Day: January 8, 2026
USA: Student Missions Conference Draws Thousands of Students to Phoenix
Source: Marti Wade
Urbana, InterVarsity’s triennial student missions conference, has come and gone, and we’re hearing good things. In fact, only good things. Were you there? Or have you engaged with young adults who were part of this conference?
Ted Esler of Missio Nexus observes, “It was not exactly a return to the ‘good old days’ (which are long gone) but a GenZ-focused event that was surprisingly rich in content and approach.” Read more.
InterVarsity also created a five-minute video recap. Worth watching.
It’s not over yet. The last day’s call to action invited students to identify their next steps and offered resources and connections. I pray that each attendee gets the encouragement or coaching they need to take those next steps—maybe from someone in your church or ministry.
Nigeria: Former Fulani Terrorist Now Leading House Church
Source: Back to Jerusalem, January 4, 2026
Nigeria is one of the most dangerous areas in the world to be a Christian. An average of 32 Christians are killed in Nigeria every day. That is one every 45 minutes.
However, something amazing is happening! Islamic fighters are leaving their weapons and coming to Christ in large numbers.
Africa’s most deadly Muslim terrorists, who have been killing thousands of Christians every year, are being baptized and leading house churches in Nigeria. The Muslims who [convert] to Christianity are showing an open act of defiance, and this can lead to death. Muslims in Nigeria who become Christians are literally signing their death warrant, but that is not stopping them.
In a rare video posted on X, a former Muslim fighter is leading a house church of local believers and running a Sunday School. He is not alone. In the last six months, more and more videos of former Islamic terrorists can be seen boldly sharing the gospel message with believers in house churches.
See the full story with video clips. Have you heard anything more about this from other sources? Let us know.
For a bit more nuance, a recent prayer email has this to say about Nigeria (Justin Long):
“Pray for the spread of the gospel in northern Nigeria, and for the protection of believers. The violence in the area is a combustible mixture of ethnic tensions, militias, warlordism, banditry, and Islamic fundamentalism. Christians are sometimes targeted for being Christians, but also sometimes because they are the “other tribe” or in a desired village or because they have not paid what amounts to bribes for protection. Pray for the church to endure, to be a bold and loving witness, and for many persecutors to become followers of the King of Peace.”
Want to pray with others for the Muslim world? 30 Days of Prayer starts February 18.
South Sudan: Hijacker Surrenders After Pilot Tells Him God Loves Him
Source: The Christian Post, December 11, 2025
The pilot of a Samaritan’s Purse plane that was recently hijacked told the attempted hijacker that God loves him, according to the Evangelical nonprofit’s CEO, the Rev. Franklin Graham.
Graham talked with the pilot after the incident, who described what it was like when the individual who snuck on board tried to take over the airplane. Graham said the pilot made an effort to “try to convince him not to do this, but the guy said, ‘I’m going to kill you and I’m going to count to three and I’m going to kill you.’”
“So, the pilot realized this isn’t going to turn out well,” said Graham. “So, [the pilot said] I’m just going to tell him that God loves him. The guy surrendered, and so we are just grateful.”
“We work in dangerous parts of the world; that’s part of it.”
Traveling to Maiwut, South Sudan [on December 2], the plane was en route to deliver medicine to a mobile medical unit operated by Samaritan’s Purse when it was hijacked.
“We praise God that no one was seriously injured, and we are grateful to the security forces for their support and swift action on the ground to resolve the situation and bring a safe outcome,” Samaritan’s Purse said in a statement.
Also from Africa, read about a Ugandan pastor brutally attacked and accused of misleading the community’s children by encouraging them to attend church (Morning Star News) and the Rwandan president’s defense of the closure of thousands of churches (Arab News).
Meanwhile, in Asia, an influential Chinese church reports arrests as the crackdown on Christians intensifies (BBC).
Philippines: Bringing Restoration in All Parts of Life
Source: Haggai International, December 10, 2025
Aleth Joyce Cubacub had already built a respected career in the Philippines as both a lawyer and a public accountant when she began to sense that her profession could do more than resolve legal problems. She believed it could also open doors to restoration.
This conviction deepened after her Haggai Leader Experience. Through Haggai’s internationally developed and facilitated curriculum, she unlocked a vision of how her legal expertise could contribute to systemic change. She saw how intentional acts of bold faith could transform lives when leaders step forward with purpose and creativity. The experience moved her to pursue opportunities she once assumed were outside the scope of her profession.
As a managing partner of Cubacub Hernandez and Associates, she often spent long periods outside cramped courtrooms with her clients. What could have been idle time became moments for quiet ministry. She chose to speak with them about hope, forgiveness, and the presence of Christ in times of legal hardship. Within her firm, she encouraged midday Bible studies for employees and fellow attorneys. These gatherings helped create a culture of scripture and prayer that steadied the demanding pace of litigation.
Read the full story. We praise God for raising up people to make a difference in many spheres of influence and all over the world.
Nicaragua: Bibles Banned at Border Crossings
Source: International Christian Concern, December 18, 2025
According to a report by the local media outlet CentroAmérica360, notices were posted at bus terminals in Costa Rica warning travelers that they could not bring Bibles into neighboring Nicaragua. Other prohibited items on the list included sharp objects such as knives, drones, and perishable food.
The restrictions seem to have come down from the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship ruling Nicaragua and were enacted earlier this month, according to CentroAmérica360. Other sources, however, indicated that the policy is months old and was implemented earlier this year.
Magazines and newspapers are also banned from entering the country, according to the notice. Nicaragua has lacked an independent press since 2021, when the government raided the headquarters and halted the operations of the influential La Prensa newspaper.
Before the raid, the government had used other tactics, such as preventing it from accessing paper and ink. Some members of the La Prensa team now operate in Costa Rica, where the notices banning Bibles and newspapers were posted.
The move to ban Bibles from entering the country is a concerning development. While the Nicaraguan government has been escalating its persecution of the Catholic church for years, most of that attention was focused on the church as an institution rather than on associated elements like access to scripture.
This is a good reminder that even when Scripture is available in the heart language, Bible access poses challenges. As we’ve previously reported, Bible translation is flourishing. See Wycliffe’s 2025 Impact Report or watch the related video below, also below.