Ronald Boyd-MacMillan, of Global Christian Relief, has outlined some of the trends (as of 2024) in the persecution of Christians:

1. Suppression via Technology

In China, the government has succeeded in reducing the attractiveness of Christianity by treating it as a security threat:

‘Bible apps and thousands of Christian websites have been blocked; one cannot even access a single hymn on the internet in China. With sophisticated surveillance, including the use of artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology, China’s 135 million Christians face a level of control not seen before.’

2. Violent Nationalist Ideologies

In India, the Hindu nationalist government continues to sever the lifeline of the Indian church with the global church.  Over the past year, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi:

‘India’s 70 million Christians have seen hate normalized, education and media taken over, and institutions hollowed out. Violence against Christians in India has increased substantially, especially in the northeastern state of Manipur.’

3. The Growth of Islamic Extremism

‘Extremism has been steadily growing in Africa. In the late 1990s, several northern Nigerian states declared themselves under Sharia law, defying the constitution. In 2002, militant groups like Boko Haram emerged. After the 2011 collapse of Libya, Middle Eastern extremists and arms flowed south into fragile African states. This sparked Islamist insurgencies, displacing Christians in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.’

‘By 2023, Islamists controlled 40% of Burkina Faso, affecting over 1 million Christians. Nigerian believers continue to suffer recurring acts of violence at the hands of Fulani Muslim herders and Boko Haram. A root cause is the lack of education and jobs, especially for younger people, which drives recruitment into extremist groups. The church provides vital education, and sustaining this could temper violence and bring stability to the region. However, with Islamic extremism currently entrenched, the situation for African Christians remains perilous.’

4. Heightened Propaganda & Disinformation

The explosion of state-controlled media and technology fans persecution by spreading old lies in new ways:

“You are not Indian if you are Christian.”

“You dishonor your Muslim parents if you follow Christ.”

“Christians are guilty of terrible crimes.”

“Christians are violent and evil, so we must kill them first.”

In closed nations, such as North Korea,

‘The proliferation of lies about Christians through state-controlled media serves to isolate, dehumanize and justify violence against them.  The church must work to counter disinformation with facts and free speech to preserve truth, regain trust and defend persecuted faith communities.’

5. The Weaponization of Religion

The Russian Orthodox Church has been enlisted to justify the ward between Russia and Ukraine:

‘Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, a bishop in the Orthodox Church and a close ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, has declared that Russia’s invasion is a Holy War.’

Christianity is thus harmed in both countries:

‘Russian Orthodox leaders betray Christ by sanctifying violence and scapegoating minorities. In Ukraine, hundreds of religious buildings were reduced to rubble, including centuries-old churches.’

6. The Spread of Organized Crime

‘In Central and South America, drug cartels and criminal organizations continue to target brave Christian leaders who refuse to take bribes. ‘

Additionally:

‘Christian communities suffer displacement, extortion, kidnappings, and murder—especially the church leaders willing to oppose the rising tyranny. Mexico has been hit hard, ranking fifth globally for Christian killings according to the new Violent Incidents Database…Meanwhile, authoritarian regimes in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and El Salvador exploit religion to bolster their legitimacy while restricting religious freedom for Christian leaders. Venezuela closed more churches from 2022-2023 than any other country.’

7. Resistance to Advocacy

‘Growing allegiance with the regimes in China, Iran, and Russia is resulting in significant resistance to Christian advocacy efforts. China’s “Belt & Road” infrastructure program—a strategy to invest in more than 150 countries and organizations—has directed tens of billions in loans to the governments of Vietnam, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Tajikistan, among others. In the Middle East, Iran wields growing influence on governments and military groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. And several Sub-Saharan African nations look to Russia for help with security against Islamist extremism.’

‘Advocates for the persecuted church can expect to encounter much greater resistance to their efforts, from securing the release of imprisoned Christians to securing protections for Christian communities and places of worship.’

8. A Rise in Christian Persecution

‘In 2014, the persecution of believers rose on every continent simultaneously and has continued to rise sharply ever since.’

Among the contributing factors:

First, jihadist caliphates, civil wars, and resurgent authoritarians in Shia and Sunni states are ravaging the Middle East—forcing religious minorities to flee.

Second, Islamic extremism gained another hub in Sub-Saharan Africa, making the region the world’s most violent religious fault line.

Third, China’s leadership has returned the country to the climate of the 1950s, during which Christians were seen as subversives likely to launch an anti-communist revolution.

Fourth, Hindu extremists regained power in India in 2014 led by their charismatic leader, Narendra Modi.

Fifth, Latin America has seen a huge rise in corruption and violence due to the former guerilla movements morphing into narcotics traffickers and entering governments.

9. Resilience of the Persecuted Church

Despite increased persecution, the global church continues to grow:

The church in sub-Saharan Africa is set to double in size up to 1.1 billion by 2050,…keeping Christianity at roughly 33% of the world population.

In India, there is a remarkable movement of Hindus following Jesus: those who consider themselves culturally Hindu even though they follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

The population of former Muslims coming to Christ is rapidly growing from the Middle East to the Far East, especially in Iran and Indonesia.

Even in China, there is evidence of a spiritual hunger which leads them to God, if not to the church.

In the Middle East, however, many young Christians are in ‘Exodus’ mode – seeking to exit the region for a variety of reasons, including persecution.

10. The Advancement of Religious Freedom

‘Advocacy efforts for religious freedom are becoming increasingly advanced across the West.’

‘In 2018, the U.S. launched the first Ministerial-level government conference on international religious freedom—currently the highest formal level for a diplomatic event. The Ministerial for International Religious Freedom has continued to be hosted by successive governments, including Poland, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic, through 2023. In 2020, a formal alliance of countries dedicated to protecting and advancing religious freedom was launched.’