Persecution Blog

World Water Day

By the time I leave for work, I’ve used nearly 20 gallons of water between a shower, brushing my teeth, and preparing breakfast and coffee. Last week began with World Water Day (Sunday, March 22), and I invite you to consider the ways you depend on water each day and how this unites you with others around the world who depend on Jesus Christ as our living water.

Unlike most homes in the United States, water isn’t readily available everywhere around the world. In some countries, like Nepal, Christians are excluded from using water sources just for choosing Christ. VOM has helped believers in these places build wells because they would not have access to water otherwise.

Last July, I was in Nepal where I saw the work of those serving Christ with all they have. As we drove through the country, the winding roads took us through villages where colorful homes dotted the landscape. Often, as we slowed down for traffic, we would see young children, women, and sometimes men using hand pumps to fill a bucket or jug with water. These were the affluent neighborhoods, and as one VOM worker told us, Christians are not likely to be found in these areas. More rural areas might have one well or draw water from a stream.

Typically forced to the outermost parts of rural villages in Nepal, Christians are often despised in this predominantly Hindu nation. Often relatives or village leaders will try to force new believers to return to their Hindu beliefs. A common tactic to try to force new Christians to recant their faith is to forbid them from local resources, especially water.

One convert to Christianity was hated for his beliefs. His community had one well for drawing water and Hindu radicals resented the man for turning to Christ, so they told him he could no longer use their well. Hoping he might reconsider and give up Christ or even die of thirst, he was told to dig his own well.

“Gyan” didn’t die though, and since he would not denounce his faith, he was forced out of his village. A season of drought came, and the village where the Christian man had once lived dried out. When Gyan learned of their plight, he returned to the village to offer his help, inviting them to use the well that he had dug by himself. Despite the drought, his well had not run dry, and the thirsty villagers welcomed the invitation to use the well he had dug. They even listened to his message about the true living water – Jesus Christ.

Pastor Gyan now leads a thriving church, and those who once refused to let him use their water are the same ones who now know He is the well that does not run dry. He teaches other Christians about persecution, and continues to share his faith with those who do not yet know about the living water. World Water Day highlights both a need for accessible drinking water, but it also stirs up a desire to pray for my persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ.

“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.

VOMRadio: No Panic in Heaven

In the current episode of VOMRadio, Tom Doyle, author of a new book about Christians facing persecution in the Middle East, tells us that, in spite of the advance of Islamic State, God is changing the hearts of people in the region as Christians continue to boldly share the gospel message in spite of the risks and violence.

He’ll share the story of a Muslim convert forced to choose between her daughter and her Savior, and a group of pastors ready to die rather than leave the work God has called them to in Syria. Tom also challenges Christians in free nations to live with the same boldness and faith, and reminds us that believers facing persecution are praying for Christians in America.

 

Tom Doyle is the Vice President and Middle East Director for E3 Partners. He is the author, most recently, of "Killing Christians: Living the Faith Where It's Not Safe to Believe."

Not Too Much To Give

“If they want all three of our kids,” said Tawadros’ widow, Malaka, “it isn’t too much [to give] for Christ.”

Malaka and her three children are among the families who are grieving the loss of the 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians killed by Islamic State terrorists in Libya in February. Malaka lost her husband, Tawadro Yusuf Tawadros.

When a VOM partner visited the families recently, several of them shared their pride in their family members who gave their lives for Christ. Those who, like Malaka, would give all that they have for Christ.

The mother of martyr Gaber Munir Adly said, “I’m so happy that he remained true to his faith in Christ. This is so much better than what could have happened.”

The young man’s mother was asked if she thought it might have been better if he had outwardly denied his faith but repented when he returned.“If he had left his Christ, he would have been useless to us. His dying for the faith is a blessing we don’t deserve.All I know is The Lord’s Prayer, but I feel the peace of God in my heart.” 

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Muslims are Coming To Christ

With the rise of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) in 2014, and many terrorist killings already this year, it can be easy to focus on the negative. Instead, several Iranian Christian leaders worked together to share eight reasons why Muslims, particularly in Iran, are being drawn to Christianity more than ever before.

1)      Wherever political Islam enters the stage Muslims are drawn to Christ.

