A member of the Voice Volunteer Network recently shared her experience showing the International Day of Prayer video featuring an imprisoned pastor in Southeast Asia. She shared the video at two churches on IDOP Sunday: her home church and All Nations Church, a Thai/Lao church she and her husband have attended.

Although All Nations Church is not Angela Thompson and her husband’s home church, the congregation welcomed the opportunity to see the IDOP video. Angela was ecstatic. As refugees from Laos and its surrounding countries, members at All Nations Church personally know that Laos, one of the few remaining Communist countries in the world, is hostile — even volatile — towards Christians.

Angela sat in awe as Pastor A. Phang translated the IDOP video for his congregation. And although a refugee from Laos, Pastor Phang stayed quiet after the video and asked Angela to talk. As she stood in front of All Nations Church, she saw tears in the eyes of the members.

“All I could think was, ‘These people know persecution first hand, and for some, their families are still facing it.’ Always before and after showing a VOM video clip, I see the crowd moved. Today was different.”

This crowd didn’t need to be asked, “Do you know about the Christian persecution in Laos?” The church’s members are refugees from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. One woman is from the same area as the Christian featured in the video.  Suddenly, Angela realized that the stories of persecution she talks about are happening here, directly affecting members of her own church.

Pastor Phang’s wife was crying. She told the congregation that only three months ago, her father visited them in the United States and became a Christian. When he returned home, his family was irate with his decision and harassed him. He is not allowed to attend church. He has to read his Bible in hiding. In their understanding of persecution, the church agreed — Pastor Phang must send the IDOP video to all Laotian churches in the United States.

Moving on to Whitesburg Baptist Church, the Thompson’s home church, Angela showed the video once more. With more than 1,500 in attendance, many hearts were touched by “Boun’s” testimony. It was a great sermon. The pastor asked those who brought their Bibles to raise them high in the air. With hundreds of Bibles lifted, he challenged them “What would you do to get your hands on a Bible?” Many eyes were opened to the reality of Christian persecution.

Still, throughout the day, the phrase “Small but mighty,” echoed in Angela’s heart. Only 26 attended All Nations Church, but their appreciation reached a new level —one of action and prayer. Join them in prayer for persecuted Christians.

With only a few weeks away from the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church 2012, I wanted to remind you that you still have time to purchase this years IDOP kit. Here's what you'll receive when you purchase the kit this year.

He could stand the torture, but he couldn't stand a day without his Bible.

Boun, a Laotian pastor, spent 13 years in prison for his faith. Although he faced many difficulties, he made it through on the strength of God’s Word. By watching Boun’s story on DVD, you will learn how this unlikely Bible smuggler brought Bibles into his prison camp, and your heart will be stirred to pray for the persecuted.

Nov. 11 is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

Order your 2012 Church Resource Kit to help facilitate this special day of prayer. In addition to the DVD with Boun's story, this kit includes the following:

* 25 prayer brochures with a free book offer from VOM
* 10 VOM Special Issue newsletters with a Prayer Map and a Global Report offer
* 1 sheet of prayer cards (4 cards, 8 images)
* an 8-page IDOP prayer resource for kids

Please click here to order yours today!

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is coming soon, which is why I want to remind you that our IDOP kits are now available for order.

Here's what you'll get in your IDOP kit:

He could stand the torture, but he couldn't stand a day without his Bible.

Boun, a Laotian pastor, spent 13 years in prison for his faith. Although he faced many difficulties, he made it through on the strength of God’s Word. By watching Boun’s story on DVD, you will learn how this unlikely Bible smuggler brought Bibles into his prison camp, and your heart will be stirred to pray for the persecuted.

Nov. 11 is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

Order your 2012 Church Resource Kit to help facilitate this special day of prayer. In addition to the DVD with Boun's story, this kit includes the following:

* 25 prayer brochures with a free book offer from VOM
* 10 VOM Special Issue newsletters with a Global Report and a Prayer Map
* 1 sheet of prayer cards (4 cards, 8 images)
* an 8-page IDOP prayer resource for kids

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOURS TODAY

 

The last few weeks we've been alerting you to our upcoming International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church and today I'm happy to share that our friends at One News Now, have highlighted an interview with VOM's, very own, Todd Nettleton.  Click here for the full article.

"[We remember] those who go to church at great risk, those who serve Christ at great risk, and it's really a celebration of the unity of the Body of Christ, because the Bible says when one part suffers, we're all supposed to feel that pain," Nettleton notes. "The International Day of Prayer is an important part of joining in the pain that our brothers and sisters endure."

 

 

 

If you haven't bought your IDOP kit for your church yet, please click here and order today.

In the last few years the Lord has really blessed the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church as we have seen more and more churches get involved. We have  also been blessed to see a growth in the understanding of what is happening to Christians worldwide, which is why I wanted to share with you our new video for the IDOP 2012.

I also want to encourage you to order this DVD which is in this years IDOP kit. Please visit www.persecution.com/idop to order your kit before this years prayer event.

Here's a short description:

HE COULD STAND THE TORTURE, BUT HE COULDN'T STAND A DAY WITHOUT HIS BIBLE.

He was on the career path to success. He had a good job as an assistant to the Communist Party district leader.

But then he met the Christians and was intrigued by their enthusiastic worship. Later, he met Jesus himself.

Boun was so thrilled about his newfound faith that he began to share it freely. But his new allegiance was not welcomed in communist Laos, where loyalty to the party is all-important and ancestors are worshiped as gods.

Boun lost his job, his place in the community and, finally, his freedom.

In 1999, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for telling others about God after authorities had forbidden his evangelical work. While in prison, he was tortured, beaten, starved, locked in stocks and condemned to solitary confinement for weeks.

But for Boun, those weren't the worst punishments. He was cut off from family, friends and anyone who could encourage him when he felt his lowest. Most of all, he craved God's living Word, the Scriptures that inspired his passion for Jesus. How could he survive prison without it?

Boun's story, as well as the story of God's sustaining hand through his 14 years in prison, is told in BOUN, a 5-minute video presentation from The Voice of the Martyrs. This video will open your eyes to the reality of persecution against Christians while moving you to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters. The Boun DVD is part of VOM's 2012 IDOP Church Resource Kit.

It's hard to believe that it's that time of year again, but it is.  We're two months out from observing the 2012 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, which will take place this year on November 11th.

As a way to help you get ready for the event, we have created a special webpage that has details about this years IDOP.

Please visit www.persecution.com/idop in order to get your order in early for our IDOP resource kit.  The cost of our kit is only $9 and it includes everything you need to help put on an event in your church, home or school.