The Front Line Report

In this episode, Tom Hardy of Release International speaks with Lazarus Yeghnazar of the organisation of Transform Iran. Inside Iran, protests are met with brutal crackdowns, yet something extraordinary is happening beneath the surface. In this powerful episode, Lazarus shares stories of courage, persecution, and a growing underground church, with over a million turning to Christ – many through dreams. As fear of famine and further devastation looms, he calls for prayer, hope, and attention. Release International UK is a sister office of VOM Australia

God Answers Prayer that a Fellow Pastor Would be Arrested After spending months in prison for sharing the gospel with Hindus, Pastor Paul’s health began to deteriorate. In desperation, he prayed that God would allow another pastor to be arrested and sent to the same prison so they could encourage one another. Four days later, Paul read in the newspaper that a pastor had been arrested. Two weeks after that, the pastor arrived at the prison and brought Paul great encouragement, telling him that his church had been praying for him. With renewed faith, the two pastors prayed together regularly. Other prisoners soon began asking them for prayer, and even prison guards noticed their devotion. When asked what they were doing, the pastors replied that they were praying for the guards as well. Eventually, around 70 prisoners came to them seeking prayer and wanting to learn about Jesus. Go to www.PrisonerAlert.com to learn how you can pray for other persecuted Christians still imprisoned for their faith. Write to and encourage Christians imprisoned for their faith and their families.

Pastor Paul was doing gospel outreach in northern India when police arrested him and accused him of forcing Hindus to convert, even though he was only sharing with people who wanted to hear the truth. When officers arrived, Paul and his co-workers were simply eating a meal, but they were still taken into custody. Paul and three fellow Christians suffered greatly in detention. Police repeatedly threatened them and promised freedom if they renounced their faith in Jesus. They were placed in a filthy cell used as a latrine and even allowed a mob of radical Hindus to beat them. Despite the suffering, Paul prayed for courage and asked God to help him not fear. During his imprisonment, he found opportunities to share the gospel with other prisoners, demonstrating the hope he had in Christ even as some of his co-workers eventually renounced their faith.

Isaac Santiago, Regional Leader for The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) in Latin America, describes the growing challenges Christians face in countries such as Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Colombia. Since 2018, Nicaragua has introduced laws and government pressure that heavily restrict the church, similar to persecution seen in communist countries like Cuba and China. As a result, Nicaragua is now listed as a “Restricted Nation” in VOM’s 2026 Global Prayer Guide. Many Nicaraguan Christians are struggling to adjust to these new restrictions, while believers in Cuba have lived with similar limitations for more than 60 years. Santiago also discusses Venezuela, where recent leadership changes have coincided with a spiritual revival, and in the past two years, he has seen the gospel spreading and churches growing in many parts of the country. Click here [https://vom.com.au/about/persecuted-christians/] to view VOM's Global Prayer Guide.

This week, listen as John Burrough, CEO of Partners International, shares how taking a mission trip completely changed his outlook and how that experience could impact and change your perspective in every area of life. John will share how Partners International invests in local ministries and church networks advancing the gospel in the 10/40 window, and how they come alongside locals to help them go further and faster in achieving the mission God has given them. "All missions begin with prayer", John says, and shares how the Lord is mobilising prayer for the unreached in restricted nations and hostile areas. Listen for the amazing story of a former Boko Haram member in West Africa who came to Christ while spying on a Christian leadership training session. The former terrorist is now advancing the gospel among the people he used to work with.

In Part 2 of our interview with Pastor Hassan Abduraheem Taour, he shares how his heart remained upbeat, even as the judge pronounced him guilty and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. He'll talk about how reading the Bible is different inside prison than when you're free. Hassan says he experienced persecution as a blessing from God – a blessing that brought him tears of joy. "It is really a privilege to be persecuted," he says. Pastor Hassan recounted how fellow members of the Body of Christ in Sudan encouraged him in prison with faith that the Lord would release him. His prayer life also grew in prison, as he became a prayer warrior, quoting Bible verses as he prayed with tears.

