Persecution Blog

NIGERIA: 60 Christians Helped, 80 More Waiting

While the assaults by radical Muslims in Nigeria have faded from the news, the attacks on Christians have continued to escalate.

What would you do? Go to church knowing you could be attacked? Avoid sharing your faith? Or even deny your faith to save your earthly body?

These are very hard questions and Christians in Nigeria (predominantly the north) face this dilemma almost daily.

In recent years, Boko Haram has become a predominant Muslim terrorist group. And their mission is to eradicate Christianity—and anything Western—from Nigeria. While burning churches and beheading Christians is common, another tactic is often used, that of severing a limb, usually a leg.

In response to these attacks, The Voice of the Martyrs continues to enlarge its prosthetics clinic in northern Nigeria. With the help of technicians donating their time along with quality materials shipped from the U.S., we are able to assist our persecuted brothers and sisters with new prosthetics.

“We have been able to provide 60 persecuted believers with custom-fitted prosthetics in the last 12 months. We have identified 80 more Christians who need one.”

– Cole Richards, Vice President, International Ministries

Tragically the victims have even been children, like Mary. She will now learn to walk again thanks to VOM’s prosthetics clinic.

When you donate to VOM’s Families of Martyrs Fund, you are also helping those who are living martyrs, even children like Mary who choose to follow Christ no matter the cost.

Please click on the link below and consider a donation to VOM’s Families of Martyrs Fund and help us meet the growing need of providing quality prosthetics to your persecuted family members in Nigeria.

Click here to partner with VOM in providing more prosthetics to our family members like Mary.

Send Someone Else Immediately

Henrey Stanley, the biographer and convert of David Livingstone, was the first Christian to reach Uganda, in the 1870s. He arrived to the court of King Mutesa and showed him a Bible. The king explained that Muslims had arrived previously to his court, and they also had a book to show him.

“How do we know which is better?” Mutesa asked. “I am like a man in darkness. All I ask is that I be taught how to see.”

Stanley published the words of the King in London’s Daily Telegraph, along with a call for a “pious, practical” missionary who would go to Uganda to bring the gospel message to the king and his people. “What a harvest ripe for the sickle,” Stanley wrote.

His call was answered, and soon the Church Missionary Society appointed Alexander Mackay, a 27-year-old Scottish bachelor, to lead a party of eight mission workers to Uganda. Mackay went forward with his eyes wide open:

“Is it likely that eight Englishmen should start for Central Africa and all be alive six months after? One of us at least will surely fall. When the news comes, do not be cast down, but send someone else immediately to take the vacant place.”

—Alexander Mackay

Mackay was injured in an accident before the team even reached Uganda. Two team members deserted the team; another was murdered. Yet another one contracted a terrible fever. Only three of the eight would set out from Zanzibar to Uganda, the final leg of the journey.

The three arrived in Mutesa’s court on January 30, 1877. But two of the three were soon killed, leaving only C.T. Wilson to start Sunday services. Mackay, recovered from the accident, soon arrived to help, but the two labored for years before seeing their first convert baptized.

As their work began to flourish, Mutesa’s son succeeded him and promptly tortured a group of converts when they wouldn’t agree to his demands. Mackay survived the threats of the young tyrant, but died of malaria at age 40. He was working on a translation of John’s gospel when he died.

The fruit of Mackay’s life and work lived on, and the church in Uganda became one of Africa’s strongest.

Source: On This Day: 365 Amazing and Inspiring Stories about Saints, Martyrs and Heroes by Robert J. Morgan.

Full disclosure: VOM is registered with the Amazon Associates program. If you click on the link above and buy the book, a portion of the purchase will be paid to VOM.

A Philippine Peace Deal: It’s What Christians Dreaded

An agreement between the Philippine government and the Muslim insurgent group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is intended to usher in long-awaited peace to the southern region of the Philippines, but it is what Christians living in this area have dreaded for years.

Since 1996, the Philippine government has been in talks with the MILF, an insurgent group that has terrorized those living in the Mindanao region and killed over 150,000 people since the 1970s. Those talks have led to what is being called the “normalization annex,” the last piece of the agreement, which is expected to be formally signed sometime in February or March of this year.

The so-called peace agreement between the government and MILF will include a deal that grants amnesty to those currently facing or already convicted of charges related to rebellion. While other serious crimes such as rape are not included in the deal, many insurgents will be released and pardoned of rebellion-related crimes. In addition to the amnesty, the Philippine government will grant more autonomy to a five-province area already controlled by Muslim insurgents. The area, which is to be called Bangsamoro, will be better funded and more powerful than before.

