May 2024 Persecution Magazine

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MAY 2024
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Contents
MAY 2024
ON THE COVER
This month, we turn our focus to broader
Latin America — including Mexico, Cuba, and
Nicaragua —where Christian persecution is
making headlines.
FEATURES
10
14
20 22
PERSECUTION AT
THE DOORSTEP
Exposing the Hidden
Realities of Oppression and
Resistance in Latin America
CHRISTIAN
PERSECUTION DEEPENS
An Inside Look at the Legal
Battle Faced by Mountain
Gateway
THE ‘LIGHT OF FAITH’
DESPITE HARASSMENT
Alberto Reyes Pías, an
Outspoken Critic of Cuba’s
Crackdown on Freedom
ON THE GROUND:
FAITH UNDER FIRE
Persecution of Evangelical
Protestants in Southern
Mexico
RECURRING
04
06
08
24
26
ICC NEWSROOM Your Source for Persecution News
WEST WATCH Issues Involving Christianity in the West
YOUR HANDS AND FEET ICC Projects Made Possible by Our Supporters
“I AM THE WORST” A Prayer for the Oppressors
CROWNS OF COURAGE Highlighting Those Who Have Sacrificed Everything for Christ
@persecuted @persecutionnews @internationalchristianconcern International Christian Concern
OUR MISSION: Since 1996, ICC has served the global
persecuted church through a three-pronged approach of
advocacy, awareness, and assistance. ICC exists to bandage
the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the church
in the toughest parts of the world.
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Persecution | MAY 2024
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STAFF
Publisher Jeff King
Managing Editor Alex Finch
Editor and Designer Hannah Campbell

The Gospel Can’t Be Stopped in Latin America
You can always tell when the gospel makes Satan angry! Jon Britton
Hancock knows that better than anyone. Jon has been in
ministry for 30-plus years, first with the poor, orphans, and drug
addicts in Mexico before serving in Nicaragua.
Since 2013, he and his team have faithfully shared the gospel and rescued
people from natural disasters and poverty.
The government first welcomed Jon with open arms, but recently
turned against him when they saw a massive outpouring of hunger for
the gospel associated with his ministry.
At the Lord’s prompting, Jon began doing large-scale crusades throughout
the country attended by tens of thousands of Nicaraguans. They
culminated in the biggest gathering of more than 100,000 in the nation’s
capital. As a result, the Marxist government felt threatened and
later issued arrest warrants for Jon on trumped-up charges (see page
14).
Latin America is becoming a persecution hotspot as dictators like Nicaragua’s
Daniel Ortega refuse to share power or the spotlight with
Christ. He arrested many Catholic priests, bishops, and evangelical pastors
this past Christmas.
In Cuba, the Marxist government likes to pretend to the outside world
that they have religious freedom, but Christians must walk on eggshells
to avoid arrest or worse. Fr. Alberto Reyes Pías shared his story at
this year’s IRF Summit in Washington, D.C., as our Advocacy team led a
track that included the session, “Concerning Trends in Latin America.”
Wherever Satan and his human affiliates try to strangle the gospel, the
church explodes. This was more than clear on my many trips to Cuba,
Vietnam, China, and more.
We know how the story ends and who is on the throne.
In the meantime, please pray for our brothers and sisters in Latin
America.
JEFF
Jeff King, President
International Christian Concern
Author: The Whisper (NEW!), The Last Words
of the Martyrs, and Islam Uncensored
PERSECUTION.ORG 3

ICC Newsroom
YOUR SOURCE FOR PERSECUTION NEWS
At Least 130 Students Rescued
from Kidnappers in Nigeria
Government officials reported that at
least 130 students returned to their
parents following the kidnapping of
287 students in Kaduna state in northern
Nigeria. The school initially reported the
militants kidnapped 237 students, but the
government reported the number was
only 137. The government claims that all
students have returned. Journalists have
not verified the numbers outside of the
130 returned the week following their
abduction.
Last month, various groups kidnapped
more than 650 people within one week in
Nigeria. The globally recognized terrorist
group Boko Haram kidnapped half of
the individuals while suspected Fulani
militants kidnapped the other half.
The terrorists kidnapped the students just
one month before the 10th anniversary
of the kidnapping of the Chibok girls who
sparked the international revolution “Bring
Back Our Girls.” Unlike the students in
this kidnapping, many of the Chibok girls
remain missing.
The government of Nigeria told reporters
that they returned all students from the
recent incident in Kaduna without the use
of ransom payments; however, Nigerian
officials often do not report the use of
ransom to deter future exploitation from
terrorist groups.
Nicaraguan
Regime
Launches
Easter
Crackdown
As Holy Week approached,
Nicaragua’s draconian Ortega
regime had already started
cracking down on plans to
celebrate the most important
week on the Christian calendar.
According to attorney Martha
Patricia Molina, the government
has nixed 4,800 processions
planned for the Easter season.
Processions are an important part
of Catholic religious practice in
Nicaragua and the surrounding
area. In most cases, Molina wrote
in a Facebook post, parishes
plan to conduct the procession
inside the church. In a few cases,
processions have taken place
around the block rather than
through town.
The Catholic church has been
heavily targeted in recent years
due to its outspoken criticism of
the regime’s sordid human rights
record and its decision to shelter
student protesters in 2019.
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Persecution | MAY 2024

VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PERSECUTION.ORG, FOR THE LATEST NEWS
House Church
Forced to
Cease Worship
Activities in
Java, Indonesia
Gunmen Kill Pastor, Five Others
in Nasarawa State
Gunmen reportedly killed six people,
including a pastor, in separate attacks
during one weekend in the Kadarko
community of Keana Local Government
Area in Nasarawa state, Nigeria.
Three people in the Tse-Abir Azer
community in Kadarko were shot around
4 p.m. on Friday, March 22, as they fished
by a local river. Two farmers died instantly,
while Pastor Kingsley Orshase died on
Saturday at the hospital. Three other
farmers were gunned down on Sunday
morning.
Denis Utsa, chair of the United Farmers
Association of Kadarko, confirmed the
attack on Monday. In addition to the
deaths, Utsa said, many other farmers
suffered gunshot wounds.
Utsa also shared that a Fulani pastoralist
was killed in a retaliatory attack.
Authorities have yet to confirm the deaths,
and the gunmen have not been identified.
New Hong Kong Law Raises Concerns
of Chinese Influence
Hong Kong passed a controversial
security law, Article 23, on March 19,
raising concerns among locals for its
reach and severity. The bill imposes harsh
punishments, including life in prison for
treason, insurrection, or any threats to
China’s sovereignty. It would also allow
police to detain a suspect without charge
for 14 days in addition to the 48 hours.
Religious leaders in Hong Kong are
concerned about the influence of this bill
on Christian practices and ceremonies
and asked for exemptions in the law for
Christian leaders and church rituals.
Concerns about the growing influence of
China in Hong Kong continue to mount.
A Hong Kong court recently sentenced
12 people, some up to seven years
imprisonment for rioting in the 2019 prodemocracy
protests. Sources have told ICC
staff that thousands of Hong Kong citizens
are still detained and imprisoned from the
2019 protests, with nearly half of those
being Christians.
A video of the disbandment of
a Sunday worship service at a
resident’s house in Balaraja,
Tangerang Regency, on the island of
Java, Indonesia, recently went viral
on social media. Neighbors broke
up the Christian worship service,
which, according to Balaraja Police
Chief AKP Badri Hasan, occurred on
Sunday morning, March 17.
After receiving reports of multiple
residents gathering inside, police
visited the home. However, they
arrived after the worship time had
ended.
Badri said the house had been used
as a place of worship during the
last year. That Sunday, however,
neighbors alleged that no permit
had been issued to allow a worship
gathering to take place at the house.
Authorities asked the homeowner,
who acknowledged she had hosted
multiple worship gatherings, to
publicly say she would no longer
host worship services. “Declaring
that starting today, I will no longer
hold religious services in my house.
Thus, I made this statement without
any coercion from any party,” the
woman said in a video.
Police, who mediate between the
homeowner and members of the
community, are expected to follow
up with each party.
PERSECUTION.ORG 5

The United States Supreme Court refused to try the case
of the dismissal of Christian jurors from a Missouri trial
regarding homosexuality on Feb. 26, 2024. The case of
Missouri Department of Corrections V. Finney involves the
harassment of Jean Finney that was because of her sexuality.
A self-described lesbian who presents masculine, Finney
experienced harassment in the workplace due to her relationship
with a coworker’s ex-wife. While trying this case, however,
three potential jury members were dismissed because of their
“conservative Christian values.” Finney’s attorney questioned
the jurors with what he called a tricky question, asking, if any
juror “went to a conservative Christian church where it was
taught that people [who] are homosexual shouldn’t have the
same rights as everyone else because what they did was a sin.”
In a statement released by Justice Samuel Alito of the Supreme
Court, he agreed with the characterization of the so-called
“tricky question” adding that “it conflated two separate issues:
whether the prospective jurors believed that homosexual
conduct is sinful and whether they believed that gays and
lesbians should not enjoy the legal rights possessed by others.”
In response to this question, multiple jurors attempted to
articulate the distinction noted by Justice Alito. A pastor’s wife
on the jury responded, “Homosexuality, according to the Bible,
is a sin. So is gossiping, so is lying. None of us can be perfect. And
so, I’m here because it’s an honor to sit in here and to perhaps
be a part of, you know, a civic duty.” Another juror addressed the
question by saying, “Homosexuality is a sin because it’s in the
Bible. But every one of us here sins ... It’s just part of our nature.
And it’s something we struggle with, hopefully throughout our
life. And the fact that it is a sin has really nothing to do with — in
a negative way with whatever this case is going to be about.”
In her final decision, the trial judge granted the motion to
dismiss, noting that both jurors said, “that they could follow the
law” and that she should “err on the side of caution because
there [are] enough jurors left.”
West Watch
ISSUES INVOLVING CHRISTIANITY IN THE WEST
Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Case Regarding
Removal of Christian Jurors
The plaintiff’s counsel expressed concerns about “getting into
the bounds of religious discrimination,” and Justice Alito’s
statement agreed stating, “I see no basis for dismissing a juror
for cause based on religious beliefs.” Justice Alito eventually
voted against trying the case due to a technicality in the filing
process which led the case to include the subject of preservation
of an objection rather than the dismissal on a religious basis.
ICC UPDATE TO THOSE ON CAPITOL HILL
If you’d like to stay informed about ICC’s advocacy work and
policy recommendations, subscribe to our monthly newsletter,
The Capitol Dispatch, at www.persecution.org/icc-advocacy
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Persecution | MAY 2024