Pastor Hassan Abduraheem Taour helped train Sudanese pastors to be ready for persecution. He didn't know that he was also preparing himself for the day he'd be arrested in Sudan, charged with aiding espionage alongside VOM's Africa Regional Director, Petr Jasek, and sentenced to 12 years in prison. There were difficult days in prison, yet Pastor Hassan experienced the joy of the Lord—joy so powerful it brought tears to his eyes. It is because of that joy, and because of the ministry God gave him in prison, that Pastor Hassan looks back on those long months as "one of the best times of my life." Click here [https://soundcloud.com/vom-oz/petr-jasek-10th-anniversary-of] to listen to Petr's interview on the Front Line Report

We look back on some of the most moving moments shared on The Front Line Report in 2025. Be inspired and encouraged by the way the Lord is at work in restricted nations and hostile areas. Highlights include: - Michael & Mona share what it looks like to be a Christian in North Africa, where they are often treated as second-class citizens. Yet Mona says she loves the Muslim people who are victims of a false religion. - Kevin works among people trapped in fear-based animistic practices in Southeast Asia. He'll share how gospel workers combat that fear with the love of Christ.

MOVING MOMENTS: This week, we look back on some of the most moving moments shared on The Front Line Report in 2025. Be inspired and encouraged by the way the Lord is at work in restricted nations and hostile areas. MOVING MOMENTS OF 2025 - PART 1 Highlights include: - Hope & Nagy have been called by God to live in some very difficult places. They were serving Him in Libya when civil war broke out; they stayed and thrived under the Lord's protection. Then they heard the Lord call them to a new and equally challenging land. - Abraham & Sara minister to Muslim refugees in the Middle East who are open to the gospel. They see the hunger to know Jesus, and the Lord is revealing Himself to these refugees through dreams, visions, and the love of Christ, as seen in the example of Abraham, Sara, and their team.

Ten years ago, Petr Jasek travelled to Sudan on behalf of Voice of the Martyrs to meet with and encourage Sudanese Christians. At the airport on his way out of the country, Petr was arrested and later sentenced to life in prison. His first prison cellmates were ISIS fighters – men who hated Christians and quickly began to persecute Petr. Petr Jasek spent 445 days in Sudanese custody. Listen as Petr shares about his first night in a jail cell, how God uniquely prepared him with a dream and how he discovered that his cellmates were radical Muslim ISIS fighters. In prison, Petr felt the Lord's presence very near, as once he received a Bible – he spent hours every day reading the Bible and praying. In Petr's lowest moments, God brought to his mind the names and faces of other persecuted Christians – men and women Petr had met during his years overseeing VOM's work in Africa. He began to pray for other persecuted believers, and his spirit lifted as his focus changed from his own difficulties to praying for other Christians. The story of Petr's imprisonment – and the ministry God allowed him inside – is told in his book, Imprisoned with ISIS: Faith in the Face of Evil (https://vom.com.au/product/imprisoned-with-isis-faith-in-the-face-of-evil-petr-jasek-with-rebecca-george/)

There are more mobile phones in the world than cars, toilets, or people. What if each of those phones could be turned into a Bible? Using their backgrounds in electrical engineering and software development, David and Josiah Palusky have developed technology tools to help Christian workers spread the gospel in places where people are unreached, and there is often Christian persecution. David is the founder and president of Renew Outreach. He will share how the ministry began and the tools they've developed to help provide unreached people in remote places with access to God's Word. Josiah, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Renew, explains efforts to help persecuted Christians around the world share the gospel using emerging technology.

A nationwide crackdown on urban house churches in China has drawn worldwide attention after nearly 30 members of the Zion Protestant Church were arrested in seven cities, including Beijing and Shanghai. In this episode of the Front Line Report, VOM Canada’s Greg Musselman is joined by Dr Bob Fu, founder and president of ChinaAid, to explain the reasons behind these recent arrests and why the international media is finally paying attention. During the interview, Dr Fu also discusses the Chinese Communist Party’s escalating campaign against Christians – and why this wave of persecution is considered the most severe crackdown since the beginning of the Cultural Revolution.

