Yerik was ready to face his family. He wanted to marry Rebecca, a woman he met at his church in Istanbul, Turkey. They had both prayed about marriage and were convinced it was God’s will for them. Yerik knew his devout Muslim family would want an elaborate Islamic...
SNAPSHOT: Turkey
Although Turkey was the home of the early Christian church, it is now more than 96% Muslim. In recent years, it has been a difficult place to make disciples of Christ because of an Islamist government and strong anti-Christian propaganda throughout society. However,...
Oğuzhan’s Story: A God Who Responds to Prayer
I'm Oğuzhan*. I am 29, and I am from Turkey. At first, I was a person who prayed to the wrong god. Then I began to question the false prophet in whom I had put my faith. When I realized that Allah was not answering my prayers, I decided to break with him and go my own...
A Tale of Two Chinas
There are two Chinas: the one where people smile on the outside and are “free,” and the other where the government closely watches everything its citizens say and so. Christians risk persecution to live out their faith without restrictions.
SNAPSHOT: China
Surveillance in China is intense. Video cameras with facial recognition technology monitor everyone, inside and outside. As an ICR field worker walked down the street in a major city, he watched the cameras turn to follow him. Inside high-rise apartment buildings,...
Uzbekistan: Renounce Your Faith
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, persecution against Christians in Uzbekistan was intense for several decades. But today, that’s less of a focus for the government. Instead, those who decide to follow Jesus encounter trouble from their families, friends, and...
Answered Prayer in Uzbekistan
Most people in Uzbekistan are Muslim, though they are not necessarily devout. Being Muslim is sometimes more of an identity than a religion. One young man, Davron, was a heavy drinker. His mother, however, was a believer. She prayed for him all the time and often...
Beaten for Christ
Christians in Uzbekistan face persecution not from the government, but from friends, family, and society. And it can be more painful.
SNAPSHOT: Uzbekistan
It’s not illegal to be a Christian in Uzbekistan. The president declared that as a secular state, Uzbekistan would not make laws about religion. However, the government has not approved registrations for any church buildings since 2022 and only about 30 churches have...
Update: Christians in Gaza
Christians in Gaza continue to suffer the effects of the ongoing war. The brutal conflict has ravaged the region, leaving many without homes, food, or clean water. As the infrastructure collapses, the need for immediate humanitarian aid has become critical. “Many...