This Christmas – just like any other day in the year – there are no festive lights in the streets of Pyongyang. The city is largely shrouded in darkness. North Korea is the only country in the world where the Cold War is not yet over, and one of the few countries in which it is not permitted to celebrate Christmas at all.

Yet even here, Christians find ways to celebrate Christmas.

China: Transformed Marriages Impact Entire Community
Church leaders face intense pressure on their marriages and families when they spend time traveling to far-away house churches to preach or are locked up in prison for long stretches. Over the past few years Open Doors has facilitated Marriage Enrichment Seminars or “Couples Camps” in China.

Turkish Families Need Encouragement
Reach out with a card or letter to the families of three martyred Christians.

Wife of Imprisoned Pastor Shares Her Heart
A co-worker recently paid a visit to the wife and children of an imprisoned Eritrean pastor and returned with a heartfelt report. Hadas and her husband have three daughters, Azeb* (13), Sada* (11) and Miniya* (9). 

A Young Couple's Struggle
The plight of secret believers in Egypt. 

Christian Sunday school teachers Dr. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun were released from Indramayu prison, West Java, and were immediately reunited with their families.

Ten Killed, Three Churches Set Ablaze in Bauchi, Nigeria
According to Compass Direct News, 10 persons have been killed and three churches set on fire after Muslim high school students in a northern Nigerian city began a rampage on December 11 that spilled into the city. Tensions are still high in the area.