Open Doors Report Warns Christian Persecution Reaches Record Levels Worldwide

Open Doors Report Warns Christian Persecution Reaches Record Levels Worldwide

A new global report from Open Doors US indicates that Christian persecution and discrimination have reached unprecedented levels, with millions more believers facing severe pressure because of their faith. The report shows that 388 million Christians—more than one in seven worldwide—now face high levels of persecution or discrimination for their faith, marking an increase of more than 8 million compared to the previous year.
  • Dallas Street Preacher Temporarily Detained During Public Evangelism Outside Arena
    A North Texas street preacher said his brief detention by police while sharing his Christian faith in downtown Dallas raises serious constitutional concerns and called on authorities to uphold free speech protections. Landon Thurman, who leads the Dallas-based ministry Testimonies of God, said he was engaged in peaceful public evangelism outside the American Airlines Center on Dec. 18 as crowds gathered for a Dallas Mavericks game against the Detroit Pistons.
  • Arizona Christian Threatened with Arrest for Sharing Faith at Christmas Festival
    City officials in Tucson, Arizona, are facing allegations that they intimidated a local resident and his friends with arrest after they attempted to share Christian beliefs during a popular holiday event. The legal advocacy group First Liberty Institute sent a formal demand letter last week to City of Tucson, asserting that municipal authorities unlawfully restricted the religious expression.

Christians Voice Concern as Silence Surrounds Kidnapped U.S. Missionary Pilot in Niger

Nearly two months after an American missionary pilot was abducted from his home in Niamey, Niger, concern is mounting among local Christians who say there has been little public information about efforts to secure his release. The kidnapped missionary, Kevin Rideout, is a 48-year-old husband and father who was serving with the U.S.-based organization Serving In Mission (SIM).
  • Hearts on Fire Conference Draws 13,000 as Hundreds of Students Commit to Christ
    More than 13,000 students and leaders converged for this year’s Hearts on Fire Student Conference (HOF), where hundreds of young attendees made life-changing decisions to follow Jesus Christ. The two-day gathering, which drew participants from 20 states, took place Nov. 21–22 at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
  • Thousands of Students Commit to Christ at UniteUs Revival in Cincinnati
    Thousands of college students in Ohio made first-time commitments to Christ or rededicated their lives during a large-scale evangelistic outreach hosted by UniteUs near three major universities in Cincinnati. The event, held Wednesday (Nov. 5) at the Heritage Bank Center near the Cincinnati Reds Stadium, drew an estimated 5,500 attendees from the University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, and Cincinnati State College. 
  • Franklin Graham Draws 70,000 in Buenos Aires, Echoing His Father’s Gospel Mission 34 Years On
    The Rev. Franklin Graham, son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, shared the Gospel message with more than 70,000 people in Argentina over the weekend during a large-scale outreach in Buenos Aires. The televangelist’s visit comes 34 years after his father traveled to the country to preach and encourage commitments to Jesus Christ.
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  • Rick Warren Urges Global Church to Follow Jesus’ Ministry Method at WEA Assembly

    Saddleback Church founder and renowned evangelist Rick Warren, issuing an appeal for Christian leaders to mirror Jesus’ ministry model, outlined five essentials he says believers must practice to win the world for Christ. Addressing an in-person audience at SaRang Church on Monday evening during day one of the World Evangelical Alliance’s 14th General Assembly, Warren said the approach he follows is not American or from any nation but God’s own method, which means “it's perfect.”

  • Three Christians Arrested in Uttar Pradesh Under Anti-Conversion Law, Despite Court Ruling

    Authorities in northern India last week detained three Christians, including a pastor, under a contentious anti-conversion statute after allegations they sought to convert Hindus to Christianity through “inducements.”

  • ISHR President Warns Christian Persecution Worsening Worldwide in Yearbooks Launch

    At a press conference marking the release of the International Society for Human Rights’ (ISHR) 2025 yearbooks, “Religious Freedom” and “Persecution and Discrimination of Christians,” ISHR President Thomas Schirrmacher said conditions for Christians have deteriorated markedly across many regions.

  • 100 Million Christians Worldwide Without Access to a Bible: ‘A Modern Famine of the Word’

    A new report estimates that around 100 million Christians are living without access to a Bible, exposing both legal restrictions and significant shortages in numerous countries. The Bible Access List, published Thursday by the Bible Access Initiative, brings together data and expert insights from 88 nations to pinpoint where Scripture is most difficult to obtain.

  • BGEA’s “Festival of Hope” Evangelism Event in Brussels Attracts Over 14,000 Attendees

    Over 14,000 people gather in Brussels, Belgium, to hear evangelist Rev. Franklin Graham share a Gospel message at a gathering backed by 620 Evangelical churches. Graham — president and CEO of both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan’s Purse — delivered the keynote message at the “Festival of Hope” evangelistic outreach at Brussels’ ING Arena on Saturday night.

  • Crackdown in China: Pastors’ Online Ministries Restricted, Youth Evangelism Banned

    According to Bitter Winter, a magazine on religious liberty and human rights, the National Religious Affairs Administration in China has released regulations that significantly limit online religious content based on existing laws. The group reported, “This is not the first time China has tightened its grip on religious life, but it may be one of the most technologically invasive.”Crackdown in China: Pastors’ Online Ministries Restricted, Youth Evangelism Banned

  • Seattle Approves Worship Leader Sean Feucht's Revival Event Amid Pushback

    Worship leader Sean Feucht hosted a peaceful revival event in Seattle, Washington, over the weekend. "Under the First Amendment, the City cannot decline a permit based on the anticipated message of the event or views of the organizers," Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said in a statement, according to Fox News.

  • American Missionary Josh Sullivan Briefly Returns to Ministry in South Africa

    US Pastor and missionary Josh Sullivan, who was kidnapped by armed men from his church in South Africa in April and held hostage for six days, made a brief return to ministry in the country last month. Sullivan, who was rescued by South African Police and miraculously unharmed after a shootout that resulted in three deaths, shared in a ministry update that he and his family returned to South Africa as part of a pre-planned mission retreat in Thailand.
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