Persecution Blog

A Secret Prayer Request

Believers in hostile and restricted nations must often pray and worship in secret. They risk their freedom, their physical and emotional well-being, and even their lives for sharing the gospel message with others in their families and those around them. They trust the words of Jesus when He said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

Your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world are encouraged when they hear how you have been praying for them, and they depend on your steadfast prayers. We consistently hear how God is working in their lives and using them even while they take great risks; they find more courage and strength because of prayers of readers like you.

Our VOM contacts try to give us as many pertinent details as possible, but they also must do so with extreme caution. This week, we received a very sensitive and urgent prayer request. Our VOM contact wrote:

In an Arabic country, a passionate local believer was informed by his father and his tribe’s leadership that he and others who decided to follow Christ had one week to return to Islam. If they do not, the family and tribe have decided they will be killed. This believer has already suffered greatly for his witness. Moreover, several of his closest friends have also been targeted and persecuted terribly because of their faith. Please pray for this brother and the others affected by this tribe’s decision. May God give them courage and wisdom in knowing how to respond. And may He work powerfully on the hearts of those who plan this scheme.

Will you please join us in prayer for this brother in Christ and his fellow workers?

“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.

We Won’t Lose Heart

Government persecution of Christians living in China is on the rise, but “we won’t lose heart,” said Bob Fu, founder of ChinaAid.

According to ChinaAid’s recent 2013 report, persecution cases increased by 38.82 percent from 2012 to 2013 when considering data in the following six categories: number of cases, number of people persecuted, number of people detained, number of people sentenced, number of abuse cases, and number of people abused.  The most significant increase was in the number of people persecuted. In 2012, 4,919 people were persecuted for their faith, compared with 7,424 people in 2013, a 50.9 percent increase.

A government-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement church building in China.

The Chinese constitution guarantees freedom of religion. And visitors to the country can see that the church is certainly not absent in China. Bibles are available through government-approved churches, and people are allowed to attend services at government-approved locations and times. This, however, is not the reality for many evangelical Christians in China.

Churches that are not members of the state-run Three-Self Church are often viewed with contempt. Members of house churches are viewed as dissenters, and authorities try a variety of tactics to get them to conform. Pastors and church members alike have been persecuted for not conforming to policies of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) and for refusing to give up their outspoken faith. In 2013, there were 1,470 people detained for Christian activities.

Among those detained in 2013 are two men who were trying to help local believers open a new Christian book store in Taiyuan, Shanxi province. On June 17, 2013, Wenxi Li was sentenced to two years in prison and Lacheng Ren was sentenced to five years in prison for their involvement with the Enyu Bookstore, which government authorities called an “illegal business.” While awaiting trial, Wenxi led three people to Christ. His family plans to appeal the case.

China may try to control and restrict the Christian faith, but believers are demonstrating that Christ has already won their true freedom. 2 Corinthians 4:15–17 reads:

“For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

While they risk their personal safety and sometimes face false imprisonment, they trust in God’s future glory. They do not lose hope that God will continue to use them and many more will come to Christ. They won’t lose heart.

“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.

Sources: ChinaAid, VOM Sources

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sources: Middle East Concern, U.N.

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

Christmas Prayers for Iran

On Dec. 2, Rasoul Abdollahi, a Christian convert from Islam, was moved to Ward 350 of Evin prison in Iran. While it is unclear whether he was held elsewhere immediately before this or whether he was at home on temporary bail, he is now in Evin serving a three-year sentence for “collusion against the government and evangelism.” 

Rasoul’s prison sentence stems from a raid conducted by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in December, 2010. In an organized attempt to stop Christians from meeting together, authorities stormed a Christmas celebration on Dec. 26 and arrested 22 Christians, including Rasoul and the group’s pastor, Farshid Fathi, whose story is featured on The Voice of the Martyr’s Prisoner Alert Web site.

After ten of the Christians were intensely questioned and forced to sign an agreement stating that they would refrain from Christian activities, they were finally released. With the exception of Farshid, the other 11 people arrested, including Rasoul, were released by April, 2011.

In Iran authorities use temporary bail as a tactic to keep those previously arrested in a constant state of uncertainty. Those on bail can be recalled to face further interrogation or longer prison sentences. Prisoners can also be held without being charged or sentenced and many wait months before knowing what the official charges are or how long they will face in prison.