In 2018, Huldah's husband was martyred for his Christian witness. Family and friends urged Huldah to leave the village, to retreat to a safer location. She refused, and seven years later, she is still living and serving the Lord in the same village. "My God is great, and He will take care of me," she says. Listen as Huldah shares how God has cared for her since her husband's death, often using members of Christ's body to serve and support her in times of need. She'll also talk about the process of forgiveness. Huldah still sees the people who killed her husband, yet she doesn't hold a grudge in her heart but instead has forgiven them. Hear what Huldah's ministry looks like today in the village, and how she lives out Matthew 25:40's call to serve the Lord by caring for the least of these.

Over the last fifteen years, living and ministering in South Asia, Brian, a leader with Operation Mobilisation, has witnessed numerous changes. One aspect that hasn't changed is openness to the gospel. Brian explains where Christian persecution usually begins and how it can feature a mix of family, community, and/or the government coming against the church and against new followers of Jesus. Emphasising that God is the one who changes hearts and minds, Brian shares how, when we read the New Testament, we see that God is sovereign even over the persecution He allows His children to endure. "[Christian persecution] causes believers to grow in their faith." Brian says, "I think it's a real witness that this faith is so much bigger than what is happening to me in this world."

“I just want the Bible. How much does it cost?” First, the young Druze woman tried to access and read her own religion’s holy book. But she wasn’t allowed to read it. Then she tried to find a Koran. Finally, she came to a church and asked to purchase a Bible, worried she wouldn’t have enough money to pay for it. The pastor told her that God’s Word is priceless, but that he would give it to her without cost. Shocked, she took the Bible and began to read, eventually giving her life to Jesus. Brother Michael, a gospel worker in the Middle East, will share more of this young woman’s powerful story and the Christian persecution she faced from her family while standing firm in Christ. In spite of persecution, even locked in a room, she continued to share the gospel. Learn what it’s like to live as a Christian in the Middle East, and what believers face after leaving Muslim or Druze backgrounds to follow Christ. As believers engage in conversations with family and friends, they carefully plant spiritual seeds while testing their listeners’ hearts to see if they are ready to go deeper. Brother Michael also shares how he trains and leads discipleship through Discovery Bible Study groups, which are multiplying as new believers share their personal testimonies with family and friends. One group started with nine believers but today has multiplied into more than twenty groups with 150 believers! Hear how you can pray specifically for Brother Michael and our persecuted Christian family in the Middle East.

Churches in Algeria have been closed by the government. Pastors have been threatened. But the ministry continues. Pastor Abraham and Sara are back this week to continue our conversation about God’s work in the Middle East and North Africa—and the Christian persecution that Christ’s followers face. Hear the story of one pastor who has repeatedly changed his phone number because of constant threats. Yet he remains in his country and continues to share the gospel with Muslims. They will also offer an update on the situation for Christians in Syria as we near the one-year anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime. Abraham and Sara will also share how Christians fleeing violence and danger in the region are going as missionaries to their new homelands—sometimes reaching their countrymen even in far-off lands!

Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and their countries amidst war and upheaval in the Middle East. Pastor Abraham and Sara are living as representatives of God’s love to displaced people in the Middle East. The ministry can be messy and difficult, yet they persist in demonstrating love in practical ways. And they are seeing great fruit for their ministry. Abraham and Sara will share how one woman—the widow of an imam—had heard all kinds of negative things about Christians. But when she came to the church, she found something very different: people who loved her and helped her. Listen to hear the story of how God answered the woman’s prayer within 24 hours, and how a dream led her to commit her life to Jesus. Leaving Islam behind to follow Jesus comes with a cost, though. Abraham and Sara will also share what Christian persecution looks like in the region, including pressure from families or tribes as well as Islamists or government authorities. “We are planting seeds,” Sara says, “we are the tools for His Kingdom.”

