Persecution Blog

Aid for Iraqi Christians

Iraqi Christians who fled their homes in 2014 after the ISIS invasion of Mosul left everything behind. Even the formerly wealthy are now mostly destitute. Though they are receiving flour, oil and other staples, they are not given any vegetables or fruit.

VOM workers recognize this as a dangerous health situation long-term, and are working to provide families with fresh fruit and vegetables to keep them healthy.

You can give online to support VOM's work standing with Christians facing Islamic Extremism.

Colombia Pastors Find Blessing at VOM Conference

One of the ways The Voice of the Martyrs ministers to pastors in hostile and restricted nations is providing opportunities for fellowship, encouragement and training at Pastors Conferences. Our staff filed this video report of a recent pastors conference held for pastors working in the "Red Zones" of Colombia.

 

You can give online to help VOM serve pastors and other front-line workers in hostile and restricted nations.

Day of Prayer Resources Available Now

The first Sunday in November (this year it falls on November 1st) is the day Christians around the world stand together in prayer for their persecuted brothers and sisters.

The Voice of the Martyrs is offering a free 5-minute video, Suta, to introduce IDOP and encourage your church to engage with our brothers and sisters in some of the most hostile nations toward Christ.

Suta is the story of a faithful young man who returns to a village where he had been threatened for sharing the gospel. Though he is nearly killed, his actions have a profound effect on one of the men who attacked him.

 

VOM also offers other resources to help you and your church join in fellowship with our persecuted brothers and sisters. The resources are designed to encourage members of your church, Sunday school class or small group as you observe IDOP Sunday. Browse the available resources (both printed pieces and downloads), and build a custom kit that fits your needs.

Story Looks at Persecution in Eritrea

The Voice of the Martyrs media spokesman Todd Nettleton was recently interviewed by Mission Network News for a story about persecution of Christians in Eritrea:

Eritrea (MNN) — An op-ed piece came out recently asking, “Is Eritrea the ‘North Korea’ of Africa?”

It’s a thought-provoking question. Eritrea is a small nation in the Horn of Africa, with less than 6 million people, blamed for being one of the world’s biggest providers of refugees. The question is: Why are Eritreans fleeing?

It could be due to the struggling economy. It could be because President Isaias Afewerki keeps Eritrea on a permanent war-footing to guard against the potential of Ethiopia trying to re-conquer Eritrea. It could be fear. It could be all of the above.

There are similarities between the reclusive nations, but is it an accurate comparison? Todd Nettleton, spokesman for The Voice of the Martyrs--USA, doesn’t think so. However, the point might not be accuracy, but context. “Most people in America have no clue where Eritrea is. They couldn’t find it on a map, and they don’t know anything about it. They do, however, know at least a little bit about North Korea and about how closed it is. So, if you say, ‘It’s like North Korea,’ it gives people a frame of reference to say, ‘Wow! It must really be bad for Christians.’”

The United Nations released data that supports what Nettleton is saying. The UN Human Rights Council claims that Eritrean authorities may have committed crimes against humanity. Neighbors and family members are often persuaded to inform on each other; sexual slavery and enforced labor are commonplace; and “systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations have been and are being committed in Eritrea under the authority of the Government.”

If that’s what it’s like for the “average” citizen, what is it like for religious minorities? Persecution watchdog groups like the Voice of the Martyrs, Open Doors, and Amnesty International say it’s an untenable situation for Christians. Since they are considered a threat to the state, they are treated like criminals. Add to that a growing sympathy toward Islamic extremism, and things get really rough.

Christians face dreadful conditions in prison: sometimes prison cells are shipping containers in the desert.   Christians face physical torture, hard labor, emotional torture, insufficient food, insufficient hygiene, and insufficient medical care. At least 22 Christians have died while being detained under these conditions.

Any time stories like this get published, strong opposition is expressed, often with accusations of inaccuracy and outright lying. Nettleton responds that in his experience, dissent comes from someone connected to the Eritrean government, someone who is obstructing the results from things like the UN fact-finding missions, or someone who is willfully ignoring what’s going on.

“Anything that you hear or read that says. ‘No, Eritrea is a free nation. Christians are free and can do whatever they want,’ that is factually untrue, and really, laughable, when you understand the situation on the ground: Christians, even at weddings, will be rounded up and arrested; Christians [are] literally disappearing–no charges, no trial.”

Nettleton says the People of the Cross in Eritrea haven’t given up hope. “They understand that this is not an easy place to follow Christ, and yet they are willingly following Christ, continuing to minister, continuing to reach out.”

During his last visit to Eritrea, Nettleton met with the remnant Church–some of whom have been arrested and jailed since he was there. Moved by their sacrifice and commitment to the Gospel, he asked, ‘What can we do to help?’ Their first request was, ‘Pray for us.’”

