Day: March 4, 2026

Greetings, readers.

Some popular news sources start each Monday with a roundup along the lines of “Here’s the biggest news you missed this weekend.” This weekend was dominated by the attacks on Iran that killed Ayatollah Khamenei and others and the retaliatory attacks around the region that closed down major airports and shook many.

Newsletters from people in the Middle East arrived in my inbox. “We are safe,” they said. “But please pray.” When I see such messages, I pray for peace for the stressed-out missionaries who now have to add “reassure people back home” to their long list of ways to respond. I also pray for wisdom about the should-we-stay-or-should-we-go questions and others.

One writes: “If you’re not already, we’d love for you to join us in praying for the people of Iran and all those impacted by the conflict throughout the region. Our Iranian friends are asking for prayers for the safety of their families, lasting peace and a better future for their country. Pray for the church that has rapidly grown in Iran over the last decade, that they would persevere with courage and cling to Christ during this time.”

You may have seen many reports and opinion pieces by now. Here are a few from other sources we follow. 

• Iranian evangelicals are staying put, tentative but hopeful, says pastor (Iran Alive Ministries, via The Roys Report) and a previous story from Iran Alive, this one in Mission Network News: Three bullets that killed his son, yet his faith endures.
• As Lebanon has joined the conflict, believers there are calling for Christians to work together to coordinate responses (Triumphant Mercy Lebanon, via Mission Network News).
• Also this weekend, Jim Denison reports, Austin, Texas suffered what appear to be Jihad-inspired attacks, but he then pivots to reminding Christians in America and beyond to turn from hatred or fear and lift their eyes to what God is doing to bring Muslims to himself in Iran and beyond. Includes some solid, Scripture-based prayer points. Take a look (The Denison Forum).

Grace and peace,
Marti

Source: Christian Aid Mission, February 12, 2026

At least 50 believers have been arrested in Yemen in recent months as persecution against Christians here increases, particularly against those from a Muslim background. The recent wave of arrests is something not seen here in years, and an indigenous ministry that supports Yemeni believers through online channels has received reports of not only increasing imprisonments, but also intense pressure on those who are arrested to provide information on other believers. Now, this ministry requests your prayers.

“Because of harsh punishment, information is being forced out of them,” the ministry leader said. “As a result, the arrests keep spreading. Families are carrying heavy fear and grief, and many are living under intense surveillance and threats.”

Read the full story and consider the experience of Khaled, who became a Christian after being disillusioned with Islam. Yet more Yemenis continue turning to Jesus.

See also Detainments among Yemen’s Christian community, report says (Mission Network News). And, for more context, read A Surprising Piece of History: The Jewish and Christian History of Yemen (Back to Jerusalem).

Recently, the European Parliament recognized and condemned the persecution of Christians worldwide (Christian Today).

Source: Arab Vision, February 17, 2026

In the spring of 2026, children from Zwolle and Groningen [two cities in the Netherlands] will take action. They will raise money to produce animations featuring stories about Jesus for children in the Arab world. “Never Too Small!” [is designed] to teach Arab children about Jesus and what life with him is like. You’re never too small to be a friend, to make a difference, to get to know Jesus.

A toolkit for primary school, Sunday school, or children’s church teach[es] Dutch children that everyone matters in the kingdom of God and that they can help share this news with children in the Arab world who don’t (yet) know Jesus.

Read the full story and watch a video. The captions are in Dutch, but you can adjust the YouTube settings to translate into English. The video is really cute.

For another story of children doing God’s work, read about new life in a Chinese village after local missionaries equip children for loving service to another vulnerable population (Christian Aid Mission).

We love stories that help us identify with other people despite cultural differences. You might enjoy Shane Bennett’s recent article about what it’s like to be a Muslim mom during Ramadan (Muslim Connect).

Source: United Bible Society, February 15, 2026

After 16 years of faithful work, the Bible Society of Ghana (BSG) was able to present the Komba people of Northeast Ghana with the complete Bible in their own language [in collaboration with several groups].

The launch, celebrated with great joy by more than 1,000 people gathered at Gbintiri School Park, marked not only the completion of a translation project but also an affirmation of hope for future generations.

Acts 2:6 provided the theme for the event:

“…They were all excited, because all of them heard the believers talking in their own languages.”

The BSG General Secretary described the Komba Bible as both a spiritual gift and a cultural safeguard. He said that this Bible will not only deepen faith but also serve as a “major repository” to preserve the Komba language and culture from extinction. For a people whose language and traditions face the risk of erosion, the Bible now stands as a living repository of the Komba language, preserving it for generations to come.

See the full story with pictures of the celebration.

For more on the lasting impact and ongoing need for Bible translation, read how Greenland got the Bible and how digital technology is bringing the Welsh Bible to more people (Christian Today).

Source: Mission Network News, March 2, 2026

Against a backdrop of anti-conversion laws and growing persecution, Christians in India are celebrating a recent win for religious freedom within the country.

In a ruling publicly released February 2, the high court over Utter Pradesh, India’s most populous state, stated that permission is not required for religious prayer gatherings held on private premises. The ruling came after petitions were filed by two Christian organizations, in response to frequent police disruptions of prayer meetings on private property.

“There was an act by a couple of states to try to even illegalize, basically, prayer in the home. They’re trying to attack the house churches and small groups or fellowships that are meeting in homes,” says John Pudaite of Bibles for the World. “It’s a tough situation there for the body of Christ when they can be dragged out of a church or a worship.”

The court ruling was based on the Indian Constitution, which states individuals have the freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion. This decision offers hope to Christians in India in the face of anti-conversion laws, which have been used to unjustly arrest religious leaders and have fueled persecution against Christ.

Read the full story.

Source: To Every Tribe, January 26, 2026

Jesus told Peter that he would build his church, and Satan would not be able to stop him. To Every Tribe missionaries are working to strengthen existing churches and plant new ones where needed, so that those who become believers have a local gathering of their new brothers and sisters in Christ to grow with.

For the last five years, I’ve worked as a missionary in a small town in Northwest Ontario, Canada, called Sioux Lookout. My goal as a missionary in Canada is to see First Nations people believe the gospel and become members of a biblical, First Nations-led local church.

Before becoming a missionary and joining a First Nations-led church, I had mostly been part of churches with a more structured order of service, where a few predetermined individuals, such as pastors and worship leaders, would lead in speaking or singing.

But being part of this First Nations-led church has helped me see how Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 14:26 can also play out in a different way. Each person in the church is there with various abilities and gifts to use during the service. Seeing this lived out in Sioux Lookout has helped me understand Paul’s words in a new light.

Read the full story.

See also The Fields Are White for Harvest which describes ministry efforts among Arctic Canada’s Inuit people (Ethnos360). While you’re there, you might want to peruse other articles in the recent Arctic-focused edition of the Ethnos360 magazine.