Open Doors Podcast

Ever wondered what it looks like to serve the persecuted and strengthen the Church? How do we find the most persecuted? What does it look like to balance addressing immediate needs with longterm ones? How could suffering lead to victory? Join Anna and special guest, Jo Newhouse, from our Sub-Saharan Africa team as they unpack these questions and more on this episode of The Whole Story. If you've b...

In Niger, Christians are roughly one in every few hundred people – a small remnant living under the pressure of extremist violence and deep poverty. In this episode, Nathan and Joel explore what persecution looks like in Niger today and share the story of a mother who fled with her children when militants reached her village.

Episode 30 | World Watch List: Central African Republic by Open Doors Australia & New Zealand

In the heart of Africa sits the Central African Republic, a country where around 75% of the population identify as Christian. So, how does a place like this end up as one of the most dangerous places on the planet to follow Jesus? Join Nathan and Steve as they share what persecution looks like for Christians in the Central African Republic.

Ever wondered how a Christian in Uzbekistan might experience persecution for their faith?  Join Nathan and Anna as we explore this landlocked country in Central Asia where only 1% of the population knows and follows Jesus. Hear what "squeeze" persecution looks like in practice for believers in Uzbekistan, including how many people are involved in surveilling every pastor in one region (hint: it's...

"They tried to break me, but Jesus rebuilt me." In this episode, join Nathan and Steve as they explore what it's like to be a Christian in Bangladesh against a backdrop of political turmoil, riots that led to the resignation of a Prime Minister, and increasingly violent attacks against believers. Hear how the faith of a nine-year-old girl challenges the way that we can live in simple obedience to...

Join Joyce and Steve in this episode, as we unpack Christian persecution in Sudan, a country navigating new waves of conflict and political unrest. Discover how believers are responding with resilience and faith, providing hope and discipleship in the fourth hardest country in the world to be a Christian.

World Watch List: Libya Think sweeping deserts and Mediterranean shores, but behind the beauty lies a story of hidden faith in one of the hardest countries in the world to be a Christian. Join Joyce and Steve as they uncover what it means to follow Jesus in Libya, where believers walk a dangerous road of secrecy and steadfast hope.

Ever wondered what it's like to be a Christian in the most dangerous place in the world? Welcome to North Korea. If you're a Christian in North Korea, your faith could cost you everything; your family, your freedom, and even your life are all at risk once you decide to follow Jesus. Join Anna and Gabe as we discover the people that know and share Jesus in a place that wants nothing more than to st...

Ever wondered how a Christian in Yemen might experience persecution for their faith? Join Joyce and Sarah as we share stories from Yemen, where years of war have left families hungry, displaced, and afraid. Yet even here, Christians quietly serve their neighbours and cling to Jesus in the rubble.

Ever wondered how a Christian in Somalia might experience persecution for their faith?   Join Nathan and Ryan as we discuss what faith looks like in a country where Islam is the only official religion and extremists are bent on enforcing Sharia (Islamic) law. Hear about the extremes believers must go to when their own family discover their conversion to Christ.

Ever wondered how a Christian in Eritrea might experience persecution for their faith? Join Joyce and Sarah as we explore the challenges facing young Christians in Eritrea, where mandatory military service is used to control believers. Amid detention and extreme pressure, they risk everything to follow Jesus.

Nigeria is the most violent country in the world to follow Jesus. On this week's episode, hear directly from the Open Doors' Regional Communications Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, Anna, as she speaks to the complexities Nigerian Christians face, what drives the severe persecution, and courageous stories from our brothers and sisters.

Christians in Pakistan make up just 1.8% of the population but face systemic persecution under blasphemy laws, daily discrimination, mob violence, and forced conversions. Join Joyce and Adam, CEO of Open Doors Australia and New Zealand, as they discuss persecution in Pakistan and revisit Brother Haroon's incredible story of perseverance and faith.   Want to hear more about Brother Haroon? Check ou...

Have you ever wondered what life is like for believers in the Middle East?   In this special episode, you’ll hear from Leila*, an Open Doors' contact who shares her eye-witness account of Christian persecution in the Middle East: heartbreaking stories of Syrian believers, Christian women fleeing household persecution in Iran, and defiant evangelism in the underground Church of Yemen. You do not wa...

Ever wondered how a Christian in Afghanistan might experience persecution for their faith? Join Joyce and Sarah as we explore the hidden Church in Afghanistan: where believers meet in secret, memorise Scripture, and risk their lives for their faith. Discover the courage of women who shine the light of Christ, even in the darkest places.

Ever wondered how a Christian in India might experience persecution for their faith? Join Nathan and Gabe as we scratch the surface of the vast experience of Christians in India. With ancient ties to the Apostle Thomas, regions of India have a rich history of faith in Jesus. But today, 12 out of the 28 states have passed anti-conversion laws, and churches experiencing extreme forms of persecution...

Ever wondered how a Christian in Saudi Arabia might experience persecution for their faith? Join Nathan and Anna as we explore the pressure and persecution believers in Saudi Arabia live with. The majority of the Christians in Saudi Arabia are foreign workers who face many abuses of their human rights and religious expression. Being the birthplace of Islam, evangelising to local Saudi people is fo...

Ever wonder how a Christian in Myanmar might experience persecution for their faith? The people of Myanmar have been suffering through devastating civil conflict and natural disasters, but one trend that has emerged is how Christians have been disproportionately targeted and persecution. Having visited Myanmar, Adam recounts the strength and endurance of the Christian community that has experience...

Come with us to Mali, home of the legendary city of Timbuktu with a legacy of trade and learning. But how do Christians hold fast to Christ when the local church gathers is in secret caves, away from prying eyes? Join Steve and Joyce as they explore how churches continue to quietly grow in Mali.

Ever wondered how a Christian in China might experience persecution for their faith? Join Nathan and Gabriel as we scratch the surface of the pressures Christians in China face. The minority Christian group in China is roughly four times the population of Australia, with a wide variety of experience. But the voice of our persecuted brothers and sisters is a voice needing to be heard, as they face...

Picture turquoise waters and luxury resorts; but behind the postcard lies a reality of quiet courage. Join Joyce and Steve as they explore what persecution looks like for Christians in the Maldives, and how faith survives when it must remain unseen.

Join us this week for special guest, Bishop Daniel, from Iraq. Bishop Daniel gives us eye witness accounts of what life is like for Iraqi Christians, the specific challenges they face, and why he still chooses to call Iraq home despite the persecution he and his people endure.

Life for Syrian Christians has been tumultuous for years, but the 2024 fall of the Assad regime has made life for Jesus followers more uncertain than ever. Join Nathan and Chris as they discuss real stories of Christian persecution and the danger the Church in Syria faces today.

Join Joyce and Joel this week as they talk about what life is like for Christians and other religious minorities living in Algeria, a country that is 99% Muslim.