Persecution Blog

IDOP: Suta

This Sunday churches around the world will be praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters as part of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Many of those churches will share the story of Suta, a story that reminds us to pray not only for persecuted Christians, but for their persecutors as well.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you"  ~Matthew 5:43-44

Here is Suta's story. Learn more and find downloadable resources to help you and your church or Sunday School class pray at www.Persecution.com/IDOP.

 

Wurmbrand on Prison

“Prison was hard, terrible, but it would be wrong to say that it was only hard and terrible. It had its beautiful side and, at times, the joys we had in prison were such that I wouldn’t have changed places with Queen Elizabeth.”

—VOM Founder, Richard Wurmbrand (1909 – 2001), in a talk given in New York in 1966

A Song We Sing With Our Lives

I recently returned from an iCommit conference hosted in the state of Washington. While there I heard a young man named Gilbert Hovsepain share his testimony. Gilbert is one of the sons of Rev. Haik Hovsepian, who was martyred in 1994 in Iran. The documentary A Cry From Iran , tells the story of Rev. Haik and his family.

Gilbert began his testimony that morning by making a statement about the “song we sing with our lives.” Since that day I have rolled those words over many times in my mind. It has led me to ponder, — what song is my life singing?

I believe we greatly error when we listen to the stories of our brothers and sisters who have suffered for Christ from afar. When we filter their living testimonies through the lenses of "us" and "them." For the follower of Jesus Christ, it has never been us and them. It is us and Him. The genuine lives of our persecuted family draw us closer to the cross — in a reformed unity. Together we are one voice in harmony with  the heart of God.

There is a beauty in martyrdom that can only be viewed through spiritual eyes. Victorious shouts that reverberate throughout the heavens. A crowd of witnesses cheering the martyrs on to the finish line. A homecoming celebration for those who have overcome. My heart is filled with joy as I imagine those who spent their time on earth as persecutors, now won to Christ by a the songs of love. Once on opposite sides — now family.

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 5:7 NLT

The entry fee to join the voices of those who suffer is simple, yet costly — we must enter into the fellowship of their suffering. The Message Bible’s introduction to the book of Job describes this fellowship eloquently.

“So, instead of continuing to focus on preventing suffering — which we simply won’t be very successful at anyway — perhaps we should begin entering the suffering, participating insofar as we are able — entering the mystery and looking around for God. In other words, we need to quit feeling sorry for people who suffer and instead look up to them, learn from them and if they will let us — join them in protest and prayer.” – Eugene H. Peterson

One way to enter the fellowship of suffering is to join the chorus of those who will remember our persecuted family in prayer on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted church . This coming Sunday voices from all over the globe will share in remembering and praying for our persecuted family.

One of those we can remember to pray for is Farshid Fathi of Iran. Farshid was arrested in December of 2010 and remains in prison till this day. You can read more about Farshid’s story and portions of letters he has written from prison at Prisoner Alert. Farshid’s witness was the inspiration for the song titled A Letter From Prison, written and preformed by his friend Gilbert Hosvepian.

 

May our hearts never be satisfied with being on the sidelines. May we be a chorus of surrender alongside of our persecuted family. May our lives be melodies of living sacrifice. May we be a song of love for both those who suffer and those who persecute.      

They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Revelation 6:10 ESV

Tami Yeager was first introduced to the ministry of VOM through a newsletter she was handed in 2003. As she began to read the stories shared within those pages she was confronted with a reality that did not fit into the package she had unknowingly wrapped her knowledge of God in. As she began to learn of the suffering of Christians around the world a desire grew to serve them. Today she serves as volunteer Community Coordinator in the VOM Voice ministry. This post originally appeared on her personal blog.

Elephants and Rabbits

I really like elephants. I have spent hours riding on the backs of elephants in different countries, and I am always amazed by their sheer strength and mass. Riding atop an elephant makes many people feel like a king. Other riders are too distracted by the sheer terror of the experience to spend much time reflecting at all!

Elephants are noteworthy animals. It is difficult for an elephant to sneak up on a human. It also takes a significant amount of time for an elephant to reproduce. They are strong, but slow.

A worker serving in Afghanistan recently shared a comparison which is worthy of reflection. As his children raised rabbits in Afghanistan, they noted several characteristics of rabbits that apply to churches in many of the countries we serve.

1. Rabbits move fast. Rabbits are able to get into places that elephants can’t reach. Their small size enables them to congregate in areas that are difficult to find, and to quickly run away when threatened. Many of our brothers and sisters have been forced to quickly relocate and to establish new meeting places.

2. Rabbits spend much of their lives in hiding. Rabbits are vulnerable to larger prey. They have to be alert and responsive to emerging threats. Their “footprint” is small, but effective. Many of our persecuted family members are also vulnerable.

3. Rabbits reproduce quickly. The exponential growth of a rabbit family is staggering! Rabbits are able to quickly extend their reach because of their aggressive birth rates. In fact, sometimes, the sudden growth of a rabbit population presents a real challenge to other systems. In similar fashion, entire systems, like Communism, have been altered by the growth of house church networks within a given country.

I thank God for the beautiful diversity of his Bride. He calls each one of us to faithfully live out our calling—no matter where we have been sent. Different contexts demand different strategies.

Many American churches are large, strong and able to deeply penetrate their communities. Like elephants, people take notice when they are in the area. These churches have a remarkable ability to reach and disciple people of all ages. Their capacity to enable effective proclamation around the world, and in their own back yard, is noteworthy and commendable.

In other contexts, rabbit-like churches are able to flourish, even in the midst of persecution.

In both cases, churches should share the characteristics of rabbits as they reproduce disciples, who are…

Reproducing disciples, who are…

Reproducing disciples, who are…

Reproducing disciples, who are…

Reproducing disciples, who…you get the idea.

As you pray for our Front-line workers, remember that these leaders are often able to reach places and people where we are unable to go, to thrive in the midst of their vulnerability, and to quickly reproduce disciples.

Ultimately, my friend who serves in Afghanistan asked us all to pray this Scripture-based prayer:

“Lord, you are worthy because you were slain and with your blood you purchased your Bride from every tribe, nation, language and people group. May the Lamb who was slain receive the reward of his suffering among the Pashtuns and every tribe, nation, language and people group. Amen.”

Dr. Jason Peters serves as Associate Vice President of Connection for The Voice of the Martyrs and travels frequently to meet with our persecuted sisters and brothers. He has ministered in 40 countries, as diverse as Cuba, India, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia and Nigeria. Jason ministered as a military chaplain for more than 18 years, with assignments at the Pentagon, the US Air Force Academy and as a faculty member of the Air Force Chaplain Corps College, where he directed Crisis and Trauma training. Jason and his wife Kimberly lived overseas for several years, where two of their five children were born.

VOM Radio: God Is at Work in Iran

The Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 promised great things for the Iranian people. The mullahs that took over the nation promised an Islamic paradise on earth. More than 35 years later, Iran’s people have lost hope in their government, and in the religion it upholds.

Dr. Hormoz Shariat speaks daily to millions of Iranians through satellite television. He shares the hope of Jesus with a nation that has lost hope in their Islamic government, and he sees great waves of people who have rejected Islam now embracing Jesus, the Savior.

This week on VOM Radio, Pastor Hormoz shares exciting things God is doing in Iran and challenges Christians in the United States to be as committed to our God as radical Muslims in the Middle East are committed to theirs.

 

You can also subscribe to VOM Radio as a podcast.

Nine Fingers

Several years ago, I was working at an Illinois grocery store on a particularly cold and snowy day in February where everyone was asking the baggers to load their groceries in their car. As I waited for customers, I protected myself from the cold by standing inside a small heated alcove. The automatic door to the alcove was broken and I had to push it open by hand.

As I exited, the door slammed shut on my finger. I barely noticed the pain at first, but after a while, the glove I was wearing became soaked in blood. Though it wasn’t broken, my finger often throbbed and made it difficult to write or do usual tasks. As my finger healed over the next few weeks, I compensated for the pain by switching hands.

Recently, the leaders of the International Christian Association (ICA), of which VOM is a member, gathered. Each of these ICA member missions was founded after hearing VOM founder Pastor Richard Wurmbrand speak of his experiences as a believer under communism. ICA members meet annually to encourage one another to continue helping persecuted Christians around the world. I had the privilege to listen to leaders share about the work being done in Nigeria, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Pakistan.

One speaker exhorted us to remember that we are all part of one body, reminding us that when one part of the body suffers, we all suffer. He held out his hand and told a story of smashing his thumb in a car door. With smashed fingers, it is hard to work without thinking about the pain. As the body of Christ, we should feel the pain of one suffering member just as acutely as though it was our own body that is in pain. We help one another when someone is sick or suffering.

This month, in our October newsletter, we wrote about a Christian pregnant woman who was fleeing the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq when she was stopped at a checkpoint. The ISIS soldier demanded the woman’s wedding ring. She tried to remove it, but her pregnancy-swollen finger would not release the ring. Instead, the ISIS member cut off her finger and took the ring.

