Across our world today, Christians are facing escalating persecution — not only in far-away lands, but in places increasingly central to global power. In Nigeria and China, the attacks on believers raise urgent questions for Christians everywhere: Are we prepared to protect the gospel, our faith-family, and the truth of Christ?
Nigeria: Mass Killings, Abductions, and Christian Communities Under Fire
In Nigeria, violence targeting Christians has reached critical proportions. Nigeria is currently the country most affected in the world by violence against Christians. Between 2019 and 2023, nearly 17,000 Christians were killed in targeted attacks because of their faith. In just the first seven months of 2025, more than 7,000 victims were reported, with around 7,800 kidnappings.
U.S. officials have stated that over 50,000 Christians have been massacred since 2009 in Nigeria, while more than 18,000 churches and 2,000 Christian schools have been destroyed. Human rights groups warn that armed groups including Boko Haram and heavily-armed militias are turning entire Christian regions into killing fields.
Though the Nigerian government claims that the violence is largely ethnic or communal, the scale and consistency of attacks on Christian communities show a darker motive — one rooted in religious hatred and unchecked terror.
China: Arrests, Crackdowns and the Suppression of Underground Churches
In China, the crackdown on Christian worship and underground churches is intensifying. In October 2025, authorities arrested the founder of one of the largest underground Christian networks, Zion Church pastor Jin Mingri (also known as Ezra Jin), along with more than twenty pastors and church leaders across multiple provinces.
These arrests were made under charges such as “illegal use of information networks,” linked to online religious activity and teaching outside state-approved channels. This is part of a broader campaign under Xi Jinping’s government to “sinicize religion” — forcing religious groups to conform to Communist Party ideology and silencing churches that refuse to register under state control.
Why This Matters for Christians and Jews Alike
Whether in Nigeria or China, there is a common thread: Christian faith is under threat — from Islamist terror groups in one context, and atheist-state repression in another. For Christians, this is more than a global headline; it is a divine warning.
We must remember:
- God looks out for His own. The Scriptures assure us that we are not forgotten.
- But if we ignore persecution and assume someone else will act, the enemy will exploit our complacency. The devil’s goal is destruction — especially of Christian ideology, which has no substitute in any other belief system.
- Censorship is not confined to politics. For Jews and Christians, freedom of expression is sacred — yet it is increasingly being restricted under false pretenses of protection or progress.
A Christian Homeland of Free Speech and Protection
As believers, we know the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it (Psalm 24:1). Our task is to build His Kingdom through truth, love, and courage. But building the Kingdom doesn’t mean being passive. It means:
- Educating ourselves on how to protect our communities — spiritually, socially, and even physically.
- Remembering that living by the sword leads to dying by the sword; our first weapon is the Word, our first calling is love, our first defense is truth.
- Developing frameworks that ensure governments and institutions cannot ignore the persecution and slaughter of believers.
What Can We Do?
- Pray — for Christians in China, Nigeria, North and South Korea, and every nation where the faithful are suffering.
- Ask God for guidance — on how you personally can help, through prayer, advocacy, or support for ministries on the frontlines.
- Stand for truth — defend free speech and religious liberty because the gospel demands it.
- Strengthen your community — the suffering of one part of the body affects us all.
Final Appeal
If you have not yet made Jesus Christ your Lord and Saviour, consider doing so today. The times are urgent. The threat is real. But the victory is already won. Let us stand firm, speak truth, love boldly, and protect faithfully — for the Kingdom of God rests not in the hands of tyrants or terrorists, but in the eternal power of the risen Christ.
