At least 22 churches have been forced to close in Indonesia this year due to mounting pressure on local governments. Eighteen of the closed churches are located in the Singkil regency of Aceh province, where Muslims held a “peace rally” on April 30 urging the local government to tear down all churches lacking legal permits.

If you need a real boost of encouragement and inspiration, then please take a few minutes to watch this wonderful piece from CBN News. This is about Gracia Burnham and where she is ten years after her capture and the death of her husband Martin. Make sure you watch to the end. You can also read the news piece here.

Shortly after becoming a Christian in 1997, Hezekiah went to what was known locally as the “sanctuary” to receive discipleship and evangelism training. He then returned to his father’s house and was immediately approached by thirty-five relatives and villagers demanding to know why he had converted to Christianity. He told them, “Jesus is the only way I can be saved from my sins and have eternal life.”

Earlier this week our partner in ministry from China Aid, Bob Fu, was the subject of a wonderful interview by Mary Kissel from the Wall Street Journal editorial board. Mary visited China Aid to learn more about how Bob and China Aid are ministering to the underground church in China.

Yesterday we posted this weeks Persecution Podcast and this week it is a very special broadcast because this week Todd Nettleton interviews Brad Phillips of the Persecution Project Foundation about the current difficulties Christians are facing in Sudan and South Sudan.

“Hurry, get into the closet. Do not make a sound unless you hear my voice. Do you understand?” Rose heard the two small voices of her preschool children say, “Yes, Mommy,” then she bolted out the door and headed toward her daughter’s school, praying that it was not too late.

Today, our friends at Compass Direct are covering another story of persecution in Nigeria, which is just heartbreaking.