In exchange for amnesty and more autonomy, MILF has agreed to deactivate their 11,000 soldiers from duty. Insurgents are expected to hand over weapons, and the government’s military forces will also be reduced. While security troops will still be allowed as a peace-keeping force, the expectation is that this will be a Muslim-controlled area operating under its own laws.

The upcoming VOM newsletter includes the story of a Christian woman living in the Mindanao area. Although divided between Muslims and Christians, her village was frequently invaded by rebel forces. Sometimes the rebels continued on to another village, but other times they occupied Christians’ homes for days or weeks at a time. Christians were then left homeless and became prey to rebel forces, which sometimes used them as a shield from the government’s military.

It is uncertain how this peace agreement will ultimately affect Christians, who will be subject to the new laws of Bangsamoro. It is suspected that Islamic law, known as Sharia, could be implemented at some point in the future. Rebel troops will no longer fear interference from the government, and Christians living in Muslim-controlled villages may face even more restrictions and harsher persecution.

In countries where Sharia is followed, Christians are often banned from proselytizing, owning Bibles or even attending church services. The penalty for such crimes often include harsh prison sentences and sometimes even death. Under Sharia, Muslims who convert to Christianity would risk being killed.

Unfortunately, this is not the sort of peace that Christians in the Bangsamoro area ever wanted. It is an agreement that will likely invite a wave of new persecution. Pray for believers living in the southern region of the Philippines. To read more stories of Christian brothers and sisters persecuted for their faith, watch for VOM’s upcoming March newsletter.

Sources: Philippine Daily Inquirer, Washington Post.  Image: Wikipedia. 

“Ann Kay” is a writer for VOM. She learned about VOM five years ago when she read Tortured for Christ and began receiving the newsletter. She is passionate about reaching the world for Christ and sharing stories of the persecuted church.

From Nepal: Thank you!

On behalf of the children and pastors in Nepal who received Christmas Care and Village Outreach Packs, thank you to all who gave to support this ministry project! Your gifts blessed these Christians — and their families — who pay a steep price for representing Christ in this Hindu nation.

“The children’s packs [mean] God loves all the children. … He knows our needs.”

— Pastor S.

“It brings encouragement to serve the Lord more. … I feel valued.”

— Pastor K., who oversees 50 other pastors

We hope you'll be encouraged by this video shot during Christmas Care distributions in Nepal:

 

Silence

VOM’s Kids of Courage resources help parents and educators teach children ages 5 to 13 about persecuted Christians around the world, and provide opportunities for children to serve and pray for them. The following post appeared earlier this month on www.kidsofcourage.com.

Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who started The Voice of the Martyrs, was in prison in Romania for his Christian activities. He spent part of his time in prison in “solitary confinement,” meaning he was by himself in a silent cell.

After he left prison, Pastor Wurmbrand wrote the following.

“Two thousand years ago a Greek man named Phocion waited his turn to get his beard trimmed by a barber. The barber talked on and on about current events to the customer he was shaving. Phocion waited wearily while the barber talked.

“Finally the barber turned to Phocion and asked, ‘How would you like to have your beard trimmed?’

“Phocion replied, ‘In silence.’”

Pastor Wurmbrand continued, “We are victims of a plot against silence. Every day we hear the noise of cars, trains, planes, radios, TVs, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, fans, chatter, clatter, and speech.

“I have known Christians who have spent years in solitary confinement in complete silence. When they once again heard humans speak, they wondered why so much of their speech was unimportant.

“If you wish to talk to God, create some silence around you. Turn off the noises that intrude on silence. You will learn more from God if you listen, as did Jesus when he spent whole nights in prayer on silent mountains.”

(Source: Reaching Toward the Heights by Richard Wurmbrand. Edited, paraphrased, and adapted.)

To Think About

• Sit still and note all the noises you hear. Which noises would not have existed in Bible times?
• Do you have a daily “quiet time” when you can read the Bible and pray without distractions?

Defending the Faith

If God is sovereign and we are doing his will, why should we worry about a defense? Doesn’t that appear to be focusing too much on the mundane, too much on our own needs? Does it show a lack of faith? The point is that while it is true that God is sovereign and we are committed to doing his will, we live in a world that makes demands on us, even unreasonable demands. Christians are called before authorities, judges, and courts sometimes for good reasons and sometimes for not-so-good reasons. These persons have the responsibility of keeping peace in society, for upholding society’s laws, and to resolve conflict. Sometimes they are just doing their job; but some use their position to harass and persecute Christians, and this of course is unjust.

A clear example of the role of government is seen in Acts 19:35-41 where conflict rose because Demetrius, a silversmith who earned a living making silver models of the goddess Artemis, felt that his livelihood was threatened by Paul’s preaching. It was threatened! The city clerk, who appears to be a reasonable man interested in maintaining peace and in resolving the conflict in a civil manner, exhorts the silversmith guild to go to court to air their grievances, although Paul and his cohorts had not robbed any temples or blasphemed the goddess they must therefore defend themselves in courts and before proconsuls, whether they like it or not.

