ACN Break the Silence

ACN Break the Silence

Break the Silence is a podcast series by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) (UK), featuring discussions about faith, Christian persecution, religious freedom and advocacy. ACN is a Catholic charity supporting the suffering Church throughout the world and raising awareness of Christian persecution.

Episodes

July 3, 2026 33 mins

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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 for...

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

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.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Betrayal Weekly

    Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices