Joshua Williams, a religious freedom advocate with Open Doors International, spoke at the World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly on Oct. 28, urging U.S. churches to raise awareness of the plight of persecuted Christians in Africa. 

As multiple conflicts rage in Africa and Christians suffer intense persecution in several African countries, many in the U.S. are unaware of their struggles. 

During his talk, Williams addressed the plight of persecuted Africans who are suffering in silence. Specifically, he focused on women and girls, who make up the majority of the victims of persecution in Africa. 

“It is horror and hell,” Williams stated. “When a village or a family attacks these girls and women and keeps them, rapes them again and again and again, what these women and ladies go through cannot even be imagined.” 

According to 2024 persecution data, 35% of the conflicts occurring worldwide happen in Africa, with 45 million people being displaced because of these conflicts. About 16 million of those displaced are Christians.   

Williams said there must be a revival in the church on behalf of persecuted Christians in Africa.  

“The blood of hundreds of thousands is crying to God globally,” he said. “And one wonders, where is the church? Where are the people of God?”  

Churches in Africa, along with partners like Open Doors, started an initiative called Arise Africa, which urges believers to pray for their persecuted brothers and sisters.  

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