In Malaysia, every citizen carries an ID card that includes religion; every person is classified as either ‘Muslim’ or ‘Non-Muslim’. The Malaysian constitution promises religious freedom and the right to choose one’s religion. So, what happens if a citizen changes their faith? Brother ‘Samuel’ was born into a Muslim family, but he chose to leave Islam behind to follow Christ. At first, he kept his newfound faith quiet, knowing that being publicly identified as a follower of Jesus could bring all kinds of trouble. But as he grew in faith, he felt convicted about his silence. Jesus had died for him. How could he be unwilling even to acknowledge Christ? Learning of his conversion, Samuel’s family encouraged him to dive more deeply into Islamic training and activities. Wanting to honour his father and his family, Samuel agreed to attend Islamic classes. But instead of bringing him back to Mohammed, the training forced him to become more rooted in Biblical truth and more capable of explaining and defending Christian doctrines. In 2018, Samuel began the process of applying for a new national ID card, changing his religion from “Muslim” to “non-Muslim”. Seven years later, his court case is still dragging on.

Listen to part two of Noah and Patrick’s conversation as they highlight what life is like in a Muslim dominated country of Southeast Asia [name of country withheld for security]. Being a Christian convert from Islam presents life-altering legal challenges to individuals who wish to marry the person of their choice! Hear about VOM Australia’s work in this country to send the small yet faithful church. Listen also about the nation of Brunei, where Muslim background believers are offered bribes from the government to return to Islam.

This week on VOMAus Radio, hear from our partners in Nigeria, Kent and Ruth of Christian Faith Ministries (CFM). As they choose to love their enemies, God continues to work powerfully through CFM. CFM is a valued long-term ministry partner of VOM Australia, equipping the church for evangelism in dangerous regions and caring for those affected by religious violence. Interview courtesy of our friends at Vision Christian Radio.

Australians are keen travellers to many Southeast Asian countries, but day-to-day life for small populations of local Christians can be a struggle. This week on VOMAus Radio, Patrick and Noah discuss Christian life in a Muslim-dominant Asian nation [name of country withheld for security], including a special education outreach project for children without identification documents, and much sought-after leadership training for local pastors.

This week on VOMAus Radio, Noah and Patrick discuss the persecution of Christians in the extensive and hugely populous nation of India. While India’s constitution guarantees religious freedom, in reality, anti-conversion laws are commonly used against pastors and evangelists, and attacks on pastors have become more common. In the north of the country, where it’s a Hindu stronghold, anti-Christian sentiment is strong. In the south, persecution is most likely to occur in rural areas. Hear about how VOM Australia is at work in supporting pastors, providing training, Bible distribution and a safehouse for new converts who have been abandoned by family. Through this work, Christians are reminded that they are not alone.

This week on VOMAus Radio, Dr Yousaf Sadiq returns to continue his conversation with Todd Nettleton. After dozens of churches and Christians’ homes in Jaranwala, Pakistan, were attacked, looted and burned by a mob, Christians gathered in and around the ruins of their former church buildings to sing and worship the Lord. The words they sang were directly from Scripture: Psalms of lament; reminders that even in times of suffering, we can come to the Lord and trust in His sovereignty. “I want the world to know this fascinating story and what it means for the church in Pakistan.” Yousaf says, “It’s such a precious heritage.” Dr Yousaf will also share about his work to support and include the ministry of persecuted Christians in the work of the Lausanne Movement.

This week on VOM Aus Radio, here from Dr Yousaf Sadiq. He was born into a Christian family in Pakistan. His mother worked as a cleaner at a local school so that Yousaf and some of his ten siblings would have an opportunity to be educated. In the evenings, he would help his mother clean the school where he was a student during the day. Despite their deep poverty, Yousaf gratefully recounts how his family’s needs were always met. Today Yousaf is a professor at Wheaton College and co-leader of the Lausanne Persecuted Church Initiative. He remembers how his parents invested time and energy in training their children to walk with the Lord, and how they led by example. Yousaf also shares what it looks like to live in Pakistan as a Christian. There are many pressures within the society, but Yousaf understood at a young age that Christian persecution is part of following Christ. “I felt not only strengthened but also privileged that this was happening,” he says.

