In country after country, Christians are finding that preaching the Gospel, gathering for worship, or simply holding to biblical beliefs is becoming increasingly costly. Governments and officials are using arrests, regulations, “public order” laws, and are even demolishing buildings to pressure believers into silence.
In the United Kingdom, senior pastor of Oasis City Church, Steve Maile, was arrested while street preaching as his wife and four children watched. Maile continued to proclaim the Gospel even as police handcuffed him.
To the officers, Maile said, “I am a preacher of the gospel. There is no offense being committed here. None whatsoever.” He then called out to the crowd one final time, “Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you’ll be saved.”
After hours of interrogation, he was released around 1 a.m.
Simultaneously, Bread of Life Community Church in the UK is facing scrutiny after community members labeled sermons as being “Islamophobic,” “homophobic,” and “sexist.”
Trustee Stephen Clayden defended the sermons, saying, “They are not my statements; they are biblical statements.” The church also stated that it wouldn’t back down because of public pressure and remains committed to preaching “the whole Bible, not just the parts which suit society.”
Russia Targets Independent BelieversIn Russia, four Baptist Christians were recently arrested and fined after holding a worship service inside a private home. Officials charged the believers with conducting “illegal missionary work” because their religious group was not registered with the government.
Under Russian law, believers can face severe penalties simply for conducting ministry outside state-approved buildings. Russian authorities have increasingly used this law to target unregistered churches and evangelistic activity.
Church Reduced to Rubble in ChinaMeanwhile in China, authorities demolished a prominent church in Wenzhou — an area sometimes called “China’s Jerusalem” because of its large Christian population.
Yazhong Church, an independent Protestant church, had already faced months of pressure from authorities. More than 100 believers were detained during earlier raids, and church leaders were jailed under vague public-order charges.
After the church resisted government demands to display the Chinese national flag inside the sanctuary, tensions escalated.
In May, demolition crews arrived with heavy security and reduced the church building to rubble. Authorities established checkpoints around the area, restricted access, and tightly controlled information during the demolition. Additional church members were also arrested as the destruction took place.
Bob Fu of ChinaAid said the demolition reflects a growing campaign against independent churches in China. “These recent actions show that the persecution of Christians by Chinese authorities has intensified, becoming more institutionalized and targeted,” he said.
Yet even after the church was destroyed, believers continued pointing people to Christ. Fu added, “This beautiful and sacred place of worship has been destroyed — but our prayers are not reduced to rubble.”
New Law Raises Alarm in IndiaIn India, Christians in Punjab state are raising alarm over a newly strengthened “sacrilege” law that allows police to arrest individuals without a warrant for merely offending a Sikh. The “crime” includes incarceration with no bail and can carry penalties ranging from seven years to life in prison.
Even before the new law passed, pastors had already faced false accusations, arrests, and intimidation. Two Christian workers were arrested in 2023 after torn pages from a Sikh prayer book were found near their village. Both men denied any wrongdoing and were eventually released on bail. However, the men remain displaced and unable to return to their homes safely. One of the men nearly lost his life while in custody. They now struggle to feed their families and continue living under fear and legal pressure.
When asked how they got through, the men shared that they “refused to let go of hope.” They took a page from Paul and Barnabas — they prayed and read scripture together while in jail.
While Doors Are Still OpenFor Christians living comfortably in the West, stories like these are a sobering reminder that millions of believers around the world pay a heavy price for following Christ.
As governments tighten restrictions and pressure against believers grows, many persecuted Christians are doing exactly what faithful believers have done for centuries: standing firm and continuing to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ.
Their example should challenge Christians everywhere. While doors remain open in the West, we have opportunities to witness, distribute Gospel tracts, support missions, and point people to Jesus Christ. The freedom to share Christ openly is a gift many believers around the world no longer have — and one Christians should not waste.
