Now that 2011 is winding down and almost over, I wanted to share a few thoughts about the Christians that we all read about and hear about every day, as we blog about this for you. I’ve had the privilege of blogging about Christian persecution for almost seven years and each year it is amazing to me how much Christians are persecuted worldwide. I know by now I shouldn’t be shocked, but there are still days that I look through the news and I am shocked…
I see the battle between good and evil being waged daily because of the name of Jesus Christ. Yet, as a student of scripture, it should not be a shock to anyone that Christians will be hated because Jesus said that His followers would be because He was hated and man loved the darkness more than the light.
In previous years I can recall blogging about women in prison for teaching a Sunday school class, or someone being beheaded simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. In fact I recall debating whether or not to post a picture of a woman who had been beheaded and the controversy it stirred when I chose to post it. Some people were offended by it, but some understood.
I’d have to say that I believe more Christians, and overall, people in general, are aware of the reality of Christian persecution now than ever before. In 2011 we all became involved in the lives of Asia Bibi and Pastor Youcef and offered thousands of prayers on their behalf, as well as signed petitions and sent letters via The Voice of the Martyrs Prisoner Alert program.
We also saw explosive growth on The Voice of the Martyrs’ Facebook page, which now has over 110,000 fans and we have grown in influence on our Twitter accounts @VOM_USA and @persecutionblog. I am thankful for this growth because with every status update on Facebook about a persecuted prisoner who needs our prayers and awareness brought to their situation, that person is being ministered to and remembered.
Just as with every tweet that is sent out and retweeted and talked about, the need of that persecuted believer is being honored, acted on and prayed for.
We no longer live in a day and age when Christians are persecuted in silent. When Christians are being tortured, abused, martyred and mistreated—the world knows. When there is a need that has to be met and a government that disrespects human life and demands a persons freedom—there is a voice that speaks loud and tells that government—we’re here and we’re listening and watching what you’re doing.
Christians are often freed because of the voice of the Church who stands and speaks for their brethren that are taken captive. We need to rejoice in this.
However, we need to continually remain vigilant and aware that apathy can set in and we can easily forget the suffering of those we do not see.
I’d like to personally thank every single one of you who have taken the time to pray for persecuted Christians, who have written a letter to a suffering saint, signed a petition, made a video, sent a tweet, posted on Facebook, donated to The Voice of the Martyrs, shared Tortured for Christ and been apart of any of our ongoing programs like Bibles Unbound and our Action Pack program. What you have done matters. It matters to the ministry to our suffering family in Christ, but even more, it honors the King whom we serve.
As we go into 2012 I’m sure we’ll see some more horrific things happening to Christians worldwide and we’ll be here to bring that news to you.
Thank you again for being a part of such a vital ministry to the Church. I pray the Lord’s blessing on you and those who suffer that Jesus might be lifted up in the whole earth, and that the world may know Him because of His love for us and our love for each other, in His name.