POCKET POLICY
Religious Freedom Legislation
Introduced in the Senate
Senators James Lankford, R-Ok., and Chris Coons, D-De.,
introduced a resolution expressing the importance of international
religious freedom amid increased global attacks on religious
freedom. Senators Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., also
cosponsored the legislation. This legislation outlines instances of
persecution across multiple religions, including Sikhs, Muslims,
Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians.
Alongside recognizing the ongoing atrocities, this resolution calls
for expanded support for religious freedom around the world, the
use of all diplomatic tools available to further the effort, including
sanctions, and highlighting religious freedom as a cornerstone of
the United States foreign policy.
In his remarks following the release of the resolution, Senator
Lankford said, “The fundamental right of every person to have a
faith, live your faith, change your faith, or have no faith at all must
be recognized throughout the world ... The United States must
continue its international leadership to defend religious freedom,
which is why we are reaffirming our commitment to fight for
religious freedom around the world.”
Two leading members of the United States Commission on
International Religious Freedom publicly expressed support for
the legislation.
Proposed Bill in Canada
Threatens Religious Freedom
A proposed bill in Canada that would dismantle religious freedom
will be up for vote before legislators. Proposed Bill C-637 would
remove the “religious exemption” protection in Section 319 of
the Canadian Criminal Code. While the bill is being promoted
as a way to combat antisemitism, it essentially removes the
existing free speech protections for devout Christians, Jews, and
Muslims, by opening them up to charges of hate speech for their
religious beliefs. Currently, devout believers of all faiths are free
to voice their opinions on things they disagree with because of
their religious convictions. However, Bill C-637 would take these
protections away. If passed, this bill would be a devastating legal
tool to attack people of faith in Canada and allow the politicians
working through the courts and police to send people of faith to
jail for quoting the Bible, Quran, or other religious texts.
H.R.3056
Turkey and Ecumenical
Patriarchate Religious
Freedom Act of 2021
House Bill 3056 of the 117th Congress
also known as the “Turkey and Ecumenical
Patriarchate Religious Freedom Act of 2021,”
was introduced by Congresswoman Carolyn
Maloney of New York and is a bipartisan piece
of legislation that opposes violations of religious
freedom in Türkiye by the government of the
country.
This legislation outlines the religious persecution
of Christians in Türkiye, particularly that of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate.
This bill differs from many other pieces of
legislation that pertain to religious freedom in
that it furthers the requirements outlined by
the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).
In IRFA, the president and the State Department
are not required to make any statement
providing reasoning for their designation or lack
thereof. Where H.R.3056 differs is that if the
administration makes a designation for Türkiye
contrary to the recommendation of USCIRF, they
must provide public reasoning.
While not currently up for consideration in the
House, this legislation may prove helpful in
future international religious freedom practices
if expanded beyond application requirements
for Türkiye. If reasoning were to be made
a requirement, the State Department and
presidential administration would be forced to
uncover all related agendas that are potentially
preventing the legislation.
With other goals and agendas revealed, it may
be possible for diplomacy to proceed uninhibited
as politicians and NGOs may be satisfied with a
lack of designation if they find the reasoning
against the designation satisfactory.
PERSECUTION.ORG 7

Your Hands and Feet
ICC PROJECTS MADE POSSIBLE BY OUR SUPPORTERS
SUSTAINED BY GOD’S GRACE
I’m so honored to travel each year to meet with
our ICC partners and beneficiaries. Recently,
I was meeting with several pastors and their
wives who are navigating through the storms of
persecution. I was reminded and humbled by the
power of God’s grace to sustain His servants in the
darkest times of suffering.
In my quiet times with the Lord, I remember their
stories as an image of hope. Each story lighted the
path where I encountered them on their journey
and calling with the Lord. It was in hearing their
struggles that I found hope. I witnessed men and
women who persevered through deep and dark
suffering yet lived in confidence that they would
find triumph in Jesus. As I listened to their stories
I found immense inspiration. It was overwhelming
how their unwavering faith reflected God’s
unending love and faithfulness.
Hearing the stories of ministry wives weeping and
persevering under deep grief at the loss of their
husbands and children brought an immense mix
of emotions. Yet, I was able to cry with them,
pray with them, and find deep gratitude for their
sacrificial love and service to the Lord. I continue
to struggle with the question, “Is this something I
would do for the Lord?” Their stories of enduring
persecution and standing firm in the face of
adversity still resonate deeply with me, leaving
me with a tremendous sense of humility and
reverence in my heart.
I find their stories remind us of the cost of
discipleship and the true meaning of what it means
to live a life of selfless devotion to serving Jesus.
Thank you for your prayers and generous support.
In Him, our hearts rejoice,
Dr. Peggy Banks
ICC’s VP of Global Assistance
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial
because, having stood the test, that person
will receive the crown of life that the Lord has
promised to those who love him.” — James 1:12
Church of the King / Unsplash
Radha’s Journey of Dignity
and Determination
SOUTH ASIA Radha is from a small village in India where her and
her family’s Christian faith and marginalized status shaped her outlook on
life. Limited by her family’s financial constraints, Radha could only pursue
studies up to the intermediate level. Despite facing financial and social
hardships, she worships the Lord every week at her local church.
Last summer, ICC paid for Radha to take beautician training. She attended
the courses regularly and graduated from the program with dreams of
establishing a beauty parlor of her own in the village to support her family.
“I am not able to start by own shop, but I’m seeking God for His help to
come soon,” she said.
Her prayers were answered when ICC helped her open her own beauty
parlor in the village. Her business not only gives her a sustainable income
but also the dignity of being the proud owner of the business establishment
that she runs with the skills she’s learned.
“You stood by my side and provided me with the opportunity to receive
training as a beautician. Your unwavering support and encouragement was
truly a blessing to me,” Radha said. “With your assistance, I am able to get
employment in the beautician shop which not only created employment
opportunities for me, but also allowed me to become financially
independent. The investment made in this venture has been a tremendous
blessing for my family, as it has provided us with a stable source of income
and a brighter future. Thank you so much!”
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Persecution | MAY 2024

Rania’s Escape from Danger
MIDDLE EAST Rania was married to her husband Hassan,
and they had two daughters. They were a Muslim family living a
peaceful life until Rania decided to follow Jesus a few years ago.
Since then, everything has changed.
Her husband divorced her and threatened to take away her
children. She was forced to testify in court and denied her
conversion to Christianity for fear that the verdict would be issued
in favor of her husband. She won the case and retained custody
of her children.
After court, Hassan became furious and chased her, threatening
to kill her. She moved eight times to try to escape him. The
children missed an entire year of school since they were on the
run. With the help of her Christian brothers and sisters, she was
able to enroll them in school.
When ICC heard of her story, we helped Rania by covering the
rental fees for more than a year in a safe location.
“Finally, I feel like we have a family that cares about us,” she said.
“Because of you, I will not have to worry about paying the rent for
the coming months. Thank you very much. Please remember us
in your prayers.”
Christie Luke / Unsplash
A Safe Haven for Sarah
AFRICA
Sarah endured rejection from her family due to
her disability and faced further hardship when she was taken
advantage of and became pregnant. After her father died when
she was very young, her mother rejected her due to her disability.
When she became pregnant, she had nowhere to turn and married
the father of her child, who was a Muslim and had other wives.
Despite her struggles, she embraced Christianity in 2022.
However, her newfound faith led to her husband’s anger, resulting
in her expulsion from their home.
Left with nowhere to go, Sarah sought refuge with her
grandmother in a Muslim community, where she continued to
face threats unless she reverted to Islam. Unable to do physical
labor, she dreamed of owning a shop to sustain herself. We
relocated her to a safer community and set her up with a small
business to generate income.
Grateful for the support, Sarah exclaimed, “I thank God for this
shop! I can’t believe it! My situation has changed so much that
ICC saved me from crying day and night.” With the shop, she’s
able to support her family and pay for her son’s education.
PERSECUTION.ORG 9

