“He cannot come with us!” Paul insisted. “He is a coward and of no use to the ministry.”

    Barnabas responded, “You may have given up on him, but God has not.”

    Paul was still resolute. “You cannot force my hand, Barnabas. I will only bring people on whom I can depend. He is not welcome on this journey to share the faith.”

    “Then neither am I. It is your decision, Paul. God has given you the direction of the journey. Let us part in peace. When the church feared you, by God’s grace I came to you and showed them that you would do great work for the kingdom of God. God has the same call on John Mark.”

    Paul hesitated. “So be it then. I hope you are right my old friend, though I cannot believe it myself.” Thus Paul and Barnabas parted ways.

    Eventually Paul and John Mark ended up in prison together in Rome, and Paul found his young friend’s true worth in Christ as a faithful servant. John Mark had written the Gospel of Mark and proved himself anything but a coward as he and Paul faced the daily rigors of prison. Through the toughest of times, Mark stayed the course, which Paul acknowledged in a letter to Timothy shortly before his death.

Acts 15:35–41; 2 Timothy 4:11

God often brings trying situations our way to demonstrate one of two truths: He will use trials to show us how far we have come in our spiritual development, or he will allow problems into our lives to show us exactly where we could use some more growth. John Mark’s transformation from an apparent coward to a committed follower reminds us that spiritual growth is a process. We may point to past failures where we wish we could have been stronger. But actions in the past do not have to affect our future. Like Mark, do you need a second chance to show your commitment to Christ? Pray for opportunities that will help you grow spiritually.

UPDATED SATURDAY, APRIL 28 - Today I received the actual mailing address where you can send help if you are moved to.  I hope you are.

Please note that gifts on behalf of the wives and children of these martyrs for Christ may be sent to:  Turkish World Outreach, 508 Fruitvale Court, Grand Junction CO 81504, USA.  Please designate such gifts for "the Survivors Fund."

If you've been moved by all of the stories this week about the martyrdom of our brothers in Turkey, then I have some good news.

You can participate in ministering to the widows and the orphaned children by supporting Operation Esther. 

According to Candelin one way to show love for the five children that now have lost their fathers is to give a love gift for their future education. This love gift operation is called "Operation Esther" after the five year old daughter of one of the murdered Christians.

Gifts will be distributed via the Protestant Church in Turkey and anyone interested can contact Johan Candelin, Executive Director Religious Liberty Commission, E-mail: candelin@kilumbus.fi

Christian Today has an absolutely wonderful story about the widow who has forgiven her husbands killers.  This is amazing love.

Read the full story here.

If you have a weak stomach or you visualize things easily - don't click the link below.

Our friends at Persecution.org have a more detailed description of the torture these saints went through.  And they also expose that the murderers video taped the slaughters.  God have mercy.

Read the story here.

I have two friends who are missionaries in Turkey, and so when I read this news and also the horrific news from last week I always wonder if they are my friends.  In this case, they aren't, but these stories have been bringing what my friends do closer to my heart.  I admit, sometimes I forget the nation they chose to go to be witnesses in...well, what a wake up call these past few weeks have been.

Our friends at Compass Direct have produced this story and we thank them for letting us use it here.

ISTANBUL, April 27 (Compass Direct News) – Police jailed four Christian street evangelists in Istanbul for “missionary activity” this week, even as government officials openly defended the right of all religious groups to carry out evangelistic work in Turkey. Officials released U.S. citizen David Byle this evening, more than 48 hours after he was arrested along with a Korean and two Turkish Christians, his wife said. Christian sources maintained that Turkey plans to deport the Korean believer, though further details remain unknown. The four men were detained Wednesday afternoon (April 25) while sharing their faith with passersby at a park in Istanbul’s Taksim district. The arrests occurred in the midst of tense national debate over the legitimacy of Christian missionary activity, sparked by the gruesome killing of three Christian men in southeastern Turkey last week. “Missionaries are more dangerous than terror organizations,” Niyazi Guney, Ministry of Justice director general of laws, reportedly commented only a day after the murders.

Read the full story online here.