The healthiest governments are often those where religion and politics are kept separate, and the most corrupt governments are usually those where religion and politics are mixed together. Wherever religion takes on a political dimension, it results in a religious dictatorship and people are deprived of democracy, permissible freedoms and choice. The rulers end up making all the decisions. We see it today in countries like Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria and Somalia as well as others where religion and politics are intertwined. This has laid the groundwork for people to take refuge in Christ.

2)      Disasters and tragedies can help lead Muslims to Christ.

History has shown that disasters, wars, fleeing refugees, earthquakes, famines, illness, terror and persecution prepares people to be ready to hear the Gospel of Christ. The Bible says, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Psalm 119: 71). Usually in the face of disaster and national calamities, it is Christian charities who offer assistance to those facing such disasters. Many refugees who have lived for years in some of the most difficult circumstances with no help from the government or United Nations have responded positively to the Gospel, especially in places like Iran and Afghanistan.

3)      Emigration and refugees are meeting believers and hearing the Gospel.

Many who have left their home country as emigrants or refugees, especially from Iran, have come in contact with Christians and been drawn to Christ. Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran, approximately six million Iranians have moved to other countries as either immigrants or refugees over the past 36 years. Many Iranians also travel as visitors to other countries before returning home. Wherever they go, be it Europe, the United States, or neighboring countries, they usually meet up with Iranian believers and become acquainted with the message of the Gospel. This has resulted in a tremendous growth of Iranian believers, and this has impacted their friends and families in Iran. This can be said of other groups as well, and the number of Afghan believers is increasing rapidly as well.

4)      Miracles, healings and answers to prayer are drawing many to Christ.

Miracles, healings and answers to prayer though Christ is another way of drawing Muslims to Christ. Muslims, who have some knowledge of the Quran, believe that no prophet did as many miracles as Jesus did. There are many stories and testimonies, especially among Iranians who have been drawn to Christ in this way. In fact the miraculous work of God in Iran is so great that there is no other country that is experiencing it on this scale. In the same way, through visions and dreams, God is revealing himself and the truth of the Gospel. There are many Muslim converts in Iran who are not connected to any house church or Christian leader. It seems that the Lord does not give knowledge of all of these believers to us or other groups working among the house churches because we could not cope with the response. When we are ready, then God will gradually introduce them to us in his time.

5)      Blossoming of cultural identity and knowledge spreads the Gospel.

This blossoming of cultural identity and the knowledge of other ethnic groups has also helped to draw Muslims to Christ. Our century is a technological one based around the Internet. People from different cultures and countries are getting to know each other. We live in an age of communication where people are no longer restricted to one way of thinking or one particular ethnic group. One positive aspect of this is that many Muslims, despite the controls over the means of communication, find a way through various websites to become acquainted with the message, culture and ways of thinking of Christians and also with the personality of Christ. If someone wants to find Christ, that person will find a way.

Concerning Iranian people, the culture, customs and thinking of Iranians is vastly different from those of Islam and Arabic backgrounds. In the Iranian history of civilization, there are poets and writers who express themes of love, freedom, forgiveness, truth, equality and justice throughout their literary works; truths that are found more in Christianity rather than Islam. People inside Iran today face pressure, lies, violence, discrimination and hate. Since the Islamic Revolution, 80 percent of the population are disillusioned and tired. They are searching for the God who is love and just and where there is salvation, equality, truth and freedom and this God can only be found in Christ. It is for this reason that when Iranians hear the Gospel, they respond positively. And again it is for this reason that the Iranian government has forbidden the printing, distribution and sharing of the Gospel and even announced that it is dangerous. They spend all their efforts on closing down the evangelical churches and the production of Christian resources in the Persian language. However, Paul reminds us that no one can prevent the spread of the Gospel. Praise the Lord!

6)      Radio and satellite television allow many to hear Christian broadcasts.

It is clear that radio and satellite television has a vital role in helping Muslims to get to know the Gospel. Fortunately, the number of Christian radio and TV channels in Arabic, Turkish, Urdu and Persian related languages are many and are on the increase. Some of these channels are 24/7 and in fact as far as Persian is concerned, there are now four 24/7 channels. There are millions of viewers both inside and outside Iran. Iranian preachers and teachers are doing all they can to produce good quality programming. In addition to these channels, other preachers have Christian programs on some of the political channels as well. There has never been such an opportunity for Muslims to hear the Gospel, especially in view of all the restrictions that exist in Iran. The effectiveness of all these programs bringing the Gospel into people’s homes is seen through the many testimonies that exist.