Praise God for those Eritrean Christians who have managed to escape and share their stories with the West! Pray that their stories will inspire Christians to pray for Eritrea. Ask God to further the Gospel in this very young, African nation.

Please pray for Christians in Eritrea, especially those imprisoned for their faith. You can also listen to a VOM Radio interview with a formerly-imprisoned Eritrean Christian.

"God Had Their Back"

Jesus told his disciples to "Go into all the world." He didn’t say it would be easy.

Verne and Denny Johnson have experienced the joy of seeing people come to Christ while serving as missionaries in Ivory Coast. But they’ve also experienced dark days. They watched their children almost die from malaria. War forced them to evacuate their home and leave the people they loved.

But God even used those dark times to bring blessings into their lives, and to open the door for further ministry. Listen as Verne and Denny share their story, and share specific ways for you to pray for missionaries and gospel workers around the world.

 

You can also access all episodes of VOM Radio as a podcast. Visit the VOM Radio web site at www.VOMRadio.net. 

Nepal: Religious Freedom Tested

Today in Nepal, a Christian woman can legally share her faith and a Hindu man can openly give his life to Christ.

However, their right to do these things could soon vanish. If a draft for a new constitution is approved, Nepal could move from a secular state to a Hindu state and Christians caught in these activities could be arrested.

“Current updates indicate that Nepal will most likely remain a secular state, but nothing is absolute certain until the constitution comes out,” said a VOM partner in the country. “Many are still pushing for language in the constitution that would make conversion or sharing ones beliefs illegal, and in some parts of the country, traditionalists cling to cultural values that pose a threat to religious freedom.”

A vote on the new constitution – originally drafted in 2008 after a 240-year-old Hindu monarchy was abolished and Nepal was declared a secular republic – has been repeatedly delayed. However, as the country continues to rebuild from two devastating earthquakes that killed nearly 9,000 people earlier this year, many are wanting a new constitution quickly.

Nepali citizens have protested the draft’s proposal for the creation of federal states, while critics globally have decried the draft’s restrictions on religious freedom, specifically clause 3 of Article 31. It reads, ”In exercising the right entrusted by this article, any act which may be contrary to public health, public decency or morality or incitement to breach public peace or act to convert another person from one religion to another or any act or behavior to undermine or jeopardize the religion of each other is not allowed and such act shall be punishable by law.”

If implemented, this would make it illegal to change one’s religion, to share one’s religion or even explain one’s religion. To pass, it would need to be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Constituent Assembly. Once that is reached, the speaker of the assembly would sign the new constitution and it would be presented to the country in an official ceremony led by the president.

“It is not certain yet whether the constitution will be promulgated, and if it does not come out then many people expect heightened tensions and even violence in the country,” the partner said. “Pray for peace in Nepal and for the Constituent Assembly, and for political parties to reach agreements during this time.”

Regardless of what happens, it will likely remain shameful for a family member to become a Christian in many parts of Nepal. Since converts can no longer participate in family traditions that go against Biblical teaching, family members are often ostracized from their communities, sometimes even kicked out of their home.

In addition to this, police don’t always enforce religious freedom laws.

“Maybe in Kathmandu they have laws about religious freedom, but here we have our own laws,” a local police officer in west Nepal recently said. “You cannot share your beliefs here.”

“Persecution of Christians will most likely continue in Nepal, so please pray against the heightened amount of anti-Christian rhetoric and the increase in persecution from Hindu fanatical groups,” Our VOM partner added. “Pray for perseverance for the believers who are the only Christian in their family, and for those who have been rejected for their faith by family and friends.”

Source: VOM Sources, World Watch Monitor

Exterminating Christians

There was a time when Christians would complain that we were ignored or misrepresented by mainstream media. That is no longer entirely true. The events in this world are so explicitly clear regarding the persecution of Christians that it is nearly impossible to ignore it, mainstream or backwater media. The idea, I suppose, was that in the past Christianity was so dominant in our culture that it was getting a lot of attention and now it is time to turn our attention to other religions, cults, and bizarre organizations in order to be equitable. But world events have not cooperated with this new attitude and mainstream media is forced to report the targeting of Christians for violence in many parts of the world. Unfortunately, it is taking radical acts of violence against Christians to get Christianity back into the news.

One has heard the rantings of the leader of Boko Haram against Christians (he said that Christians should know that Jesus is not God and that they were trying to coerce Christians to embrace Islam) and even that has taken second place to the new and more demonic threat of ISIS. A recent Wall Street Journal article titled “Exterminating Christians in the Middle East” states that ISIS is targeting Christians just because they are Christians. The writer, Robert R. Reilly who directs the Westminster Institute in McLean, Virginia, notes that ISIS is placing the Arabic letter “N” (meaning Nazarene or the follower of the Nazarene) on the homes of Christians with the intention of wiping the earth clean of Christians. The goal is genocide. They are not hiding the fact. It is being explicitly stated.

