Friday, 15 May 2026
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Arrested for Sharing the Gospel: Denda's Story from Indonesia

Release International reports that Denda, a former Muslim woman in Indonesia, was arrested and interrogated by police for sharing the gospel — and asks the global Church to pray for her peace and protection.

A woman in prayer with hands clasped, soft light, Indonesian setting

Analysis

Her name is Denda, and she was arrested for sharing the gospel. That sentence should stop us in our tracks — because in Indonesia, a country that officially guarantees religious freedom, a former Muslim woman was taken in by police and interrogated for the simple act of telling others about Jesus.

Release International, which supports persecuted Christians in some of the world's most dangerous places for faith, has highlighted Denda's case as an urgent prayer need. The details are sparse, as they often are in these situations — for good reason, since publicity can sometimes increase danger. But the outline is clear: a woman who came to faith, who could not keep quiet about what she had found, and who now faces the consequences of that courage.

Indonesia is often cited as a model of moderate Islam, and in many respects it is. But for Christians from Muslim backgrounds, the reality on the ground can be very different. Social pressure, family rejection, and legal harassment are common experiences. Denda's arrest is a reminder that the cost of discipleship in Indonesia is real and sometimes severe.

Release International asks us to pray for Denda specifically — that God would keep her in his perfect peace, as the prayer alert puts it, drawing on the promise of Isaiah 26:3. It is a beautiful, defiant prayer: that in the midst of interrogation and fear, she would know a peace that passes understanding. We can pray that prayer today.

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