Today, there are more than 360 million Christians living in nations where they are subjected to high levels of persecution for their faith. As these believers undergo daily threats to their freedoms, securities and safety, their courageous faithfulness remains based on the reassuring promises that God's presence is with them in the midst of every difficulty they face.

Photo: Voice of America

For years, the nation of Somalia has been in a state of political turmoil caused by rival factions that are fighting for control of the country, including the al-Qaeda affiliated group known as al-Shabaab. While this militant terrorist group frequently conducts indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians in general, it is particularly known to target Christians.

Supreme Court of Pakistan
Photo: Flickr / Guilhem Vellut (cc)

In May 2021, 13-year-old Nayab Gill was forcibly converted and married to a 30-year-old Muslim man named Saddam Hayat. Despite court challenges, custody was given to her "husband." (For more details, go to this report.) A year later, reports surfaced indicating that the young Christian girl may have been sold to someone else as a bride (details here). With support from various advocacy organizations, Nayab's parents have continued to fight for justice on behalf of their daughter.