« news and stories
29th January 2025

Of the ten countries where Christians are most severely persecuted, five are from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), according to this year’s World Watch List. Christians in Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Iran, and Afghanistan face great dangers and are subject to some of the world’s harshest restrictions on their faith.

SAT-7’s satellite programs and social media content are available in all five of these countries, although levels of viewer interaction vary largely. Yemen and Libya, ranked 3 and 4 respectively, are both fragmented countries with very small Christian populations that face severe threats and hostility. SAT-7 receives considerably more engagement from our viewers in Iran and Afghanistan, ranked 9 and 10 respectively, which are also extremely difficult places for believers due to oppressive regimes.

“We are grateful to have you because you connect us to the Church,” Armita* from Iran told us. “We are in persecution, but the grace of Jesus is with us. Wherever there is darkness Jesus shines His light – we are living in the heart of darkness and our hope is Jesus Christ.”

Sudan Situation Worsens

Looking at the 2025 World Watch List, war-torn Sudan stands out as the country where life for Christians has been deteriorating significantly over the last few years, climbing from 13 in 2022 to 10 in 2023, up to 8 last year, and now ranking in fifth place. Conditions in Sudan have worsened considerably in the last year, climbing three places due to a “sharp rise in attacks on Christian communities and churches.”1

YouTube video player

The situation for Christians in Sudan is inextricably linked to the country’s civil war, which has been raging for nearly two years. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict, over 12 million have been displaced, and the country has been pushed to the brink of famine in what the UN has described as one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.2

There is hostility towards Christians on both sides of the battle, and groups have exploited the terrible security situation to target believers. Christians have been kidnapped and killed, and over 100 church buildings have been damaged. With so many believers having to flee their homes and churches, activities like gathering for worship and distributing aid have become extremely difficult. Last spring, we reported on how believers in Sudan were nevertheless persevering in faith after a year of war.

Hearing From Sudanese Viewers

Throughout 2024, SAT-7 heard from Sudanese Christians who are still following Jesus and serving others, despite all the challenges they are facing. They shared their struggles with our Viewer Support Team, and also how SAT-7’s programming is encouraging and equipping them in their difficult circumstances.

A Sudanese Sunday School teacher named Salam got in touch to share how she has been using SAT-7’s content to disciple displaced youth. “By God’s grace, I’m currently in a relatively safe area, serving children in camps,” Salam explained. “Often, due to the war and losing most of my [teaching] tools, I use your videos and hymns directly. I edit or adapt them slightly to suit the children’s age, environment, and circumstances. Thank you so much! May God bless your hard work. I’m thrilled to be sharing with and receiving from you.”

Fatima is a teenager who knew about SAT-7 long before the war. She has been watching SAT-7 KIDS for more than ten years and has continued to do so after fleeing the war in Sudan. “My favorite program is Bible Heroes because I’ve learned so much about the Bible from it,” she shared with us. As such an engaged and loyal viewer, our team sent Fatima an illustrated Bible to encourage her faith.

Fatima has not lost hope, but being away from her home for such a long time is taking its toll. “I hope I can return to Sudan because I’ve been away for 20 months due to the war,” she told us in one message. “I’m praying for us to return.”

Khalil, a 25-year-old man living in Egypt, is also a Sudanese war refugee. “I’ve been under tremendous pressure lately,” he shared. “I’m here alone in a strange country and my whole family lives in a war-torn country. I’m trying to focus on my studies while thinking about how I can support my family.”

Despite the stress of the war, Khalil expressed his gratitude that he has been able to grow in his faith by watching SAT-7 ARABIC and following our social media content. “I learned so much through following your page. Everything you post makes a difference in my life and is a blessing to me.”

Like Khalil, Suzanna has had to leave loved ones behind. “After the war [began], I came to Egypt with my children and left my husband in Sudan. I feel the pressure.”

SAT-7 ARABIC’s programs have been helping Suzanna to stand firm in her faith. “I’ve been greatly encouraged,” she said. “May God bless the ministry and make it a blessing to many people.”

Please Pray:

 

*Viewer names changed for security.


Sources

1 Open Doors | Sudan

2 BBC

Related Stories
As people return to devastation following the ceasefire in Gaza, a young Christian woman has shared...
A revamped youth program on SAT-7 ARABIC has been helping young adults explore difficult issues...
SAT-7 is hearing story after story from women who have encountered the transformative love...
Of the ten countries where Christians are most severely persecuted, five are from the Middle East...
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap