Persecution Blog

"The First Half of My Life Ended on February 29, 1948..."

Today is leap day, and it also marks the anniversary of Richard Wurmbrand's arrest by communist secret police in Romania. In honor of this date we share two excerpts from Richard's book, In God's Underground:

The first half of my life ended on February 29, 1948. I was walking alone down a street in Bucharest when a black Ford car braked sharply beside me and two men jumped out. They seized my arms and thrust me into the back seat, while a third man beside the driver kept me covered with a pistol. The car sped through the thin traffic of a Sunday evening; then, on a street called Calea Rahova, we turned in through steel gates. I heard them clang behind us.

My kidnappers belonged to the Communist Secret Police. This was their headquarters. Inside, my papers, my belongings, my tie and shoelaces, and finally my name were taken from me. “From now on,” said the official on duty, “you are Vasile Georgescu.”

It was a common name. The authorities did not want even the guards to know whom they were watching, in case questions should be asked abroad, where I was well known. I was to disappear, like so many others, without a trace.

_ _ _ _ _

I knew that I faced questioning, ill-treatment, possibly years of imprisonment and death, and I wondered if my faith was strong enough. I remembered then that in the Bible it is written 366 times—once for every day of the year—“Don’t be afraid!”: 366 times, not merely 365, to account for leap year. And this was February 29—a coincidence that told me I need not fear!

You can order your copy of In God's Underground here.

VOM Radio Receives National Award

Today at the National Religious Broadcasters convention The Voice of the Martyrs Radio was honored as Radio Program of the Year.

When I found out about the award I started worrying about what I would say. Trying to talk in front of a room full of professional communicators is intimidating! Then I found out that they present the awards at a luncheon at NRB, and none of the award recipients says anything. Whew!

So I didn’t have to say anything at the lunch. But if I had said anything, this is what I hope I would have said:

I am thankful to the NRB for this recognition, and I accept it not only on behalf of The Voice of the Martyrs but also on behalf of countless Christians around the world who boldly serve Jesus in spite of suffering and persecution…and who do it with a smile on their face and a deep Godly joy in their hearts. It is their stories that we tell each week, and their faithfulness and boldness is our reason to have a radio show.

I’m thankful for their example, and I’m so thankful for the stories that we’ve been allowed to tell on VOM Radio.

• The story of a missionary dad burying his baby son in the frozen soil of Mongolia, but with tears in his eyes and a catch in his voice saying boldly, JESUS IS WORTH IT!
• The story from a gospel worker in Iran of how Christians in their house church ROLE PLAY arrest and interrogation, to practice responding with the love of Christ even to secret police and persecutors.
• JoAnn Doyle talking about washing the feet of Muslim women and seeing Jesus’ love break through the barriers of language and religion and culture to warm the hearts of women she ministers to.
• Gracia Burnham talking about how faithful God has been to her children after the death of their dad in the Philippine jungles.
• Stories of former prisoners for Christ in China and Eritrea. Stories of VOM workers going to hard places and seeing how God is mightily at work in those places. Stories of Muslims coming to know Jesus Christ. Challenges and instruction for American Christians to reach out to Muslims right where we live.

That’s just a tiny sampling of the stories we’ve gotten to tell in the past 18 months.

I’m also thankful to those at VOM that opened the door for me to be involved in VOM Radio. Some of their names I can’t publicize, but some I can. I’ll never forget the day VP of Communications Cheryl Odden came into my office and said, “We want to do a radio show, and we want you to host it!” Thank you, Cheryl, for giving me this amazing opportunity, and for your support in equipping me to do it well.

VP of Connection Jason Peters has continued that support and encouragement. Steve C. helped shape the content early on and has helped reach more stations. VOM’s executive leadership, President Jim Dau and Executive Vice President Cole Richards, have been unwavering and enthusiastic in their support and their willingness to commit resources to help VOM Radio succeed.

Thanks to Steven and David who made VOMRadio.net into a reality, and to David, Tim and Olive who serve as my recording engineers.

Wes Ward of 5Q helped shape the content and helped me feel like I could really do this. Having him—an actual radio professional—say “You are the guy for this” was a huge confidence boost for me. Hugh Duncan has taken on the role of editor this year…which means I don’t have to edit the shows in my office anymore!

Thank you to the radio stations that put us on the air. I’m especially thankful for Renew FM, which was the first network that agreed to air VOM Radio. What a great day that was! Since then many others have agreed to carry VOM Radio and help us share these amazing stories.

