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EASTER COMES TO MYANMAR’S CHRISTIANS

This Easter in Myanmar, Christians are worshiping among ruins—and in a climate of fear. Last month’s devastating earthquakes have deeply impacted God’s people in the country. Open Doors local partners are reaching affected believers with vital aid and reminding them they are not alone—but the need is enormous, reinforcing the importance of your continued prayers and support. The death toll from the disaster now stands at more than 3,500, and about 4,700 injured. Many are in desperate need of relief and assistance, while people still remain trapped under debris.

Many countries  have provided support for affected areas. However, reports have surfaced of police and armed groups forcibly seizing relief supplies intended for victims in Sagaing. And it’s believed that the Myanmar militia fired on a Chinese convoy delivering aid. Meanwhile, the militia continues to launch attacks as a part of the ongoing civil war. On April 9, a junta bombing raid killed more than 30 people in southern Chin State (which is majority Christian) and Sagaing division. Around 50 others, including elderly people and children, were wounded in the junta’s aerial strikes. 
The level of need and anguish in Myanmar seems difficult to reconcile with the joy of Easter. It almost seems like the situation has more in common with Good Friday and Holy Saturday—a people in mourning, wondering where their Saviour is. And yet, through your gifts and prayers, God’s Easter hope is shining through. [Source: Open Doors.]

CHRISTIAN SLAUGHTER IN SYRIA EXPOSED
More than 1,000 minorities, including Christians, have been paraded through streets, tortured, and slaughtered in Syria in one of the deadliest attacks by the radical Muslims leaders since the overthrow of longtime President Bashar al-Assad four months ago, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and local reports.  Christians have been shocked by the most disturbing videos that have been trickling out, showing Muslims loading prisoners into the back of trucks and beating them as they are hauled off, or making them crawl on the ground like animals and bark like dogs. From the shaven faces of the prisoners, it is likely that they were Syrian minorities, including Christians. Videos show Christians fleeing from their terrorisers, and then being shot in the back.
It is not easy for many Christians and the people in the West, to understand why this is happening. The confusion is compounded by News reports in ‘so-called’ trusted Western media  like the BBC, which report peaceful scenes of people from all religions living harmoniously, when the exact opposite is happening. When extremist Muslims took over Syria four months ago, the atrocities of the Al-Qaeda group was almost painted as a ‘multi-cultural’ celebration by Muslims, as well as Christians and Jews. This was a demonstratively false report as official reports show that there were only nine Jews in the entire nation of Syria. The likelihood of any of them celebrating the rise of an Al-Qaeda linked group is extremely low.
A simple reading of the Quran will reveal some of the most brutal teachings which explain what is happening in Syria and why it was predictable. The Quran uses strong imagery and insults for those who refuse to believe in Islam, including comparing unbelievers (Christians) to animals like dogs. (Surah 7:175-176). 
During her hearing with the US Congress, Director of Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, spoke with almost prophetic accuracy about what would happen to Christians after the rise to power of radical Muslims. Many accused her of being a ‘puppet’ of Russian misinformation propaganda and spreading Islamophobia, but it turns out the fears that she shared have unfortunately been realized. [Source: Back to Jerusalem.]

PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIAN CONTINUES IN CHINA
CHINA AID – (I) A 70-year-old Wang Honglan was sentenced to four years and ten months for delivering Bibles in China. While in prison, she was tortured to give up information on the church members she had been serving with. China Aid is reporting that sister Wang Honglan was not alone. Eight other church leaders were also sentenced to prison for their role in distributing Bibles in China’s Inner Mongolian Province. All nine Christians were convicted of “Illegal Business Operations” on April 10, 2025 after having their sentencing delayed three times. The Christians will also have to pay fines ranging from $US700 to $US136,000. Grandma Wang Honglan was given the harshest sentence of all nine Christians.

(II) 12 Chinese Believers Face Trial After Three Years in Detention: The trial of 12 church workers from Gold Lamp Church started on April 8th, 2025 in Linfen, Shanxi Province , after spending more than three years in wrongful detention on fraud charges and are now facing trial under intense governmental pressure and constraints. An extensive security operation was established to block Christians and family members from accessing the courthouse. Local officials warned Gold Lamp Church followers against going to the courthouse while they discovered strangers observing their homes and were advised to stay away from the trial. Please pray that God will continue to sustain those on trial, and even find opportunity to witness to their persecutors.

