Prisoners of Hope

He's lost count of how many converts call him "father." In this first episode of our Steadfast series on the Prisoners of Hope podcast, Salam, who serves in a closed country in the Middle East, opens up about the weight and the joy of ministering to former Muslims who have lost everything to follow Christ. From a tailor whose father-in-law tried to kill him, to a 10-year-old girl who wanted to join online church after her father was martyred, Salam shares stories that demonstrate what steadfastness looks like in some of the most dangerous places in the world to follow Jesus.

Iranian Christians Fares, Mahdi, Qasem, and Laith share firsthand accounts of the Iranian government's deadly crackdown on protesters, the resilience of the underground church, and what it means to be steadfast in faith when persecution and terror abound.

Joshua Youssef, CEO of Help The Persecuted, sits down with Field Ministers from Lebanon, Jordan, and Iran to talk about the unfolding conflict in the Middle East and how we can be praying. Give today to help persecuted Christians at: HTP.org/war

This week, Josh sits down with our Field Minister Salam to understand the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. This time of Islamic prayer and fasting can be especially dangerous for Christians in the Islamic World. So what is Ramadan, and how can we be praying this month for Muslims to come to faith in Jesus, and for Christians who find themselves in increased danger?

In this follow-up episode, we sit down with Dr. Sasan Tavassoli again who describes the developments from the past two weeks. He emphasizes the brutality of the Iranian Regime, explains the danger for persecuted Christians, and invites us to participate in a time of prayer and fasting for Iran February 6-8.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Sasan Tavassoli—a former Shi'ite Muslim from Iran, ordained Presbyterian minister, and co-founder of Pars Theological Centre—to talk about current political upheaval shaking the nation and the explosive growth of Christianity in Iran.

As Syria's regime change continues to send waves of refugees into Lebanon, Field Ministers Pierre and Laila share stories from the frontlines of ministry—Christmas gatherings where Muslim children hear about Jesus for the first time, families fleeing persecution who find refuge in our safe houses, and the quiet miracles that keep hope alive in chaos. This is a conversation about courage and how God continues to mightily move in the Islamic World.

In our final episode of 2025, Joshua Youssef interviews our Field Ministers across the Islamic World to hear how they celebrate Christmas and how our Winter Relief Outreach is making a difference in thousands of people's lives as winter sets in. Aseel shares the dangers associated with celebration in Libya, where she could be arrested any moment. Qasem talks about what it was like celebrating Christmas in his home country of Iran for the first time as a Christian. Salam ends with a word of encouragement to remember persecuted Christians this time of year.

In this personal episode of Prisoners of Hope, Joshua Youssef sits down with his father, Dr. Michael Youssef—Egyptian-born theologian, founder of global ministry Leading the Way, and author of many books—for a conversation about the faith that has shaped the persecution of Christians for over 1,400 years. Drawing from his PhD research on radical Islamic movements, his own family's survival as Egyptian Christians, and his escape from Egypt during the Six-Day War, Dr. Youssef explains what Islam is and how it has shaped the Middle East. This episode also previews his forthcoming book, An Unholy Alliance, which examines the troubling partnership between Western socialism and Islamist movements.

The Reverend Pat Allerton joined our team in Lebanon this summer to experience the work of our team firsthand. There, he visited safe houses, preached to Syrian refugees in our Haven, and helped in a vegetable distribution from our Seeds of Hope Farm! Most significantly, he joined our team in a local river to baptize over 40 refugees who have come to faith in Christ. Pat joins Joshua Youssef to talk about the trip and how it impacted him to spend time with people who have given up everything for the sake of Christ.

What does it look like when over 120 Muslim-background believers gather to celebrate Jesus—despite the threat of death? In this episode from the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted, Josh shares stories from his recent trip to Iraq: a descendant of Muhammad who returned to witness to the family that tried to kill him, a former ISIS child soldier who encountered Jesus through a TV film, and a radical Shia mother who saw Christ in a vision. These aren't victims—they're victors who've been redeemed from the hand of the foe. Plus, hear an update about Help The Persecuted's ministry...and an exciting year-end opportunity to have your gifts doubled in impact!

Leading up to the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted on November 2, Help the Persecuted CEO Joshua Youssef explores prayer's transformative power with Dr. Karen Ellis, director of the Edmiston Center for Christian Endurance Studies at Reformed Theological Seminary. Dr. Ellis shares how persecution differs from general suffering, the power of the Lord's Prayer to reorient us from self to kingdom, and why prayer unites one global church. Hear an astonishing revival story: eight churches "reduced to prayer" reached 250,000 homes and baptized 15,000 people in five years! Discover Jesus's boldest prayer, how sacrificial love is shifting hostility, and what restricted believers teach us about endurance. There's no "persecuted" and "free" church—only one body suffering and hoping together.

When a widow's husband is murdered for his faith, she's left with seven children and a death threat. When explosions strike near Yasmin's home and doctors say her son won't survive, she makes a desperate prayer that changes everything. When Bushra's husband dies, she can't even afford to bury him. Joshua Youssef and Samar share stories from our Widow's List ministry—a high-risk ministry rescuing widows who face double persecution as women in Islamic societies and believers in Christ. Hear how sustainable businesses are breaking poverty cycles and reaching entire families with the gospel where such work can mean imprisonment or death.

A former ISIS child fighter takes his first communion. A man whose father locked him in a burning shop for following Jesus says he "lost everything but gained everything." Iraqi believers risk death traveling 12 hours through militia checkpoints for their only chance all year to worship with other Christians. Join Josh Youssef and Brother Salam as they share stunning stories from Help the Persecuted's Enduring Faith Conference in Iraq—a gathering where 110 converts from Islam came together to worship, many seeing another Christian face-to-face for the first time all year...or in their lives.

After losing his best friend to Hamas torture, Aaron Abramson—CEO of Jews for Jesus—found Christ in a Jerusalem church led by a converted Druze pastor ministering to former Muslims. In this episode, Josh interviews Aaron about how the tragedy of October 7, 2023 is sparking the most unexpected revival. Secular Jews who never questioned their worldview are suddenly asking: "Why do people hate us so much? Is there any meaning in this suffering?" Jewish conversion rates have quadrupled. But the real story isn't just numbers—it's transformation. Aaron shares jaw-dropping accounts of supernatural reconciliation: former enemies becoming family, ancient hatred melting into brotherhood, and the gospel doing what politics, education, and peace treaties never could. Listen today to get a front-row seat to watching God turn one of the most intractable conflicts into a powerful demonstration of grace.