We Have A Major Problem

Summary of We Have A Major Problem

by Sarah Adams

33m•April 1, 2026
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Overview of We Have A Major Problem

Host Sarah Adams (The Watch For) examines the global landscape of persecution against Christians, contrasting temporary disruptions (e.g., security restrictions during conflict) with persistent, targeted persecution that produces long-term violence, displacement, and community erasure. Using recent Palm Sunday attacks as a launch point, she highlights where the threat is most acute, why it persists, and what distinguishes episodic risk from chronic persecution.

Key takeaways

  • According to Open Doors’ World Watch List (2026), more than 388 million Christians face high levels of persecution—about 1 in 7 believers worldwide.
  • Not all disruptions are equal: some are temporary security measures, others are sustained, targeted campaigns that produce long-term harm.
  • Persistent persecution correlates with weak governance, active conflict zones, extremist ideologies, and state-controlled legal mechanisms (e.g., anti-conversion or blasphemy laws).
  • Attention and aid must be prioritized toward places where persecution is systemic and ongoing, not only toward highly publicized but temporary incidents.

Country snapshots (places highlighted)

  • Nigeria

    • Described as the worst country for Christian persecution worldwide; attacks are frequent, often concentrated in the Middle Belt (e.g., Plateau State).
    • Palm Sunday attacks included coordinated assaults: dozens killed, many displaced, homes and churches burned, kidnappings reported.
    • Violence is carried out by multiple actors (Boko Haram/ISIS are a portion; many attacks are by Fulani militants/other armed groups that aren’t always labeled “terrorist”), and the bulk of violence receives limited focused response.
    • Tens of thousands killed since 2009; hundreds of thousands displaced.

  • Syria

    • Prolonged civil war and Islamist control in parts of the country have made Christian communities vulnerable to forced displacement, violence, property seizures, and ethnic cleansing.
    • Christian population has dramatically declined from pre-war estimates (1.5–2 million) to several hundred thousand today; risk of local communities being wiped out remains high.
    • Security and governance failures leave communities with little protection.

  • India

    • Rising pressure related to majoritarian nationalism and anti-conversion laws (in multiple states).
    • 2024 figures referenced: 700+ incidents targeting Christians (assaults, vandalism, church disruptions); mob violence and state-involved harassment reported.

  • Mozambique

    • ISIS-linked insurgency (notably in Cabo Delgado) plus humanitarian crises (flooding, displacement) have uprooted many communities.
    • Since 2017 over 1.3 million displaced; churches and villages targeted and burned.

  • Nicaragua

    • State-led repression against religious institutions (Ortega regime) includes stripping legal status from churches, seizing property, closing groups, arresting or exiling clergy—aimed at crushing independent civil society.

  • China

    • A structured, less-visible model of repression: strict regulation of churches, raids on house churches, detention of leaders for operating outside the approved system, confiscation of religious materials.
    • Since 2025, multiple pastors and leaders detained for running unregistered congregations.

  • Pakistan

    • Blasphemy laws create extreme vulnerability: accusations can trigger mob violence, extrajudicial killings, arson, and large-scale attacks on Christian neighborhoods and churches.
    • Hundreds to thousands charged historically under the law; dozens have been killed extrajudicially.

Case example (as presented)

  • Pastor Mostabi Ahmadi (transcript name): a convert from Iran who was detained and tortured for 170 days, fled to Turkey, then faced the prospect of deportation back to Iran—illustrating that escape from immediate danger doesn’t guarantee safety if asylum/host states are unwilling to protect refugees.

Common drivers and patterns of persecution

  • Weak or failing governance and security vacuums.
  • Active conflict zones and warfare that enable armed groups and militias.
  • Extremist ideologies and non-state terrorist groups targeting religious minorities.
  • State mechanisms and laws that restrict religious practice (anti-conversion laws, blasphemy statutes, registration requirements).
  • Nationalist or political motives (e.g., governments viewing independent religious institutions as political threats).

Typical consequences described

  • Killings, kidnappings, and extrajudicial executions.
  • Burning of churches and homes; mass displacement (internal and cross-border).
  • Arrest, torture, exile, or elimination of religious leaders.
  • Forced conversions, children abducted and separated from families.
  • Underground/secret worship and shrinking of historic communities (possible local extinction).

Temporary disruption vs. persistent persecution (host’s framing)

  • Temporary: security-driven restrictions (e.g., closures during missile threats in Jerusalem) intended to protect civilians, not to target a faith group; short-lived and situational.
  • Persistent: ongoing, targeted campaigns—by state or non‑state actors—designed or resulting in long-term marginalization, violence, and community destruction.
  • Distinguishing the two matters for prioritizing aid, advocacy, and policy responses.

Recommended focus / implied actions

  • Prioritize attention and resources toward regions with persistent, systemic persecution (where long-term loss and community erasure are likely).
  • Support monitoring, reporting, and protections for refugees and asylum-seekers (ensure host states uphold non‑refoulement).
  • Hold state and non‑state perpetrators accountable; push for legal protections for religious minorities.
  • Support local civil society, humanitarian relief, and faith-based organizations working on the ground.

Notable quote

  • “We ran into the bush with nothing. When we came back, everything was gone. Our homes, our church, our people.” — survivor of Palm Sunday attacks (used to capture the recurring nature of attacks).

Closing

Sarah Adams urges listeners to recognize the spectrum of persecution—separating transient wartime restrictions from deliberate, sustained targeting—and to focus attention where Christians and other religious minorities face persistent life‑threatening conditions that demand long‑term response.