Persecution Blog

VOM and Persecution Featured on Moody Radio

Earlier this week VOM's Todd Nettleton was a guest on In the Market with Janet Parshall, aired nationwide on the Moody Radio Network.

In the 30-minute interview with Parshall, Nettleton shared updates about the persecuted church, including his recent visit to the Pakistani Embassy in Washington DC to deliver Call For Mercy petitions. He also discussed the wait for election results in Nigeria, recent protests over rising persecution in India and VOM's efforts to provide Bibles to believers facing persecution in restricted and hostile nations.

Please click here to listen to this interview (a new window will open; Nettleton's interview begins at about the 26:20 mark). We are thankful to Moody Radio and all of our media friends who help VOM share the stories of our persecuted family.

You can also hear Todd each week on VOMRadio.

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.

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.” 

READ MORE

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.

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.

VOM Featured This Week on Moody Radio

Earlier this week VOM's Todd Nettleton was a guest on In the Market with Janet Parshall, aired nationwide on the Moody Radio Network.

In the 30-minute interview with Parshall, Nettleton shared updates about the persecuted church, including a recent VOM team visit to Nepal, an update on Nigeria ahead of next week's presidential elections there and a piece of possible good news from Turkey.

Please click here to listen to this interview (a new window will open; Nettleton's interview begins at about the 28:30 mark). We are thankful to Moody Radio and all of our media friends who help VOM share the stories of our persecuted family.

You can also hear Todd each week on VOMRadio.

The Shadows of Persecution

As I recently watched and listened to the news of the attack and subsequent slaying of those in the office of French magazine Charlie Hebdo, I found my thoughts immediately drawn to a comparable, yet very different story.  Both stories share the similarity of bloodshed at the hands of adherents to radical Islam. Each story is painfully tragic. I wondered if any of those slain in France had met their attackers before that fateful day. I thought of the life and deaths of Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske, who were murdered in their office at Zirve Publishing in Malatya, Turkey on April 18, 2007.

Nacati and Semse Aydin

Those who were responsible for the murders of Necati, Ugur, and Tilman weren’t all strangers to these men or their families. To the contrary, one of the murderers had sought Necati out earlier, pretending to be interested in his Christian faith. As described in the book Faithful Until Death, written by Wolfgang Haede, Necati was suspicious of this young man from the beginning. He and his wife Semse discussed this, and concluded that in spite of the young man’s motives, a meeting would still offer an opportunity to share the message of Jesus with him. Later Semse would refer to those who were responsible for the murders of her husband, Ugur, and Tilman as “their Judas.”

Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel, and Tilmann Geske didn’t have their lives taken from them, they gave them away, not unlike the Jesus they’d hoped to introduce to the five men who betrayed and murdered them that morning. Instead they were ushered into the heaven where they’ve now joined those robed in white, as they await the full number of their fellow servants.

11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.- Revelations 6:11

Following the killings in France I wondered how this news would affect those who live boldly in the shadows of persecution. Women like Semse Aydin and Susanne Geske. Both of them  suffered great losses yet each found it in their  hearts to publically forgive those responsible for the deaths of those they love. Would the images and commentaries being shared on virtually every media outlet bring vivid memories to the forefront of their minds? Would pain that lay gently beneath the surface be visible to them once again? More importantly, I wondered if those who live in the shadows of persecution like Semse and Susanne know they are not forgotten? Do they know they are not alone, that we remember them and are praying for them? While it’s true that God is faithful to those with broken hearts, it is equally true that a broken heart hurts. I am convinced that those who’ve lost

Susanne Geske and Semse Aydin

their loved ones because of their faithful testimony are also those of whom the world is not worthy. When we remember, encourage, and pray for those who suffer for their Christian faith, let us not forget the living witnesses amongst us.

“It was not easy for me to say that I forgive the killers.” Semse said later at the memorial service. “To be honest, my heart is broken and my life feels shattered. I really loved Necati. He was the love of my life, my closest friend. But there is no one I love more than Jesus. Only because of this, I can bear it.” – Semse Aydin from Faithful Until Death.

Editor's note: Semse Aydin has spoken at several VOM Regional Conferences, and will be speaking at more this year. Watch www.VOMMeetings.com for regional conferences near you and those where Semse will speak.

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 Be A Voice ministry of VOM.

