One Christian Martyred Every 5 Minutes

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness` sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matt. 5:10-12).

More Christians have been martyred for their faith in the 20th and 21st centuries than in the previous 19 centuries combined. 

More than 200 million Christians face persecution worldwide in 105 countries out of 190 around the world. 
 
Open Doors has released a global map, detailing the countries in which Christians face the most persecution. 
 
Number one on the list is North Korea, followed by Somalia and Iraq. Nearly all of the 50 countries listed are either in the Middle East or in Africa. 

“Remember those in prison as if in prison with them and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” as an admonition to Christians to pray for their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. 

V.N.