CENTRAL ASIA: Visions, Visas, and Venturing to Unreached People in Afghanistan
Release Date: 03/21/2026
WORLD MISSIONS: “It’s All Hands on Deck Right Now”
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How do you discern God’s calling to be a missionary? John Easter, Executive Director of , says the first question might be: if God did call you to serve overseas, would you say yes? Before accepting his current role John and his wife served the church in Africa, providing theological training to pastors and leaders. In an effort to develop more leaders for the growing church, they oversaw 380+ schools with 25,000+ students. Serving on missions frontlines brought many challenges. They faced an abduction, medical issues, hijacking and other criminal activity while in Africa. Yet the Lord...
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PARENTS OF MISSIONARIES KILLED IN HAITI: “I Want to Point People to Jesus”
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, David and Alicia Lloyd, founders of , told the story of the day in 2024 when gangs attacked their ministry compound. When the attacks ended, David and Alicia’s son, Davy, and their daughter-in-law, Natalie, had been murdered, along with their close friend and ministry partner, Judes Montis. Several weeks later, David returned to Haiti, assuring ministry coworkers and fellow believers that, despite the tragedy, they would not abandon Haiti and their brothers and sisters there. They also learned, from students and staff who’d been at the mission compound, about Davy and Natalie’s last...
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STRONG TO THE END IN HAITI: “I Can’t Wait to See Jesus!”
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Davy Lloyd was only 23 years old but already had his eyes on eternity. When he and his wife, Natalie, would visit his parents’ home at the mission compound where they all served in Haiti, Davy would often come through the door and say, “I can’t wait to see Jesus!” Little did he know how soon his desire would be fulfilled. Davy and Natalie were killed, along with Haitian coworker Judes Montis, during a gang attack at the mission compound on May 24, 2024. David and Alicia Lloyd, Davy’s parents and longtime missionaries to Haiti, join VOM Radio this week to tell the story of that...
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NIGERIA: “Jesus is My Savior. I Have No Regrets.”
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More than 50 people were killed during an attack on a Christian area in the city of Jos on Palm Sunday in . More attacks occurred during Easter weekend. But not every attack on Nigerian Christians makes international news. Listen this week as Matthew Hanson, who leads The Voice of the Martyrs’ work in West and Central Africa, explains how VOM responds to Christian persecution. He’ll explain how VOM helps persecuted Christians meet immediate needs like food, clothing, and shelter; then also serves to assist with longer-term needs for emotional and spiritual healing. “We want to see both...
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NICARAGUA: A Battle Between the Gospel of Christ and the Powers of Evil
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“What is key is that many of these pastors and leaders have understood the true gospel.” Despite government threats of exile, prison, or death, Pastor Chico, a front-line worker in , says pastors are still preaching the truth of God’s Word—no matter the cost. They know, as the Bible says, that “faith comes by hearing” (Rom. 10:17). The price of their preaching can be high. Listen as Chico shares about a pastor who lost his Nicaraguan citizenship when he left the country to attend a Christian conference, and pastors imprisoned without a trial or any legal process in which to defend...
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LAOS: How Should We Prepare for Persecution when Jesus Himself Died?
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Christians in Laos know they will face persecution when they follow Jesus. Brother Sionh, founder and president of Khmu Christian Connection, says he doesn’t have to make a special effort to prepare Christians for persecution because they already know it will come. He says some Khmu follow Jesus privately and secretly because they fear the loss of opportunity that comes with being known as a Christian. Brother Sionh remembers how his parents and many others came to faith before World War II when an American missionary walked to their village and told them Jesus has power over evil spirits...
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AFGHANISTAN: “Once You Begin to See What God Can Do…”
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This week, Brother Matthew continues sharing stories of God’s calling on his life to Afghanistan and how he came to know the beautiful, amazing people within that broken nation. As he saw God at work in Afghanistan, he says his faith and hope increased. Afghanistan is a nation where many Christians have laid down their lives. With his long experience there, Matthew met, worked with and learned from these martyrs. Listen as he shares memories of several heroes of the faith that he knew as friends and colleagues in the gospel effort. One of those Brother Matthew will tell of is Werner...
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CENTRAL ASIA: Visions, Visas, and Venturing to Unreached People in Afghanistan
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Brother Matthew was a worldly teenager when his mother decided she and her son needed to go to church. By the end of that first service, both of them had committed their lives to following Christ. As Matthew grew in faith, he was convicted and inspired by the Acts accounts of Paul’s missionary travels. Studying Paul’s efforts to take the gospel to the gentiles, Matthew began to ponder who were the gentiles in his generation, living far from the truth of Christ? As he began to ask that question in prayer, God laid on his heart the nation of Afghanistan. Matthew began taking steps towards...
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MISSIONS: Reducing Barriers, Easing Burdens, and Delivering God’s Word
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“God, where are You working in aviation that I can participate?” Throughout his life, Steve Russell, CEO and President of Jungle Aviation and Relay Service (better known as ) has asked the Lord what He had in store next. That pattern continued when he earned his pilot’s license; he wondered how the Lord would use that new skill to open doors for Kingdom impact. Little did he know God would use it to move him toward leadership in a global missions effort! Long before Russell arrived at JAARS, God was giving him experiences to prepare him for this season of service. Steve will share how...
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INDIA: “I Am Willing to Pay the Price. My Heart is Prepared.”
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“Pastors are only asking for prayer for the ministry to continue, and prayer for conversion of [their] persecutors,” Brother Vijay says, “No one is asking that the persecution would stop.” Brother Vijay, a gospel worker in India, is back to share what it means to follow Christ in India today, and how pastors and believers there take persecution in stride. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi sees any Christian gathering as a crusade—an attempt to convert people. Authorities even send spies to monitor Christian gatherings. But spies in church still hear the message;...
info_outlineBrother Matthew was a worldly teenager when his mother decided she and her son needed to go to church. By the end of that first service, both of them had committed their lives to following Christ.
As Matthew grew in faith, he was convicted and inspired by the Acts accounts of Paul’s missionary travels. Studying Paul’s efforts to take the gospel to the gentiles, Matthew began to ponder who were the gentiles in his generation, living far from the truth of Christ? As he began to ask that question in prayer, God laid on his heart the nation of Afghanistan. Matthew began taking steps towards service in that war-torn country, and repeatedly God confirmed His calling. Months later, Matthew was in Uzbekistan, serving with a church-planting effort and getting on-the-ground education in Central Asia ministry and culture.
Listen as Matthew tells the stories of the people he met who experienced supernatural visions and encounters with Jesus. He’ll also talk about the risks of sharing the gospel among Muslims, and the miraculous story of how God helped him get approval for an Afghan visa from the Taliban consulate!
Matthew will recount what it looked like when he arrived in Kabul—just a few years after Soviet tanks withdrew—and how the Lord led him to serve in a village as God faithfully guided, one step at a time. Pray this week for our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters in Afghanistan and throughout Central Asia.
The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria, Iran, and India, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content, and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.