Nigeria Violence Forces VOM Conference Relocation

A conference for VOM front-line ministry workers in northern Nigeria was relocated last week amid concerns for the safety of the workers and their families. Violence by Islamic extremists, including several suicide bombs set off in nearby cities and a massive attack in Baga, Nigeria where nearly 2,000 were reported to have been killed, raised security concerns.

The conference, set to begin on Jan. 12, was for Christian leaders who serve in the northern states of Yobe and Gombe, both states currently under a barrage of attacks by the Islamist Boko Haram group. The Boko Haram insurgents have killed thousands of Christians since 2009.

After attacks in the cities of Damaturu and Potiskum in Yobe state on Jan. 9, 10 and 11, the training conference was moved to nearby Bauchi state. “Thanks to the Lord,” said a VOM worker, “most of the ministers we invited were able to make it out of Yobe to attend the training.”

Photo: Abubakar Shekau leads Boko Haram in its brutal pursuit for an Islamic state in northern Nigeria.

On Friday, Jan. 9, residents of Yobe’s state capital were forced to seek safety when the sound of heavy artillery weapons erupted in the southern section of Damaturu. Nigerian security personnel launched an attack against Boko Haram insurgents who have occupied pockets of the city since Dec. 1. Explosions and sporadic gunfire were heard for hours.

Sixty miles to the west, police officers in Potiskum arrested a member of Boko Haram on Jan. 10 when he was discovered in a stolen vehicle. The suspect and the stolen car were transported to the divisional police headquarters for inspection. When officers opened the car’s trunk, it triggered an explosion that killed two policemen.

The next day, an attack by suicide bombers in Potiskum killed at least seven people. Two young females entered a market areas strapped into suicide vests and set off explosives just seconds apart. In addition to seven killed, 48 people were wounded. A VOM contact reported that the explosion occurred in front of an evangelical church.

Moving the meeting to Bauchi made it possible for the front-line ministry workers to attend training in relative safety. However, just as meetings concluded, several leaders from Gombe began receiving phone calls from family members. While they were meeting, a suicide bomber drove a motorbike into a crowded area in Gombe and set off an explosion that injured 20 people. Though no deaths were reported in the Jan. 13 attack, one pastor was notified that a church member was affected by the blast.

These front-line workers returned to their homes in Yobe and Gombe fully aware of the increase of terrorist attacks around them, but strengthened and equipped for more ministry through the training conference.

Please pray fervently for Nigeria and for our Christian brothers and sisters there, especially in the days leading up to the February 14 presidential elections in that country.

This story originally appeared on Persecution.com.

More Persecution in Vietnam

A Ho Chi Minh City Bible school that has often been the target of police activity in recent years was attacked and destroyed for the seventh time on Wednesday, Nov. 12 by hired thugs accompanied by the police. The thugs used hammers and metal cutters to destroy doors, walls, and furniture. Police then raided the college and arrested nine Christians who did not have proper paperwork — documents that had been confiscated by police in earlier raids. The Bible school leader, Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang, said this was the seventh attack on the college since June 2014.

On the Nov. 12 attack, hired men along with scantily-clad prostitutes gathered outside the school and begin shouting and screaming in the streets. Witnesses saw police filming the events just as the mob began damaging the school property. The thugs broke doors and gates that were broken three days earlier and had just been repaired that day. Police then arrested nine people inside, including Pastor Quang’s son and two Mennonite pastors.

The nine Christians were taken to the local police station. After being interrogated for two hours, all nine were released but were charged for not having ID cards or temporary residence papers. These documents were confiscated in earlier raids and never returned, according to church leaders. Without these documents, all nine will face further police harassment and complications with employment and school registration.

The Ho Chi Minh Bible college trains young Christians, mostly from minority tribal groups and has been the subject of frequent attacks. After large scale attacks in June, the water and electricity for the school were cut off, and in October, all roads to the school were barricaded.

READ MORE, including a timeline of past persecution of Pastor Quang, at www.Persecution.com.

VOM Featured on In The Market With Janet Parshall

Last Thursday VOM's Todd Nettleton was a guest on In the Market with Janet Parshall, aired nationwide on the Moody Radio Network.

In the 30-minute interview with Parshall, Nettleton shared updates about the persecuted church, leading off with a discussion about the recent murder of a South African Christian serving as an aid worker in Afghanistan.

Please click here to listen to this interview (a new window will open; Nettleton's interview begins at about the 26:45 mark). We are thankful to Janet and to Moody Radio and all our media friends who help VOM share the stories of our persecuted family.