Thank you to our listeners, both on radio and via the podcast. I hope that these stories are impacting your faith as you listen. Please send us your feedback.

Finally, I’m thankful to my “home team.” Charlotte is my wife and my number one fan. She’s also my best friend. I could not do what I do without her cheering me on and walking alongside me. Our sons, Kameron and Kedrick, have also been enthusiastically supportive.

God loves persecuted believers. His Word says they are literally too good for this world (Hebrews 11:38)! For a story-teller, what stories could be more important or more impacting to tell? Who wouldn’t want to tell these amazing stories? I can’t believe the people that I get to sit in the studio with!

I consider it a sacred honor and privilege—one I’m not worthy of—that God has allowed me to be a part of telling those stories through VOM Radio.

Todd Nettleton has served with The Voice of the Martyrs for 17 years. He’s traveled 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 principle author of Restricted Nations: North Korea and was part of the writing team for four other VOM books. In 2014 VOM launched a weekly, half-hour radio show with Todd as the host.

Living with Christ in Colombia’s Red Zones

I know theology. They know God.

Recently, I had the privilege and honor of visiting several dear sisters in Christ in Bogota, Colombia, a city which has seen a recent growth in economy and safety and therefore tourism. However, if you leave behind the bustle of modern Bogota, you enter the rural “red zones” where villages and families are caught in the crosshairs of the FARC*, ELN†, and paramilitary groups. We hear so often of ISIS and Boko Haram these days that we forget the cruelty of the FARC’s indiscriminate murder of those that they find useless — those who won’t join their ranks or buy drugs to fund their guerrilla warfare — usually, Christians.

Imagine living in a village where you and your neighbors could be killed if the FARC thought you supported the paramilitary, or vice versa. Trust is difficult. The women I met had lost homes, husbands, and children because of the violence. I sat next to “Milena” as the translator relayed her story. Her tears needed no translation. Her story came out haltingly as she hesitated to open fresh wounds, but when we asked her if God had been with her, the words poured out of her; He had been her comfort and strength in her loss and loneliness.

As I hugged, listened to and prayed for these women, I was struck with the knowledge that I did not know God as they did, despite all the Bible studies, church services, and conferences I’ve been too. Their experience of Him is so much deeper than mine, hence the realization that most of my knowledge of God is theological head knowledge.

After visiting Colombia, I cannot say that I prayed to lose everything I own. I did not walk into my house and ask God to take it all away from me. It is my hope, however, that I am growing to see all that I have as luxuries, not as blessings. Luxuries that I could very easily do without if God asked me if He could take them away.

The world says, “Pursue your own happiness and gain earthly wealth.” Live for luxury.

Christ says, “Find your joy in Me and gain the treasures of heaven.” I’ll let him decide what persecution or suffering I will endure on this life. I am just called to obey, regardless of the cost.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:11-12, emphasis mine)

The real beauty of Colombia isn’t in the modern, mountainous city of Bogota, but the lives of Milena and the others that have learned to count their blessings, not their luxuries. They have the blessing of the knowledge of the Most High God.

*Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia

†National Liberation Army

Leah Grant has worked at The Voice of the Martyrs for the past year and yearns to help those that cannot help themselves. She has done missions work in the Dominican Republic and Colombia, but believes her main purpose is to glorify the Word, Jesus Christ, through the written word. She is a word nerd, a history geek, and enjoys discussing theology with anyone willing to listen to her long-winded ramblings. She ties those three together as often as she can in the stories that she writes in her spare time.

Thank You

Our blog post today comes from a 14-year-old Christian in Kenya who received one of the Christmas Care packs sponsored by a VOM reader, and it comes in his own hand. (For security reasons we have blocked his name.)

Thank you to all who give generously to allow VOM to help Christians like this one.

Chinese Christians: Persecution is "Part of the Package"

For Christians in China, persecution is just "part of the package" for those who follow Christ. Dory, part of VOM's newsletter staff, just returned from China, where she met Christians who face arrest and imprisonment for following Jesus Christ. This week she shares stories from her trip on VOM radio. Listen to hear how:

• One of her meetings with a pastor had to be cancelled because the pastor was arrested before she could meet him
• How a pastor shared after his wife was arrested that they’d been prepared for arrest, but they thought it would be him that was arrested, not his wife
• Dory traced back part of her own family heritage to a martyrs' graveyard in China
• God used the VOM team to provide something to a gospel worker there…a gift that left the worker in tears because it was exactly what he’d prayed for
• God used Dory’s unique background as an MK (missionary kid) to encourage a mission worker

Your faith will be challenged and encouraged as you hear Dory’s stories from China.

