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30 October 2026
Central Asia
Thank you for remembering us during our visit to this region. We have now started the journey home after a busy and blessed time. We give thanks to God for the faithfulness and perseverance of Christians across the Central Asian nations. God is at work! We look forward to sharing more about the visit in our newsletter early in 2027.
Pakistan
Pakistan’s Supreme Court on 7 October upheld 49-year-old Christian man, Qaiser Ayub’s blasphemy-related death sentence but acquitted his brother, Amoon (46) who was also sentenced to death. The brothers from Lahore, were arrested in 2015 and sentenced to death in 2018 under section 295C of Pakistan’s Penal Code, following an allegation, relating to material posted on a website originally registered in Qaiser Ayub’s name but shut down by him in 2009.
Iran
Lida Alexani (58), who is the wife of imprisoned Iranian Armenian pastor Joseph Shahbazian, has been summoned to begin a 13-year-prison sentence imposed in October 2025, following her conviction on charges of “deviant proselytising contrary to the holy religion of Islam” and “gathering and collusion”. Her husband Joseph is serving a 16-year-sentence in connection to his leadership of a house-church.
23 October 2026
Central Asia
Over the coming week we expect to have a team on the ground in Central Asia, where we hope to meet with the retreat project leadership team and also visit small groups in a number of locations. It promises to be a busy time with considerable travel across the country we are visiting. We value your prayers!
Pakistan
Christian businessman and father of three, Kamran Masih (40), was arrested on 8 October after he was accused of sharing a blasphemous video in a WhatsApp group. Following the allegation and arrest, Christian families fled from the area fearing attack by a Muslim mob. The next day a mob formed outside Mr. Masih’s small pharmacy and his adjacent home in the Sheikhupura District of Punjab Province and set both on fire. The intervention of police prevented a wider attack on neighbouring Christian properties.
Nigeria
Christian humanitarian worker, Lydia Nwankwo (30) died on 6 October after the Nigerian Red Cross vehicle in which she was travelling was ambushed and sprayed with gunfire in Shagari County, Sokoto State. Her grieving sister Victoria later told source MSN, “She left the comfort of her home to serve vulnerable communities in hard-to-reach areas in Sokoto. She was there to help mothers, children and the sick. She was there to bring health, food, and hope.”
16 October 2026
India
House church pastor, Balwinder Pal (45) was murdered in his home in Batala, Punjab, in an attack on 8 October. While the circumstances remain under police investigation, with one suspect now in custody, local sources have stated that Pastor Pal was attacked after a number of people entered his home and started striking him with ‘sharp-edged weapons’. He was rushed to hospital by his family where he was found to have succumbed to his injuries.
Ukraine (Russian-occupied Luhansk)
A Baptist pastor who has lived in Krasnodon for the past 67 years, 40 of which have been in the same house, faces deportation after the Russian-controlled Luhansk Supreme Court rejected his appeal against the annulment of his residence permit. Pastor Vladimir Rytikov has faced repeated legal action over his missionary activities, and the revocation of his residence permit came after he was branded a threat to security by Russia’s FSB.
Algeria
Prayer is requested for Christians facing sustained persecution by authorities in western Algeria. Following a raid on 4 September which led to the detention of Christians and the seizure of phones and literature, one couple arrested during the raid were summoned for further interrogation on 5 October, and over the following two days several others were also detained for questioning. They have been warned they face charges and also a court appearance over their activities.
China
A seasoned activist and member of the Early Rain Covenant Church was formally arrested in Chengdu on 23 September on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” Chen Yunfei had previously spent more than a month in custody after he was detained in August while in Gansu province. Earlier this year, he required hospital treatment after he was attacked by an unidentified man outside his home.
9 October 2026
Somalia
A community of underground Christians in southern Somalia have asked for prayer for a 20-year-old recent convert called Mariam, who has been beaten and confined to her home after her uncle discovered she had become a Christian. Sources report that Mariam, who has lived with her uncle since the separation of her parents many years ago, has been deprived of adequate food and water since her confinement late in September.
Russia
Korean missionary, Park Tae-Yeon (70), who was arrested on 15 January, one week before she had planned to leave Russia to begin her retirement, was given a five-year and eight-month prison sentenced after being convicted on immigration charges in Khabarovsk. VOM Korea, who have advocated on her behalf since her arrest, report that Missionary Park’s sentence will be appealed in a higher court.
China
A recent update from China Aid has reported that Wang Yi (53), who is the senior pastor of the Early Rain Covenant Church, is believed to be suffering from advanced liver-cancer. Because of the restrictions under which Pastor Wang is being held, China Aid has been unable to independently verify the report. Following his arrest during a crackdown on the church in December 2018, Pastor Wang was sentenced to nine years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power” and “illegal business operations.”
2 October 2026
Nigeria
Attacks by suspected Fulani militia on predominantly Christian communities south of Jos, plateau state, over 19 and 20 September left at least seven Christians dead and a number of other seriously injured. On Saturday 19 September, five Christians were killed when their vehicle was ambushed in Barkin Ladi country. The following morning, a pastor and another church worker died in an attack in nearby Dorowa Babuje, and the pastor’s son was critically injured.
Ethiopia
We are saddened to report the death of Muhedin, one of our micro-loan participants, who passed away recently in hospital at the age of 37 following a period of illness. He is survived by his wife Medina and their four children.
Following his conversion from Islam, Muhedin and his family faced significant persecution. Despite this, he faithfully evangelised the Muslim community until his illness prevented him from doing so. We are discussing with our partners how best to support Medina and the children.
China
Two members of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Sichuan Province, who were arrested along with nine others as they met together in a Chengdu teahouse on 11 Sept, have been released after spending 10 days in administrative detention. Elder Wu Wuquing and church member, Shen Xiaoquing, were given the punishment for allegedly “illegally organising proselytising activities”. The men were also fined 500 yuan and 300 yuan, respectively.
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