We should not be surprised if our witnessing about Christ causes opposition and we are taken to court for it. This had been the method of operation in societies where the motives are honorable (but their laws or customs may be wrong) but also in totalitarian states where the court system is merely a façade, a mere pretense of justice. The real question is not do we need a defense but how do we deal with being called to court and what should our conduct be. We need to remember that in reality we are not on trial; it is Jesus Christ and the gospel message that is being assessed and judgment passed upon. It has been noted that in Stephen’s defense in Acts chapter 7 that he never once mentions himself.

When Chinese Pastor Samuel Lamb was being interrogated, a group of friends and staff members gathered to pray that he might have boldness and that he would realize that it was Jesus who was on trial, not Pastor Lamb (Ken Anderson, Bold as a Lamb, 4).

That is not a universal principle because the Apostle Paul often had to defend himself and his own ministry.  In 2 Timothy 4:16, Paul said that at his “first defense,” when everyone abandoned him, the Lord stood by his side and gave him strength so that he could fully proclaim the message so that all the Gentiles could hear it. Paul defended himself and his ministry to those who oppressed him in the church, those who denied his right to be an apostle. In the public courts, however, the issue was not self-defense but the public opportunity to share the gospel to those he was called to reach. He used every legal defense he could under Roman law. He also used the occasion to share his witness to Christ’s transforming power in his life.

Peter, who had his share of difficulties with those who opposed the gospel, wrote in 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV): “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Roy Stults, PhD, is the Online Workshop Coordinator and Educational Services Coordinator for The Voice of the Martyrs. He graduated from Olivet Nazarene University (BA and MA), Nazarene Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Doctor of Missiology), and The University of Manchester (England) with a PhD (theology). A Vietnam veteran, Dr. Stults served as a missionary for 19 years and pastored U.S. churches for eight years. Prior to joining VOM, he was a Professor of Religion at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

Young Believers Killed in Peshawar

“Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Mark 10:14b-15).

Sometimes children are able to see truth in unencumbered, refreshing ways. Jesus loved children, and even challenged his followers to “receive the kingdom of God as a little child.”

At VOM, we acknowledge the mandate of James 1:27 and have a unique interest in serving the underserved, especially children and widows living in areas that experience intense persecution. Pakistan is one of those places.

For several years, VOM has been in active partnership with David C. Cook, a nonprofit organization dedicated to publishing discipleship resources to help Christians all over the world grow in their faith.

Together, we have been able to distribute hundreds of thousands of “Story of Jesus” books in some of the world’s most difficult places. These colorful books, which are similar to “comic books,” introduce Jesus to children in a way that is very compelling. In fact, when I took a copy home to my own children, they were immediately drawn to it.

In July of 2013, two young girls in Pakistan received a copy of “the Story of Jesus” in their native language of Urdu. The Christians who distributed the booklets happily reported that these girls trusted Christ after reading these engaging booklets. Two more sisters were added to our family!

Just a couple of months later, on a sunny Sunday morning, two suicide bombers entered the All Saints Church compound in Peshawar, Pakistan. These Islamists waited until the services were over and the nearly 500 worshipers began to gather for a meal together. At 11:45, they detonated their suicide vests and killed 78 people and injured another 130. It was the deadliest attack on the Christian minority in the history of Pakistan.

In October, I received word that the two young sisters who received “the Story of Jesus” during the July distribution, and began to follow Jesus, were killed in the attack on that bright Sunday morning.

The death of children is especially tough, and many of the victims from Peshawar were women and children. There are never easy answers for difficult situations like this. They serve as vivid reminders of how fallen our world is. But, we do not mourn as those without hope! We believe that “while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:6-7).

As you look at the photograph of these two young girls, please remember their families in prayer, along with the other families who lost loved ones in this attack. Pray also for those who plotted this attack. May God’s glory be manifested in all of the chaos that continues in this area. Finally, please pray with us that God will guide us as we do our best to minister in that difficult place.

Dr. Jason Peters serves in VOM’s International Ministries department, traveling frequently to meet with our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. He lived overseas for five years and has ministered in more than 30 countries as diverse as Cuba, Nepal, Iraq, Nigeria and Indonesia. He and his wife, Kimberly, along with their five children, count it a great honor to serve with the persecuted church.

Pray for Peace in Syria: Geneva II Conference Opens Jan. 22

Church leaders in Syria are calling for intercessory prayer as the Geneva II Conference begins on Jan. 22 in Switzerland. Representatives from both the government of President Bashar al-Assad and the Western-backed political opposition are scheduled to meet for the first time in three years. Their goal is to find a peaceful way to end the conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 130,000 people and left millions more displaced. 

