Episodes

The persecution of Christians in China is the most severe it’s been in more than four decades. That’s the assessment of Dr. Bob Fu of ChinaAid, an organization dedicated to promoting religious freedom, advancing the rule of law, and exposing human rights abuses in China. In this episode of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman speaks with Dr. Fu about recent reports detailing the Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing efforts to harass, detain and oppress followers of Jesus. Dr. Fu also provides an...

A growing crackdown on Christians in Iran has reportedly led to the deaths of at least 33 believers, including church leaders, and the detention of more than 130 other followers of Jesus in recent months. According to Iran Alive Ministries, a Texas-based organization supporting underground house churches, Iranian authorities have also banned religious broadcasts and criminalized listening to Christian programming. On this episode of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman speaks with Shah Ahmadi...

More than 388 million Christians around the world face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith in Jesus. According to extensive research by Open Doors, that’s one in seven Christians globally. On this episode of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman is joined by David Witt, the CEO of Spirit of Martyrdom, an organization that supports national Christian leaders and believers living in high-risk, hostile and restricted regions, including India and Mexico. Length: 40:30 Epi...

Voice of the Martyrs Canada continues the legacy of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand by raising awareness of the challenges faced by persecuted Christians around the world. While many believers in Canada and other Western nations may assume that financial support is the greatest need, persecuted Christians often ask for something more: for their stories to be told, their voices to be heard, their prayer requests to be shared, and governments to advocate on their behalf. One of VOMC’s core values is serv...

There is plenty of evidence indicating that men and women suffer differently when they are persecuted for their faith in Jesus. In this episode of Closer to the Fire, podcast host Greg Musselman is joined by Emma, the director of an organization that is dedicated to addressing gender-specific religious freedom issues. (Due to the nature of her work, Emma’s last name is not publicly disclosed.) During the interview, this valued ministry partner of VOMC discusses the various ways in which gender-s...