christian churches and groups fearful. The requirements are also against Uzbekistan’s international human rights obligations.
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“We have learned that suffering is not the worst thing in the world- Disobedience to God is the worst.”
-A Vietnamese Christian pastor imprisoned for his faith
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Read all of these stories and more at Mission Network News.
“I will not let my brothers and sisters suffer in silence. I will not let them serve alone.”
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