Squashed in between Russia and China, Mongolia is a young democracy, allows religious freedom. In recent years, the Mongolian government struggled with accusations of corruption and a people’s protest movement grew demanding greater change. Mongolia’s economy continues to improve despite harsh winters that threaten the traditional lifestyle and income of cattle farmers. A third of Mongolia’s population lives in the capital, Ulaanbataar, while nearly half of the country’s workforce is nomadic. In 1989, less than a handful of Christian Mongolians lived in the country, while now more than 100,000 Christian Believers are thought to exist. In Ulaanbataar alone, there are approximately 200 Churches. In addition, there are small gatherings of Christian Believers in every province, but few Christian workers are focused on church planting in rural and remote regions.

Syria dropped down to 15^th position in the World Watch report 2022 by Open Doors for Christian persecution as violence against Christians decreased. The current president is Bashar al-Assad and the prime minister is Hussein Arnous since 11 June 2020. Syria has been shattered and decimated by war, violence, and terrorism. Multitudes have lost their lives. Millions have been forced from their homes, leading to a mass humanitarian crisis of historic proportions. Civil war has become a much more complex and multifaceted conflict. The many warring factions are armed opposition groups, rebels, the Islamic State, and the Kurds. Numerous war crimes, such as the use of chemical warfare, have been reported on all sides, leading to unspeakable horrors among Syrian civilians. The Islamic State has capitalized on Syria’s instability and chaos and started taking control of huge areas. The terrorized people of Syria further suffer from the IS-caused terror, and the war has caused the displacement of over six million people within Syria.

Tibet is a Himalayan state considered a part of China. Many desire that Tibet is its own country in its own right. China massacred more than a million people in its reinvasion of Tibet many years ago, but freedom has never been restored and tensions remain high. Chinese surveillance in Tibet and of Tibetan people around the world is all-pervasive.  China introduced facial recognition technology to increase its control over its ethnic minorities. Tibet’s exiled Buddhist spiritual leader is the Dalai Lama. His followers see him as a living god, but China as a separatist threat. China’s extensive crack down on the Church has meant Christian missionaries are no longer free to function in Tibet either. However, a small Church continues to grow, and Christian resources are available online for people seeking to know more about God and to grow in their Christian faith.

Eritrea remains in 6^th position in the World Watch report 2022 by Open Doors as Christian persecution is rampant. His Excellency Isaias Afwerki is the president. Located on the Red Sea, Eritrea is governed by a totalitarian regime that seeks to control every aspect of life. Some have compared Eritrea to the “hermit kingdom” of North Korea, as it is one of the most secretive and isolated countries in the world. The government maintains tight control of approved Churches, including their messages. Years of communism, required military service, and economic depression have forced many Eritreans, including evangelical believers, to flee the country. Eritrea has outlawed Churches, arrested pastors, and continues to round up and torture Christians. Despite almost half the population identifying as Christian, believers in Eritrea continue to suffer extreme persecution, making it one of the hardest places in the world to follow Jesus.