Persecution at
the Doorstep
Exposing the Hidden Realities of Oppression
and Resistance in Latin America
By Alex Finch
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Persecution | MAY 2024

It can be easy to overlook Christian persecution at the doorstep
of the United States, as withering attacks in Nigeria and
ongoing bullying by China and North Korea hijack our focus.
Yet we turn to broader Latin America this month – including
Mexico, Central America, and South America – where Christian
persecution makes headlines. And countries like Nicaragua have
all but declared war against Catholics.
Like many in the West, we were caught off-guard when priests
were rounded up and arrested in Nicaragua at Christmas – Pope
Francis condemned the attack in his Jan. 1 address, and the
Vatican negotiated their release a month later. More than 100
priests have fled or been kicked out of the country, and hundreds
of religious organizations have had their registrations canceled,
according to the Washington Post. And as recently as late
March, 11 Christian pastors were arrested on sham charges in
connection with U.S.-based Mountain Gateway ministry. In Cuba,
government officials regularly harass and target church leaders.
“As a church, we
are living through
the worst moments
in our history in
Nicaragua since its
arrival more than
500 years ago to the
present moment.”
— Persecuted Nicaraguan Priest
PERSECUTION.ORG 11

Two sources of Christian persecution are
evil and Communist/Marxist regimes.
The latter put the “State” ahead of Christ,
while the former can fester in disillusioned
hearts as greed, envy, and power.
Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega, 78,
embodies both as he punishes Christian
leaders for threatening his regime’s
control of the people.
“[Ortega] has been hostile toward
Christianity since day one but it has
grown much worse recently with a brutal
crackdown on Catholics and now the
evangelicals,” said International Christian
Concern (ICC) President Jeff King. He
added that Ortega’s presidency since 2007
has been marked by “tyranny, torture, and
persecution.”
More than 500 churches and religious
organizations have been attacked since
2018 under President Ortega and his wife,
Vice President Rosario Murillo, according
to The Hill. These include an altar boy’s
murder and the arrests of dozens of
priests and evangelicals Monsignor
Rolando Álvarez served more than one
year of a 26-year sentence on false
charges for criticizing Ortega’s regime —
he was released in January along with
other priests.
According to the United States Commission
on International Religious Freedom
(USCIRF), “Government forces and citizens
sympathetic to the regime have routinely
harassed Catholic clergy and worshipers.
Catholic clergy have recently come under
direct persecution.”
In January, a Nicaraguan priest told of
his beating and imprisonment to more
than 1,000 attendees at the International
Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in
Washington, D.C. Hiding his identity
behind a screen and using a voice
scrambler, the priest spoke of the need
to stand for human rights in the face of
severe persecution.
“I have agreed to come for two reasons
— because I believe that there is a God
who cares for us and because if we, as
Christians, who believe in democracy, in
freedom, in social justice, do nothing,
no one else will,” the priest said. “Every
Sunday, patrol cars full of police are parked
in front of the country’s Catholic churches.
The faithful who attend the Eucharist
on Sundays are photographed [and] the
homilies delivered by the remaining
priests are being recorded. As a church,
we are living through the worst moments
in our history in Nicaragua since its arrival
more than 500 years ago to the present
moment.”
The U.S. Department of State has included
Nicaragua in its Countries of Particular
Concern list, which cites nations that
severely violate religious freedom.
“It is important for Christians around
the world to stand with the persecuted
church,” King said. “They need to know
that fellow believers are praying for them
and working on their behalf.”
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Persecution | MAY 2024

“[Ortega] has been hostile
toward Christianity since
day one but it has grown
much worse recently with
a brutal crackdown on
Catholics and now the
evangelicals.”
— Jeff King, ICC President
PERSECUTION.ORG 13

Christian
Persecution
Deepens in
Nicaragua
14
Persecution | MAY 2024

An Inside Look at the Legal Battle
Faced by Mountain Gateway and
other Christian leaders in Nicaragua
By Lynn Arias
After more than two decades of missionary
work in Mexico and Central America, U.S.
citizen Jon Britton Hancock stands accused
of unsubstantiated crimes of money laundering and
organized crime by the Nicaraguan government. The
accusation, made in late 2023, is an often-used falsehood
hurled at anyone deemed a threat by the authoritarian
regime governing that nation.
Hancock is not alone in his charges. His son, daughter-inlaw,
and 11 pastors associated with Hancock’s ministry,
Mountain Gateway, have also been charged with, and
in some cases imprisoned for, the alleged crimes while
being denied basic due process. According to the ministry,
they have not been allowed to read their official charging
documents.
Today, the 11 pastors remain imprisoned, and Hancock
and his family will be tried in absentia.
“Our people say that the church is encouraged and unified
and sort of not duped,” Hancock said. “They understand
all the charges are bogus, and they’re trying to get us to
plead guilty and all the things that they do, which we’re
not going to do.”
U.S. Congressman Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., in February
condemned the arrests and spurious charges in a press
release.
“In December 2023, eleven Nicaraguan pastors and
other individuals associated with Mountain Gateway,
a Christian organization based in Texas with missionary
presence in North and Central America, were arrested
and imprisoned by the Nicaraguan government without
access to legal counsel, understanding of the allegations
against them, or documentation of their alleged criminal
charges,” the statement declared.
PERSECUTION.ORG 15

