Missions Catalyst

Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide, October 3, 2025

CSW has joined 100 organizations and humanitarian actors in calling for the establishment of safe, voluntary, and dignified passage for civilians trapped in the city of El Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur State, where an estimated 260,000 people, including 130,000 children, have endured a 17-month siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Reports from those who have managed to leave the city indicate that men and boys are being targeted and killed on the road out of the city, making it more dangerous for them to leave than to stay.

The city has been under siege since April 2024, despite a United Nations Security Council  resolution calling on the RSF to lift it. In April 2025, the RSF  seized  the Abu Souk and Zamzam camps for internally displaced persons. The two camps form the largest IDP settlement in Sudan, housing over 700,000 people between them. Both camps have been turned into military bases by the RSF.

Places of worship have been targeted during the siege. Between May and September 2025, the Sudan Episcopal Church was hit six times by RSF shelling. On September 19, at least 70 people were killed when the RSF attacked a mosque near the Abu Souk Camp.

Read the full story and please pray. According to a later report, at least 60 people, including 22 children, were killed in an attack on one of the IDP camps on October 10. The people have no safe way to get out.

Read or watch a video about an effort to free people enslaved in Sudan. Since 1995, they have rescued more than 160,000 people (video just under 13 minutes long).

Source: Mission Network News, October 3, 2025

Kasr El-Dobara Evangelical Church (KDEC), located in Egypt, was founded by Dr. Ibrahim Said in 1949 with a “missions DNA.” Since then, the church has grown into the largest Arab Evangelical congregation, with 12,000 members.

KDEC’s Pastor Sam emphasizes, “It’s not about the number, actually. It’s about the Kingdom. We are Kingdom-minded, not church-minded.

“We the Church exists for the Great Commission, to continue the message that Jesus Christ started, and help people to get to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. We pass the message of hope for people.”

Out of Egypt’s 118 million people, Pastor Sam says, “At least 20 million are Christians. The majority are Coptic Orthodox—93%. Five percent are Evangelicals, and the rest are Catholic. So we are a minority among minorities—but thank God that we can reach the multitude!”

KDEC meets people where they are through creative outreach. Pastor Sam says, for example, “We have the largest sports ministry program in the Middle East. We serve around 750,000 per year across Egypt and also in the Middle East. We are using sports to reach people [with] the knowledge of Christ.”

Another outreach draws thousands to music festivals. “We developed a program called Count It Right in partnership with Palau’s organization. We have a festival, and people come from different backgrounds to watch the shows. In each station, we share…the gospel.”

Whatever the method, Pastor Sam says it all comes down to one goal—telling as many people as possible about Jesus.

Read the full story with photos and prayer points. How encouraging! See also God at Work at Christian Festival in Egypt, a report on last year’s Count It Right event (SAT-7).

Source: International Christian Concern, October 8, 2025

On Saturday, September 27, my mother came to me with a troubled expression. Her voice trembled as she spoke to me.

“You must leave the village!” she urged. “I heard it with my own ears—the villagers are plotting to kill you and attack your family. You need to go now to save your life!”

I was shocked but remained calm.

“I believe in God, the same God who healed my wife from her sickness and gave us peace and hope,” I told her. “No one can take my life without his will.”

A few minutes later, my younger brother came to me, tears rolling down his face.

“Please, leave. If you stay, we may never see you again,” he pleaded. “They are planning to kill you. If you go, at least we’ll know you’re safe somewhere.”

The concern in his voice moved me deeply. I turned to my wife and told her about the situation. I said I would leave for now and return once things settled down. That evening, I quietly left my village in Central India.

The next morning, I received a phone call from my brother.

“The entire village is at your house,” he said. “They’re demanding to know—will you deny Jesus or let your house be destroyed?”

I told him with a firm heart, “When my wife was on her deathbed and we had no hope, Jesus healed her. He gave us life. How can I deny him now? Even if I must give my life, I will not deny Christ and his rule in my life.”

Soon after, the mob destroyed our house.

Read the full story and watch a similar report from another believer forced from his village (2.5-minute video).

By the way, many are praying for the world’s Hindus at this time (15 days of prayer coinciding with several major Hindu festivals).

• Check out prayer materials from Beyond and consider attending their online prayer session on Thursday night if you can.
• See also 60 Second Prayers for the Hindu World streaming on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
• Get a 15 Days of Prayer for the Hindu World booklet (World Prayer Guides).

1. World: Assemblies of God Launches Largest Mission Initiative in More Than 70 Years
2. USA: “Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film” Makes TV Debut
3. Nigeria: Bible Institute Trains Inmates to Be Chaplains
4. Papua New Guinea: Pacific Island Nation Declared a Christian Country
5. Jewish World: Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement

Read or share the email edition.

Source: Christian Today, September 11, 2025

The Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) has announced what leaders are calling its largest initiative in more than seven decades, pledging to expand missionary efforts to reach the world’s unengaged and unreached people groups.

The plan was unveiled during the 2025 Assemblies of God General Council, held August 4-8 in Orlando, Florida. Leaders described it as a renewed global commitment to “answer an urgent, worldwide hunger for God” by focusing on populations with little or no access to the gospel.

AGWM Executive Director John Easter said the vision represents the most significant mobilization since the organization’s founding. “This initiative represents what we believe will usher in the greatest spiritual harvest our generation has seen,” Easter said in a September 5 media announcement.

Read the full story. According to the media announcement, the number of AGWM global workers has increased steadily over the decades; it has risen to become the fourth-largest sending organization in the world.