7)      Churches around the world sending workers into the Muslim World.

Churches throughout the world are involved in sending missionaries and workers into the Muslim World. In spite of the fact that many governments have restricted access to such workers by not granting residence or visas, we are aware of many tent workers, teachers and medical personnel who have entered the Muslim World. They have sacrificially learned the culture, customs and language in order to spread the Gospel. Workers are not exclusively from the West, and many entering the Muslim World are from countries in South America and even from countries in the Far East such as China, Japan and South Korea. There are many organizations that are supporting them to fulfil the commission to preach the Gospel. Furthermore, there are many workers who cannot travel to these countries, but operate behind the scenes to help those on the front lines. In this way, the work will not stop.

8)      God is exposing the truth and reality of Islam.

As God has exposed the reality of Islam, this in turn has led to many Muslims becoming disillusioned with Islam and being drawn to Christ. In fact the best way of exposing Islam is when the extremists take over. Even while it is true that moderate Muslims say that what is happening is not connected with Islam, many Muslims are realizing that Islam has its roots in terror. In any country where Islam develops, so also violence, terror, rape, compulsion, lies and dictatorship increases.

In the history of Iran there has never been an “evangelist” such as Khomeini who has helped people to know what Islam is really all about and therefore has prepared the way for Christ in the same way as John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ. A new building cannot be built on an old foundation. The old has to be demolished so that a new foundation can be built. God is allowing Muslim leaders to destroy the old Islamic foundation so that a new Christian foundation can be built. The situation in Iran today is that Islam is weakening and therefore we must use every opportunity and every method to enable people to hear the Gospel.

Dory P. has worked with VOM for eight years. She grew up in Ecuador, met her husband while working with another mission organization, and now lives in Oklahoma. Between Dory, her husband, four-year-old son and one-year-old daughter, the family shares seven passports. Dory helps tell the stories of the persecuted through VOM's newsletter, and her husband serves with VOM's international department.

VOMRadio: "The Point is to Glorify God"

Martin and Gracia Burnham were serving as missionaries in the Philippines when they went away for a few days together to celebrate their anniversary. Those few days turned into a year in the jungle when they were kidnapped by radical Muslim terrorists. Listen to this exclusive VOMRadio interview as Gracia tells how she wrestled with God and even with her own faith during those dark days of captivity, and how she experienced the prayers of God’s people, even as Martin was killed during a rescue attempt. Gracia bears witness to God’s faithfulness to the Burnhams and their children. Her story challenges each of us to glorify God regardless of what trials we may be facing.

 

Utilizing our Freedom

Those living in freedom can be lulled into lethargy. The church in the free world is losing its passion for evangelism and for participation in the public square in conversation with society. It has either lost confidence or conviction to proclaim the faith publically, or it has withdrawn into its shell and agreed with those who think that faith is primarily an individual activity that has no relationship to public life.

William Wilberforce, the great advocate against slavery in Britain, noted that some people say that faith is a private matter and should not be spoken about in public, that it in fact has no place in the public sphere (Real Christianity, 21). No doubt his opponents were using this argument in an attempt to defuse his powerful apologetic against slavery in the British Empire. If he did not raise a public voice, things would have continued as they were. It was his faith that compelled and propelled him into the public square to wrestle with one of the greatest social evils of the nineteenth century (and that still exists today in variety of forms).

Lesslie Newbigin, missionary theologian, warns the Western church not to succumb to the Enlightenment idea that faith is purely a private matter and has no place in the public arena. True evangelism, he said, means that the good news is true news, and therefore it is appropriate to speak of it in the public square. Western societies may wish to bracket faith out of public life and relegate it to private opinion, and those who resist this relegation realize that even in a free society it could be costly for a Christian to speak publicly about their faith. A pluralist culture that views truth as relative cannot tolerate the claim of universal truth that should be believed by everyone.