An article on the website of the American Center for Law and Justice titled “The Systematic Killing of Christians Continues” by Edward White reports:

“With growing frequency we are seeing the persecution and mass murder of Christians in Africa and the Middle East by radical Muslims, in particular, ISIS and Boko Haram, who are aligned. Christians who refuse to convert to Islam or pay a special tax (jizya) and acknowledge their subjugation to Muslims are being beheaded, crucified, shot, and burned alive. Female Christians are being raped, forced to convert to Islam, and placed into slavery. Christian Churches are being burned to the ground.”

This is hard to ignore, and fortunately it is not being ignored. Christians by the hundreds of thousands have fled their homes and are now refugees, along with many who are not Christians. Many have been killed or are living in desperate situations—men, women, and children.

How are people responding? One front line worker who serves the persecuted Christians in the Middle East is seeing the gospel spread, and people who are not Christians but still subject to the violence, coming to Christ among the Syrian and Iraqi refugees (read story). VOM is seeking to meet the needs of these refugees by helping to provide for the basic needs of people who left their homes with nothing, fleeing from the ravages of merciless invaders.

Thank you for those who have helped to make these resources possible. 

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.

North Korean Media Calls Out VOM

One of VOM's ongoing projects to reach North Korea with the gospel, in cooperation with our sister mission in Seoul, South Korea, is the launch of "Scripture Balloons," which float across the border and drop gospel leaflets and whole New Testaments into North Korea.

The project is clearly hitting its mark! Recently North Korean state media specifically mentioned VOM's balloon efforts. Here is a blog post from our sister mission in South Korea:

North Korea's state media (KCNA) released a statement condemning us by name ("Voice of Martyr") for our accurate and "tricky" balloon launches into North Korea this year. They even noted the dates of our launches and the locations where our Bibles landed, which we of course already knew because of our use of GPS technology. KCNA references our use of "e-media," noting that we send the Bible in both printed and electronic forms.

The KCNA report follows.

[Translation note: When NK uses the term "Riff-raffs" they are typically referring to North Korean defectors--in this case, our Underground University and Underground Technology students who are proud members of our organization and balloon launch ministry.]

Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) -- The south Korean puppet forces have reached an extreme phase in their leaflet-scattering operations against the DPRK.

Riff-raffs affiliated to the Voice of Martyr, a puppet die-hard conservative organization in south Korea, scattered by use of balloons anti-DPRK leaflets over areas in the DPRK from the area of Hapsu-ri in Jung-myon of Ryonchon County, Kyonggi Province on July 24.

Similar operations were conducted by other south Korean die-hard conservative bodies in the area of Aegibong, Jogang-ri, Wolgot-myon in Kimpho City, Kyonggi Province on July 27 and in the area of Rodongdangsa, Jung-ri, Cholwon County of south Korean Kangwon Province on July 31.

Entering August, the puppet forces have got zealous in scattering anti-DPRK leaflets and various kinds of undesirable e-media as evidenced by their scattering operations on August 5, 6 and 7. They conducted 3 to 5 operations in June and 9 operations in July.

They are getting trickier in fixing time and locations for their scattering operations against the DPRK.

In view of this critical situation, the frontline combined units of the Korean People's Army released an open statement on August 14.

What is more serious is that the die-hard conservative bodies have conducted anti-DPRK leaflet-scattering operations with the tacit connivance of the south Korean regime and military, the statement said, and went on:

The south Korean puppet joint chiefs of staff named the anti-DPRK leaflet scattering operations of the non-governmental reactionary organizations "balloon operations", gave an "order" to all frontline guard units and artillery units to "tighten vigilance against the north" and "get ready to open fire."

The operations for massively scattering anti-DPRK leaflets and undesirable e-media that have spilt over to the whole area along the military demarcation line are an open declaration of a war against the DPRK.

If one side mobilizes forces while conducting a psychological warfare against its opponent, that just leads to a total war.

Now that such large-scale joint military drills as Ulji Freedom Guardian are close at hand, the Park Geun Hye group has launched such a large-scale psychological warfare as leaflet-scattering operations. This clearly proves that the north-south relations have been plunged into the state of a war, in actuality.

The puppet forces should not forget even a moment that the whole of south Korea might turn into a sea of fire due to the foolhardy leaflet scattering operations.

There is a limit to the patience of the frontline soldiers of the KPA.

Please pray for North Koreans to come to know Christ, and for the safety of our workers and partners helping to deliver these vital gospel resources. You can read the original VOM-Korea blog post here.