A THIRD-CENTURY HYMN IS SET FOR A PRE-EASTER RELEASE
A resurrected third-century hymn is set for a pre-Easter release. What was left of the hymn, archaeologists found 100 years ago in ancient Egyptian ruins. It was sealed in a climate-controlled vault at Oxford University until John Dickson, professor of Biblical Studies and Public Christianity at Wheaton College, came along. Dr Dickson told Baptist Press this is a song from before there were church denominations. And it’s thoroughly orthodox Christian theology. Chris Tomlin, Ben Fielding, and John Dickson collaborated to resurrect the hymn which can be archeologically dated to the mid-200s.
The lyrics include “All rushing rivers be stilled as we sing our hymn to the Father, Son, the Holy Spirit, ……Might, praise and glory be forever to our God, the only giver of all good gifts. Amen. Amen. The resurrected hymn translates some original words and melody, but creates a new song that anyone can sing. [Source: Baptist Press]

THE WORD OF GOD TRANSFORMS PEOPLE IN PAPUA INDONESIA
MAF pilots are integral in taking the Gospel across mountainous jungles in Papua Indonesia. Villages are isolated, and it can take days to walk from one community to another. Nathan Fagerlie, a pilot with Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) says they can get to them so much quicker, flying in missionaries and supplies and evacuating patients to hospital.
When missionaries first brought the Gospel to the Yali people in Papua in the 1950s they met with opposition and two of them were killed. But in a generation the natives in Yali have changed from cannibals to Christians. Mr Fagerlie told Mission Network News the transformation of the Yali people is a reminder that God’s Word transforms people. The Yali have changed personally, culturally, how they view themselves, their neighbours, and the world. The place where they used to skin and eat people is now the airstrip with a hut that is the church. [Source: Mission Network News]

WHAT IS GOD DOING IN HIS UNIVERSAL CHURCH?
Is a “quiet revival” happening in Western churches? In the UK recent data reverses held beliefs that Christianity is declining in Britain. Instead, engagement with church is increasing, particularly amongst Gen Z (ages 18-24). The Bible Society’s ‘Quiet Revival’ report reveals the most dramatic finding was that the number of young men has outgrown the number of young women joining churches – younger people are particularly active in their faith. That’s not just going to church, that’s praying, reading the Bible, and believing in the God who cares about their life, the Report reveals. Across all age groups, church attendance increased 56% between 2018 and 2024. Most notably, attendance among Gen Z has quadrupled, from 4% to 16%. There are now over 2 million more people attending church than there were six years ago.
Another finding by YouGov (UK), also indicated that ethnic minorities are playing an increasing role in the Church. Around one in five regular churchgoers are from an ethnic minority, with this figure rising to almost a third among 18- to 54-year-olds.

In the USA, in a striking shift amid declining trust in organized religion, a new Barna Group study signals a surge in Americans’ commitment to Jesus, with younger generations leading the charge. The research, part of the State of the Church 2025 initiative, finds 66% of U.S. adults affirm a personal commitment to Jesus that remains vital, a 12-point leap from 2021’s record low of 54%.  “This is the clearest trend we’ve seen in more than a decade pointing to spiritual renewal,” said David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna, noting the data equates to roughly 30 million more Jesus followers since 2021. “Undeniably, there is renewed interest in Jesus.” Studies also show that there is a marked increase in reading and studying the Bible
As in the UK, revival is most pronounced among Gen Zers (born 1999–2015) and millennials (born 1984–1998), bucking decades of Barna data that pegged older generations like boomers as Christianity’s stalwarts. Among Gen Z men, commitment to Jesus spiked 15 points since 2019, while millennial men saw a 19-point jump. Women, particularly in the boomer and Gen X categories, have “remained mostly flat in their commitment levels to Jesus,” the study found.

In Australia, hundreds of thousands of Australians are quietly turning to Christianity despite a national trend of declining religious affiliation, new research has revealed. Nearly 785,000 Australians who identified as having no religion in the 2016 Census, listed Christianity in 2021, according to a study released by social research firm McCrindle. The findings challenge the prevailing narrative that Australia is becoming increasingly secular, instead uncovering what researchers call an undercurrent of faith. Unlike the UK and USA,  the growth in Christian identification is not being driven by overseas migration, nor the younger generation, but predominantly by Australians aged 55 and older.
However, the research also revealed that while younger generations are less likely to identify as Christian overall, those who do, are far more committed to regular church attendance. More than 70 per cent of Generation Y (Millennials) Christians and 68 per cent of Generation Z Christians attend church at least monthly, compared to just 26 per cent of Baby Boomers who identify as Christian. Following the trend elsewhere, It’s the first time men have come up more religious than women, says Dr Ruth Powell, head of National church Life Survey (NCLS) research.

The increase in commitment to Jesus among those under 40 suggests a growing spirituality that is quiet, personal, unconventional and hopeful, but also challenging to the Church. The challenge for the Church is to become welcoming, and to meet this significant opportunity by cultivating deep-rooted discipleship, showing the Biblical importance of belonging to a Church family and the spiritual benefits of doing so. [Sources: Premier Christian News, Christian Today, Faithwire, and Australian Prayer News]

– compiled by Guido Kettniss