Christians have the right to witness to their faith and also the obligation to speak out for those who are oppressed because of their faith in Jesus Christ and to press for religious rights and freedoms that are accepted, at least in theory, in most modern nations. Religious rights are given to us by God and Christ has also given us the mandate to witness. Governments need to recognize this. However, governmental, social custom, and family or clan expectations may try to restrict Christian evangelism, which can lead to persecution. When we seek to obey Christ’s mandate, we may place ourselves in jeopardy with our family, culture, or nation. That is the cost many Christians pay.

Wang Ming Dao of China faced opposition and restrictions as he battled against numerous obstacles to continue to preach the gospel. In a book on his life by Thomas Alan Harvey, Harvey comments on the Chinese government’s attempt to suppress Christians and to keep them from sharing their faith. It became clear that whenever the gospel was preached it would meet opposition. At the same time, people were accepting the gospel and were willing to accept the consequences of becoming a Christian. So, the church in China has experienced unprecedented growth and vitality as it seeks to be faithful in a sometimes hostile and restrictive situation.

In a sense, Chinese Christians are free to express their faith. They have the personal freedom in Christ and his blessing as they witness. But, it will be costly to do so. Free world Christians are politically free but are restricted by their perception that their culture disapproves of their witness. It is a strange irony but a real one. It is apparent that free world Christians must break free from their cultural restraints and utilize their freedom to witness to Christ in their context. The question is, are they willing to pay the price?

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.

More Asia Bibi Petitions Delivered

Yesterday, I was part of a VOM delegation delivering Call For Mercy petition names to the Pakistani Embassy in Washington DC. It was an honor to represent so many American Christians who have prayed for Asia Bibi and her family, and who have added their voices at www.CallForMercy.com, asking the Pakistani government to let this Christian wife and mother out of prison and return her home to her husband and daughters.

This means that almost 700,000 people have signed the petition and had their voice shared at the embassy during our three visits there.

Once again, we were received cordially and courteously. The embassy official that we met with on the first two occasions is no longer at Pakistan’s Washington DC embassy, and so this time it was a new contact there. He was very kind, and seemed appreciative that Americans would make the effort to speak out on behalf of a Pakistani woman.

He told us that the petition papers we delivered would be put into a diplomatic pouch and returned to Pakistan and to the national government there—something we were not promised on our first two visits.

He said Asia’s appeal is currently filed with the Supreme Court, but didn’t offer any insights about how soon the case will be heard. Our VOM contacts in Pakistan have said that it could be years before the Supreme Court rules. I asked if he felt the judges could rule fairly in spite of threats and the assassination of political leaders who have spoken out in Asia Bibi’s behalf, and he expressed confidence that they could.

I asked if there was any chance of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws—the ones under which Asia Bibi was sentenced to death—being changed. He shook his head with what might have been sadness and said that, at least in the near term, he did not see changes happening.

As we finished our time together, I told him that there were thousands of American Christians who were praying for Asia Bibi, but who also were praying for Pakistan. He expressed his gratitude for our prayers.

We don’t know the impact these petitions will have, but we do know it sends a clear message that the world is watching Asia Bibi’s case; freedom-loving people in every corner of the globe are waiting to see how Pakistan will rule in this important case. Please join me in praying that God will use our visit today to plant seeds that may grow into blessing and even acquittal for Asia Bibi.

If you have not yet signed the petition—and shared it with your Christian friends and invited them to sign as well—please go to www.CallForMercy.com now. Our goal when we launched the petition was a million signatures. We're more than two-thirds of the way there; we need your help to reach our goal.

Todd Nettleton has served with The Voice of the Martyrs for 16 years. He’s travelled to more than 20 restricted and hostile nations and interviewed hundreds of believers who’ve faced persecution for their Christian witness. As VOM’s principle media spokesperson, Todd has done more than 2,000 interviews with media outlets ranging from Moody Radio to the BBC and Los Angeles Times. He is the host of VOM’s weekly radio show, VOMRadio. He is the principle author ofRestricted Nations: North Korea and was part of the writing team for four other VOM books.

Who are the Assyrians?

On the last Sunday in January, Christians in the ancient Syrian village of Tel Hormizd removed a cross from their church, but not by choice. They were forced to abandon their Christian identity by Islamic State (IS) militants, who had also kidnapped and killed hundreds of Christians.