Earlier this week Todd Nettleton appeared on Janet Parshall's America talking about the most recent stories in Christian persecution around the world.  Todd discussed the recent three murders in Turkey, as well as mass arrests that have happened in China.  You can hear a brief segment of the interview with Janet by clicking here.  (Paid members can hear the full interview)

Today Mission Network News is highlighting this horrific story of the mass arrests of Christians in China. Here's part of the story.

China (MNN) --  Roughly 30 major house church leaders were arrested when they met with four American Christians in Xinjiang Province in western China.

Voice of the Martyrs' Todd Nettleton confirmed the China Aid Association report and gave us this update: "Some of the Chinese have already been released: eight of them. Six of them have been given criminal detention for 30 days. The four Americans, at last report, are being held at a hotel. We're still waiting to see what's going to happen with them.  My guess is that they will be put on a plane for home and told not to return."

The arrested Americans include a senior pastor and an associate pastor of an American church. There are reports that the U.S. Embassy is intervening for this case.

The following prayer request appeared in this weeks Persecution & Prayer Alert from VOM Canada.    And I have to tell you that reading this request turned my stomach because of the trauma and horror this young girl has gone through, simply because of her faith in Jesus.  I  plea with you all to put Shaheena Masih, on your permanent prayer list.  This young woman will have  a lifetime of memories because of this evil incident and will have a long recovery.  Here's her story...

A 12-year-old Christian girl, Shaheena Masih, was kidnapped and raped by four Muslim men on Easter Day in the city of Lahore, Punjab province, Pakistan, according to an April 23 report from the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance.

Shaheena stayed home from an Easter prayer service at a local church, Kings Revival Church, in order to take care of her ailing father. At approximately 10: 00 a.m., her father asked her to go out and get him some juice. On her way to a shop, she was kidnapped by four armed men who placed a handkerchief on her mouth until she was unconscious and flung her into a car. The men took her to a factory and locked her in a room, where she was repeatedly raped by the four men over the span of two days. During one of the attacks, one of the perpetuators reportedly said to the others, "Don't hesitate to rape a Christian girl. Even if she will die, no one will get us. Her poor parents cannot pursue us." They eventually left Shaheena at a brothel run by a Muslim lady, who later dropped her off on a street near her home.

One of the attackers, Mohammed Safdar, was caught by police after they raided the factory. Under interrogation, he implicated the others. Only after pressure did the police register a case against the attackers. They are now being pressured to drop the charges and Shaheena's family has been threatened if the case proceeds.

Ask God to give Shaheena healing from the emotional and physical scars of the assault. Pray that authorities will prosecute the offenders to the full extent of the law. Pray for Shaheena and her family as they will struggle with the ability to exhibit God's love to their persecutors.

Friends, everyday one of my purposes for this blog is so that you and I can make a positive difference in the lives of our persecuted brothers and sisters.  Today I have a wonderful opportunity for you to do just that.  Glenn Penner, our partner from VOM Canada has written a very important post about a family in Vietnam that could use our encouragement and support.  After you read through this post, please take a few minutes to act and make a positive difference for this family.  Also be sure to bookmark Glenn's blog and visit it daily.  He always has some great commentary!

The Voice of the Martyrs is urging you to pray for and to send letters/cards of encouragement to the wife of arrested Christian lawyer, Nguyen Van Dai.

Nguyen Van Dai, a 38-year-old member of the main Hanoi congregation of the legally-recognized Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North), or ECVN (N), since 2000, was arrested on March 6 for accusations relating to his defense of religious freedom, including disseminating ‘alleged infractions of religious liberty [to Vietnam's enemies abroad]'. Dai is one of Vietnam's few human rights lawyers and is a member of Advocates International, an organization which brings together Christian human rights lawyers from many countries. He defended the "Mennonite Six" in 2004-2005.

Also arrested in early March was Dai's colleague, Le Thi Cong Nhan, who faces similar accusations. Both are due to be tried on May 11 for defaming the communist state of Vietnam. It is expected that the trial will be nothing more than a charade.

Authorities have prohibited Dai's wife, Khanh, from visiting him nor has she been provided with any legal papers. By law she should have received a copy of the arrest order at her husband's March 6 arrest citing the reasons for his "temporary detention." Her home phone and cell phone services have been cut. Police have reportedly been trying to incite neighbors against her.

