"I Thought I Was The Only Believer In Yemen": Secret Christians Risk Death Every Day In World's Third-Worst Country For Persecution

Yemen - In Yemen, ranked third on Open Doors' 2025 World Watch List, an estimated few thousand Christians practice their faith in absolute secrecy, facing the death penalty if discovered. All Yemenis are considered Muslims by law, and leaving Islam is forbidden and punishable by death.

Mohammad, a Yemeni believer who became a Christian after buying a Bible in a second-hand shop, recalls his initial isolation. "When I came to faith, I thought I was the only believer in Yemen," he says. "For a long time, I didn't know any other Yemeni Christians. Now I know many, and there are many more like us."

According to the U.S. Department of State's 2023 report on religious freedom, "Most Christians [in Yemen] were converts from Islam and practiced their faith in secret." Open Doors states that "public expression of Christian beliefs, possession of Christian literature or even displaying Christian symbols can result in imprisonment, physical violence or death."

There are no open church activities or private worship allowed in Yemen. If someone is reported to be a Christian, they could face severe monitoring, arbitrary detention, torture, ill-treatment and even murder. Christian converts can face severe punishment from the community, including being disowned, disinherited, divorced, losing custody of their children, being banished or even murdered.

Despite knowing they risked their lives, Mohammad and his wife Alima started four secret house groups in their home: two for women, two for men.

"We hope that the Word of God will spread in Yemen and that Yemen will be won by Christ. That is our daily prayer. The church in Yemen is definitely growing. That is what you hear everywhere. We often hear of whole families coming to Christ."

Zahra, a Christian woman serving as leader of a women's ministry in Yemen, takes enormous risks regularly to reach women who don't know Jesus. "We live among wolves, and we know that," she explains. "I believe God has put me in this place to impact the lives of these women. To bring them hope, and to reflect the true light of Christ amid the horrific situation we are all living in."

Zahra knows she is followed by secret police. One afternoon, she received a devastating call. Anis, her brother in Christ who spread the gospel with her, had been killed. "When the extremists took over our town, Anis started receiving several threats," Zahra said. A week before he died, Anis received a message: "You infidel, we will kill you."

Seven days later, Anis was killed at midday while his children watched. "I was terrified," Zahra said. "What if I was next? He was killed because he was a Christian. He told me to take care of his family if the extremists ever carried out their threats."

At least one Christian Yemenite was killed for his faith in 2024. Dozens of house churches can no longer meet due to increasing Houthi power and further radicalization, especially after Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

"We are afraid of the extremists, spies and the government itself, as at this point, they all work together against Christians," said Zahra. "We are very careful in all our meetings and conversations."

Persecution has increased recently as the Houthis have gained more power. Christians in Houthi-held areas live under the strictest prohibitions against Christianity. With a high degree of monitoring and spying, it's very difficult for Christians to meet in person or online. It's dangerous to own a Bible or other Christian books in Houthi-controlled areas.

Yemen continues to be torn apart by civil war, and the Christian minority are discriminated against in relief aid, which is mostly distributed through local Muslim groups and mosques. The Covid-19 crisis, ongoing cholera and malaria outbreaks, and what is described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis make conditions even more desperate for secret believers.

Secret believers report being "afraid and anxious" amid the Red Sea crisis. "People are tense and live in fear because of the current situation," they said. "The bombardments were also very scary. Whenever there is a 'new instability' in the country, the prices skyrocket again and the local currency deteriorates. What is happening today is of course an added pressure on already pressured Christians."

Yet despite the darkness, there is hope. "During this ongoing conflict, God is working more than before!" say secret believers. "We see people asking questions and accepting the Word of God in these tough days. May God open new doors to serve others."

Yemenis disillusioned with Islam are searching for truth and finding out about Christ through online chats with secret Christians. "I am honestly comforted and encouraged when I see how the church in Yemen, though in secret, is growing!" said Zahra.

"Because of terrorism and war, people abroad might have negative thoughts about Yemeni people," says Mohammad. "But they are good people, they need to hear the gospel; their hearts are willing to receive. I believe that when we work and pray, we will see big results, we will see much more fruit. Please pray for the Yemeni people. Pray that the number of leaders will grow and that the church will be united."

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

Imagine discovering you're not alone.

Mohammad bought a used Bible, read it, gave his life to Christ, and thought he was the only believer in an entire nation. Now he runs four house churches. That's the underground church in Yemen.

Third-worst country on Earth for Christians.

Death penalty for leaving Islam. Secret police following believers. Anis murdered in broad daylight while his children watched because he preached Jesus. His wife left a widow. His kids traumatized. And Zahra kept her promise, caring for his family while knowing she could be next.

These are our brothers and sisters.

"We live among wolves." Four words that should shake every comfortable Western Christian awake. While we debate worship styles and argue over coffee bars in the lobby, Yemeni believers gather in secret, knowing any meeting could be their last. They're discipling women who can't freely leave their houses. They're reaching Muslims disillusioned with Islam through risky online chats. And the church is growing.

This is what courage looks like. This is what faith costs. And we're called to stand with them.

TAKE ACTION

Support Secret Believers in Yemen:

• Open Doors USA: https://www.opendoorsus.org/persecution/countries/yemen/
• Phone: 1-888-524-2535

Emergency Aid for Yemeni Christians:

• International Christian Concern: https://persecution.org
• Phone: 1-800-422-5441

Pray for Yemen:

• Download Open Doors' Yemen prayer guide
• Pray for protection, courage, and church growth
• Pray for Zahra and other ministry leaders

Provide Bibles:

• Support Bible smuggling operations into Yemen
• Fund online discipleship for secret believers