The Chairman’s Report for May

In this issue of the newsletter
New: Chair of RFC Board of Directors gone to be with her Lord and Savior
New: Our security guard beaten and robbed in prelude to Holy Week massacre
New: Missile parts fall near Holy Land churches. Food distribution continues.
New: Iran’s persecuted Christians called “Zionists” – MULLAHS MUST GO!

Chairwoman Peggy Nienaber now with Jesus

It is with a heavy heart, yet with the firm assurance of the Resurrection, that I share the news that our dear sister and Chairwoman of the Religious Freedom Coalition Board of Directors, Peggy Nienaber, went to be with the Lord on April 7, 2026. After a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer, Peggy took her final breath at 10:25 pm, surrounded by the peace of the Savior she served so faithfully.

A Lioness on Capitol Hill: Peggy was a remarkable figure in our nation’s capital, a master of the “art of networking” who used her talents solely to bring people together for the Lord’s work. Her official biography reads like a history of modern Christian activism:

• Congressional Leadership: She led the Congressional Women’s Bible Study inside the U.S. Capitol and oversaw numerous other studies for members of Congress and their staffs.

• Judicial Impact: Peggy was instrumental in the grassroots and prayer efforts that led to the confirmation of four U.S. Supreme Court Justices.

• National Recognition: In 2021, she was recognized as a “Christian Woman of Distinction” by Congresswoman Lisa McClain, with her tireless leadership officially recorded in the Congressional Record.

A Servant’s Heart: While the world knew her from her appearances on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer or at Fox & Friends, we knew her as a wise advisor and a devoted friend. Peggy’s infectious laugh and room-brightening smile made her seem ageless. She was as comfortable advocating at the United Nations in New York as she was being the “oldest member” of King’s Church, mentoring the young staffers who represent the future of our faith in Washington.

Peggy’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of the Religious Freedom Coalition. She spent nearly decades fighting for the unborn, the family, and the persecuted church. As she enters her eternal reward, we are reminded of her ageless spirit—now truly realized in the presence of Christ.

Please join us in praying for the Holy Spirit to comfort her twin sister Patty, two children, five grandchildren, and her beloved puppy, Newman. We have lost a leader, but heaven has gained a faithful daughter.

Holy Week Under Fire: The Shadow of the Sword in Plateau State

In May, 2025, the headline of our newsletter read: “Christians slaughtered on trip to Good Friday meeting.” That article described a horrific ambush in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, where 56 believers from Gbagir were murdered as they sought to honor the sacrifice of our Savior.

This year, violence returned with a vengeance during Holy Week—and this time, it struck much closer to home.

A Night of Terror Near the Orphanage: The latest wave of darkness began even before the sun rose on Palm Sunday. On Saturday night, one of our own security guards at the orphanage was ambushed by Fulani Terrorists while traveling home from his shift.

He was brutally beaten and robbed, his attackers leaving him for dead after taking his phone and other possessions. We are deeply grateful to God that he survived.

Our security guard underwent successful surgery for his injuries, but the physical and emotional toll was heavy during his five-day hospital stay. He is now home, continuing a long road to recovery.

The Palm Sunday Massacre at Gari Ya Waye: The attack on our security guard was merely a precursor to a larger, coordinated strike against the Body of Christ. On Palm Sunday evening, as families gathered in the Gari Ya Waye community of Angwan Rukuba, the air was shattered by gunfire.

Eyewitness reports describe a scene of absolute chaos as gunmen stormed the community from multiple directions. The attackers showed no mercy, firing indiscriminately into homes and at those attempting to flee. By the time the gunfire ceased, at least 30 people lay dead, including women and children. Many more were left with life-altering wounds, their homes and livelihoods reduced to ash.

The terror attack by Sunni Muslim Fulani occurred just a few kilometers from our orphanage. Our children and staff did not just read about this in a report; they heard the echoes of the gunfire and the cries of a community in mourning. The orphanage was placed under a government-ordered 48-hour curfew, with soldiers patrolling the streets as the tension in Jos remained high.

The atmosphere in Jos remained volatile through the Easter weekend, with additional attacks reported in surrounding areas, effectively extending the sense of “lockdown” for many Christian communities well beyond the initial 48-hour period.

We believe in a God who hears the cries of the brokenhearted and stands with the persecuted. Our relief teams helped survivors of Gari Ya Waye with food and medical supplies.

Please pray for the families of victims in Gari Ya Waye, that the “Peace which passes all understanding” would guard their hearts. Pray for our security guard’s continued healing and for the safety of the orphanage staff and children.

Missiles Over the Shepherd’s Fields: A Report from Bethlehem

While the world’s attention is often elsewhere, the birthplace of our Savior has become a target. After the collapse of the regional ceasefire on March 2, 2026, the sky over the Bethlehem district has been filled with the fire of ballistic missiles and drones.

200 Pounds of Terror: At 8:00 PM on a recent evening, the peace of Beit Sahour (near Bethlehem) was shattered by a massive explosion.

A missile fragment weighing more than 200 pounds plummeted into the outdoor lands of the church at Shepherd’s Field.

It landed just seven yards from a church hall where families gather for service. The impact was so severe that it required several men to roll the jagged metal away, as it was far too heavy to carry.

The terror is not confined to church grounds. Another large missile part fell near a grocery store our staff and beneficiaries use daily. “Where once families could sit outside with war seeming distant, now every alarm ends them rushing indoors,” our staffer Yousef reports. “Whether in cars or on the streets, people abandon what they are doing to seek shelter because these parts are falling randomly across Bethlehem, Beit Jala, and Jerusalem”.

A Shield of Mercy in the Chaos

In the midst of this “daily fast” imposed by war, the Religious Freedom Coalition, through Heart for the Persecuted Church, is providing a critical shield of mercy.

Our work is a direct fulfillment of Galatians 6:2, which commands us to “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ”. For the Christians of Bethlehem, your support is more than just material aid; it is a declaration that the global Body of Christ has not abandoned them in their hour of greatest need.

The Diaper Program: We are currently providing specialized care for 68 elderly Christians and children with disabilities. These individuals often suffer in silence, living in crumbling, centuries-old dwellings with unreliable water and electricity.

The Food Program: As food prices soar and employment in the tourism sector has completely vanished, our food packages—containing essential staples like rice, flour, and oil—are the only thing standing between Christian families and starvation.

By providing this relief, we are not just feeding the hungry; we are actively defending the Christian presence in the land where our Savior was born, raised, and resurrected.

Iran’s Brutal War on Faith: The Cost of Conscience

While we witness the physical destruction of Christian communities in Nigeria and the Holy Land, a silent, systematic “eradication of conscience” is unfolding in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Since the regional military escalations in early 2026, the Iranian regime has dramatically intensified its crackdown on anyone who dares to think—or pray—differently than the state dictates.

A Surge in Severity: The statistics from the past year reveal a disturbing trend toward “slow strangulation” for the Iranian Church. While the number of Christians sentenced in 2025 was slightly lower than the year before, the severity of their sentences has skyrocketed. In 2025 alone, 73 Christians were sentenced to a staggering cumulative total of 280 years in prison.

The regime no longer merely arrests believers; it seeks to break them. We have received confirmed reports of mistreatment within the prison system, including the systematic denial of healthcare to Christian prisoners and the use of psychological torture. to force them to renounce their faith. Even after release, the Christians of Iran face lifelong monitoring, loss of employment, and are often forbidden from visiting the graves of their own family members.

The “Zionist” Scapegoat: Following the military conflicts of June 2025, the regime began openly accusing Christian converts of being “Zionist agents” and a threat to national security. This propaganda has been used to justify a new wave of raids on house churches. For many converts, simple acts of worship—praying, performing baptisms, or even celebrating Christmas—are now being used in court as evidence of “enmity against God,” a crime that carries a potential death sentence.

Hope in the Shadows: Despite this atmosphere of terror, the Iranian Church is not dying; it is growing in secret. Disillusioned by decades of religious oppression, thousands are turning to the Gospel.

This leads to a critical question: Can President Trump make a deal with the “new” leadership? Will a deal that reopens the Strait of Hormuz for oil transport end the repression of Christians and liberty-loving Iranians?

I believe the answer is no! The United States and Israel may have executed the top officials with bombs and cruise missiles, but they were quickly replaced by the Islamic extremists waiting in the wings. Unless the mullahs are completely removed from power, the repression of non-Muslims and liberty-loving Iranians will continue.

At Religious Freedom Coalition, we must stand as a voice for those who are terrified that if this regime stays in power, they’ll kill everyone who thinks differently. Our mission is to ensure that while they are persecuted, they are never forgotten.

Please pray for the persecuted Christians in Iran and around the world. Pray for the safety of the Christians in Gaza and Bethlehem. Please pray for the safety of the newly orphaned children in Plateau State, Nigeria.