This week on VOMAus Radio, we hear from Brother ‘Enfu’, the pastor of an illegal house church in China. Listen as he shares why and how he prepares his wife and children for the day he may eventually be arrested and sent to prison. He will give an update on Christian persecution in China and how believers there are responding faithfully despite increasing government pressure. Instead of large church events, the gospel is spreading through one-on-one conversations with co-workers or neighbours as Christians share what Jesus has done in their lives. Brother Enfu encourages pastors and church leaders he trains to stay in China and serve Christians there, rather than leaving China for a more comfortable position in the West. He says that when he hears of a brother or sister imprisoned for their faith, it’s an encouragement to him, even as he acknowledges the suffering they are enduring.

Bayram is back to finish the conversation from last week. Hear stories of people in Türkiye leaving Islam and embracing Jesus Christ – and the persecution they’ve endured for making that decision. Bayram will tell the story of a young atheist who, after talking with Bayram for an entire evening, saw Jesus in two dreams. This young man embraced the gospel and became a follower of Jesus. It was a costly decision: as soon as he became a Christian, everyone around him became an enemy. Bayram also equips us to pray for Türkiye and for our Christian brothers and sisters there.

This week on VOMAus Radio, hear from Brother Bayram, who came to the US from Türkiye to further his education. He started a business, where one day a Christian customer gave him a New Testament. He began to read it, the beginning of a path that would lead him to faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and the Son of God. It was a costly decision: his devout Muslim wife divorced him and wouldn’t allow him to see their daughter. His brother had Bayram committed to a mental hospital, thinking anyone who would leave Islam was mentally unstable. It has been a difficult road, but Bayram’s faith has only grown stronger as he has seen God work in his life and his country. Bayram will encourage and instruct listeners on how we can help lead Muslims toward Christ, wherever they are. You can connect online with Brother Bayram and his ministry at www.albtci.org.

This week on VOMAus Radio, Patrick and Noah continue the conversation on what it’s like to worship and gather as Christians in Vietnam – sometimes the consequences are severe. Yet the church is making a bold stand for Christ. In the coming weeks, we will hear more from Patrick as he explains further about the persecuted church in Southeast Asia and how VOM Australia is coming alongside our persecuted brothers and sisters to equip and aid them when opposition comes.

This week on VOMAus Radio, we hear once again from Patrick, who oversees VOM Australia’s field work in Southeast Asia, sharing about Vietnam. This country has a long and complex history, and it remains one of the few communist countries in the world. Life here can be difficult for Christians. Yet, praise God, the church continues to grow. Patrick outlines the various forms of persecution in Vietnam, including the consequences faced by a couple who gave their daughter a biblical name.

This week on VOMAus Radio, listen as Bob Fu, former prisoner for Christ in China and the founder and president of China Aid Association, shares updates from persecuted Christians in China, including Pastor John Cao, Pastor Wang Yi, and other Chinese Christians. The Chinese Communist Party continues to pursue absolute government control of churches and other religious institutions in China. Pastors and church leaders face lengthy prison sentences for 'fraud' when their church collects tithes and offerings, or 'illegal border crossing' if they travel to meet with fellow believers outside China. Bob Fu, author of God's Double Agent https://vom.com.au/product/gods-double-agent/ , reports on recent church raids in China, including arrests of children attending Vacation Bible School. The Communist Party forbids any religious outreach or training for children under age 18.

This week on VOMAus Radio, Hana Menghisteab returns to share how speaking publicly about her father and her family’s suffering was painful, but how God used it to open a door for healing in her life. Before his arrest in 2004, Dr Tecleab Menghisteab was a medical doctor and a leader in the Eritrean Orthodox Church. He is one of more than 300 Christians currently in prison in Eritrea. Hana was six years old when her father was arrested. Hana will tell how growing up without her father left her wounded in many areas of her life. However, Hana says, “God does not waste pain; He doesn’t waste the years of tears.” Instead, the Lord uses suffering to display His glory. Listen to Hana’s previous interviews with VOMAus Radio: https://soundcloud.com/vom-oz/sets/interviews-with-hana?si=67b6d15a70f44c14bdd08507fdba3bc6

This week on VOMAus Radio, hear part two from Patrick as he shares remarkable stories from the field, of persecution, forgiveness and overcoming, with God’s help and strength. You will be amazed and strengthened by the testimonies of Rachana, whose husband tried to kill her after she became a Christian, and Nanda, once a devout Buddhist priest who lost his prominence and reputation for Jesus. Be encouraged as you hear how God is at work in this ‘Hostile’ nation. We hope it spurs you on to pray for believers in this nation and pray for VOM Australia too, as we seek to minister for those who suffer for His name.

