Missions Catalyst

1. Iran: The Rise of the Underground Church
2. Lebanon: Baptist Seminary Takes in the Displaced
3. UK: Bible Sales Rise to Highest Level in Decades
4. Ecuador: Following Jesus in the Jungle
5. Sweden: Parents Lose Appeal to Reunite with Daughters After Accusations of Religious Extremism

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Source: Theology in Five, January 11, 2026

The theology of the Iranian underground church is shaped less by academic debate or denominational identity and more by lived experience under pressure. Scripture is read through the lens of endurance, faithfulness, and allegiance, and passages addressing suffering, persecution, and perseverance carry immediate relevance. Christianity is not presented as a path to comfort, success, or cultural influence, but as loyalty to Christ regardless of consequence.

This theological posture closely resembles that of the early church under Roman persecution, where faith was understood primarily as allegiance rather than lifestyle enhancement. The absence of cultural Christianity ensures that belief is tested quickly and repeatedly. What emerges is a theology grounded in trust, obedience, and hope, forged in circumstances where faith must be chosen and re-chosen in the face of real cost.

The full story is worth reading. It covers how the underground church came about, how persecution has been a catalyst rather than a deterrent, why Christianity is spreading in Iran, and the role of dreams and visions.

See also maps and charts of the Iran crisis (Reuters, via Flowing Data), an article from Morning Star News, Iran Adds Blame for Political Woes to Persecution of Christians, and a commentary from Mission Network News: In Middle East war, remember that numbers have faces.

Source: Evangelical Focus, March 13, 2026

Once again, the people of Lebanon find themselves caught up in a war they did not choose. The spillover of the conflict in Iran has brought further destruction to a population already exhausted by violence.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, more than 680 people are reported to have died in the armed clash between the Hezbollah militia and the Israeli government, which resumed on March 2.

Around 800,000 people have already fled, mainly from southern Lebanon towards Sidon and Beirut, the capital. Among those responding to the need for shelter is the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS), a respected institution that trains Christians throughout the Middle East.

Located on the eastern outskirts of Beirut, the seminary is hosting about 180 people on its premises, a quarter of whom are children. “Despite the sounds of drones intensifying in our skies and smoke from the bombings rising over Beirut, we continue to witness glimpses of Christ’s love at work: a love that shapes, softens, and unifies,” they explain in an update on their website on the impact of the war.

The displaced persons welcomed by the Christian organization come from the suburbs of Beirut, the Bekaa area, and the south of Lebanon.

“In the midst of uncertainty, we see them gathering hand in hand to assist the kitchen staff in preparing meals … Join us in prayer that during this season of hardship, just as these meals nourish their bodies, the word of God may also nourish their spirits.”

See also Christians in Southern Lebanon Debate Staying or Leaving (Christianity Today).

For more from the Middle East, listen to an interview about God’s amazing work in an Alawite family, Slaying Goliath in the Middle East (Movements Podcast) and a previous episode with a different guest talking about Multiplying Disciples and Churches in a War. The episodes are 30 minutes each, but well worth your time.

Source: Crosswalk, March 13, 2026

The recent surge in Bible sales isn’t just an American trend, as new data from the United Kingdom shows a similar rise across the Atlantic.

NielsenIQ BookData found that Bible sales increased 19% in the UK and Ireland in 2025, reaching their highest level since 1998, when records began, according to reports in The Independent and GB News.

Despite the strong performance of certain titles, overall nonfiction book sales moved in the opposite direction. Spending in the non-fiction category fell to its lowest level since 2014 and was roughly 5% lower than the previous year. Unit sales also declined, dropping 6% to approximately 59 million copies. Meanwhile, adult fiction moved the other way, with spending climbing 5%.

Bible sales in the United States have surged in recent years, reaching a 21-year high in 2025 with about 19 million copies sold, according to data from Circana BookScan released in January.

The full story includes links and some commentary.

March is Bible month in France, where more than 200 bookstores are participating in a national initiative to place Scripture at the heart of public life again. 

Meanwhile, consider the Ponyo Naga tribe in Myanmar. A powerful revival that began to transform their area in the 1970s. Though most Ponya Nagas are Christian, they have no Scripture in their language (Asia Harvest). Keep praying for Bible translation and engagement.

Source: To Every Tribe, fall 2025

My family and I live in Nangaritza County, Ecuador, where the foothills of the Andes mountains transition into the Amazon jungle. Our town, Guayzimi, is the largest in our county, with a population of around 4,000 people. If you drive south on the only road for about three hours until it ends in the middle of the jungle, you will arrive at Mariposa, one of the many small indigenous Shuar communities that are interspersed throughout the jungle. Along the way, you will come across some Saraguro communities as well—another indigenous group. The larger towns like Guayzimi are mostly inhabited by the majority Mestizo people, who have a mixed indigenous-European heritage.

For thousands of years, people here have lived and died without knowing Jesus Christ. The religion of most is a blend of animism, secularism, and nominal Roman Catholicism, with a strong focus on the worship of Mary. More recently, cults such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Oneness Pentecostalism have arrived and grown. But the common thread in all these beliefs is the pursuit of righteousness through the law—trying to earn God’s favor by doing good works. The vast majority of people here have not come to understand the gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ, the glorious news that the righteousness of God is attained not by the law, but by faith in Christ.

One example of the Lord’s mercy can be seen in the lives of Carlos and Susana, a young Shuar man and a Peruvian woman who are now a beloved brother and sister in Christ.

Today, Carlos continues to speak the word of God boldly among his neighbors in the communities upriver. In his own community of Mariposa, which celebrates a multi-day feast to Mary every year, Carlos has openly called his neighbors to put away such idolatry, teaching them from the Scriptures. This stance has led to backlash and harassment from those who were once his close friends. However, during the recent planning meeting for this year’s August feast, Carlos once again shared from the Scriptures why the Lord was displeased with their celebrations. This time, the consensus among the people was that what Carlos spoke from the Bible was true.

Read the full story or more stories from To Every Tribe.

Source: Christian Today, March 12, 2026

A Swedish couple separated from their two eldest daughters for nearly four years due to alleged “religious extremism” have had an appeal rejected by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Daniel and Bianca Samson’s ordeal began in late 2022 when government authorities took the daughters into their care. The intervention was prompted by an allegation by the eldest daughter [and later retracted] that her parents would not allow them to wear makeup or own a phone due to their “religious extremism.”

According to ADF International, which is helping the Samsons, the authorities could find no evidence that either girl had been abused in any way.

Despite this, the girls have still not been allowed to return to their parents and are being kept in separate foster homes. The girls have reportedly said they wish to be reunited with their parents and have started to suffer health problems. At present, the Samsons can see their daughters only once a month, under supervision.

Read the full story.

For another thought-provoking story about conflicts between church and state, read Rwanda’s Massive Church Closures Spark Debate Over What Truly Qualifies a Pastor. The president asserts that every religious leader should have a theological degree (Christianity.com).

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