LIFE GROW MINISTRY NEWS
Introduction
Welcome to the Life Grow Ministries News Page — your place to stay informed and spiritually grounded in a fast-moving world.
Here we share a blend of ministry updates and community announcements from Life Grow Ministries, along with current news gathered from reputable secular outlets, viewed through a biblical, Christ-centered lens.
Our aim is not to chase headlines or stir fear, but to help believers understand what’s happening in the world while remaining anchored in Scripture. We summarize major developments, highlight what matters, and offer brief Christian perspective and prayer points—so you can engage with clarity, compassion, and hope.
As you read, our prayer is that this page helps you stay informed without anxiety, discern truth with wisdom, respond with faith, love, and courage, and keep Jesus at the center of every conversation.
Check back regularly for fresh updates, and feel free to share posts that encourage and equip you.
News & Reference Sources
Persecution of Christians in Africa (2024–2025)
This page lists reputable news outlets and research/monitoring organisations commonly used to track and verify reports of violence, displacement, and religious persecution affecting Christian communities across Africa. For web publication, the links below can be copied directly into your website.
Major International News Agencies & Broadcasters
Reuters — https://www.reuters.com
- Global wire service; strong coverage of insurgency, conflict, and security updates.
Associated Press (AP) — https://apnews.com
- International reporting and regional Africa desks.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) — https://www.afp.com
- International wire service with broad Africa coverage.
BBC News (Africa) — https://www.bbc.com/news/world/africa
- Regional reporting and explainers.
Al Jazeera English (Africa) — https://www.aljazeera.com/where/africa/
- Conflict reporting and regional features.
The Guardian (Africa) — https://www.theguardian.com/world/africa
- Investigations and long-form reporting.
Regional & National Outlets (Often Used for Local Detail)
Premium Times (Nigeria) — https://www.premiumtimesng.com
- Nigeria investigations and security reporting.
Daily Trust (Nigeria) — https://dailytrust.com
- Northern Nigeria reporting; security, kidnappings, community impacts.
Vanguard (Nigeria) — https://www.vanguardngr.com
- National Nigeria outlet; incident reporting.
The East African — https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke
- East Africa regional coverage.
Africanews — https://www.africanews.com
- Pan-African news site (often with AFP/partner reporting).
News24 (South Africa) — https://www.news24.com
- Regional reporting and Africa desk items.
Religious Freedom & Human Rights Monitoring
Open Doors (World Watch List) — https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/
- Annual and ongoing tracking of persecution trends.
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) — https://acninternational.org
- Reporting on attacks, displacement, and church communities.
International Christian Concern (ICC) — https://www.persecution.org
- Incident reporting and advocacy (use alongside independent verification).
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) — https://www.csw.org.uk
- Advocacy and reporting on freedom of religion or belief.
Amnesty International — https://www.amnesty.org/en/
- Human rights reporting and investigations.
Human Rights Watch — https://www.hrw.org
- Human rights reporting and investigations.
Official & Intergovernmental Sources
United Nations OCHA (ReliefWeb) — https://reliefweb.int
- Humanitarian situation reports, displacement updates, and crisis summaries.
UNHCR — https://www.unhcr.org
- Refugee and displacement data; crisis updates.
OHCHR (UN Human Rights) — https://www.ohchr.org
- Human-rights reporting and statements.
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) — https://www.uscirf.gov
- Country reports and religious freedom analysis.
U.S. State Department — International Religious Freedom Reports — https://www.state.gov/international-religious-freedom-reports/
- Annual reports by country.
Conflict Data & Research (For Context and Verification)
ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project) — https://acleddata.com
- Event-level conflict data used by researchers and media.
International Crisis Group — https://www.crisisgroup.org
- Conflict analysis and policy briefings.
Institute for Economics & Peace — Global Terrorism Index — https://www.economicsandpeace.org
- Annual global terrorism trends and country profiles.
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Persecution of Christians in Africa — 2024–2025 Overview
This report summarises recent (2024–2025) incidents and patterns of persecution of Christians across Africa, drawing from multiple independent and secular news sources. The focus is to identify where persecution is most severe, who the primary perpetrators are, and the nature of the violence or repression being reported.
Nigeria
Perpetrators: Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), ISIS-linked militants in the northwest, and armed criminal gangs ('bandits').
Reports: Frequent attacks and kidnappings of Christian communities alongside broader insurgent violence. Sources describe targeted assaults on churches and pastors.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Perpetrators: Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an ISIS-affiliated militant group.
Reports: Mass killings and village attacks, including church-targeted violence in the eastern regions.
Burkina Faso (Sahel)
Perpetrators: Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) and other Islamist extremist factions.
Reports: Christians and churches targeted amid wider jihadist expansion and displacement crises.
Mozambique (Cabo Delgado)
Perpetrators: Islamic State–aligned insurgents.
Reports: Intensifying insurgency, villages burned, and religious sites destroyed; civilian killings and forced displacement.
Sudan
Perpetrators: Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the civil conflict.
Reports: Attacks on places of worship and Christian communities amidst the civil war.
Somalia (and parts of Kenya)
Perpetrators: al-Shabab (al-Qaeda affiliate).
Reports: Converts and known Christians targeted for execution; churches destroyed or forced underground.
Cameroon (Far North region)
Perpetrators: Boko Haram spillover from Nigeria.
Reports: Attacks and kidnappings in border regions affecting Christian villages and aid workers.
Eritrea
Perpetrators: Government and security apparatus.
Reports: Arrest and detention of Christians from unregistered churches; imprisonment and pressure to recant faith.
Overall Patterns
Across Africa, Christian persecution often arises from four main sources:
1. Jihadist insurgencies (ISIS-linked, al-Qaeda-linked groups like Boko Haram, ISWAP, al-Shabab, JNIM).
2. Civil conflicts (where religious minorities are vulnerable, e.g., Sudan).
3. Authoritarian repression (e.g., Eritrea’s imprisonment of believers).
4. Criminal and banditry-driven violence (especially kidnappings and extortion in Nigeria).
While the motivations vary—religious, political, or economic—the result is the same: the intimidation, displacement, or destruction of Christian communities. The resilience of believers in these regions continues to inspire prayer and advocacy across the global church.
Compiled by Life Grow Ministries | Source summary based on multiple international news reports (2024–2025).
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Oliver Hartman