Pastor Farshid was never released, even though authorities took a large sum of bail money from his family, who were hoping to have him return home. Instead, he was held in solitary confinement for over a year. On March 5, 2012, Farshid was charged with “acting against national security through membership of a Christian organization, collection of funds, propaganda against the Islamic Regime by helping spread Christianity in the country,” and sentenced to six years in prison. He is also currently being held in Ward 350 of Evin prison.  

Pastor Farhad Sabokrouh and his wife, Shahnaz Jayzan.

A year after the raids of December, 2010, authorities raided another Christmas celebration on Dec. 23, 2011. This time, it was an Assemblies of God church in Ahvaz. Everyone at the service was arrested, including children. Several hours later, authorities released all but four Christians, including Pastor Farhad Sabokrouh, his wife, Shahnaz Jayzan and two church ministers, Davoud Alijani and Naser Zamen-Dezfuli. Each of their stories are also included on Prisoner Alert.

After being released on bail by Feb. 21, 2012, the four were sentenced to one year in prison in October, 2012. They were called to a court hearing in May, 2013 when each was arrested. Davoud was sent to Karoon prison in Ahvaz, and the other three were sent to Sepidar prison, located in Ahwaz.

On Dec. 4, 2013, just two weeks prior to the end of their year term, the pastor, Farhad, and church minister, Naser, were released. Farhad’s wife and Davoud are still serving their terms and have been in jail over 220 days. It is hoped that they will also be released in the coming weeks.

At least 40 Christians are currently being held in prisons throughout Iran, many of them arrested  during Christmas services in 2010 and 2011.

Knowing that Iranian believers who celebrate Christmas are at risk of having their churches raided, how will you pray for Christians this Christmas season?

“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.

Vietnam: Trusting Christ for Healing

“Chinh” and “Anh” are a young couple with three small children. The family is just one of 140 families living in a Hmong village in rural Vietnam. In 2012, none in the village were Christians though some of Chinh’s Christians relatives from a nearby village hadshared the gospel with his family. Even though he had heard about Jesus many times, Chinh never accepted him.

Chinh’s hardness of heart changed in February, 2013 when his wife suddenly lost vision in both of her eyes. Although she could make out shapes and get around the house to take care of her family, it was a frightening experience. Chinh explained to VOM field workers that he and his wife accepted Christ knowing that Jesus was the only hope that she might be healed.

Even though Anh’s vision was not restored, the couple remained faithful to Christ and they shared the message of hope that they had received with other families in their village. As a result, two more families also accepted Christ.

Little did they know that Chinh would suffer for their newly adopted faith. In July, 2013, both Chinh and Anh were baptized in a nearby village. News of their baptism quickly spread to the village leader.  The leader summoned both Chinh and Anh to his office just five days after they had been baptized.

As Chinh walked into the office on July 16, police officers began beating him. No questions were asked. No words were spoken. Officers just started striking him in anger. One of the police officers attached cables to a car battery and shocked Chinh’s eyes. After beating him, they put Chinh in prison. Thankfully, Chinh was released two days later, and though bruised and battered, he was alive.

After the attack, Chinh continued to suffer from blurry vision, especially in his left eye. When VOM workers met with Chinh four weeks later, his eye was still red and swollen, and the area just below his brow line was sore to the touch. He told them that he often suffered from headaches and severe ringing in his ears as a result of the beating.

VOM workers took Chinh and Anh to a doctor for treatment. The most recent report is that Chinh’s eye is healing.

As I learned this story of Chinh and Anh, I thought about their trials and struggles. It must be very difficult to accept Christ, especially when living among 140 other families who do not believe in Christ.

Yet, something inside Chinh and Anh gave them hope. There are several occasions in Scripture when Jesus heals the blind. Perhaps he and his wife had heard of the blind man from Bethsaida who was healed. Jesus led that man out of town, spit on his eyes and touched him, but the man could not clearly see at first. In Mark 8:24, the man looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”

Jesus put his hands on the eyes of the man and then, “And he was restored and saw everyone clearly” (Mark 8:25).

Sometimes, it is not simply the vision of the eyes, but the vision of the heart. Chinh and Anh saw that Jesus could heal. They were faithful even though they did not experience immediate healing. They shared Jesus with other families who became believers.

Healing comes in unexpected ways and it doesn’t seem that God ever does it the same way twice. With some, it’s mud. With others, it was spit. With still others, first their sin was forgiven before they were healed. For Chinh and Anh, they received spiritual healing and didn’t have physical healing until their brothers and sisters in Christ helped get them medical care. Even so, they knew that God was faithfully caring for them every step of the way.

