As we celebrated the season reminding us of the birth of Jesus, I was also disturbed with recent reports I came across that showed the continuing grave threat to the faith associated with Christmas.
Perhaps there is nothing new about the threat, like harassment or even persecution, in certain regions as online platforms show that the cases are reported in more than half of the nearly 200 countries in the world.
These sources are more specific in saying that over 160 nations see some form of harassment, and hundreds of millions live under high persecution, particularly North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen and Nigeria.
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A report by the Christian Post last month showed that in the first seven or eight months of 2025 alone, extremists and radicals massacred more than 7,000 Nigerian Christians across the African country. Almost 8,000 others were abducted.
The figures, according to CP, represent almost 30 deaths per day, or more than one hour.
About 35 were abducted daily, roughly two per hour.
The report further said that tens of thousands of Nigerian Christians had earlier been killed – in the last decade.
And all these, because they are living their faith.
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In Nicaragua, cases of religious clampdown have also been reported, along with the tightening of civil liberties and restrictions on media operations.
Tourists are prohibited to bring into the country, among others, cameras, magazines and books, including the Holy Bible. Religious organizations are under surveillance, their public events, including processions, have been cancelled, reports further said.
Cases of detention of leaders of churches who have been critical of the current administration, have also been reported.
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Sadly, in this age that embraces and promotes diversity, tolerance and religious pluralis, we continue to read about these despiriting reports, although we know that Christians belong to the minority in Asia.
In our continent, more than half of the almost 50 countries have records of various forms of persecution. Also, while our Southeast Asian neighbors may be tolerant, we still hear of occasional and isolated accounts on attacks on people of the faith.
I remember that a Catholic church which was part of our tour itinerary during a 2017 visit to Surabaya some years back was bombed along with two other Christian churches in two successive days in 2018, killing at least 15 worshippers and injuring dozens of others.
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In Germany, the test to the Christian faith is revealed in another form.
A DW (Deutsche Well) news network report said that in 2024, the two major church groups – Catholic and Protestant – lost more than two million Christians either to deaths or people deciding to leave churches.
The DW report said that since the turn of the century more than 600 Catholic churches have been decommissioned, along with about 325 Protestant churches.
Today, only 45% of the people belong to either church groups, down from 69% thirty years ago.
The result? Many churches across the country have either been demolished or sold and converted as, among others, a bicycle shop, bookstores, a boxing arena and a soccer playing field with convents transformed into hotels.
For us, here in one of the two Christian countries in Southeast Asia, these are, indeed, disheartening post-Christmas notes.
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Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10) | NWI
