The 3 - November 2, 2025

The calls for more action to be taken to protect Christians in Nigeria seems to have intensified over the past few months, as staggering statistics continue to emerge from that nation.  And, the Trump Administration took a significant step late last week.  FoxNews.com reported:

President Trump announced Friday that he is designating Nigeria as a "country of particular concern," citing the widespread killings of Christians in the West African country.

"Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria," Trump posted to Truth Social. "Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby making Nigeria a "COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR CONCERN" — But that is the least of it."

The Fox article noted: "The situation for Christians in Nigeria has reached an alarming level. Entire villages have been burned to the ground, worshipers killed during Sunday services, and thousands displaced by Islamist groups sweeping through the country’s northern and central regions."  It adds: "According to the international watchdog group Open Doors, nearly 70% of all Christians killed for their faith worldwide last year were in Nigeria."

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins responded on X, writing: "This is very good to see. During my time as chairman of @USCIRF under President Trump’s first administration, we were able to obtain this CPC designation on Nigeria because of its atrocious record of tolerating religious persecution. The incoming Biden administration immediately reversed the decision. Elections have life and death consequences."

The proliferation of opportunities for young people to attempt to change their gender with dangerous treatments and surgeries has been exposed, and a federal judge has joined the chorus of voices calling for an end to these practices.  Just The News reported: "A federal judge in Mississippi...struck down a Biden-era Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule that extended federal health anti-discrimination protections to transgender health care."

The judge called out an attempt that has been prevalent throughout the last few years to redefine the word, "sex" in Title IX to mean gender identity.  The article said: "The court ruled that HHS exceeded its authority by redefining sex under Title IX to prohibit gender-identity bias because a statute can’t 'be divorced' from the time and reason for its enactment.  District court judge Louis Guirola Jr. wrote,  "In the opinion of the Court, Congress only contemplated biological sex when it enacted Title IX in 1972," adding, "Therefore, the Court finds that HHS exceeded its authority by implementing regulations redefining sex discrimination and prohibiting gender-identity discrimination."

It was around three weeks ago when Chinese authorities arrested some 30 pastors, including Pastor Mingri (Ezra) Jin of the large Zion Church in China.  The International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians was observed yesterday, and Christians can be reminded to pray for brothers and sisters in the Lord who are facing persecution, including Christians in China, who are living under another wave of restrictions on expressing their faith.

Pastor Jin wrote a letter that was distributed recently on X.  In it, he related:

May God's grace and peace be upon you from our Father God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Beloved, everything here is still new to me, but I often think back to those exciting days—the days when we pioneered the gospel together, trained disciples, and established churches. They feel as if they were right before my eyes. You were always so kind, steadfastly focused on the things of Christ. My heart longs for you.

I'm gradually adjusting to life here. My blood sugar and physical discomfort are slowly improving. Don't worry about me. I find great comfort in being able to endure this little suffering for the gospel.

The pastor went on to say:

Last week, on a Sunday, when I was taken to the detention center, God gave me the words from Jonah chapter 2: “For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’” (Jonah 2:3-4). Even in the abyss, our hearts still look toward God's temple. Jonah was saved from the belly of the fish, and we will be freed from here too, for the Lord is the victor who breaks down the bronze gates.