We would urge you to send a letter or card of encouragement to Mrs Khanh immediately, using the example given below. Please do not include any political comments. Her address is:

Vu Minh Khanh Phong 302, Nha Z8 Bach Khao Hanoi VIETNAM

Suggested letter to Mrs Khanh

Dear Mrs Khanh,

I am writing to let you know I am praying for you, for your husband, Lawyer Dai, and for his colleague, Ms Cong Nhan, who are in prison awaiting trial. We honour your husband for his outstanding courage in advocating for persecuted Christians and for more freedom in Vietnam.

Along with thousands of Christians around the world, I pray that your husband and Ms Cong Nhan will receive justice. I pray too that whatever happens, you will all know and experience God's comfort and strength.

Your friend,

(Your name) (Your city and province)

Thank you for your participation in ministering to the persecuted church in Vietnam in this vital way. We know that such letters and cards will be an encouragement to Mrs. Khanh and will send a message to the Vietnamese authorities that her husband has not been forgotten.

In Albania, the first self-declared atheist state in the world, a young Christian by the name of Valerii Nasaruk was arrested for boldly tattooing a cross on his hand. He wanted everyone to know from the first handshake that he stuck to his faith in God. Valerii was frustrated, however, by not being allowed to verbally tell others about God’s love.

    At the trial, the judge told Valerii’s mother, “Tell your son to change his ways so he can go free.”     She thought for a while before responding through tearful eyes, “Valerii, my advice to you is to stand firm and not deny Christ, even if it means your death.”

    In a subsequent letter to the underground church, she wrote, “I attended the trial, which was so hard on me. I wished I could have taken his place. The hardest thing was when they asked me in court to advise Valerii to change his ways, but I could not do it. The world accuses us, his parents, for his being sentenced, saying it is the result of our influence. Even some Christians can’t understand why I did what I did, but then I remember that Jesus was misunderstood. When I struggle with depression, I am reminded that Peter advised Jesus about saving his own life. God gives me the power to bear everything. Please pray for me.”

God loves us, and he has great plans for our lives. The problem is, everyone else has plans for us, too. Do this. Do that. Try this. Try that. Words of advice are cheap and plentiful. The time comes, however, when words are costly. Any time another believer encourages us to carry on with God’s call on our lives despite the consequences, we know we have heard from a godly person. Anything to the contrary, even well intentioned, is bad advice. To whom do you listen for spiritual guidance? Recall and record the last bit of spiritual advice you received from a trusted friend. How well have you followed through?

A few years ago I had the honor of meeting Dr. Andrew Jackson at a GodBlogCon Conference here in California.  Andy is a Pastor and a missionary and writes at the blog Smart Christian.

One thing that has always impressed me about Andy is his love for missions and in particular the nation of Turkey.  Recently Andy heard from a Pastor friend of his from Turkey who told him about the brutal murders of these men last week.  Andy reported on April 18th the following on his blog:

I just received word that at least three Christians were murdered in the provice of Malayta.  They were tied up and their throats were cut.  The victims were two Turkish Christians, Necati Aydin, father of two, and Ugur Yuksel. The identity of the third victim is thought to be Tilman Geske, a German citizen, father of four. All three were married.  6 young men were arrested for the murders.    P lease pray.  The Turkish Pastor of one of the Turkish Christians murdered is coming to stay with me today from Turkey.  This was a planned trip.  Please continue to pray for the lost land of the Bible.

On April 19th Andy updated his blog with this link to coverage of a press conference that took place in Turkey concerning these slain Christians.

On the 21st Andy linked to a very graphic and gruesome report of what the slain Christians went through.  You can read that here, but be forewarned - it is very graphic and disturbing, although there are no pictures.

For more information on this horrific hate crime against Christians see the following reports.

Turkey Christians Anxious After Muslims Kill Three Believers - Interesting note in this article is that the three slain Christians were all FORMER Muslims.

Slain German Missionary Hightlights Christian Insecurity in Turkey - This is a very touching article that discusses the slain German's funeral and his wives and childrens forgiving response to his martyrdom.

5 Arrested in Turkey on Charges of Murdering Christians - Some reports are saying that there is potentially a dozen killers involved in these brutal murders.

Islamic Council Condems Murder of Christians