The Watch Floor with Sarah Adams – Episode Summary

Episode Title: We Have A Major Problem

Host: Sarah Adams
Date: April 1, 2026

Overview

In this episode of The Watch Floor, former CIA Targeter Sarah Adams uses the backdrop of Palm Sunday to explore the persistent and escalating persecution of Christian communities worldwide. With analysis rooted in current events and armed conflict, Sarah contrasts brief disruptions to religious freedom with the more enduring and deadly challenges that Christians face in Nigeria, Syria, India, Mozambique, Nicaragua, China, and Pakistan. The episode’s core message is understanding where religious threats are temporary versus where they reflect persistent, existential dangers, and why global attention and action are critically needed.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of Christian Persecution Globally

• Scale of the Problem:
  • Over 30 million Christians are under “high levels of persecution” globally—a staggering “one in seven believers” ([07:33]).
  • Religious freedom is “under threat”—not a “crazy conspiracy theory,” but an evidenced reality (07:40).
• Types of Disruption:
  • Temporary disruptions: often linked to security measures or external conflict.
  • Persistent persecution: rooted in sustained violence, government action, or social hostility.
• Why Awareness Is Difficult:
  • Global news attention is fragmented; many long-term threats are overshadowed or forgotten ([08:04]).

2. Case Studies of Persistent Christian Persecution

A. Nigeria: The Epicenter of Christian Persecution

• “Nigeria is the number one country in the world where Christians are persecuted the most because it’s ongoing and...for them feels like it never stops” ([12:10]).
• Palm Sunday saw “multiple coordinated attacks” in Plateau State:
  • 12–20+ killed, 100+ displaced, homes and churches burned, kidnappings ([12:32]).
• Pattern of Attacks:
  • Armed groups (Boko Haram, ISIS, Fulani militants) target farmers and outspoken Christians.
  • Over 50% of attacks done by Fulani militants, not designated as terrorists; thus, not prioritized by international forces ([13:15]).
• Survivor’s Quote: “We ran into the bush with nothing. When we came back, everything was gone. Our homes, our church, our people.” ([14:24])
• Cyclical violence repeats “again and again” with little intervention.

B. Syria: Ethnic Cleansing and Government Collusion

• Decades of civil war, with Islamists now dominating politics ([21:03]).
• “If Giuliani gets his way and does create this Islamic caliphate in Syria, you know, we might actually see Christianity completely wiped out” ([24:07]).
• Christians had to “mute” Palm Sunday—celebrations canceled to avert attacks, yet attacks happened regardless ([22:17]).
• Population collapse: from 1.5–2 million Christians pre-war to 300,000–700,000 today ([23:12]).
• On Media and Leadership:
  • Critique of global silence and of President Abu Muhammad Al Jilani’s deceptive PR trips ([21:36], [22:25]).

C. Jerusalem: Temporary vs. Persistent Threats

• Example of temporary restriction: church closures due to missile threats (not targeted persecution) ([26:19]).
• Emphasis on distinguishing between necessary, non-discriminatory security measures and genuine persecution.

D. India: Nationalism and Anti-Conversion Laws

• Rising pressure due to anti-conversion laws in 11 states; easy to allege “forced conversion” to prompt investigations ([29:01]).
• Over 700 incidents in 2024: assaults, vandalism, mob violence ([29:49]).
• Christians = small minority (~2–2.5%), yet disproportionately affected.

E. Mozambique: Insurgency, ISIS, and Displacement

• Ongoing humanitarian crisis from terrorist attacks and natural disasters ([31:12]).
• Since 2017, 1.3 million displaced, hundreds of Christians killed, villages and churches burned ([31:46]).

F. Nicaragua: State-Controlled Persecution

• Ortega regime targets Christianity as a political threat ([33:16]).
• Over 1,300 churches deregistered, 25+ Catholic groups closed, clergy arrested or exiled ([33:23]).

G. China: Surveillance and Coercion

• “Smart,” less visible model: surveillance, regulation, closure of house churches.
• Since 2025: over 30 pastors detained, crackdown on Beijing Zion Church ([34:32]).
• Wide-scale religious materials confiscation and forced worship under state-approved systems.

H. Pakistan: Weaponized Blasphemy Laws

• Small Christian community (<4%) faces frequent blasphemy accusations leading to violent mob attacks ([36:09]).
• Since the 1980s, 1,800+ charged, 89 extrajudicial killings ([36:22]).
• 2023: mob violence destroyed 20 churches in Jaranwala ([37:14]).
• “This is a very dangerous situation to be in.”

3. Personal Story: The Plight of Iranian Pastor Moshtabi Ahmadi

• Became a Christian convert in Iran; captured, tortured, imprisoned for 170 days ([38:41]).
• Fled to Turkey—now facing deportation back to Iran and likely death.
• “Escaping persecution does not mean reaching safety” ([39:27]).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Scope:

  • “When we say, you know, religious freedom is under threat, that’s a fact. Right. There are numbers to back it.” — Sarah Adams ([07:37])

• On Cyclical Violence:

  • “You could take that phrase anytime over the last 8–10 years, and it sounds the exact same way.” ([14:30])

• On International Labels:

  • “We have all these groups involved... It gets labeled a number of different things... Regardless of the wording, it's just the problem never gets solved.” ([16:00])

• On Syria’s Plight:

  • “It’s just this frustrating thing where these Christians in Syria, they cannot gain any ground.” ([23:02])

• On Distinguishing Threats:

  • “In times of war, a government’s sole purpose and their sole goal is to protect their civilians in country, on the ground ... not call it something else when it’s not.” ([27:29])

• On Persecution Spectrum:

  • “Don’t look at this as a single phenomenon, look at it as a spectrum.” ([40:12])

• On Faith and Freedom:

  • “It’s about recognizing this fundamental principle that individuals should be able to practice their faith...without fear, without persecution.” ([41:14])

Notable Timestamps

• 07:33 — Global statistics on Christian persecution.
• 12:10 — Nigeria as epicenter; Palm Sunday attacks.
• 14:24 — Survivor testimony: “We ran into the bush with nothing...”
• 21:03 — Overview of Syria’s protracted crisis.
• 23:12 — Christian population collapse in Syria.
• 26:19 — Security-driven church closures in Jerusalem.
• 29:01 — India’s anti-conversion laws and statistics.
• 31:12 — Mozambique’s humanitarian emergency.
• 33:16 — Nicaragua’s state-led crackdown on Christians.
• 34:32 — China’s model of surveillance and detention.
• 36:09 — Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and their deadly effects.
• 38:41 — Iranian pastor’s ordeal and larger refugee risks.
• 41:14 — Summary principle: faith without fear.

Conclusions & Takeaways

• Persistent vs. Temporary Threats:
  • True persecution is ongoing and often ignored. Temporary disruptions from war or security should not be conflated with existential threats.
• Patterns of Persecution:
  • Violence and repression result from weak governance, conflict, extremist ideologies, and state policies.
• Global Response:
  • Awareness must be expanded beyond headline outrage to include forgotten and chronic situations; only then can aid and advocacy target those most in need.

Sarah Adams delivers this report with urgency and clarity, urging listeners to distinguish between fleeting restrictions and life-or-death persecution, to know “where we actually need to act.”