AP

YOUNG CHRISTIAN LEADERS UNITE FOR THE GOSPEL IN DANGEROUS REGION

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — In the cities and villages of Central Asia, faith remains a quiet, often dangerous act. In the hearts of a growing number of young professionals, however, a new generation is rising—one determined to carry the light of Christ into their workplaces, communities, and countries despite the threats. It was here in Kazakhstan, which sits in the very heart of the countries of Central Asia, that more than 500 Christian professionals (teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, film-makers, and business leaders) gathered from around the Central Asia region, including from nations that have in recent years witnessed a severe crackdown on religious freedom.. The community of passionate, courageous Christians were on a mission to encourage one another in finding ways of changing cultures and impacting their world for Christ, one conversation at a time. “We came here to meet new people and to build a network with other professionals and learn how to be more effective as believers in our workplaces,” Erzhanov Sypatai, a Christian from Central Asia, told CBN News. While they all brought their own dreams and ambitions, each shared one bold purpose: to use their careers as a platform to share the love of Christ.

While the majority of Central Asia remains Muslim, more and more young people are embracing Christianity. As these young professionals return home across Central Asia, they carry not just knowledge, but a renewed courage to be a light in regions where faith is tested—an impact that could last for generations. [Source: NBNNews]

THE WORD OF LIFE TRANSFORMS THE LIFE OF PRISONERS

Prisoners in Honduras have received a Mission Cry shipment of over 1,000 Bibles. In a place where violence and hopelessness reign, inmates gathered in the prison courtyard as missionaries distributed the Bibles and shared the Gospel with them. Jason Woolford with Mission Cry says this is happening in several places because they are finding favour with prison officials. Non-Christian prison wardens in Africa, the Philippines, as well as South America and other places, are allowing God’s Word through the gate. The Bible, given free, is accompanied by a discipleship program and other study helps. Prayer is requested for protection of the missionaries on the ground and for continued favour with prison authorities. [Source: Mission Network News]

CHRISTIAN GIRL KIDNAPPED FOR TWO YEARS IN PAKISTAN ESCAPES

International-Morning Star News –  A Christian girl escaped the Muslim who kidnapped her, forcibly converted her to Islam and repeatedly sexually assaulted her as his “wife”. Muskan Liaqat was 14 years old when she was kidnapped at gunpoint from her home in Pakistan by a Muslim father and son Adnan, on the night of May 24, 2023 as her family slept. “They took me to their home, where they tortured me and forcibly took my thumb impressions on some papers – I was later told that I had become a Muslim and Adnan was my husband,” Muskan related.

A member of the Salvation Army, Muskan said she was treated as a sex slave. “I was raped and beaten by Adnan with an iron rod on almost a daily basis,” she said. “He used to call me ‘Chuhri’ [a derogatory term used for Christians] and other curse words. As a result of repeated sexual abuse, I got pregnant in 2024.” But because of the severe torture suffered, her pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. “I used to cry all night and prayed to God to rescue me from this hell, but it looked like my prayers were not reaching Him…” The trauma led her to attempt suicide:  “I wanted to kill myself as it seemed the only way out of the agony that I was suffering every day,” Muskan said. “I would also question myself, ‘Would my family accept me even if I somehow manage to escape and return home? Would they believe me that I had not gone with Adnan willingly?’ These thoughts haunted me all the time, forcing me to think that ending my life was the only option.”

On May 26 this year, it seemed her prayers were finally answered when Muskan found a chance to make a phone call to her older sister, informing her about her location and the names of her captors. But her hope of rescue proved short-lived. “When my captors came to know that my family had approached the court for my recovery, they threatened to kill me and my family members if I gave a statement against them,” she said. “They told me to tell the court that I had converted to Islam and married Adnan of my free will. I succumbed to their pressure though my heart and soul yearned to be with my parents and siblings.”

The family’s attempt to rescue Muskan through legal action led to more merciless beatings. Using an iron rod, Adnan fractured her left arm and caused other multiple injuries. Muskan’s prayers were finally answered on June 3, when Adnan left her unguarded at his house, enabling her to escape. “I’m truly grateful to God for rescuing me from captivity and to my family for trusting me that I had not gone with my captors willingly,” she said. Fearing another attempt to again take custody of Muskan on the basis of the fake marriage, the family sought help from Christians’ True Spirit (CTS), a paralegal organization that also runs a shelter for Christian women and girls. CTS immediately relocated Muskan to its safe house for her protection.  Pakistan, whose population is 96 percent Muslim, is ranked eighth on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian.

 
DOES HAMAS HAVE A DIABOLICAL PLAN TO HURT STARVING GAZANS, SPREAD LIES?
A CHRISTIAN LEADER SPEAKS OUT

A Christian leader has answered Christ’s call to feed the hungry and care for the needy. Johnnie Moore, executive chairman of  the  Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has spoken out to reveal what is really happening as GHF attempts to distribute food and resources at no cost to the Palestinians in war-torn Gaza. Both the U.S. and Israel support GHF’s efforts. Moore states: “I think the biggest barrier to getting aid to Gaza is a corrupt old system that has enabled the continuation of this war, and enabled Hamas to steal the aid, to sell it to the Gazan people, to hoard the aid for their own fighters.” He continued: “GHF is attempting to try new methods of distributing aid. Our focus is on ensuring people get the food they need to survive,  through ‘secure distribution centres’ that are staffed by a mixture of American contractors and locals.”

Moore charged that Hamas terrorists, bandits, and others have been seen taking aid from other groups’ trucks when they arrive in the Gaza Strip, leading to chaos. He believes one reason GHF has faced public relations struggles is because of a concerted and intentional campaign by Hamas to undermine their efforts. “Hamas wants to scare Gazans from coming to get food in our distribution sites,” he said. “So, they’re constantly spreading lies about massacres and violence happening in our distribution sites. The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health recently told the media that 79 people were recently killed, and claimed that 51 died near GHF distribution areas. This never happened; no people were killed. They want to keep people from coming. And then, by the way, they’re also threatening our local workers, even threatening their lives to try to keep them from helping us.”

GHF has reported that it has distributed millions of meals. Moore continued: “This is a monumental, monumental task. It’s taking an enormous, enormous amount of time. And, unfortunately, rather than doing it with the support of the international community, we’re just fighting them every step of the way. And it shouldn’t be that way.” [Source: NBN News]

– compiled by Guido Kettniss