Patriarch Gregory III Laham, the leader of the Greek Catholic Church, has called all Christians and Syrian citizens to “pray for true reconciliation in Geneva II” and has stated that "the key to the success of Geneva II is faith-based, human, cordial, national, and truly Syrian reconciliation."

In June, 2012, officials from the United States, Russia, and other major powers met in Geneva and agreed on what is known as the Geneva Communiqué, which is meant to serve as a road map for the “transitional government” in Syria. However, numerous difficulties continue to arise as there are conflicts as to who truly represents the Syrians opposed to the current government as well as which countries should be invited. U.N. chief Ban Ki-Moon withdrew an invitation to Iran to attend the Jan. 22 meeting after the Syrian opposition threatened to boycott the conference if Iran, who backs Assad’s government, attends.

The World Council of Churches issued a statement on Jan. 17 which was compiled by the participants of a two-day meeting, including Syrian church leaders, which urged all delegates to the Geneva II peace conference to pursue an immediate end to all armed conflict. Additionally, they called for all parties to release kidnapped persons, and finally, they urged the UN Security Council to implement measures to end the flow of weapons and foreign fighters into Syria.

Kidnapping is a common tactic being employed by a variety of radical groups opposed to the Syrian government, including factions of radical Muslims. In some cases, the groups have not identified themselves. In others, demands have been made of the release of detained Syrians being held by the government. Amongst those missing and detained are three priests, two bishops, and at least 12 nuns and three young orphans under their care from Ma’aloula (some sources say 13 nuns). Fr. Michel and Fr. Maher have been missing since Feb. 9, 2013. Fr. Paolo has been missing since early August, 2013. The Metropolitan bishops, Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulous Yazigi have been held since April 22, 2013. The nuns have been held since December, 2013.

Religiously motivated persecution of Christians has also occurred during the Syrian conflict. On Jan. 8, two Christians were ambushed by militants who shot at their vehicle as they were travelling outside of Homs. Fadi was killed, and upon seeing the cross he was wearing, he was decapitated. Firas was left for dead, but he was able to escape with his life.

VOM is helping to equip and encourage Christians who continue to work in Syria despite the dangers. In addition to providing material assistance to those Christians who have been impacted by the war, VOM also works with church partners in Syria to distribute New Testaments, Bibles and study Bibles.

Please join Christians around the world in praying for Syria. VOM has received reports that an increased number of Muslims have come to know Christ in the midst of the conflict. Ask God to continue to embolden Christians, empowering them to be courageous witnesses during this time.

Sources: Middle East Concern, U.N.

“Ann Kay” is a writer for VOM. She learned about VOM five years ago when she read Tortured for Christ and began receiving the newsletter. She is passionate about reaching the world for Christ and sharing stories of the persecuted church.

Pain as God's Shout

“Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

― C.S. Lewis

TIME Magazine, Sept. 8, 1947

There are many well-known quotes from C.S. Lewis, one of the best-known Christian writers and apologists of the past century.

Do you agree with this one? Do you find that you hear God more clearly in times of suffering and pain than you do in moments of pleasure? And if you do agree with his statement, how does that affect your understanding of what our persecuted brothers and sisters endure? Does it affect the way you pray for them?

Share your thoughts in the comments to this post, and share the quote through social media and see what your friends think about hearing God’s voice in times of suffering.

And pray, often, that our brothers and sisters enduring persecution will clearly hear the voice of God speaking love and hope and encouragement to them in their suffering for His name.

 

 

 

Iran: Christian released from prison

Good news from Iran: Mohabat News is reporting that Davoud Alijani, arrested in Ahvaz, Iran, during  a Christmas service in 2011, has been released from prison, 20 days prior to his sentence being complete.

Alijani was a part of the leadership of the Assemblies of God church in Ahvaz. When authorities raided a Christmas celebration on Decmeber 23, 2011, they initially arrested everyone present, including the children. Most of the believers were released within a few hours, but the pastor and his wife and two other ministers, including Alijani, were transferred to a detention center for further interrogation.

All four were subsequently sentenced to one year in prison after being found guilty of "converting to Christianity, inviting Muslims to convert and acting against state security through evangelistic activities."

Two of them have been released previously, and only the pastor's wife, Shahnaz Jayzan, remains in prison as of the latest reports. However, Mohabat News says there are unconfirmed reports that she will also be released in the coming days.

The Assemblies of God Church in Ahvaz was a registered church with legal standing to hold church meetings, yet in recent months even churches that have legal standing in Iran have been raided by authorities and their leaders subjected to arrest and interrogation.

Praise the Lord for the release of our brother, Davoud! Please continue to pray for Shahnaz Jayzan and other believers in Iran.