This week on VOMAus Radio, hear from VOM Australia staff member Patrick as he provides us with insights on his recent trip to Nepal. Though officially a secular republic, Nepal remains a predominantly Hindu nation, and the government is taking a strong stand against religious conversion. This nation is classified as ‘Hostile’ towards the gospel, but there is a small, vibrant and bold church in Nepal faithfully following Christ, sometimes at great cost. Listen to understand what persecution is like in the diverse and complex nation of Nepal. And hear how our Bibles Plus project is blessing believers.

This week on VOMAus Radio, we hear from Kevin, a gospel worker and church planter in Asia. Kevin shares how the Lord called him to serve unreached people groups in Asia, and explains what a new believer is likely to face when they come to Christ in a Buddhist and animistic culture, where persecution usually begins at the family or village level. Because of fear-based animistic practices and the communal culture, the entire community feels like they are at risk when a member of their community becomes a Christian. Kevin has walked with friends who’ve been put in prison or forced out of their villages. Some are living in tents because they refused to recant their commitment to Christ. Yet they meet these hardships with joy, responding in faith and perseverance to their persecution. Learn more about the church in Asia and how to pray for Christians there and around the world who face persecution for the name of Christ.

This week on VOMAus Radio, we hear part two of the interview with Carter Gates, leader of VOM USA’s work in the Asia/Pacific Region. Some Christians in Malaysia—ethnically Chinese or Indian believers—have freedom to practise their faith. But if an ethnic Malay person becomes a believer in Jesus, he or she will face intense Christian persecution. As Carter meets with VOM’s ministry partners, one shared key hindrances that keep Malays from following Christ and the questions he uses as he engages them in gospel conversation. One of those questions: are you ready to die for Jesus? We’ll also share an update on the court case over the forced disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh in 2017. A verdict is expected in the case in November.

This week, Carter Gates, leader of VOM USA’s work in the Asia/Pacific Region, shares about a recent gathering of VOM front-line workers, where they spent time in fellowship, sharing stories and encouraging one another to continue serving persecuted Christians. These men and women minister in some of the most dangerous places to follow Christ and are often the first responders when Christian persecution happens. You will hear updates from Myanmar, Laos, and North Korea, places where following Jesus can mean losing everything. Between political unrest, spiritual oppression, pressure from local leaders, economic retaliation and rejection from family, believers in this region are squeezed on every side. Yet, as Carter shares, Christians in these nations remain steadfast and faithful, unshaken despite immense pressure.

This week on VOMOz Radio. Vicky Hartzler, the current chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), shares about her role in reporting on and seeking religious freedom for our brothers and sisters in restricted areas and hostile nations. She also shares her own experiences of advocating on behalf of persecuted Christians directly to leaders of other nations. Listen for ways you can pray for USCIRF’s work and for followers of Christ working in government to advance religious freedom around the world.

This week on VOMOz Radio, hear from Neda, who was born in Iran to a Muslim family. As a young woman, she felt broken and empty. Neda’s heart searched for God, and she came to faith in Christ through her relative’s witness, and her life was radically transformed. Neda’s husband also found faith in Jesus. Over the next 13 years, Neda and her husband faced persecution from the Islamic government. In one incident, officials raided their home and threatened her husband at gunpoint. She and her husband ultimately decided to leave Iran, yet they continue to serve from abroad through Iran Alive Ministries. Neda encourages every Christian to lay down their own desires and fully surrender to God's will, even when it means enduring suffering. Iran Alive Ministries A post from Farzin Tarat on Iran Alive Ministries provided by: https://iranalive.org