A bipartisan letter was sent in February to the Ambassador
of Nicaragua, signed by 58 members of the U.S. Congress,
expressing alarm over Nicaragua’s violations of religious
freedom. Additionally, House Resolution 1019, also introduced
in February, expresses concern “that United States citizens
affiliated with the Mountain Gateway ministry are being targeted
for arrest and extradition by the Nicaraguan government.”
In a statement released by the ministry, the missionary group
denied all wrongdoing.
It stated that “Mountain Gateway has documentation
demonstrating that the Nicaraguan government viewed and
approved all funds that entered the country, and the organization
operated under the government’s oversight to ensure that all
funds were used and managed appropriately.”
A LONG HISTORY OF SERVICE
Hancock, who runs Mountain Gateway, has been involved in
missionary service since 1996 and expanded his work into
Nicaragua in 2013.
According to its website, Mountain Gateway “served the citizens
of Nicaragua through discipleship, church planting, feeding and
clothing those in need, providing food, water, equipment, and
recovery assistance during natural disasters, and sharing the
gospel of Jesus Christ in mass evangelistic campaigns.”
Initially, the Nicaraguan government allowed Hancock’s ministry
to remain in the country, likely because of the aid it provided to
victims of natural disasters and the calming effect it had on the
people.
However, the attitudes of those in power shifted drastically after
the Christian missionaries hosted events that brought together
large numbers of Christians and Christ-seekers from many
different backgrounds.
A NATION-WIDE REVIVAL
In 2023, Hancock worked with dozens of pastors and evangelical
Christians who organized a massive evangelism campaign in
Managua, the capital city and heart of Nicaragua. An estimated
1 million people attended eight events during that year, where
they heard the message of Jesus Christ.
Churches from every major and independent Christian
denomination joined together and represented 6,000 churches
at the events, bringing about a coalescence of many like-minded
individuals.
In an interview with ICC, Hancock expressed that those in power
in Nicaragua “don’t like … such a massive, unified movement.”
A REGIME THREATENED BY THE GOSPEL
After the evangelism campaigns of 2023, Nicaraguan authorities
revoked the license of Mountain Gateway, which operated as
Puerta de la Montaña within the nation, to work in the country.
Additionally, according to Hancock, authorities “seized all of
[their] assets, 47 vehicles, four pieces of real estate … [and] put
11 of [their] personnel in prison.”
Nearly 1 million people attend a mass evangelism campaign in Nicaragua
through the partnership of Shake the Nations Ministry and Mountain
Gateway. Photos courtesy of @shakethenations on Instagram.
Hancock also explained that the Nicaraguan government put out
an international notice on him and his family requesting their
detainment. According to Hancock, “six countries have said,
okay, if they come here, we’ll arrest them and extradite them
to Nicaragua for you.” Those countries, he stated, are “Cuba,
Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil, Honduras, and Mexico.”
ICC President Jeff King offered words of encouragement to
Hancock as he continues to endure persecution at the hands of
the Nicaraguan government.
“We’re in a battle, so you can’t not get shot … but this is the battle
and not the war,” King said.
King’s reference speaks to Ephesians 6:12: “For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
16
Persecution | MAY 2024

QUICK FACTS
POPULATION: 6,359,689 (EST. 2023)
RELIGIOUS BREAKDOWN:
50% ROMAN CATHOLIC
33.2% EVANGELICAL
2.9% OTHER
0.7% NONE
13.2% UNSPECIFIED
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: SPANISH
PERSECUTION.ORG 17

authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
A TROUBLING TREND
The recent escalation of Christian persecution in the Central
American country comes as no surprise to many who have, for
years, endured the authoritarian rule of Nicaraguan President
Daniel Ortega, whose roots are in the Marxist-inspired Sandinista
political party.
As is often the case in authoritarian or Marxist rule, leaders do
not relinquish their power voluntarily and are easily threatened
by the unification of any group, including religious ones, as they
are considered a potential threat. To retain power, authoritarian
regimes forcibly deny intrinsic human rights to individuals,
thereby quelling any dissent that may arise, through violence or
any other means necessary.
Saddled by what is quickly becoming a police state, a litany of
public anti-government protests has taken place since Ortega
came to power for the second time in 2007. Citizens have
become progressively dissatisfied with the increasingly repressive
governmental policies of the Ortega regime.
STANDING UP TO AN OPPRESSIVE REGIME
Throughout the years, Ortega absorbed a sense of dictatorial
paranoia, prompting him and his inner circle to jail, exile, or
intimidate anyone viewed as a potential threat to his power,
including journalists, opposition leaders, members of the Catholic
clergy, or anyone who holds dissenting opinions to his rule.
One such case is that of Catholic Bishop Rolando Alvarez, who
was detained by Nicaraguan authorities in 2022 for preaching
that human beings have God-given rights and expressing
opposition to the Ortega regime. After learning of his sermons,
Nicaraguan authorities detained Alvarez from August 19, 2022,
to January 14, 2024. The bishop was convicted of “undermining
national integrity, propagation of false news through information
and communication technologies, aggravated obstruction of
functions, and disobedience of contempt for authority.”
In 2024, Alvarez was released from detention and exiled to the
Vatican after Vatican officials and Nicaraguan authorities reached
an agreement. In similar fashion, the bishop’s fellow clergy were
also exiled to the Vatican.
According to Open Doors’ World Watch List of 2024, “President
Ortega continues to see Christians as enemies of the government,
and recent changes to the law have been used to label church
leaders as terrorists. They have been harassed and arrested, and
churches are fiercely monitored.”
Additionally, in 2018, protests erupted after Ortega proposed a
change to the country’s social security program that would have
made workers pay more while receiving fewer benefits, which
was the final straw for many Nicaraguan citizens. After 11 years of
coping with the injustices of the Ortega regime, many individuals
reached a boiling point.
"There is a
move of God
that really
started in 2023,
and they can't
stop that.
I know God
literally shook
the entire
nation, and I'm
satisfied that
it's continuing."
— Jon Britton Hancock,
MOUNTAIN GATEWAY
According to the U.S. State Department, “the ensuing conflict left
at least 325 persons dead, more than 2,000 injured, hundreds
illegally detained and tortured, and more than 52,000 exiled in
neighboring countries. Beginning in August [2018] the Ortega
government instituted a policy of ‘exile, jail, or death’ for anyone
perceived as opposition, amended terrorism laws to include prodemocracy
activities, and used the justice system to characterize
civil society actors as terrorists, assassins, and coup-mongers.”
Amnesty International stated that “the government of President
Daniel Ortega has committed crimes against humanity in the
context of the crisis … with the intention to kill and persecute
those who opposed their policies.”
THE GOSPEL PERSEVERES
As our brothers and sisters in Christ in Nicaragua, including
Hancock and others associated with Mountain Gateway, continue
to endure persecution for their faithful Christian witness, may we
stand with them in prayer and make their struggles known. May
we also pray that the gospel continues to spread in Nicaragua,
despite Ortega’s leadership.
“There is a move of God that really started in 2023, and they can’t
stop that,” Hancock said. “I know God literally shook the entire
nation, and I’m satisfied that it’s continuing.”
18
Persecution | MAY 2024

