GOOD MORNING.
This week’s headlines are heavy with grief and urgency.
In eastern Congo, Islamist militants stormed a Catholic church, massacring dozens of worshippers in one of the deadliest attacks in recent years.
From Africa to Europe and the Americas, churches continue to face violence, arson, and intimidation.
As we recount these incidents, our purpose is not despair but vigilance and prayer — to remember the persecuted, to understand the challenges, and to seek peace where violence tries to reign.
LET’S GET STARTED →
SPECIAL REPORT
A Brutal Assault on Worshippers
In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Islamist militants carried out a massacre at a Catholic church, leaving scores dead and many more wounded. Eyewitnesses report that the attackers stormed the church during a gathering, indiscriminately firing on those present. The scale of the violence has sent shockwaves through the community, adding yet another tragedy to a region already scarred by years of instability and bloodshed.
Part of a Wider Wave of Violence
The massacre is the latest in a series of brutal attacks attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group with links to the so-called Islamic State. For years, the ADF has targeted villages, schools, and churches in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, with civilians often paying the highest price. Human rights groups note that these attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a broader strategy to terrorize and destabilize communities, while projecting jihadist influence deeper into central Africa.
A Cry for Security and Hope
Local Christian leaders and international observers are calling for stronger action to protect civilians in eastern DRC. Despite the presence of national forces and UN peacekeepers, militants continue to strike with impunity. The Catholic Church, long a pillar of hope and resilience in the region, has urged the global community to stand in solidarity with Congolese believers. For families mourning loved ones, the path forward is marked by grief — but also by a determination that their faith and communities will endure despite relentless violence.
REGIONAL THREATS
AFRICA
MOCÍMBOA DA PRAIA, MOZAMBIQUE – At least four people were killed in an overnight insurgent attack on Mocímboa da Praia, a town repeatedly targeted by ISIS-linked militants.
KOGI STATE, NIGERIA – Armed men abducted a Catholic priest in Kogi State, continuing a pattern of clergy kidnappings in central Nigeria.
LIMPOPO, SOUTH AFRICA – Eden Baptist Church was destroyed in a suspected arson attack; investigators are probing the motive.
DELTA STATE, NIGERIA – Police dismantled a syndicate accused of stealing musical instruments from churches across Delta State, arresting multiple suspects.
KENEMA, SIERRA LEONE – Catholic priest Augustine Amadu was beaten and strangled to death in his parish residence, authorities investigating.
MIDDLE EAST & CENTRAL ASIA
HASAKAH, SYRIA – Turkish shelling damaged churches and civilian areas in Hasakah, with local authorities condemning the attack as part of a wider campaign against minority communities.
SOUTH & SOUTHEAST ASIA
CHINA – Pastor Zhao Huaiguo, long persecuted by Chinese authorities, died after years of detention and mistreatment, leaving a legacy of endurance under repression.
LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
SETE LAGOAS, BRAZIL – A man was chased into a church and killed with more than 30 stab wounds; police are investigating the brutal attack.
MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL – A young man was fatally stabbed inside a church in Minas Gerais during an evening service, shocking the local community.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI – An Adventist pastor was kidnapped for two days amid Haiti’s ongoing violence before being safely released.
NORTH AMERICA
CHICAGO, USA – A shooting outside Saint Sabina Church in Chicago left at least one person injured; police are investigating possible gang ties.
ANKENY, IOWA, USA – A fire broke out at a church in Ankeny during construction work; no injuries were reported.
RACINE, WISCONSIN, USA – Two 12-year-old students were arrested after allegedly making threats against Racine Christian School; charges are pending.
CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OREGON, USA – A man was sentenced for sexually assaulting a disabled woman in a church parking lot in Clackamas County.
HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA, USA – A man was arrested for allegedly stealing donations from a Half Moon Bay church.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, USA – A worker stole a 3D printer from the church where he had been hired for roof repairs.
RAMONA, CALIFORNIA, USA – Pastor Felipe Ascencio was shot dead at his home, leaving his Ramona church community in mourning.
JONESTOWN, TEXAS, USA – Police are searching for a suspect accused of stealing a safe from a church in Jonestown.
EUROPE
LYON, FRANCE – An Iraqi Christian man was murdered with a machete in Lyon in an attack drawing condemnation from local faith leaders.
POLAND – Vandals cut down a cross from a Ukrainian church in Poland, prompting condemnation and a formal protest from Ukraine’s embassy.
WESTMEATH, IRELAND – A woman was seriously injured in an alleged assault at a church property in County Westmeath, Ireland; police are investigating.
DONEGAL, IRELAND – A man was sent for trial over alleged arson attacks targeting a church, Orange Hall, and Masonic Hall in County Donegal.
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis urged European leaders to act against rising church arson and vandalism, calling it a worrying sign of growing hostility to faith.
AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA
No current updates.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for our brothers and sisters in eastern DRC who are mourning after militants massacred dozens of worshippers at a Catholic church.
Ask God to comfort the grieving families, heal the wounded, protect communities from further violence, and give wisdom and courage to leaders seeking to restore peace.
Pray that the light of Christ would shine even in the darkest valleys of suffering.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
OUR SERVICES
Join ROAM Intelligence — a secure intelligence platform and global community built for Christians on the frontlines.
Our Mission:
To dismantle information silos, unite the global Church, and empower believers with the clarity, context, and community they need to thrive in high-risk environments.
Stay Informed. Stay Connected. Stay Protected.
✔️ Explore a global threat map, curated intelligence feed, and analytical dashboards
✔️ Access field-sourced reports on persecution, unrest, and emerging risks
✔️ Submit incident reports to contribute directly to our shared intelligence picture
✔️ Connect with missionaries, pastors, and Christian security professionals
✔️ Join exclusive trainings, intel briefings, and live prayer events
✔️ Collaborate with others in your region or ministry field
🎯 Built by and for the Body of Christ — empowering believers to share knowledge and protect one another through a united intelligence network.
Now offering free lifetime access for the first 100 members!