Persecution Blog

Pray for Believers Affected by the Cyclone and Earthquake

- VOM Sources

The Voice of the Martyrs is encouraging believers to pray for those affected by the cyclone in Burma (Myanmar) and the earthquake in China. Pray God will comfort Christians who have been displaced and lost loved ones during these natural disasters. Ask Him to provide for them during this difficult time and for the Holy Spirit to be their comforter. Isaiah 61: 1-3

Here is some of the latest news on getting aid into Myanmar.  This is from CBN News:

Myanmar Shuns Aid from U.S. Warships

The Associated Press

May 21, 2008

CBNNews.com - YANGON, Myanmar -- Myanmar shunned a U.S. proposal for naval ships to deliver aid to cyclone victims on Wednesday, according to state-run media, dimming hopes that the vessels could provide a major boost to relief efforts.

The New Light of Myanmar, a mouthpiece for Myanmar's ruling junta, said that such assistance "comes with strings attached," citing fears that Washington wants to overthrow the country's government and seize its oil.

The United States, as well as France and Great Britain, have naval vessels loaded with humanitarian supplies off the Myanmar coast, and had been waiting for a green light to deliver them. The article did not say whether the French and British supplies would be allowed.  Read the rest.

       

Christian Detained, Fined and Given a Suspended Prison Sentence

On April 29, a court in Djilfa, south of Algiers, charged a 33-year-old Muslim convert to Christianity with “printing, storing and distributing” illegal religious material. According to Compass Direct News, “An Algerian Christian detained five days for carrying a Bible and personal Bible study books was handed a 300-Euro (US $460) fine and a one-year suspended prison sentence.”

Compass reported this conviction was the latest in numerous detentions and court cases against Algerian Christians. “Since January, police and provincial officials have ordered the closure of up to half of the country’s estimated 50 Protestant congregations,” Compass Direct said.

The 33-year-old Algerian Christian converted from Islam to Christianity eight years ago. On April 25, he was stopped at a police road block while riding in a shared taxi. Compass Direct added, “Officials took the convert into custody upon finding a Bible and several religious study books in his luggage. Police appear to have previous knowledge of the Christian’s connections. Officers refused to let the convert call friends to let them know of his detention, naming a church member in Tiaret whom they claimed he would contact.”

The Voice of the Martyrs actively supports and assists persecuted Christians in Algeria. Pray believers in Algeria will remain faithful despite persecution. Ask God to protect and give courage to this Algerian Christian who is standing for Christ.

Vatican: The Persecution in Orrisa, India

Today there is an article questioning why the West is relatively silent on the persecution going on in Orrisa.  Well, I can tell you that The Voice of the Martyrs hasn't been silent about the issue, as we have reported about this on this blog, however, I'd agree that most of the mainstream media basically ignores Christian persecution.

The article begins this way...

By Giorgio Bernardelli

5/19/2008

"Why does no one in the West raise his voice about what is happening in Orissa?"

ROMA (Chiesa) - "In the village, the climate between us and the Hindus had always been good. We invited them to our celebrations, and we participated in theirs. But now we are all afraid." Fr. Santosh Kumar Singh, a young priest of the archdiocese of Chuttack and Bhubaneswar, is talking about his Baminigam.

He is talking about a village like so many others in this area of eastern India. A group of houses in the forest that, all of a sudden, has been turned into the epicenter of the strongest wave of anti-Christian violence in recent years.

The rest of this article lays out the persecution that has take place in recent months.  Please read it all here.

Persecution in Zimbabwe

While this report isn't specifically about Christian persecution, it depicts some of the physical suffering that people endure - even as Christians.  The pictures are graphic, view at your own risk.

Click here to learn more about this video from Reuters.

Returning Good for Evil

The Romanian pastor and his wife had hidden Soviet soldiers during the Nazi occupation of their country. Now it was Nazi soldiers who needed refuge.

    Three German officers hid in the little building behind their house. The pastor’s wife sneaked them food and emptied their waste buckets at night. As a Jew, she felt hatred for their actions—they had murdered her entire family. But as a Christian, she felt compelled to aid the refugees and offer them physical and spiritual support.

    The show of favor intrigued the captain: “I wonder why a Jewess should risk her life for a German soldier? I do not like Jews, and I do not fear God. I must tell you that when the German army recaptures Bucharest, and it surely will, I will never return the favor to you.”

    The pastor’s wife was undaunted by his cold heart. She continued preaching to him, “Even the worst crimes are forgiven by faith in Jesus Christ. I have no authority to forgive, but Jesus does, if you repent.”

    The officer replied, “I won’t say I understand you. But perhaps if more people had this gift of returning good for evil, then there would be less killing.”

    The officers soon escaped to Germany, still unrepentant. But the pastor and his wife had done their part in showing them the true meaning of Christianity.

Jesus shared a parable about a farmer who sowed seeds in different types of soil, producing different results. In his story, the seed is the Word of God. Like birds who gobble up the trampled seeds outside a garden, the devil wants to take God’s Word away from those who hear it. In contrast, those who represent good soil receive God’s Word and respond. Whenever we share the gospel with others, we don’t know what type of “soil” is in their hearts. We can’t be responsible for their response, positive or negative. Are you discouraged because someone did not respond to the gospel? You have done your part. Now let God do his.

Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself

In recent weeks I have been thinking and pondering Christ’s command that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I cannot pinpoint one incident that triggered my thought process, but I believe the Holy Spirit impressed it on my heart for a reason. Among other things, I have been thinking of the importance and value in loving nonbelievers into the kingdom of God and how showing them the love of Christ can sometimes make them more receptive to hearing the gospel.

I recently heard two speakers sharing about the importance of loving Muslims into the kingdom of God. Even though I had heard what they were saying before, I was struck by their expression that we would probably have a greater impact if our first reaction or decision concerning nonbelievers, especially Muslims, was love instead of fear or suspicion. Of course, I am not at all advocating blindly going into situations without wisdom or God’s leading, but I believe that what these brothers shared is vital to reaching the Muslim world for Christ.

I have read many testimonies of persecuted believers who share awesome testimonies of leading their persecutors to Christ. In some of these stories, instead of the persecuted retaliating against the persecutor, they show the love of Christ and model Christ to their attackers. Praise God, some of the persecutors have accepted Christ. I have been challenged to look at Christ’s command to love my neighbor as myself with fresh eyes. We might not have the opportunity to befriend a Muslim, but we can daily meet and love our neighbors where we live, work and do business. Join me in praising God for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world who have opportunities to model this biblical principle every day. Ask God to give them strength and courage to stand. Also, ask Him to use us daily in loving others around us and allowing the love of Christ to flow into the lives of those we meet.

A Meaningful Vacation

Suppose you could envision taking your kids on a meaningful vacation this June? Would you imagine taking them to Asia to talk to Christians and to learn about balloon launches into North Korea? Perhaps you would dream of stopping by Bangladesh and talking to the director of a secret camp for persecuted Christians. Would you think about stopping by Colombia, too, and talking to a Christian who witnesses to terrorists in the jungle?

Would you picture your family crisscrossing the country when you got back to the U.S., visiting Michael Wurmbrand, son of VOM’s founders; Tom White, who was imprisoned in communist Cuba; Gracia Burnham, kidnapped by Muslim terrorists in the Philippines; and the VOM Martyrs Monument, a tribute to Christians throughout the centuries?

Maybe you would think about helping your kids write a letter to a Christian in prison for his faith, visiting a jail cell and a shipping container like those used to hold Christian prisoners around the world, making a bracelet for Bangladeshi Christians, watching skits about bold believers, talking to a youth who appeared on Underground Reality: Vietnam, and studying five restricted nations.

Or, you could take your kids to VOM’s Kids Conference where they could experience all of the above in one place on one weekend. Click here for more information. 

Christian Sentenced for Carrying A Bible

Police pressure convert to return to Islam during ‘illegal’ five-day detention.

ALGIERS, Algeria, May 9 (Compass Direct News) – An Algerian Christian detained five days for carrying a Bible and personal Bible study books was handed a 300-euro (US$460) fine and a one-year suspended prison sentence last week, an Algerian church leader said. Last Tuesday (April 29) a court in Djilfa, 150 miles south of Algiers, charged the 33-year-old Muslim convert to Christianity with “printing, storing and distributing” illegal religious material. A written copy of the verdict has yet to be issued. The Protestant, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told fellow Christians in his home city of Tiaret that police pressured him to return to Islam while in custody. The conviction is the latest in a wave of detentions and court cases against Algeria’s Protestants and Catholics. Since January police and provincial officials have ordered the closure of up to half of the country’s 50 estimated Protestant congregations. Officials in several instances have cited a February 2006 law governing the worship of non-Muslims. Clarified by subsequent decrees in 2007, the law restricts most religious meetings to approved places of worship and forbids any attempt to “shake the faith of a Muslim.”

Full story available here.

Myanmar May Suffer Another Cyclone

If you have been following the devastation that has taken place in Myanmar recently and realize that some reports are now saying that even the aid that is getting into Myanmar is basically being stolen, then you'll want to pray with us that the Lord would divert another cyclone that appears to be heading Myanmar's way again.

CBN News has a video report and news article that you may read here.

Evangelism During the Olympics In Question

A few days ago I wrote about some comments that Franklin Graham made recently concerning evangelism in China during the Olympics.  Today I wanted to direct you to an article from OneNewsNow that is titled Evangelism During Olympics In Question.  Here is a small snippet...

Bob Fu heads the China Aid Association. "The Chinese government leaders and also the [government-sanctioned] Three-Self Patriotic movement leaders have spoken publicly to the media that the foreign evangelistic effort in China during the Olympics is not welcome and will not be tolerated," notes Fu.

But the house church leadership -- the independent, underground church movement -- thinks differently. According to Fu, it is a matter of who heads the church. And it is certainly not the government, he says.

"To the house church leaders, it's an issue of the lordship of Christ to the church," Fu offers. "And if the church ceases to do evangelism, is it the true church? It's a big question."