Late in 2023, police in Laos arrested three Christians from the Akha people group for building a church and held them without giving any information to family or friends for several months. On January 26, 2024, authorities demolished the building these brothers in Christ had constructed. Pray for the safety and wellbeing of these men and their families, the strengthening of this congregation and the spread of the gospel among the Akha and other tribal groups in Laos.
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Some local Christian leaders in Lebanon have reported an inspiring work of God even as many in the country are struggling amid economic hardship and political instability. “You’re aware of the many crises Lebanon is facing,” said one pastor. “In the past year alone, we have endured unemployment and underemployment, a dysfunctional government, hyperinflation, and war along our southern border.” Then he added, “And yet we are seeing one of the greatest gospel movements in the country’s history. There have been 115 baptisms since January! Small group Bible studies in homes have multiplied, and the church is expanding in hard-to-reach places.”
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In December 2023, Mauritanian authorities arrested a group of around 15 Christians after a video of them participating in a baptism was posted online. All of the arrested Christians were former Muslims. Mauritania is dominated by Islamist leadership, and conversion from Islam is illegal. “At first, no lawyer would defend them,” said a front-line worker. “The officials tried to get them to apologize on social media for spreading the gospel, to agree to never promote Christianity, and to return to Islam,” he added. All of the Christians were released late in December after agreeing to only hold Christian services inside their homes. “This is an answer to prayer,” said the front-line worker, who requested additional prayer for the small Mauritanian Christian community and for more Bibles to be distributed in the restricted nation.