Many readers have written to ask why we do not report more on persecution and suffering overseas. You see reports, photos, and messages online. You send them to us asking, “Why aren’t you covering this?” We understand that question. We feel the same burden. There are people right now enduring violence, hunger, and imprisonment because of what they believe or what they say. But we cannot always tell their stories publicly.
In several nations, speaking freely can cost a person everything. Some are imprisoned for a single online post. Others disappear after a private message is traced. Governments monitor digital activity closely, searching for those who speak out. If we publish certain details such as a name, a village, or a photograph, it can expose a person to danger. For that reason, we sometimes choose silence.
This decision is not easy. It can feel like withholding truth. Yet Scripture reminds us that wisdom often speaks by holding back. “A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly” (Proverbs 12:23). Truth must be told carefully, not carelessly. Love does not endanger another person for the sake of being heard.
We believe in telling the truth, but not at the expense of those who trust us. There is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Our calling is to discern which time it is. When silence protects the innocent, it becomes a form of obedience.
The suffering of our brothers and sisters around the world is real. Many are persecuted for their faith, their ethnicity, or their voice. As Hebrews 13:3 reminds us, “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them.” Even when we cannot report openly, we can still remember, pray, and support ministries working quietly to help them.
There are many faithful international Christian organizations serving in the trenches where persecution, famine, and displacement are daily realities. They deliver aid, advocate for the oppressed, and bear witness where journalists cannot safely go. Their work continues quietly and courageously, often at great personal risk. Supporting them through prayer, giving, and awareness is one of the best ways to make a difference when public reporting is not possible.
Our silence does not mean ignorance or indifference. It means protection. It means care. And it means faith in the God who sees what is hidden. We trust that He will bring truth to light in His time. Until then, our task is to be faithful, careful, and prayerful, to speak when it is safe and to stay silent when speaking would bring harm.
If you are interested in learning more about international issues, we would recommend the following:
Open Doors International – https://www.opendoors.org/
Release International – https://releaseinternational.org/
US Commission on International Religious Freedom – https://www.uscirf.gov/
International Christian Response – https://christianresponse.org/
Voice of the Martyrs – https://www.persecution.com/
Catholic Relief Services – https://www.crs.org/