Photo courtesy of Mountain Gateway
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Watch ICC President Jeff King’s two-part interview
with missionary Jon Britton Hancock.
Scan the QR Code with your mobile
device or visit our YouTube channel
for Jeff’s interview with Jon!
PERSECUTION.ORG 19

The ‘Light of
Faith’ Despite
Harassment
in Cuba
20
Persecution | MAY 2024

International Christian Concern (ICC) led planning for the Violations Track at the 2024
International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington, D.C. One of the five track
sessions, spearheaded by the International Republican Institute and other sponsors, was,
“Concerning Trends in Latin America.” The session featured several key panelists including
Alberto Reyes Pías, a Roman Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Camagüey, Cuba. He has
been an outspoken critic of his government’s crackdown on religious freedom. Below are his
panel remarks that give insight into Christian persecution in Cuba.
In Cuba, one of the most subtle
mechanisms of evil is what we call
‘normalization’ which is nothing more
than evil becoming a habitual part of
our life. We not only take its presence
for granted, but also focus our energies
not on eliminating it and freeing
ourselves from it, but on figuring out
how to continue walking, despite it
hindering our steps, tying our hands,
and oppressing our throat.
In appearance, religious freedom
is respected in Cuba. In general,
churches are open, worship is allowed,
catechesis exists, young people gather,
one can openly talk about God, possess
a Bible, and wear religious symbols.
Yet, in Cuba, there is a thirst for God.
Pastoral agents focus on serving those
seeking an experience with God that
touches their lives, even at the cost of
accepting as ‘normal’ what is not.
The truth is that there is a universe of
realities that repress the full enjoyment
of religious freedom in Cuba. Many of
us have had no choice other than to
accept it as ‘normal.’
However, it is not normal, despite
attempts to make it so, to have an
Office of Religious Affairs led by the
Communist Party, overseeing, and
attempting to control every single
movement of the Church. It is not
normal for this office to pressure
Cuban bishops to restrain the social
actions or political actions of priests
and committed laity.
It is not normal to depend on permits
for any public expression of faith.
It is not normal to lack access to media
communications and for the Church to
be prohibited from having its own. It is
not normal for different denominations
to be denied access to the national
education and health systems and be
unable to have their own schools and
healthcare facilities.
It is not normal for the Church to be
harassed for defending the innocence
of political prisoners and for assisting
their families. It is not normal for
priests, nuns, and laity who, moved by
their faith, speak up for the people who
face harassment and defamation.
Fighting directly and openly to solve
these issues would only lead to our
destruction or discouragement. This is
a luxury we cannot afford.
Therefore, with the spirit of survivors,
we seek every opening that allows
the light of faith to pass through. We
systematically ignore threats and
attacks from the Office of Religious
Affairs and other state actors. We insist
repeatedly on the permits needed
to rebuild our church buildings and
permits to express our faith publicly.
We buy houses and register them under
[the names of] trusted individuals to
turn them into churches for the people.
We distribute evangelistic materials by
hand and use our personal social media
networks. We find our own ways to
obtain and distribute medicine, food,
clothing — anything that can alleviate
the precarious situation of the people.
However, we cannot deny that this
life of struggle and survival drains us.
Humans can face any war, but they
are not made to live perpetually in [a
state of] war, and our war has lasted
for 65 years — 65 long years where we
have had to start over and over again,
dealing with a system allergic to the
central values of the Christian faith. A
system that is on high alert whenever
it hears about truth, justice, freedom,
and goodness in which they are not the
protagonists and administrators.
We will continue to fight, despite
the high price, but we need to know
that we are not alone, that there are
others who will speak up when we are
silenced, who will defend the truth
when others lie about a Cuban paradise
that does not exist.
We need to know that there are others
who will not play along with official
propaganda, who will denounce
anything that binds our spirit and
suppresses our actions.
We need to know that there are others
who, day by day, pray for us to the God
who unites us, asking for the desired
freedom, the conversion of our people,
and forgiveness for those who oppress
us and need to open their souls to a
God who is also their Father.
PERSECUTION.ORG 21

ON THE GROUND:
FAITH UNDER FIRE
Persecution of
Evangelical
Protestants in
Southern Mexico
BY LINDA BURKLE, PH.D., ICC FELLOW
22
Persecution | MAY 2024
In November 2023, I had the privilege of attending and
speaking at an evangelical pastor’s conference in Oaxaca,
a city in southern Mexico. Every pastor attending the
conference has experienced various levels of persecution,
and I interviewed several of those attending. The conference
was hosted by Pastor S.M. of Iglesia Evangelica Nacional,
whom I first interviewed by phone in 2021. He has been at
the forefront of evangelistic efforts to indigenous minority
groups in unreached remote mountainous regions and
church planting amid persecution. Many people in these
communities, which maintain a separate identity and
language, practice “Christo-paganism,” a syncretistic blend
of ancient pagan practices and Roman Catholicism. In
addition, there is a strong atheistic communist movement,
most notably in the state of Chiapas. [1]
During the November conference, I interviewed Pastor
S.M. again. He stated that Evangelical Christianity is
viewed negatively as an American “Yankee” religion.
Christians are blamed for the poverty in the region. Pastor
S.M. has personally experienced being arrested and
imprisoned and having his church burned and property
confiscated. He literally was run out of town at gunpoint.
The persecution has not deterred him from his ministry. In
fact, he is making inroads into mountainous villages that
have not been reached by the gospel and have had no
Christian presence. [2]
As I wrote in a previous article, “Religion, Tradition,
and Persecution: The Plight of Christians in Mexico,”
published by International Christian Concern in February
2021: “Persecution has a variety of sources and forms.
Drug cartels may target Christians because they do not
approve of drug use nor participate in illegal activities
and are averse to bribes. Persecution is most prevalent in