 

You can also listen to this and every episode of VOM Radio by subscribing to the VOM Radio podcast.

The Reward of Tenacious Prayer

In Richard Wurmbrand’s book Tortured for Christ he shares the story of an old carpenter whose inner turmoil led him to ask God for a reward; the prize of bringing a Jew to Christ. This carpenter not only knew how to talk to God in prayer — he had the tenacity to ask for a reward.

“My God, I have served you on earth and I wish to have my reward on earth as well as in heaven. And my reward should be that I should not die before I bring a Jew to Christ, because Jesus was from the Jewish people. But I am poor, old, and sick. I cannot go around and seek a Jew. In my village there are none. Bring a Jew into my village and I will do my best to bring him to Christ.” – Tortured for Christ, Richard Wurmbrand.

What would happen if we had the tenacity to ask God for a reward like the old carpenter did? When I read the prayer of the carpenter I hear the voices of men of old like Abraham, Jacob, and Moses. Being unafraid to ask; they gave ear to their inner turmoil and allowed it to lead them into conversation with God.

I remember joining a prayer meeting in the Middle East once. In our small group there were men and women from Brazil, Sudan, Libya, South Korea, Egypt, America, and Syria. I watched as a woman prepared the room before we prayed. She knelt and laid upon the floor pieces of paper with the names of Syria, Egypt, Libya, and Sudan written on them. One by one we all stood and stepped forward to surround the nations represented on the floor before us. We joined hands and formed a circle around the pieces of paper. Then we took turns praying for the countries and people represented. The sound of prayer in each native tongue was beautiful beyond description. We prayed passionately for a reward – the hearts of lost people.

Among those in our circle was one of two men who had been imprisoned for their part in delivering Bibles to one of the countries we prayed for. He was imprisoned in a country that was not his own for over one year. He survived the imprisonment and torture inflicted on them while in prison. His friend did not — he died as a result of the beatings he endured. Another one of the men there has barely escaped arrest for his evangelistic activity a number of times. Today he regularly visits mosques in his country and prays quietly for the souls of those he is surrounded by. In countries hostile to the gospel men, women, and children are asking God for the reward of bringing their Muslim neighbors to Christ. The limits to God’s answers to our tenacious prayers are boundless.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! – Isaiah 52:7 NLT

In 1844 Willem Ten Boom started a weekly prayer service for the Jewish people and the peace of Jerusalem. Later his son Casper continued in prayer for the Jewish people with his own family. The meetings continued for 100 years, until February 28, 1944 when Nazi soldiers arrested Casper and his family for hiding Jews. The Ten Boom home was open to anyone in need and provided — a hiding place for Jews and members of the Dutch underground. The end result was the rescue of 800 Jewish people.

You too can join in one voice with our brothers and sisters in hostile and restricted nations. The Voice of the Martyrs 2016 prayer map  is a great resource to use when praying. Your prayers may be the wings God uses to usher the next Saul to Paul conversion in our times. Perhaps they will be the fabric that sustains a prisoner yet another moment, hour, or day? You may not know the full effects of your prayers this side of heaven — but, be assured they are heard. 

 ³ Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. ⁴ And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Revelations 8:3-4 NLT

Order The Voice of The Martyrs free Special Issue and receive the prayer map insert at www.persecution.com.

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 Community Voice ministry of VOM. This post first appeared on her personal blog.

I Am N - The Story

 

I Am N is a collection of 48 inspiring stories about our faithful brothers and sisters who have stood strong for Jesus in the face of severe persecution from Islamic extremists. Their stories will challenge and change you, and your faith cannot remain the same.

Upon pre-ordering, you can expect to receive the book within three weeks from the retailer.

After pre-ordering, visit the link below. You will be able to download two songs from the I Am N CD and to request your Bonus Resource Kit, which includes a copy of Into the Den of Infidels, a Christians Facing Islamic Extremists guide, an I Am N commitment wristband and a copy of the Iraq and Syria Special Field Report. These will be mailed directly to you from The Voice of the Martyrs.

Pre-order I Am N at these retailers:

Pre-Order Here if you live in Canada.

