Closer to the Fire with Greg Musselman

At least 25 Christians were killed during recent attacks on two villages in Plateau State, Nigeria. Among the victims were nine members of the same Christian family, including a two-month-old infant. Reports indicate that the family may have been specifically targeted by Islamic militants due to their connection with Pastor Ezekiel Dachomo, a Christian leader who has publicly condemned the ongoing violence against followers of Jesus in Nigeria.

On this episode of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman is joined by Mark Lipdo, who serves as the founder and CEO of Stefanos Foundation in Jos, Plateau State. For more than 20 years, the ministry has faithfully served hundreds of thousands of Nigerians affected by violence, providing practical support to Christians facing persecution, displacement and devastating loss. During the interview, Mark shares insights into the challenges confronting vulnerable Christian communities and explains how believers continue to find strength and hope amid ongoing attacks.

Length: 43 minutes

Episode Notes

To watch the interview with Mark Lipdo www.vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-ng-2026-08-06.htm

To learn more about Stefanos Foundation, visit:

www.stefanosng.org

www.facebook.com/Stefanosfoundation

Read a recently published security report from Stefanos Foundation: https://therisinghope.substack.com/

Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

Be inspired by Pastor Gideon Dewal’s story of forgiveness: https://www.vomcanada.com/ng-videos/video/ng-gideon-tragedy-forgiveness.htm

In Pakistan, the punishment for a blasphemy conviction is the death penalty. While no one has yet been executed under these laws, many allegations frequently result in lengthy legal battles, prolonged imprisonment, and significant other hardships for the accused and their families. False allegations have led to riots and Christians being killed.

Closer to the Fire host Greg Musselman is joined by Rev. Salim Arthur, who knows firsthand what can happen when false blasphemy allegations are made. Rev. Arthur was arrested, imprisoned, tortured and nearly lost his life, and his family had to go into hiding in Pakistan after a Muslim teenage girl came to Christ. He is the founder and president of ASRA International Ministries, which serves persecuted Christians, refugees, and vulnerable communities. Rev. Salim is also a pastor of the South Asian Bible Church in Brampton, Ontario and the author of the book “Saved to Serve”

Length: 58 minutes



Episode Notes

To watch the interview with Salim Arthur

https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-pk-2026-07-31.htm

South Asian Bible Church and Asylum Seekers Resettlement Advocacy https://www.asraministries.com





To Order Saved to Serve by Salim Arthur Saved to Serve: A Memoir: Salim Arthur: 9798385059201 - Christianbook.com

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada www.vomcanada.com

Jaranwala Persecution https://www.vomcanada.com/video/pk-2025-03-21.htm

Over the past decade, Christians in India have faced a disturbing rise in persecution. Throughout this time, churches were demolished, worship gatherings violently disrupted, crosses in graveyards vandalized, and Bibles confiscated and burned. Pastors have been falsely accused of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity, resulting in the physical assaults and imprisonment of these Christian leaders. In 2015, there were 177 reported incidents of persecution. By 2024, that number had surged to 834, with many more cases likely going undocumented.

In this episode of the Closer to the Fire podcast, human rights advocate Tehmina Arora, the founding trustee of Alliance Defending Freedom India, joins host Greg Musselman to discuss this alarming trend. They explore how anti-conversion laws are being misused to target followers of Jesus, the broader implications for religious freedom, and the heartbreaking issue of forced marriages in both India and Pakistan.

Length: 36 Minutes

To view the interview https://vomcanada.com/in-videos/video/in-2025-09-11.htm



Episode Notes

Alliance Defending Freedom International www.adfinternational.org/

Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

Persecution and Prayer Alert https://store.vomcanada.org/subscribe#q40771

Islamic militants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo claim to have killed more than 80 Christians during several recent armed assaults in the northeastern region of the country. The deadliest incident is believed to have claimed the lives of an estimated 60 believers, whom the attackers referred to as "Christian combatants."

The Islamic State Central Africa Province claims to have killed nearly 1,000 Christians in northeastern DRC since December 2024.

Dr. David Kasali serves as the founder of the Congo Initiative, a Christ-centred educational institution that seeks to bring spiritual transformation to the country. He joins Closer to the Fire host Greg Musselman to discuss the recent violent attacks on followers of Jesus in the DRC, the many other challenges facing the nation’s believers in the northeast of the country.

Length 43 minutes



Episode Notes



To view the interview with Dr. David Kasali https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-cd-2026-06-25.htm

Congo Initiative: https://congoinitiative.org

Pray for the Democratic Republic of the Congo: https://www.vomcanada.com/drc.htm

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada
www.vomcanada.com

Ranking second on the 2026 World Watch List, Somalia remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for followers of Jesus. Public Christian worship is forbidden; conversion from Islam is illegal; and the militant terrorist group, Al-Shabaab, continues its violent campaign to eliminate Christianity – openly executing anyone suspected of having faith in Jesus.

In the midst of this intense persecution, God is powerfully at work. Through the ministry of Somalia Christian TV, countless Somalis are hearing the Gospel, and thereby encountering Jesus for the first time. The media ministry, led by former Somali Muslims Shino and Shania Gabo, is reaching deep into Somali communities with the hope, truth and life-changing message of God’s salvation through Christ.

During this episode of Closer to the Fire, podcast host Greg Musselman is joined by Shino and Shania who will be sharing their remarkable testimonies. In addition to revealing the tremendous impact that this couple’s growing media outreach is having on so many lives in Somalia, the interview will also address the real dangers they continue to face because of their courageous faith.

Length: 58:30

Episode Notes

To watch the interview with the Gabo’s https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-so-2025-02-04.htm

Somalia Christian TV: https://somalichristiantv.org

Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List: https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/

Learn more about persecution in Somalia: https://www.vomcanada.com/somalia.htm