Six days later, residents of 35 contiguous Assyrian villages were also ordered to tear down the crosses on their ancient churches and pay jizya, a tax on non-Muslims living in Muslim territory. Those who refused to pay were told to leave their villages or be killed. Thousands fled, but many remained. Within three weeks, the, the militants kidnapped between 262 and 373 people from the villages.

As Assyrians around the world mourned the loss of their family members, it caused me to wonder exactly who the Assyrians were. An ethnic group distinctly different from Arabs and Jews, the Assyrians have faced much persecution for their belief in Christ

The Assyrians were among the first people groups to become Christians. The apostles Thomas, Thaddeus and Bartholomew obeyed Christ’s command to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19) and reached out to the Assyrians. It was through their leadership that The Assyrian Church of the East (Nestorian) was established in AD 33. Later, the Assyrians would also form The Syrian Orthodox Church (Jacobite) and The Chaldean Church of Babylon (Roman Catholic). These three bodies are considered the primary Assyrian churches, though there are other Syriac churches, including the Maronites in Lebanon.

In spite of pressures from other groups, the Assyrians have preserved their Christian way of life. Although the lingua franca throughout the Middle East became Arabic, the Assyrians preserved their own language, speaking a form of Aramaic, the language Christ spoke. Retaining what they had been taught by the apostles, the Nestorian church was a thriving missionary church, and by the twelfth century, it had reached into China, Korea, Japan and the Philippines. By the mid-thirteenth century, however, only a small remnant of what had once been a large outreach remained in Iraq. In an effort to rid the area of Christianity, an army nearly eradicated the Assyrians.

Even so, Assyrian Christians have continued to practice their faith throughout history. Descendants of Mesopotamians, many continue to live in their ancestral homeland – a region that now spans northern Iraq, northwestern Iran, southeastern Turkey and northeastern Syria. Though there are many Assyrian communities located elsewhere, those in this area have faced extraordinary difficulties. In 1914, Turkish nationalists massacred about 750,000 Assyrians. But this would not be the last time Assyrians would face genocide. Following the formation of Iraq in 1933, Iraqi soldiers murdered more than 3,000 Assyrian villagers in Simele. And with events now occurring in Syria and Iraq, the Assyrians may well be facing another genocide.

I am amazed at how the Assyrian people have not given up hope. Although they have endured centuries of persecution, the Assyrian people remain true to Christ and boldly defended themselves. This was illustrated to me when 19 of the more than 200 hostages taken in February were released. One family refused to leave, because IS militants were keeping their 6-year-old daughter, Mariana. After two days, IS finally gave in, and she was released. What a cause for celebration! As much of her community celebrates with her, some Assyrians continue to fight off IS militants for the villages where the apostles of Christ first established a people willing to follow Christ, no matter the cost.

Sources: Assyrian International News Agency, Rutgers Center for Study of Genocide and Human Rights, Nestorian.org

“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.

The Real Saint Patrick

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, a day Americans focus on good luck and all things Irish. But most of those celebrating don't know that the man for whom this day is named was a Christian persecuted because of his Christian actions.

The following comes from "A Note from the Author to Parents and Educators" that is included in The Story of St. Patrick: More Than Shamrocks and Leprechauns, a book for children published by VOM that tells the true story of St. Patrick’s Day.

Many celebrate Saint Patrick's Day on March 17th and hang pictures of shamrocks and mythical creatures called leprechauns. But who was St. Patrick, and why do we celebrate his life on this day?

Patrick lived a full life, but not without his share of suffering and adventure. He was born in Britain, in the fourth century A.D., during a time of great uncertainty for the Roman Empire. The Roman legions that once protected civilized Britain from barbaric invaders were called away to defend themselves in other regions of the Roman Empire. Therefore, Britain was left vulnerable to attacks.

Just before Patrick turned 16 years of age, he and his family were at their holiday villa by the sea, located outside the town of Bannaventa Berniae when Irish  pirates attacked it just before dawn. (Some say the villa was attacked during the day while Patrick played on the beach. Although Patrick's family escaped, Patrick and many of the family's workers did not; and soon they were en route to Ireland, where Patrick was sold as a slave to Miliuc of Slemich, a Druid tribal chieftain.

