The Suffering-Church

03-07-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Leonard F. Villa

Mark 10:28 Peter began to say to him, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you." 29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first will be last, and the last first." The numbers in the illustration below stand for countries

The country of Myanmar (formerly Burma), hostile to Christianity, has been taken over by a military regime. On February 14, Fr. Donald Martin Ye Naing Win, 44, a priest of the Archdiocese of Mandalay, encountered a group of drunk, druginfluenced, militia-men, who ordered him to kneel down for them. He remarked calmly: “I kneel only before God.” They proceeded to stab him to death Here are the world’s 10 most dangerous places to be a Christian—the nations where saying “yes” to Jesus is also saying “yes” to a life of risk and a dependence on the hope of Christ.

1. North Korea … where owning a Bible can get you killed Meeting for worship or owning a Bible is a serious crime in North Korea and will be severely punished. In May 2023, five members of a family were arrested as they gathered for prayer and Bible study. The deplorable treatment of believers is driven by the authoritarian regime’s view that Christians are a particular threat to the country’s leadership and society. Pray that secret believers will be protected from the scrutiny of the authorities as they meet together.

2. Somalia … where following Jesus makes you the enemy In the Muslim-majority nation—one of the eight countries making up the Horn of Africa—all Somalis are expected to be Muslim and follow Sharia (Islamic) law. Imams in mosques and madrassas state publicly that there is no room for Christianity, Christians or churches. The violent insurgent group al-Shabab has repeatedly expressed its desire to eradicate Christians from the East African country. Leaving Islam is regarded as a betrayal of the family and clan, and family members and clan leaders will harass, intimidate and even kill Somali converts. Pray that believers who risk everything to follow Jesus will have strength to persevere in their faith despite the dangers.

3. Libya … where evangelism is a death sentence In this North African nation, authorities assert that Libya is a wholly Islamic nation. Sharia law governs how the nation is run and how problems are resolved. This means, in society’s eyes, there can be no Christians in Libya—and that's what the authorities in charge want the public to believe. Bottom line: Every Christian in Libya is in constant danger of losing their life. Pray that God would help His people find fellowship with one another. Ask God to give the Libyan church the ability to meet.

4. Eritrea … where imprisonment for following Jesus in inevitable Believers in Eritrea in the Horn of Africa continue to suffer extreme persecution, making it one of the hardest places in the world to follow Jesus. For 20 years, the East African nation has only recognized three official Christian denominations: Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran, and even those churches are closely monitored. Pray that they will be courageous in sharing the gospel, but also mindful of their precarious situation.

5. Yemen … where Christians are on extremists’ “wanted” lists Following Jesus in Yemen continues to be extremely dangerous. Most believers are Yemeni and come from Muslim backgrounds. As conversion from Islam is forbidden by Islamic and state law, Christians risk severe repercussions from their families, the authorities or radical Islamic groups. Yemeni Christians face targeted persecution from government, family and community, and as the influence of more extreme and violent Islamic groups grows, following Jesus becomes even more difficult. Pray for strength and protection for believers living in areas where they are at risk from Islamic militant groups. Pray for courage to share their faith, and that the underground church will grow.

6. Nigeria … where a Christian dies nearly every two hours, on average. In Africa’s most populous country, more believers are killed for their faith each year than everywhere else in the world combined. Violence remains the most dangerous and prevalent threat. Christians in Nigeria, particularly in the Muslimmajority north, continue to live under immense pressure from Islamic militants and armed “bandits.” Despite these challenges, the church in Nigeria is a resilient church. They understand what it means to rely on their Savior for every breath. And they are asking the worldwide Church to pray with them. Pray for an end to the violence inflicted by bandits and militant groups across Nigeria.

7. Pakistan … where every Christian is a second-class citizen Christians in Pakistan are considered second-class citizens and face discrimination in every aspect of life. Occupations that are deemed low, dirty and degrading—such as working as a sewer cleaner or in a brick kiln—are reserved for Christians. The August 2023 devastating mob violence against the Christian community in the city of Jaranwala was a sobering reminder of the hostile environment facing many believers in Pakistan. Pray that Pakistan's blasphemy laws will be changed so that Christians will be safe from false accusations and pray for strength for Christians who must live as second-class citizens every day.

8. Sudan … where Christians are caught in the crossfire. Much has changed this year in Sudan—and it's not positive. “Christians in Sudan are especially vulnerable and on the receiving end in war times,” All of this comes alongside the oppression experienced by those who have chosen to leave Islam for Christianity. Pray for an end to the violence in Sudan and for provision for Christians who have been displaced.

9. Iran … where being a Christian is a “crime against national security.” For Iranian Christians who convert from Islam, not even the veneer of tolerance is present. Conversion from Islam to Christianity is illegal in Iran, and anyone caught as a convert can be arrested and imprisoned. Christian converts who leave Islam can also face pressure from their families and communities. Converts can lose their inheritance, unmarried Christians can be forced into marriage to a Muslim, and married believers may be forced to divorce or face imprisonment. Pray for secret converts from Islam in Iran. Pray they would find fellowship and that God would protect them from arrest and

10. Afghanistan … where there “are no Christians.” When the Taliban came to power over Afghanistan in August 2021, they did so with pledges to recognize more freedoms than in the past. But that hasn't happened—if an Afghan’s Christian faith is discovered, it can be a death sentence, or they can be detained and tortured into giving information about fellow believers. As far as the Taliban are concerned, there are "no Christians" in Afghanistan. Pray for the protection of secret believers and know they’re part of a worldwide Church that hears their story and prays for them each day.

More in next week’s Bulletin on the Church in China and the disastrous policy of the Holy See with respect to the Church in communist China along with the legacy of model bishops and hero churchmen who opposed the communist regimes in the past. The Men of the Holy League gather the second Tuesday of the month for a Holy Hour at 7PM to pray for the suffering, persecuted Church.