the mountainous regions of the southern
states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Yucatan.
The indigenous people who populate these
rural areas practice a syncretic religion
that mixes Catholicism with pre-Hispanic
Mayan beliefs. Communal life is centered
around various religious holidays and
traditions which promote drunkenness.
All community members are expected
to contribute to these events both with
money and service. Evangelical Protestants
who cannot afford to contribute or who
do not wish to participate in community
religious holidays are intensely pressured
to do so, first with fines or jail time. If they
still refuse, they are denied basic services
such as water and electricity that are
guaranteed in Article 4 of the Constitution.
Their churches and homes are burned, and
belongings are confiscated. They are then
forced to leave the community.” [3]
Although the Constitution of Mexico
guarantees all persons the right to practice
their religious beliefs and ceremonies,
local political leaders, supported by
the Catholic majority, have significant
autonomy in indigenous communities,
using Mexico’s “Law of Uses and Customs”
to force Evangelicals to comply. The state
government seldom intervenes. Rather,
they relocate the persecuted outside of
their community. [4] In April 2019, Mexican
publication Somoselmedio, reported that
“over 700 people from 115 indigenous
families had been expelled from nine
different communities for failing to
participate in local Catholic festivals.” [5]
With approximately 83% of Mexicans
identifying as Catholic, “The Catholic
Church in Mexico has historically been
one of the most powerful and politically
conservative institutions in Latin America.
Deeply embedded in Mexican society and
culture, the Church fiercely defended its
effective monopoly over religious practice
— particularly as a bulwark against Yankee
Protestantism.” [6]
When I first spoke with Pastor S.M. by
telephone in 2021, I asked him at the
conclusion of the interview if there was any
hope for change. He responded that if the
churches come together with one voice,
they could leverage political power for
change. Since then, Pastor S.M. has been
instrumental in forming an association of
evangelical pastors, which now includes 20
churches and 40 missions. This association,
Nacional Nueva Generacion, provides
mutual support to members and leverages
united political clout in responding to
persecution. They also engage the media
to draw attention to acts of persecution,
while the government prefers to downplay
such occurrences. While Evangelicals have
united collectively to mitigate persecution,
it still very much occurs. [7] According to the
Open Doors World Watch List 2023, Mexico
is ranked 38th of the top 50 countries
where persecution is prevalent. [8]
In interviewing several pastors who
attended the conference in Oaxaca,
I listened to firsthand accounts of
persecution as summarized here: Pastor
E.Z. stated that in Chiapas, the Catholic
church created a paramilitary unit carrying
AR-15 guns, expelling 1,500 Evangelicals
from their community. [9] Pastor A.P.S has
been going to unreached communities in
remote mountainous regions where 60%
practice witchcraft. He shared that there
is strong opposition to the gospel, pastors
have been shot, and local religious leaders
have discouraged community members
from accepting the gospel. Evangelists
have been detained and questioned by
local authorities. The city council held a
town meeting where people expressed
a desire to kill Pastor A.P.S. but he was
jailed instead. In jail, he prayed, and some
people started to support him. He was
released from jail on the stipulation that
he not preach or evangelize. However,
he continued to teach those who wanted
to hear the Good News, and miracles
followed. Five or six witches received the
gospel, and 200 people became believers
attending church. However, some witches
have continued to harass him and have
made attempts to kill him. [10]
Another pastor shared that the Catholic
church demanded that he contribute to
their celebrations. He refused and was
subsequentially denied basic services and
needed supplies, such as concrete and
fertilizer. Pastor E.M.R. described how he
courageously addressed a potentially fatal
situation. The village mayor was murdered,
and then the federal workers left in fear.
With the federal government’s presence
gone, the locals attacked him. They shot at
his house, denied him water and medical
services, and expelled his children from
school. His family feared they would be
killed. Pastor E.M.R. saw a need for medical
services and transformed the church into a
clinic, although they had no medicine they
relied on prayer. The community realized
the church was there to help and become
more tolerant. Some church members were
teachers and started providing secondary
education five hours a day. Pastor E.M.R.
experienced a change in community
attitudes as his church provided needed
services. He stated he had no option but to
pray and rely on Jesus. The Lord protected
him and used him to bless those who had
persecuted him. [11] These are just some of
the powerful testimonies of those risking
everything to reach people for Christ. Let’s
continue to pray for their protection and
favor.
SOURCES
[1] https://www.persecution.com/globalprayerguide/southern-mexico/?_source_code=WHPB20C
[2] Face-to-face interview with Pastor S.M., November 7, 2023, in Oaxaca, Mexico
[3] https://www.persecution.org/2021/02/03/religion-tradition-persecution-plight-christians-mexico/
[4] https://state.gov/reports/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom/mexico/
[5] https://missionsbox.org/news/religious-persecution-in-mexico/
[6] https://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/publications/mexico-persecution-of-religious-minorities
[7] Face-to-face interview with Pastor S.M., November 7, 2023, in Oaxaca, Mexico
[8] https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/mexico/
[9] Face-to-face interview with Pastor E.Z., November 7, 2023, in Oaxaca, Mexico
[10] Face-to-face interview with Pastor A.S.P., November 7, 2023, in Oaxaca, Mexico
[11] Face-to-face interview with Pastor E.M.R., November 7, 2023 in Oaxaca, Mexico
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Linda Burkle, Ph.D.
Linda retired from The Salvation Army in early 2019
where she oversaw an array of social services in a
multi-state region. Along with the State Attorney
General, Burkle Co-Chaired the Nebraska Human
Trafficking Task Force. Burkle holds a doctoral
degree in international relations. Her dissertation
focused on religious persecution; specifically,
regarding Iran, Iraq, Sudan, China, and Burma
(Myanmar). She has worked with and ministered to
persecuted Christians in several countries.
PERSECUTION.ORG 23

