ACN Break the Silence

In this episode, John Pontifex speaks to Sr Justina Nnajiofor OP, superior of a convent in Zamfara, one of the most dangerous places in Nigeria. She reflects on faith, courage and serving others in the midst of insecurity and hardship.

Courageous Christian Ribqa Nevash lifts the lid on sexual violence in Pakistan and how children as young as nine are abducted and forced to renounce their faith. Speaking to ACN's John Pontifex, she describes how her fearless advocacy for persecuted Christians climaxed when she told her story to a packed Westminster Abbey where she met HM The King.

Long-time ACN project partner Sister Annie Demerjian RJM has risked her life offering help and hope in Lebanon and Syria. In this podcast, she recounts her many experiences working alongside fellow Sisters and volunteers providing urgent practical assistance and spiritual support to people on the frontline of deadline conflict and extreme poverty.

Joanna Bogle joins us to discuss her lifelong commitment to speaking out for the persecuted and suffering Church. Together, we explore what faithfulness, courage, and solidarity look like in practice.

ACN's John Pontifex and Elliott Banks discuss their recent trip to Iraq investigating freedom of religion for Christians and other minorities, and the wider challenges cause by the latest conflict.

In this episode, Dr Caroline Hull talks to Bishop William Shomali, Patriarchal Vicar of Israel and Palestine about the situation for Christians living in the Holy Land today. Many Christians in the region describe themselves as "the living stones" of the Church having been the first communities to embrace the teachings of Christ, Our Lord.

Bishop Jovitus tells ACN's Nathalie Raffray how the Church in Tanzania has been forced to navigate its response to the violence following contentious elections. People have been killed or are missing and any protests shut down.

Rupert Shortt is a British author and journalist known for writing about the modern-day persecution of Christians around the world. He is joined by ACN’s John Pontifex to discuss issues related to the decline of Christianity in the West, as well as religious freedom violations globally.

Bishop John Bakeni is Auxiliary Bishop of Maiduguri in north-eastern Nigeria. His community was afflicted by years of Boko Haram insurgency and frequent terror attacks. Bishop John believes the diocese would not have survived without the help of ACN benefactors. He joins ACN's John Pontifex for a conversation about the power of the Christian Faith in the shadow of Islamist extremism.

Father Peter Konteh was ordained during the height of Sierra Leone’s brutal 10-year civil war. He joins ACN's John Pontifex to discuss his over three decades of pastoral ministry and humanitarian work, including his role as ACN project partner.

Tobias Yahaya serves as a catechist in Sokoto, northern Nigeria – one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. He has survived a number of attempts on his life, including a stabbing, but has not hesitated to return to his ministry. To honour his perseverance and witness, Tobias has received the 2025 'Courage to be Christian' award. He is joined by ACN's John Pontifex to reflect on persecution, hope and forgiveness.

Archbishop Angaelos is the Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, UK. For many years, His Eminence has been a great supporter of ACN’s work, including the annual #RedWednesday campaign. He sits down with ACN (UK)’s John Pontifex to share many valuable insights about Christian persecution and the never-ending fight for religious freedom.

Missionary priest Fr Will Conquer wrote one of the first-ever books about St Carlo Acutis before his beatification. Amy Balog of ACN (UK) speaks to Fr Will about St Carlo's life and legacy, as well as ACN's support for the Church in Cambodia.

Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London sits down with ACN (UK)'s John Pontifex to discuss the past, present and future of the Church in Ukraine. They also highlight the support provided by ACN over the decades.

In conversation with ACN (UK)'s John Pontifex, Archbishop Linus Neli gives an update on the situation in Manipur, India two years after extreme violence erupted, causing much suffering for the Christian community and others in the region.

Dr Robert Royal has been writing about modern-day Catholic martyrs for decades. In this conversation with Amy Balog of ACN (UK), Dr Royal shares his reflections on the deeply inspiring faith and perseverance of today’s persecuted Christian communities.

Regina Lynch, ACN (International) Executive President, has visited persecuted Christian communities in 60 countries over her 45 years at ACN. She sits down with John Pontifex of ACN (UK) to reflect on the charity's mission of supporting the suffering Church and giving a voice to the voiceless.

Hundreds of churches have been burnt down and thousands of families displaced by anti-Christian violence in Manipur, India. Archbishop Linus Neli gives a harrowing account of the suffering endured by many Christians in the region, highlighting how the Faith thrives in the face of adversity.

The Church in Lebanon is thriving, despite the ongoing crisis. ACN's Marielle Boutros coordinates emergency and pastoral aid programmes to help keep the faith alive in the heartland of Middle Eastern Christianity. Amy Balog of ACN UK chats to Marielle about her recent visit to Lebanon and the situation for Christians in the country.

Fr Remi spends much of his time visiting Christian communities displaced as a result of violent persecution in Makurdi Diocese, Nigeria. ACN is helping the diocese provide emergency aid, pastoral support and quality education to families in need.

Benue State is one of Nigeria’s most conflict-ridden regions, and Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi is on a mission to tell the world about what is happening. Despite regular attacks on Christian communities, vocations are booming, and the bishop also has messages of hope to share.