Source: Crosswalk, September 26, 2025

A groundbreaking gospel film created for the Deaf community [made] its television debut on [September 27] when Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film aired on the Christian Television Network. The first-of-its-kind movie tells the story of Jesus entirely in American Sign Language (ASL), with every actor and actress—from those portraying Christ to the ones embodying the disciples and even Pontius Pilate—signing their roles. Every cast member was fluent in ASL. Director Joseph D. Josselyn said American Sign Language creates a bond with a deaf audience that captions cannot.

Read the full story. Sound familiar? We reported on this project when it was still in production. The film is also available on DVD, Blu-Ray, or streaming. Learn more.

See also a few other headlines from Crosswalk:

• “The Chosen” Sets Guinness World Record as Most Translated Streaming Series
• 376 Baptized in First-Ever Church Services at UNC’s Dean Dome
• 2,000 Accept Christ at University of South Florida Event

Source: Crosswalk, September 26, 2025

A groundbreaking gospel film created for the Deaf community [made] its television debut on [September 27] when Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film aired on the Christian Television Network. The first-of-its-kind movie tells the story of Jesus entirely in American Sign Language (ASL), with every actor and actress—from those portraying Christ to the ones embodying the disciples and even Pontius Pilate—signing their roles. Every cast member was fluent in ASL. Director Joseph D. Josselyn said American Sign Language creates a bond with a deaf audience that captions cannot.

Read the full story. Sound familiar? We reported on this project when it was still in production. The film is also available on DVD, Blu-Ray, or streaming. Learn more.

See also a few other headlines from Crosswalk:

• “The Chosen” Sets Guinness World Record as Most Translated Streaming Series
• 376 Baptized in First-Ever Church Services at UNC’s Dean Dome
• 2,000 Accept Christ at University of South Florida Event

Source: Mission Network News, September 25, 2025

Nigeria’s prisons are becoming unlikely centers of revival. Through Prisoners For Christ’s (PFC) International Bible Institute, inmates across Nigeria are not only finding faith in Jesus but also becoming Christian leaders who disciple others.

“It’s a Bible college inside the prison for inmates,” explains Don Szolomayer, Director of International Affairs at PFC. “There are 143 total lessons in the whole course. So, it takes about three to four years, depending. But the goal is once they go through all of that, those who graduate from it now become what we call an inmate chaplain.”

These inmate chaplains are trained to evangelize, teach, and disciple others through Scripture. The impact of this ministry is spreading.

Recently, Nigeria’s prison chaplains took their training to a new level. “About three or four weeks ago, they held a crusade with all of their inmate chaplains [who] have graduated,” says Szolomayer.

“They got permission from the officer in charge to go cell-by-cell evangelizing. Then on top of that, they had a full crusade out in the yard. This all went on for over a week and a half!”

Read the full story or learn more about Prisoners for Christ. In another MNN story, PFC reports that terrorists are finding Christ behind bars. Speaking of which, we were recently reminded of an unusual prayer campaign, Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer. It’s been updated with 2025 profiles.

Source: Back to Jerusalem, September 22, 2025

Papua New Guinea made a huge step and passed a new constitutional amendment officially declaring to the world that they are a Christian nation.

The [March 2025] proclamation was led by Prime Minister James Marape, who added to the Constitution’s preamble acknowledging “God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit” as “our Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe and the source of our powers and authorities.”

The move affirms Christianity’s foundational role in the nation’s identity, with more than 90 percent of its 11 million citizens identifying as Christian. announcement comes as Papua New Guinea celebrates its 50th ndependence Day, marking half a century since gaining sovereignty from Australia in 1975.

The nation’s Prime Minister described the amendment as a way to anchor national values in faith and to recognize the long-standing contribution of churches in serving remote and underserved communities.

The full story comments: “Some critics worry the symbolic shift could lead to the persecution of other faiths, but, as has been seen time and again, people of all faiths find the most freedom of expression for their religion under the umbrella of Christian nations.”

Another article from BTJ comments on a nationwide communication blackout in Afghanistan as an attempt to block access to immoral (Christian?) content and enforce Islamic values.

In other news, after a 30-year advocacy effort, Argentina has now officially recognized the legal status of non-Catholic religious organizations (Evangelical Focus).

Source: Beyond, September 24, 2025

Yom Kippur (October 2), the Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the Jewish year. It concludes the Ten Days of Awe, which begin with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). Together, these days call for honest reflection—looking back in repentance for past sins and looking ahead to a new year cleansed and renewed.

We hear of the Day of Atonement in Leviticus (16:29), underscoring its profound importance. On this day, both the high priest and the people had roles to play. The priest performed sacrifices of atonement while the people refrained from work and humbled themselves before the Lord.

Leviticus 16 outlines the high priest’s unique responsibilities. Clothed in white linen as a sign of purity, he would enter the Holy of Holies with offerings: a bull for his household and a goat for the sins of the people. A second goat—the scapegoat—was symbolically burdened with the sins of Israel and sent into the wilderness, signifying removal of guilt and cleansing of the community.

Even today, observant Jews prepare for Yom Kippur by spending the Ten Days of Awe seeking reconciliation with others. The belief is clear: one must be right with one’s neighbor in order to be right with God. This reflects the commandments to love God wholeheartedly (Deuteronomy 6:5) and to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18)—commandments Jesus also affirmed again in Mark 12:30–31.

Traditions include sharing a meal before the fast begins, lighting memorial candles for deceased parents, and observing a 25-hour period of fasting and abstinence. According to Jewish law, this “self-denial” includes refraining from eating, drinking, bathing, wearing leather shoes, and marital relations. These practices create space for prayer, repentance, and deep dependence on God’s mercy.

At its heart, Yom Kippur is a day of humility and hope—an invitation to turn from sin, repair relationships, and seek forgiveness from the God who cleanses his people.

Read the full story includes six ways you can pray for Jewish people during this time.