Jesus the Advocate

World Watch List 2025

As we prepare to enter 2026, we encourage you to become aware of the massive persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world, and then do something. Anything. Pray. Call or email your leaders in Congress, your state leaders, your friends, fellow Christians, contact your local media, and organize.

Christians are in trouble around the world. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” – Matthew 5:10-12

Please review the World Watch List – Open Doors’ annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/

Here are some quick, alarming data points

  • 4,476 Christians were murdered for their faith last year
  • 1 in 7 Christians are persecuted worldwide
  • 1 in 5 Christians are persecuted in Africa
  • 2 in 5 Christians are persecuted in Asia
  • 7,679 Churches and Christian properties attacked

COUNTRY LIST – https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/

Most Christians are persecuted by Islamic Oppression, followed by Communist or dictatorial oppression, and others.

Here are the top oppressors in order

  • North Korea
  • Somalia
  • Libya
  • Eritrea
  • Yemen
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Sudan
  • Iran
  • Afghanistan
  • Central African Republic
  • Mauritania
  • Myanmar
  • Mali
  • Syria
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Maldives
  • China
  • Algeria
  • Tunisia
  • Morocco
  • Burkina Faso
  • Turkey
  • Cuba
  • Niger
  • Ethiopia
  • Laos
  • Tajikistan
  • Qatar
  • Egypt
  • Brunei
  • Jordan
  • Oman
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Colombia
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Mozambique
  • Bangladesh
  • Vietnam
  • Bhutan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kuwait
  • Malaysia
  • Indonesia
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Russia
  • Sri Lanka
  • Western Sahara
  • Kosovo
  • Bahrain

Notice that most of these countries are “allies” or trade with the USA. We encourage you to reach out to Secretary Rubio and the State Department to put more pressure on these countries to protect Christians, or you won’t be doing business with the USA, nor will we protect you if you can’t protect us.

The Lord has told us we would be persecuted for his name, but we also have a duty to stand up for our fellow Christians here in the USA and around the world. This is the greatest level of persecution in the world that NO ONE is talking about. It’s time that changes before it’s too late. Even here in the USA, we are facing existential challenges.

According to Russell Contreras, in his article in Axios titled “The Great Unchurching of America” – https://www.axios.com/2025/12/26/great-unchurching-america-religiously-unaffiliated The U.S. is undergoing its fastest religious shift in modern history, marked by a rapid increase in the religiously unaffiliated and numerous church closures nationwide. Why it matters: The great unchurching of America comes as identity and reality are increasingly shaped by non-institutional spiritual sources — YouTube mystics, TikTok tarot, digital skeptics, folk saints, and AI-generated prayer bots.

Christianity is under fire. When you are facing the fire of persecution, what you do or don’t believe suddenly becomes very clear. Throughout human history, tyrants have tried and failed to stamp out the Christian faith. The same thing is true in our time on a global scale. Countless believers are choosing imprisonment or death rather than choosing to deny Christ.

If you were faced with the same choice, what would you choose? Stand up while you can. Even in the USA, we are under threat. You might want to think about that, because the global persecution of Christians is only going to intensify during the very challenging years that are ahead of us.

“If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” – John 15:19-20

WEEKLY MEDITATION 7- 13 AUGUST 2023

Father, we ask that you help us understand your word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and open our hearts and minds so that we may understand and incorporate your word into our lives. Father, we thank you for your peace and comfort in these challenging times. We cling to you through your word and the presence of the holy spirit. Father, please help us to see your blessings in our lives and give us a spirit of gratitude to you and for you…in Jesus’ name, we pray.

– Amen

“I have no one in heaven but you; I want nothing on earth besides you. My body and my mind may become weak, but God is my strength. He is mine forever. (Psalm 73: 25-26)

“There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am” (John 14:2-3)

“No one has ever seen this, and no one has ever heard about it. No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9)

WEEKLY MEDITATION 12-18 JUNE 2023

Father, we ask that you help us understand your word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and open our hearts and minds so that we may understand and incorporate your word and will into our lives. Father, we thank you for your peace and comfort in these challenging times. We cling to you through your word and the presence of the holy spirit. Father, please help us to see your blessings in our lives and give us a spirit of gratitude to you and for you. Lord, we know that you are still in control and will use these challenging times for your good…in Jesus’ name, we pray.

– Amen

“I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about something and pray for it, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. This is true because if two or three people come together in my name, I am there with them” (Matthew 18: 19-20)

“Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are cruel to you” (Luke 6:27-28)

“Brothers and sisters, I beg you to help me in my work by praying to God for me. Do this because of our Lord Jesus and the love that the Holy Spirit gives us” (Romans 15:30)

WEEKLY MEDITATION 14-20 NOVEMBER 2022

Father, we ask that you help us understand your word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and open our hearts and minds so that we may understand and incorporate your word and will into our lives for your glory. Please give us peace, your peace, comfort us in these challenging times, and help us cling to you through your word and the presence of the holy spirit. Please help us to see your blessings in our lives and give us a spirit of gratitude to you and for you. We know you are still in control and will use these challenging times for your good…in Jesus’ name, we pray.

– Amen

“In Christ, we can come before God with freedom and without fear. We can do this through faith in Christ” (Ephesians 3:12)

“I tell you to pray for all people, asking God for what they need and being thankful to him…I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up their hands in a holy manner” (1 Timothy 2:1-8)

“When you pray, you should go into your room and close the door and pray to your Father who cannot be seen. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you” (Matthew 6:6)

WEEKLY MEDITATION 19-25 OCTOBER 2020

Father, we ask that you help us understand your word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and open our hearts and minds so that we may incorporate your word and will into our lives for your glory. Please give us peace and comfort in these difficult times. We know you are still in control and will use these difficult times for your good. We ask that you heal and help those in need and who are ill. Forgive us if we interpret your silence as a lack of your love. We know you will answer if we only stay faithful. In Jesus’ name…

– Amen

“If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him. Try to do what everyone thinks is right. Do your best to live in peace with everyone” (Romans 12:17-18)

“They are blessed who work for peace, for they will be called God’s children” (Matthew)

“They are blessed who work for peace, for they will be called God’s Children” (Matthew)

“Agree with each other, and live in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11)

WEEKLY MEDITATION 17-23 JUNE 2019

Father, we ask that you help us understand your word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and open our hearts and minds so that we may incorporate your word and will into our lives for your glory.

– Amen

“But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail” (Luke 22-32)

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you will have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25)

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1)