YOUR TURN: What do you need to trust God for healing for? What happens to your faith in God if things don’t work the way you expect?

 

“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.

Somalia: A Reminder to Pray

If you go to the movies this weekend, you might see the newly-released movie called Captain Phillips, which is based on the rescue of those aboard the US cargo ship Alabama from Somali pirates in April 2009. And if you have The Voice of the Martyrs’ mobile prayer app installed on your phone, you will already know that Somalia is this week’s prayer focus.

Thought to be one of the world’s most corrupt nations, Somalia has lacked a stable government since 1991. Pirate attacks like the one on Alabama made many aware of just how dangerous Somali waters can be, but many people still do not understand the dangers that Christians in this country face on a daily basis.

Somalia is made up of 99 percent Muslims. Less than 1 percent of the population is Christian, and they must practice their faith in secret house churches for fear of harsh persecution. The al-Shabab Islamic extremists have vowed to annihilate all Somali Christians.

In Sept. 2013, a 35-year-old Christian, Fatuma Isak Elmi, was killed in her home by al-Shabab. Her 4-year-old son witnessed the attack, and his cries alerted neighbors that something was wrong. A note delivered that morning had warned the family that they were “polluting our religion” and that the al-Shabab were coming to kill them because of their faith. Elmi’s husband was not at home during the attack, but he took his son into hiding as soon as he learned of his wife’s tragic death.

In early 2013, this same group killed a husband and wife in separate attacks because they had converted from Islam to Christianity. A few months ago, their 13-year-old nephew from another town was kidnapped by al-Shabab in order to draw out his Christian parents and relatives.

The VOM mobile prayer app

As I have used the VOM prayer app and been given specific prompts for Somalia this week, I have been reminded of the people who stand up for Jesus against enormous odds. Children and adults alike face kidnapping, torture and even death to follow Jesus in this country.

I am encouraged to see that many others are using the app to indicate “I prayed” and are also sharing it with their friends or family through Facebook and Twitter. It encourages me to pray more fervently and to live out Hebrews 13:3, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them — those who are mistreated — since you yourselves are in the body also.”  

YOUR TURN: How has this mobile app impacted your prayer life?

Sources: VOM sources and Christianity Today

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.

Kenya: Prayer For A Friend

Late on Sept. 23, I received an unsettling text message from a friend in Kenya. He wrote: “The al-Shabaab have attacked at Nairobi’s Westgate Mall and they are killing innocent people. I request you to pray for Kenya and me.”

I had read about the hostage situation unfolding the day before in Nairobi, so I was already concerned for his safety, and I wondered how the beautiful city mall I had been to the year before could have been the place of such chaos and terror.

In March 2012, I traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, with a group of others interested in a missions outreach to Kenyan children and adolescents. The group of thirty was from all over the United States, and we sat down just outside the Westgate Mall to enjoy a meal at a restaurant that caters to American tastes. The aroma of hamburgers wafted through the air along with Kenyan specialties such as Kenyan stew and masala chips, which are similar to French fries. Laughter bubbled up from conversations being held in a variety of languages, and the sounds of engines running and car horns beeping in congested traffic lines punctuated the sunny afternoon.

 

Ann With Her Friend in Kenya

After our meal, our group shopped at the Nukumatt store located in the mall. While there, we passed through a security check and bigger bags were left in the front of the store. For the most part, I felt safe visiting this stable and friendly country. Kenyans are a beautiful people that have great resilience. The Christians I spoke with during my trip stressed vast improvements that were being made; “hope” was one of the key words used amongst almost everyone I spoke with.

 

Christians in Kenya do face persecution, especially in villages located near the border with Somalia. In recent years, the Islamic militant group al-Shabaab, which has ties to al-Qaeda, has attacked several churches and killed pastors in villages near the Somali border.

In the attack on the Westgate Mall, it is reported that the militant group released those who could prove that they were Muslim by reciting a verse from the Quran or giving the name of the Prophet Mohammad’s mother. Non-Muslims were killed. News reports indicate that more than 67 were killed and around 175 people injured in the attack. Two of those who were killed were employees at the Nukumatt store, the store I had walked through to buy tea.

As my friend reminded me, Kenya does need prayer. While he appears to be safe for now, many Christians near the Somali border face extreme danger from al-Shabaab. Christians throughout Kenya need continued prayer for protection as well as boldness in their faith and hope of a bright future.

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.