Patrick was given the task of a herdsman. Though raised in a Christian home (his father, Calpornius, was a civil magistrate and tax collector, as well as a church deacon), Patrick never made a decision to follow Christ until he was kidnapped and made a slave. In his autobiography called Confessions, Patrick wrote: “…‘the Lord opened my senses to my unbelief,’ so that though late in the day, I might remember my many sins; and accordingly ‘I might turn to the Lord my God with all my heart.’” He also wrote about how his faith in God grew as he prayed to Him while he shepherded the flocks: “But after l had come to Ireland, it was then that I was made to shepherd the flocks day after day, and, as l did so, I would pray all the time, right through the day. More and more the love of God and fear of him grew strong within me, and as my faith grew, so the Spirit became more and more active... In snow, in frost, in rain, I would hardly notice any discomfort, and I was never slack but always full of energy. It is clear to me now, that this was due to. . .the Spirit within me.”

But Patricks devotion to God did not go unnoticed. He soon earned the nickname "Holy Boy" among his fellow slaves.

One night Patrick had a dream, and in it he heard a voice saying do him, "You are right to fast, soon you will be returning to your own country." In another dream he received a response to the first dream, being told, “Come and see where your ship is waiting for you.” At the age of 22, Patrick escaped and traveled 200 miles to the coast of Ireland. Of his long journey across Ireland, he wrote: "I turned on my heel and ran away, leaving behind the man to whom I had been bound for six years. Yet I came away from him in the power of God, for it was he who was guiding my every step for the best. And so I felt not the least anxiety until I reached the ship.

When Patrick approached one of the men on the ship that was on the coast, he asked to board. The seaman scowled at him, so Patrick began to leave when the man called back to him, saying the other men wanted him on board as a passenger. Patrick wrote. "In spite of this, I still hoped that they might come to have faith in Jesus Christ."

The journey by boat was long, including a stop on land where they journeyed for 28 days. After having run out of food, the captain turned to Patrick and challenged him to ask his God for food. Glad to oblige, Patrick responded: "Turn trustingly to the Lord who is my God and put your faith in him with all your heart, because nothing is impossible to him. On this day, he will send us food sufficient for our journey, because for him there is abundance everywhere." According to Patrick’s autobiography, when the men turned around, a herd of pigs was standing before them. They feasted for days and gave thanks to God.

Two years later Patrick finally made it to his beloved Britain and into the arms of his mother and father who pled with him never to leave them again. Patrick began to settle back into his life in Britain and studied to become a priest and bishop. But one night Patrick had a dream of a man who seemed to come from Ireland and was carrying a letter with the words “The Voice of the Irish.” As Patrick began to read the words, he seemed to hear the voice of the same men he worked with as if they were shouting, “Holy broth of a boy, we beg you, come back and walk once more among us.”

But Patrick's plans to return to Ireland—the land of his captivity—were fiercely opposed by both his parents and the church leaders who, by the way, did not think the Druids were worth saving. His family shuddered at the thought of him returning to barbaric Ireland with the gospel, as the Druids were known to weave criminals and runaway  slaves into giant wicker baskets and suspend them over a fire. Of this opposition Patrick later wrote; “So at last I came here to the Irish gentiles to preach the gospel. And now I had to endure insults from unbelievers, to ‘hear criticism of my journeys’ and suffer many persecutions ‘even to the point of chains.’…And should I prove worthy, I am ready and willing to give up my own life, without hesitation, for his name…There was always someone talking behind my back and whispering, ‘Why does he want to put himself in such danger among his enemies who do not know God?’” Patrick had to sell his title of nobility in order to become the “slave of Christ serving the barbaric nation.”

While Patrick was in Ireland, he shared the gospel with his former slave owner, Miliuc the Druid. But instead of turning his back on his pagan gods, Miliuc locked himself in his house and set it on fire while Patrick stood outside the house and pled with him to turn to Christ. It is said Miliuc drowned out Patrick’s pleadings by crying out to his false gods.

But Miliuc's refusal to hear the gospel was just the beginning of Patrick’s challenges with the Druids as he spread the gospel across Ireland and taught the people how to read and write. One story that some believe is legend mentions Patrick challenging the Druid wizards in 433 A.D., on the vernal equinox, which occurred on Easter Sunday that year. Patrick challenged the wizards' power of control by starting a bonfire, which was central to the Druids’ ritual, on a hillside opposite of the barbaric idol-worshippers. Patrick was dragged before the Druid council where he had the opportunity to share about Jesus, the light of the world. Some Druids believed, and others tried to kill him.

