Pastor Hassan Abduraheem Taour helped train Sudanese pastors to be ready for persecution. He didn't know that he was also preparing himself for the day he'd be arrested in Sudan, charged with aiding espionage alongside VOM's Africa Regional Director, Petr Jasek, and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

There were difficult days in prison, yet Pastor Hassan experienced the joy of the Lord—joy so powerful it brought tears to his eyes. It is because of that joy, and because of the ministry God gave him in prison, that Pastor Hassan looks back on those long months as "one of the best times of my life."

The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily in 2026 for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria and Bangladesh, 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.

Aaron Miller, Vice President of International Ministry at The Voice of the Martyrs, looks back to recount changes and transitions he saw during 2025 in places like Syria, Turkmenistan, Tanzania, and Saudi Arabia. He also shares stories of sitting down with fellow believers in hostile areas and restricted nations and how VOM's work expanded in countries such as Benin, Indonesia, Morocco, and western Nepal.

"In times of transition," Aaron says, "our staff sees opportunities." VOM's field staff is excited by the chance to reach new places, which allows them to learn the needs of our persecuted brothers and sisters, pray for them specifically and find the best ways VOM can serve.

You'll hear how VOM is facilitating gatherings where pastors and gospel workers meet brothers and sisters doing similar work in other closed countries. These gatherings are opportunities to hear testimonies, pray together and worship the Lord freely with other persecuted Christians.

Listen as Aaron shares sacred sentences written in a letter from an imprisoned pastor thanking VOM for taking care of his wife and children. "I want to thank you for ministering to orphans of living fathers," the pastor wrote, "ministering to widows of living husbands."

Hear how you can pray for the specific needs of persecuted Christians, and request your free copy of VOM's 2026 Global Prayer Guide to help you know how to pray throughout this year for Christians in India, Venezuela, and many more hostile areas and restricted nations.

The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily in 2026 for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria and Bangladesh, 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.

Last week, we began a look back on some of the most moving moments on The Voice of the Martyrs Radio in 2025. This week, we continue to remember:

• Nathan and his friends were arrested doing street evangelism in the Middle East. He'll share his experience in prison, the power of faithful friends, and how the Lord revealed the day of their release.
• Brother Miguel from Peru will share where his passion for serving persecuted Christians began and how God gave him a hunger to know more, pray, and share their powerful stories with more people through radio and TV.
• Michael & Mona share what it looks like to be a Christian in North Africa, where they are often treated as second-class citizens. Yet Mona says she loves the Muslim people who are victims of a false religion.
• Kevin works among people trapped in fear-based animistic practices in Southeast Asia. He'll share how gospel workers combat that fear with the love of Christ.
• Hana Menghisteab returned to tell how sharing her story for the first time on VOM Radio in 2024 was a breakthrough, helping her acknowledge deep wounds and opening her heart to God's healing touch.
• Dr. Yousaf Sadiq told us about growing up in a Christian family in Pakistan and how God ministered to him through Psalms sung in the Punjabi language.
• Brother Samuel grew up in a Muslim family in Malaysia. He first heard the gospel helping translate the JESUS film. Today, he faces persecution as he tries to change his government-issued ID card to reflect his faith in Christ.
• Susanna Koh, wife of abducted Pastor Raymond Koh, shares how she trusts the Lord despite the unknown, and how God asked her to put feet to her forgiveness.
• Sister Neda grew up as a Muslim in Iran. On the outside she appeared to have it all, yet inside she was broken. Listen to hear how she called out to God and He answered.

After hearing these brief excerpts, you'll want to listen to the entire conversations with each of these guests. Click the links below or listen in the VOM APP.

• Brother Nathan, gospel worker with YWAM in the Middle East
• Miguel Angel Angeles, Executive Director of Bethel Radio & TV in Peru
• Michael & Mona, Christian leaders from Egypt working across North Africa
• Brother Kevin serves as a gospel worker and church planter in Asia
• Hana Menghisteab, the daughter of imprisoned Eritrean pastor, Dr. Tecleab Menghisteab, who has been in prison for over twenty years.
• Dr. Yousaf Sadiq grew up in Pakistan and is now a professor at Wheaton College and co-leader of the Lausanne Persecuted Church Initiative.
• Brother Samuel grew up Muslim and now faces persecution in Malaysia for his faith in Christ.
• Susanna Koh, Pastor Raymond Koh's wife, continues to go to court for his release
• Sister Neda, serves persecuted Christians in Iran through Iran Alive Ministries

We thank the Lord for allowing VOM Radio to encourage and challenge listeners all over the world this year. Thank you for listening and praying for our persecuted family in restricted nations and hostile areas around the world during 2025!

We'd love to hear from you! Let us know what conversation in 2025 most inspired your faith or equipped you to pray. You can also give online to support persecuted Christians through the work of The Voice of the Martyrs.

Join us in 2026 for another year of testimonies about what God is doing in and through our persecuted brothers and sisters and hear how you can pray specifically for them throughout the year!