The pain of my own smashed finger is still fresh, and this woman literally lost her finger. This sister is one of the many who are still suffering because of their Christian faith. Are we remembering their pain and suffering alongside them? When one part of the body of Christ suffers, we all suffer.

“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.

Janet Parshall Interview About Persecution, IDOP

VOM's Todd Nettleton was a guest yesterday on In the Market With Janet Parshall, aired nationally on Moody Radio.

Todd and Janet discussed the upcoming International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, and reasons why every church should be involved in praying for our persecuted family. They also discussed Todd's recent visit to South Asia and some of the Christians he met there and the different forms of persecution they face.

You can listen to the entire interview here (a new window will open in your browser. Fast forward to the 27:00 mark in the file to hear the beginning of the interview.)

VOM Radio: Part of God's Plan in Sri Lanka

Those who come to Christ in Sri Lanka—especially in rural areas—face challenges and trials from Buddhist or Hindu family members or village leaders. Sometimes the challenges are extreme: church buildings torn down, Christians beaten and even martyred for their faith.

Yet God is at work: even with persecution the church in Sri Lanka is growing. Rev. Godfrey Yogarajah, the leader of the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka, is in a unique position to tell us about both the exciting growth in the Sri Lankan church and the persecution that our brothers and sisters there are facing, and how they prepare to stand strong even in the midst of persecution. You’ll meet him this week on VOM Radio.

 

You can also access all episodes of VOM Radio as a podcast.

Iraqi Christian Safely Home

VOM recently shared the story of Abu Fadi, a Christian from Mosul who fled ISIS in August 2014, in our October newsletter. We are sorry to tell you that Abu Fadi passed away last night from complications due to diabetes and high blood pressure.

However, we are also thankful to say that Abu Fadi was recently baptized, showing his full commitment to Jesus Christ, even after losing everything because he was a Christian. A VOM worker said, “Praise the Lord for his recent baptism and the pure joy he had in his life these past few months.”

Thank God that Abu Fadi is at rest with Jesus, and please lift up his wife and their family as they mourn his passing.

Middle East Christian Broadcaster Under Pressure

Editor's note: Sat-7 partnered with VOM in the translation and/or broadcasting of JESUS: He Lived Among Us in Arabic, Farsi and Turkish. We received the following report and prayer request this week from our friends at Middle East Concern. Please pray for the staff and leadership of Sat-7 as they face this pressure.

Our prayers have been requested for a leading Christian broadcaster in the Middle East after legal proceedings were initiated by the Egyptian government targeting their operations in Egypt.

On 10th October officers from the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology's Censorship Department came to the Egypt studios of Christian satellite TV broadcaster SAT-7. The officers presented a search warrant and proceeded to confiscate cameras and other equipment. They took the Office Director Mr Farid Samir to the local police station. The police agreed to release Mr Samir following the intervention of Egyptian church leaders, but he was ordered to attend the Prosecutor's Office on 11th October.

During a two-hour hearing on 11th October charges were brought against Mr Samir relating to incorrect registration of a TV channel, failure to hold licences for certain editing activities and failure to comply with regulations concerning live streaming of broadcasts on the internet. Mr Samir and the lawyers acting on SAT-7's behalf refuted these charges. It was demonstrated that the Censorship Department's report contained factual errors and evidence was presented to confirm that SAT-7's registration and licences are in good order.

Mr Samir has been released pending further discussions between the Prosecutor and the Censorship Department. The Prosecutor will then determine whether the case should proceed to court, or whether it should be dismissed. This is expected to take up to two weeks.

The police will continue to hold the confiscated equipment pending a final decision. This will cause significant disruption to SAT-7's activities in Egypt. SAT-7 emphasises that one of its key aims is to promote peaceful co-existence in the Middle East through fostering bridges of understanding between different faith communities.

Those close to SAT-7 ask us to pray that:

a. Mr Samir and his family will know the protection of the Father and the presence and peace of Jesus b. Mr Samir, together with other SAT-7 leaders and legal representatives, will know the Spirit's wisdom in all their interactions with the authorities c. the prosecutor will drop this case, and that there would be no further harassment of SAT-7 or other Christian broadcasters in Egypt d. disruption to SAT-7's broadcasting operations will be minimal, and that SAT-7 and other Christian broadcasters will have boldness and wisdom as they proclaim  the Christian message and promote peaceful co-existence in the Middle East