After you complete your pre-order of I Am N

Get Your Pre-order Bonuses

All proceeds from sales of I Am N products will be used to provide help for ISIS victims and other Christians facing Islamic extremists.

Order I-Am-N Today, Receive Bonuses

 

Pre-order I Am N Before February 29 and Receive a Bonus Resource Kit

“Get up, apostate!”

Ali was jolted awake by the gruff command and a kick to his ribs from the soldier’s boot. The Somali fighters had discovered his Bible, and now they were dragging him away.

After forcing him to kneel in an underground cell, his captors removed his blindfold. They wanted him to fully experience the terror of the beating he was about to receive. As the wooden baton cracked against his back, Ali whispered, “God, save me!” Another blow, and everything went black.

The rest of Ali’s story is told in The Voice of the Martyrs’ newest book, I Am N: Inspiring Stories of Christians Facing Islamic Extremists.

I Am N is a collection of 48 inspiring stories about our faithful brothers and sisters who have stood strong for Jesus in the face of severe persecution from Islamic extremists. Their stories will challenge and change you, and your faith cannot remain the same.

Upon pre-ordering, you can expect to receive the book within three weeks from the retailer.

After pre-ordering, visit the link below. You will be able to download two songs from the I Am N CD and to request your Bonus Resource Kit, which includes a copy of Into the Den of Infidels, a Christians Facing Islamic Extremists guide, an I Am N commitment wristband and a copy of the Iraq and Syria Special Field Report. These will be mailed directly to you from The Voice of the Martyrs.

Pre-order I Am N at these retailers:

Pre-Order Here if you live in Canada.

After you complete your pre-order of I Am N

Get Your Pre-order Bonuses

All proceeds from sales of I Am N products will be used to provide help for ISIS victims and other Christians facing Islamic extremists.

 

How Richard Wurmbrand Dealt With Betrayal

How would you respond to the person who betrayed you to the authorities, leading to 14 years in prison? Richard Wurmbrand’s response was simple: “We all make mistakes.”

Dale Rhoton, co-founder of Operation Mobilization, joins us again this week on VOM Radio to share about his visits with VOM founders Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, including a walk with Richard when they met the man who had betrayed Richard, leading to his arrest.

Dale also shares thoughts and advice for those sensing a call to missions and talks about his own early days ministering in communist and Muslim nations, and fellowshipping with Christians who faced arrest and persecution for serving the Lord. Even in the worst of human circumstances, Dale testifies, God is able to triumph.

 

 You can also listen to this and every episode of VOM Radio by subscribing to the VOM Radio podcast.

Murder in Malatya: Nine Years Later

Nine years after the torture and killing of three Christians in 2007, a civil court in Turkey has ruled that the Turkish government failed in its duty to protect them. On April 18, 2007, Uğur Yüksel, Necati Aydin and Tilmann Geske (German) were murdered at the Zirve Publishing House, a Christian organization where all three worked. The brutal killing was carried out by five youths who were detained at the scene and were each found with identical notes reading: “We did this for our country…. They are attacking our religion.”

The Jan. 26 civil court verdict found that both the Turkish interior ministry and Malatya governor’s office ignored reliable intelligence that Turkish nationalists were targeting the three Christians prior to their murder. The court has ordered the interior ministry to pay close to 1 million Turkish lira (US $333,980) to the victims’ families.

Susanne Geske, Tilmann’s widow, says that she does not believe the three families will see the money anytime soon. Court appeals could potentially take years to settle. The money is welcome, but she says it is hard to place a monetary value on her husband’s life, or the lives of the other two men who died for their faith.

While there is at least some resolution in the civil matter, the families wonder if there will ever be an end to the criminal case. The trial has been repeatedly stalled for several reasons, including political maneuvers, the removal of judges and changes to the prosecution. With the discovery of a connection to a larger nationalistic organization known as Ergenkon, more arrests have been made and new witnesses have been identified. Many of these witnesses have been uncooperative and have made threats against the three families. The outcome of the civil trial will not have an impact on the criminal proceedings. The next hearing is scheduled for March 1.

Nine years later, the families are still trying to move forward, but the stress of the trials and threats have been difficult. A new reform law that limits pretrial detentions to a maximum of five years resulted in the release of all five suspects in March 2014. Though ordered to house arrest and fitted with electronic monitoring systems, the men have been seen walking freely through Malatya.

This story also appeared on VOM's primary web site, www.Persecution.com. 

Image credit: www.MaltayaFilm.com