“I Am the Worst”
A PRAYER FOR THE OPPRESSORS
INTRODUCING
“I Am the Worst”
“I am the worst” is how the Apostle Paul
described himself to his young protégé, Timothy.
Paul said he was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and
a violent man who had Christians put into prison
and killed. Yet the greatest apostle met Jesus on
a road to Damascus.
“I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance
and unbelief,” wrote Paul. “The grace of our
Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along
with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus (1
Timothy 1:14).”
If the Lord can change Paul’s heart, he can work
in the lives of any oppressor. While we see daily
the evil atrocities committed by persecutors,
we know that they, like Paul, are deceived and
act in unbelief. The Lord knows their hearts and
draws them to himself in many ways. He wants
everyone to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). He also
tells us to love our enemies and pray for our
persecutors (Matthew 5:44).
“Here is a trustworthy saying that
deserves full acceptance: Christ
Jesus came into the world to save
sinners—of whom I am the
worst. But for that very reason
I was shown mercy so that in
me, the worst of sinners, Christ
Jesus might display his immense
patience as an example for those
who would believe in him and
receive eternal life. Now to the
King eternal, immortal, invisible,
the only God, be honor and glory
for ever and ever. Amen.”
— 1 TIMOTHY 1:15-17
THIS MONTH:
JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR THE
Leaders of Nicaragua and Cuba
Communism/Marxism is one of the leading drivers of Christian persecution. Authoritarian regimes leave
little room for authentic worship in Christ. In this issue we highlighted ongoing challenges and atrocities
for believers in Latin America. We pray for the Lord’s miraculous intervention in the lives and hearts of
government leaders including Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. We
pray that they discover the truth in Jesus and are drawn, like Paul, to him as only Christ can do.
24
Persecution | MAY 2024
PERSECUTION.ORG 24

MORE WAYS TO PRAY
Unity of the Church
“It is important for Christians around the world to stand
with the persecuted church. They need to know that fellow
believers are praying for them and working on their behalf.”
— JEFF KING, PAGE 12
The Spread of the Gospel
As our brothers and sisters in Christ in Nicaragua, including
Hancock and others associated with Mountain Gateway,
continue to endure persecution for their faithful Christian
witness, may we stand with them in prayer and make their
struggles known. May we also pray that the gospel continues
to spread in Nicaragua, despite Ortega’s leadership.
“There is a move of God that really started in 2023, and they
can’t stop that,” Hancock said. “I know God literally shook the
entire nation, and I’m satisfied that it’s continuing.”
— JON BRITTON HANCOCK, PAGE 18
Freedom and Forgiveness
“We need to know that there are others who, day by day,
pray for us to the God who unites us, asking for the desired
freedom, the conversion of our people, and forgiveness for
those who oppress us and need to open their souls to a God
who is also their Father.”
— ALBERTO REYES PÍAS, PAGE 21
Protection and Favor
The Lord protected [Pastor E.M.R.] and used him to bless
those who had persecuted him. These are just some of the
powerful testimonies of those risking everything to reach
people for Christ. Let’s continue to pray for protection and
favor for [Christians in Southern Mexico].
— DR. LINDA BURKLE, PAGE 23

Crowns of Courage
HIGHLIGHTING THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED EVERYTHING FOR CHRIST
MARTYR OF LOVE
FATHER
FRANS’
SACRIFICE
IN WAR-
TORN SYRIA
26
Persecution | MAY 2024

Father Frans van der Lugt, a Dutch Christian,
embodied Christ’s commandment to “Love
one another as I have loved you.” He fully
lived out this mandate, following Jesus’
example on the Way of the Cross.
Settling in the Jesuit Monastery in Homs’ Bustan
al-Diwan neighborhood in 1993, Father Frans
dedicated himself to his faith and community.
Despite humble accommodations — a mattress
on the floor surrounded by countless books — he
made the monastery a place where many young
people would go to hear the word of God and
learn how to live it.
When armed groups entered the city of Homs
in March of 2011, forcing the evacuation of the
city’s Christians, Father Frans remained steadfast,
refusing to abandon the 66 Christians who could
not leave.
Enduring the horrors of siege — hunger, cold, and
illness — he stood by his people, rejecting the
option to return to the safety of his homeland. He
told one of the young men about his unwillingness
to leave the area, saying, “I am the head of this
monastery. How do I leave it? How do I leave
Christians? This is impossible.” He also said,
“There is also a reason that is very important
to me. I love the Syrian people
and (have) lived with them in
the most beautiful of times,
and if the Syrian people are
currently suffering, I would
like to share their pain and
problems with them.”
His love for the Syrian people knew no bounds.
Father Frans chose solidarity over comfort, sharing
in the suffering of his fellow Syrians. He witnessed
their struggles firsthand, from the scarcity of food
to the desperation of parents unable to feed their
children.
Father Frans’ unwavering commitment to his
adopted home distinguished him as a true father
figure, beloved by all. He was the only foreign
Christian who preferred to remain in old Homs
with the besieged residents of the neighborhood,
and he repeatedly refused to leave despite the
evacuations carried out by the United Nations,
which helped hundreds leave the besieged areas
of Homs.
Tragically, his selflessness cost him his life. On
April 7, 2014, armed groups came to his house,
took him out, and shot him twice in the head — a
final testament to his devotion to his faith and the
people he served.
For more than 35 years, Father Frans lived and
died in Syria, leaving behind a legacy of love and
sacrifice. His story is a poignant reminder of the
profound influence one individual can have when
guided by unwavering compassion and dedication
to others.
Background Photo: A Syrian refugee walks
among severely damaged buildings in
downtown Homs, Syria, on June 3, 2014.
Photo by Chaoyue PAN / Flickr
Photo source unknown

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