Season 6: Episode 4: Nigeria: Is the Ongoing Persecution of Christians “Genocide”?
Violence against Christians in Nigeria has sparked sudden international attention and debate, with some referring to the ongoing crisis as genocide. In September, news commentator Bill Maher stated that “Islamists and Boko Haram [militants] were systematically killing Christians in Nigeria, attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country.”
More recently, U.S. President Donald Trump declared Nigeria “a country of particular concern” and warned of military intervention if the Nigerian government failed to protect its Christian population. However, Nigerian authorities deny the claims that followers of Jesus are being deliberately targeted and that a genocide is underway.
In this powerful episode of the Closer to the Fire podcast, Rev. Yunusa Nmadu, the CEO of Christian Solidarity Worldwide Nigeria, joins host Greg Musselman to explore the facts behind the headlines. During the interview, they address the ongoing suffering of believers in Nigeria and examine whether the repeated acts of brutal violence – and the resulting large number of fatalities – amount to genocide. CSW Nigeria is a partner with VOM Canada.
Length: 40 minutes
To watch the interview with Yunusa Nmadu https://www.vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-ng-2025-11-06.htm
Episode Notes
Christian Solidarity Worldwide: www.cswng.org.ng
Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com
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Season 6: Episode 3: Russia: Church Congregations Banned and Oppressed
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine rages on, evangelical Christians are facing intensifying persecution. In this episode of the Closer to the Fire podcast, host Greg Musselman is joined by Rev. Mykhailo Brytsyn, Director of the Religious Freedom Initiative for Mission Eurasia and pastor at Grace Church of Evangelical Christians.
Rev. Brytsyn, who also serves as secretary of the International Council in southeastern Ukraine, discusses recent Russian court rulings that have forcibly shut down at least five church buildings and placed three others under investigation. A sweeping court order issued in September 2024 now threatens the activities of approximately 2,500 evangelical congregations within Russia.
Additionally, Rev. Brytsyn shares sobering insights into the dangerous realities facing believers residing within Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine, inviting us to stand in solidarity with our Christian brothers and sisters who continue to follow Jesus amid war and oppression.
Length: 51 minutes
Episode Notes
Mission Eurasia: www.missioneurasia.org
To read Rev. Brytsyn’s report, “Faith Under Russian Terror: Analysis of the Religious Situation in Ukraine” visit: https://missioneurasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-Mission-Eurasia-report-on-Ukraine-ENG.pdf
Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com
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Season 6: Episode 2: North Korea: Gospel Radio Penetrates the Hermit Kingdom
Ranked number one on Open Doors’ World Watch List, North Korea remains the most dangerous place in the world for followers of Jesus. Church life is virtually nonexistent, gathering for worship or prayer is impossible, and even secret expressions of faith carry grave risks. Christians live under constant surveillance from government spies, neighbours, teachers, and even family members. Being reported for Christian activities can lead to execution or lifelong imprisonment in brutal labour camps. Yet, despite such intense persecution, the Gospel message continues to reach hearts in this Hermit Kingdom – including through the powerful Christian radio broadcasts that are being supported by VOMC.
In this episode of the Closer to the Fire podcast, host Greg Musselman speaks with Dr. Eric Foley, who serves as CEO and Co-Founder of Voice of the Martyrs Korea. Although listening to foreign broadcasts is illegal and highly punishable in North Korea, Dr. Foley shares how God is using shortwave radio programs to disciple believers and spread the hope of Christ throughout one of the most restrictive nations on earth. During the interview, he also discusses the launch of a new program that’s aimed at further strengthening the country’s resilient underground church.
Length: 1 hour 12 minutes
Episode Notes
To view the interview with Dr. Foley: https://www.vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-kp-2025-09-24.htm
The Voice of the Martyrs Korea: www.vomkorea.com
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com
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Season 6: Episode 1: India: Why Is Christian Persecution Increasing?
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
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Season 5: Episode 22: Somalia: Enduring Faith in a Hostile Land (encore)
Christians in Somalia encounter life-threatening persecution not only from the militant Islamic group al-Shabab, but also from hostile members of their families and local communities. In particular, those who have left Islam to follow Jesus risk harassment, intimidation and even the threat of death. According to the World Watch List from Open Doors (an annual ranking of the top 50 countries where Christians encounter the most extreme persecution), Somalia remains the second most dangerous region in the world for followers of Jesus. Despite the intense opposition, this East African nation is home to one of the fastest growing church movements in the world.
VOMC’s Closer to the Fire host, Greg Musselman, is joined by Dr. Aweis Ali from the Somali Bible Society to discuss the many dangers facing the country’s Christians, why the church is experiencing remarkable growth, and the exciting efforts of ministry workers who are reaching out to Somalis with the Gospel message. During his conversation with Greg, Dr. Aweis also shares the story of how he personally came to faith in Jesus – and the price he and other Muslim-background believers have paid for choosing to follow Christ in this restricted nation.
Length: 43 minutes
To watch the interview with Dr. Aweis https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-so-2025-05-06.htm
Episode Notes
Somali Bible Society: www.somalibiblesociety.org
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com
The “Closer to the Fire” podcast addresses the persecution of Christians in various restricted nations around the world. By presenting informative interviews with Christian leaders on the front lines, this regular podcast serves to raise awareness, support and prayer on behalf of those who are suffering for their faith in Jesus.
“Closer to the Fire” is produced by The Voice of the Martyrs Canada, a non-profit organization that has served persecuted Christians for more than 50 years. To learn more about the ministry of VOM Canada, go to www.vomcanada.com
Hosted by longtime television broadcaster Greg Musselman, who also represents VOM Canada as the organization’s Minister-at-Large, this podcast will keep you up to date on the latest global situations involving today’s persecuted church. Greg joined VOM Canada in 2003 and, over the years, he has interviewed hundreds of persecuted Christians during his extensive international travels.
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