Tammy Peterson reflects on faith, suffering and prayer as we discuss various stories about persecuted Christians from around the world. She also talks candidly about her journey to the Catholic Church and what the Rosary means to her.  Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is a Catholic charity supporting persecuted and other suffering Christians globally. 

Fr Francis Ikhianosime is one of many priests whose studies have been funded by ACN. He describes what it's like to be a seminarian in Nigeria and discusses the various challenges facing the Church in the country, such as the increase in Islamist extremism.

Akash Bashir sacrificed himself when he blocked a suicide bomber from entering a church in Lahore, Pakistan on 15th March 2015, saving up to a thousand lives. His final words were: “I will die but I will not let you go in.” John Pontifex, Head of Press & Public Affairs at ACN (UK), reflects on the 10th anniversary of Akash's martyrdom and recalls meeting the young man's family and friends months after his death. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is an international Catholic charity supporting persecuted and other suffering Christians in 140 countries around the world.

In the 1980s, Gavin Ashenden helped to smuggle Bibles and theology books to Czechoslovakia and the USSR. He shares many fascinating personal stories and reflects on the ongoing persecution of Christians around the world. Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is an international Catholic charity supporting persecuted and other suffering Christians in 140 countries around the world. 

Vocations in Nigeria are booming, even in the northern states where Christians are frequently targeted by extremists. Bishop Habila Daboh of Zaria Diocese gives a first-hand account of the persecution that seminarians, priests and other Christians face. He also explains how ACN's help is giving hope to the Church in Nigeria.

Fr Bonnie Mendes has been a priest in Faisalabad Diocese for over 60 years, witnessing the impact of anti-Christian persecution first-hand. He has many stories to share about both suffering and hope. He also highlights the importance of ACN’s work in Pakistan in this interview recorded before #RedWednesday in November 2024. 

Fr Stephen Ojapah MSP describes the horrors he endured over 33 days of jihadist captivity in Nigeria and recounts his journey to working with trauma survivors.

Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil describes his vision for the future of the Church in Iraq and how the Catholic University in Erbil will help ensure a continued Christian presence in the region.

ACN's Dr John Newton and John Pontifex discuss the key findings and case studies in the 2024 ‘Persecuted and Forgotten?’ report, demonstrating that anti-Christian persecution has been worsening globally. Order or download your free copy of the 'Persecuted and Forgotten' report: https://acnuk.org/pf-edition-2024/ Sign the ACN UK Open Letter to the Foreign Secretary: https://acnuk.org/our-campaigns/red-wednesday-advocacy-letter/

Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark talks to ACN's John Pontifex about the importance of the charity's work and what Christians in the West can learn from our persecuted brothers and sisters. 

Fr Garry Jenkins has served the suffering Church in Liberia as a missionary priest for half a century. He tells ACN's John Pontifex about his memories of the civil war and other moving experiences in the “forgotten” country.

Bishop Alex Lodiong Sakor of Yei Diocese, South Sudan sits down with Dr John Newton, ACN (UK) Communications & Research Manager to discuss the present and future of the Church in the war-torn country.

ACN (UK) National Director Dr Caroline Hull and ACN Head of Nigeria Projects Kinga Schierstadt visited IDP camps and met Christians forced out of their homes by extremists in some of Nigeria’s most dangerous regions. They share some moving and inspiring stories about the suffering and persecuted Church.

Sir Stephen Timms, Labour MP for East Ham and Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions, sits down with ACN (UK) Parliamentary & Public Affairs Officer Daniel Beurthe to discuss Christian persecution, religious freedom advocacy and the role of faith in public life.

Dr John Newton, ACN (UK) Communications & Research Manager recently returned from a trip to rural India where he witnessed both the joys and difficulties experienced by the local Church. He sits down with John Pontifex, ACN (UK) Head of Press & Public Affairs to discuss the challenges facing Christians in India and what the charity is doing to help. 

Margaret Attah is a survivor of the 2022 Pentecost Sunday church massacre in Owo, Nigeria, and the recipient of ACN (UK)'s first 'Courage to be Christian' award. On the second anniversary of the attack, Margaret discussed her experience of surviving the atrocity, the ongoing lack of justice and what faith means to her and her community. 

A decade after Daesh (ISIS) invaded Mosul, Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Warda discusses his memories of the tragic events, highlighting the importance of keeping "the flame of the Christian faith shining” in Iraq’s historic Christian heartland.

Fr Mark Odion, MSP Regional Superior in the UK and ACN's John Pontifex discuss the challenges facing the Church in Nigeria and what ACN is doing to help.

Lord Alton of Liverpool, a House of Lords crossbencher, tells Daniel Beurthe, Parliamentary and Public Affairs Officer at ACN (UK), about his remarkable career advocating for freedom of religion and belief in the political arena. 

Ribqa Nevash, an advocate for Christians in Pakistan, sits down with Amy Balog, Press Officer at ACN (UK), to discuss the situation of Christian women and girls in the South Asian country. 

ACN (UK) National Director Caroline Hull and Head of Press & Public Affairs John Pontifex recently visited Liberia. They give a moving account of what life is like for Christians in one of the poorest countries in the world and what ACN is doing to help.