Twelve Christians Are Killed Daily For Their Faith

While it might seem like the days of Christians being sent to the slaughter in the coliseum during the times of the Ancient Roman Empire are in the realm of the distant past, new research from the global network known as Open Doors reveals that on average twelve Christians are killed every day for their faith in Jesus throughout the world. The sobering statistic comes from the Open Doors' 2025 World Watch List which was compiled from October 01st, 2023 through September 30th, 2024. With eight of the top ten deadliest places for Christians being in Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the statistics of the Open Doors' 2025 World Watch List, which is purposefully cautiously conservative so as not to give credence to any disbelieving claims of inflation; during the October 02st, 2023 through September 30th, 2024 time frame, 7,679 Churches or public Christian properties were attacked or forced to close. 4,744 believers were arrested, imprisoned, detained without trial, or sentenced due to their faith. 3, 775 believers in Jesus were abducted with 3,944 Christians being sexually assaulted, sexually harassed, or forced to marry non-Christians. And nearly 55,000 believers in Christ were mentally or physically abused for their faith. While 28,368 houses, shops, and businesses belonging to Christians were attacked.

Displacement is also a matter of import to many Christians as they live out their faith throughout the world. With nearly 210,000 followers of Christ being forced to flee their homes from October 01st, 2023 through September 30th, 2024. And an estimated 16.2 million Christians having been forced out of their homes over the past few years in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Founded by Andrew van der Bijl, known as "Brother Andrew", a Dutchman, who smuggled The Bible and other Christian literature into communist countries during the Cold War; Open Doors is a Christian organization that serves persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries. Open Doors distributes 300,000 Bibles and 1.5 million Christian books and materials into the areas where Christians are being persecuted on an annual basis. And their aim is to encourage people all over the world to pray, support, and speak up for believers in Christianity who suffer for their faith.

With all Protestant Churches in Algeria having been forced to close, and violence being at an all-time high in Sub-Saharan Africa, Open Doors is starting a four-year campaign along with the Association of Evangelicals in Africa known as the "Arise Africa" campaign to bring sustained awareness to the persecution Christians are facing in the regions. As well as to encourage people to actively pray and speak out against the violent persecution present in the region and support the four million persecuted Christians in Africa both spiritually and physically. A call-to-action by the end of 2026 is planned to be presented to the African Union, the United Nations, and other international bodies and national governments around the world. With those who wish to sign the call-to-action being able to do so here: Arise Africa