Patrick continued his journey across Ireland. He preached at racetracks and other places of worldly indulgences, seeing many come to Christ. However, this was not without opposition. The Druids often tried to poison him. One time a barbarian warrior speared Patrick’s chariot driver to death in an attempt to kill Patrick. He was often ambushed at his evangelistic events, and it is noted that he was enslaved again for a short time. He had to purchase safe passage through a hostile warlord's land in order to continue on his journey. Another time Patrick and his companions were taken as prisoners and were going to be killed, but they were later released. In Confessions, Patrick wrote, “As every day arrives, I expect either sudden death or deception or being taken back as a slave or some such other misfortune. But I fear none of these, since I look to the promise of heaven and have flung myself into the hands of the all-powerful God, who rules as Lord everywhere.”

Patrick journeyed throughout Ireland, sharing Christ until his death on March 17th, around the year 461 A.D. Later Irish mythological creatures known as leprechauns would creep into the holiday celebrations, as well as the symbol of the shamrock, believed to have been used by Patrick to illustrate the Trinity as he preached and taught. Some legends have circulated stating Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. Since there are no snakes in Ireland and snakes often symbolize the devil and evil, many believe the "snakes" were a metaphor representing his work of driving the idol-worshipping Druid cult out of the country.

Enslavement, torture, imprisonment and death for one's faith in Christ were not confined to Patrick’s lifetime. Today Christians in communist nations like China, Vietnam and Cuba are imprisoned if caught sharing the gospel with fellow countrymen. In Sudan, a Christian boy named Demare was kidnapped by militant Muslims and sold as a slave. And in Vietnam, when members of some tribal groups have come to Christ, they destroy the altars used to pray to their dead ancestors. When fellow villagers and even members of the government hear about this, these new believers in Christ are harassed and some even imprisoned for turning away from their empty religions of idol and ancestor worship.

We may never be enslaved, imprisoned or beaten because of our faith in Christ, but many may make fun of us for believing in Jesus’ promise of heaven and placing our faith in a God they do not see with their eyes and cannot touch with their hands. I pray this version of Patrick’s courageous life will inspire you to stand firm in Christ and stand strong for Him as you tell others about the greatest gift we can ever be given—salvation through Jesus!

In Appreciation of Those Serving on “The Front Lines”

I am writing this post from Erbil, Iraq, where I had the opportunity to meet with Christians from across Northern Iraq. One brother recently told our team: “These are not refugees, they are our relatives!”

I met with some of our family members in a mall which has been converted into a refugee center. VOM has been able to stand with the Christians and to help meet some of their basic needs. I met others near the top of a remote mountain where they’re serving and reaching out to others, and I met with “relatives” in empty warehouses which VOM has been able to convert into “homes” for these dear families.

I sat in a dark refugee apartment, with no power, poring over Scripture with a flashlight. I worshiped with over 100 brave believers in an above-ground church, 24 hours after an ISIS attack less than 30 miles away from their building.

During almost every one of these encounters, I was met with gratitude. People would walk over to me, grab my hand, and with broad smiles, they would say “Thank you.”

On several occasions, I found myself naturally responding, “No, thank you!”

Following a ministry visit, the Apostle Paul highlighted three specific men and thanked them for refreshing him: “For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men” (1 Corinthians 16:18).

I want to publicly thank the Christians in Iraq today, our family members who are serving on what we call “the front line.” I pause, on behalf of all of us, to say “thank you” to our Iraqi family:

To Our Dear Iraqi Sisters and Brothers,

Thank you for standing strong for your faith.

Thank you for being an example for the rest of us.

Thank you for refreshing us by sharing how God has refreshed you.

Thank you for being willing to give up everything to follow Jesus, and for reminding us that He is worth it.

We thank God for you and your faithfulness.

We don’t want to turn our back on you; we don’t want to leave any of our family members behind.

We want to pull each other up. We want to draw strength from your victories, and to learn from your examples.

Together, we will keep our eyes fixed on the distant horizon, knowing that God is with us and he will never leave us or forsake us!

Sincerely,
Your Brothers and Sisters in America

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 and Indonesia. He and his wife, Kimberly, along with their five children, count it a great honor to serve with the persecuted church.