Persecution Blog

"Supernatural Interventions"

Recently Dr. Jason Peters, VOM’s Associate Vice President for Connection and one of the executive editors for VOM’s new book, I Am N, sat down with Billy Hallowell of The Blaze to talk about the book, about the examples of our persecuted brothers and sisters, and about how God is at work even in places with the most intense opposition to the church.

Click below to listen to their interview, which aired on The Church Boys podcast.

 

You can also listen to Dr. Peters discussing his visit earlier this year to Iraq on The Voice of the Martyrs Radio.

VOM Radio: I Am N Special

Cole Richards and Jason Peters served as executive editors for a new project from The Voice of the Martyrs: I Am N: Inspiring Stories of Christians Facing Islamic Extremists. This week on VOM Radio they share with us some of the powerful stories of these believers and their faithfulness, and the themes of their stories--Sacrifice, Courage, Joy, Perseverance, Forgiveness and Faithfulness--that inspire each of us in our own walk with Christ.

Habila forgave Boko Haram fighters that shot him in the face. A Syrian Christian father continues to serve Christ in spite of his son being kidnapped by radical Muslims. Jason and Cole give us a peak behind the scenes at the creation of the I Am N project, and worship leader Greg Sykes talks about writing and performing a new song inspired by the faith of these bold believers.

 

See all the I Am N resources available.

Never miss an episode of VOM Radio: subscribe to the VOM Radio podcast.

 

Three Ways Christians Should Respond to Islamic Extremists

VOM's Dr. Jason Peters penned this article that was featured this week on Crosswalk.com:

The founder of The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, was no stranger to persecution by extremists. He spent 14 years in a communist Romanian prison, and his wife, Sabina, lost her parents, two sisters and one brother in a Nazi concentration camp.

“Jesus never feared or hated anyone,” Richard was known to say in the years following his release. Today, American Christians are faced with new challenges presented by Islamic extremists, and many are unsure of how to respond.

During recent visits to Iraq and neighboring countries where VOM is serving persecuted Christians, I have had the privilege of meeting and hearing the incredible stories of many of our brothers and sisters who have lost everything to Islamic extremists. Their responses to persecution provide us with an exemplary pattern of three approaches that are well supported by the Sermon on the Mount.

1. Pray for Islamic Extremists and Those They Persecute

When Jesus said, “pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44b, NKJV), he was teaching people who suffered under extreme oppression. The Roman authorities were known for their cruel tactics and utter disregard for the Jewish people they terrorized.

We in the West have been shocked by the cruelty exhibited in videos produced by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS). Stories of their brutality naturally push us toward hatred and fear. But in contrast to our natural inclinations, Jesus calls us to pray for our persecutors. We should pray that they will come to know the truth of Christ and that many will experience “Saul-to-Paul” transformations, becoming the next wave of bold evangelists in their region.

What about those who are persecuted? When we ask persecuted Christians how we can help, their first response is, “Pray for us.” Through prayer, some persecuted believers have experienced supernatural deliverance. Abu Fadi, a brother from Mosul who lost everything when ISIS militants attacked, was miraculously rescued along with his family after being detained at an ISIS checkpoint. Perhaps a believer in America was praying at that precise moment, lifting up the plight of our Iraqi family members. The story of God’s supernatural intervention in Abu Fadi’s life is told in VOM’s new book, I Am N. The book will help you learn more about what our persecuted family members face and how to pray more effectively.

2. Reveal the Love of Christ to Muslims

When ISIS extremists moved into northern Iraq, they began identifying Christian-owned homes and businesses by spray-painting the Arabic letter ﻥ, or “N,” on the buildings. This single letter, the first letter of the word used in the Quran to identify Christians, conveyed the powerful accusation that the occupants were followers of Jesus.

Our Christian brothers and sisters were then given the choice of either converting to Islam or standing for Christ and losing everything they owned. In Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq, more than 100,000 Christians were displaced, abducted or killed in less than one week.

How should Christians respond to this type of cruel treatment? Jesus provides clear instruction in His Sermon on the Mount: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you” (Matthew 5:44a, NKJV).

I have seen firsthand how persecuted Christians live out their faith and observed the remarkable ways they share the love of Christ with their enemies. The VOM book I Am N explores the themes of sacrifice, courage, perseverance, faithfulness and two other themes that many find surprising — forgiveness and joy.

During a memorable trip to northern Nigeria, I met a widow whose husband had been killed by Boko Haram. The woman said she often saw the man who had killed her husband walking through her village. Then, remarkably, she told me that with God’s help she was learning to forgive him. I was stunned by her response and deeply inspired by her example. Through God’s grace, it is even possible to share Christ’s love with the extremist who killed your husband.

3. Stand with Our Persecuted Family Members   

Scripture reminds us that we are to “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them — those who are mistreated — since you yourselves are in the body also” (Hebrews 13:3, NKJV).

What does it mean to “remember” them? At VOM, it means that we will do whatever we can to provide the spiritual and physical help that they need. This year, we are working with persecuted Christians in 68 countries around the world. We serve them through persecution response projects, Bible distributions and support of front-line workers who are advancing God’s kingdom.

God has made it possible for us to deliver more than $5 million in aid to those affected by ISIS, and we will continue to visit them, pray for them and serve alongside them.

Today, you have Christian brothers and sisters who are in prison. You have family members who have been kidnapped by ISIS in Syria. Parents, siblings and children in our family are being mistreated. But as followers of Jesus, we are confident that they are never truly alone.

On April 13, 1969, Pastor Wurmbrand stood before an audience at London’s Royal Festival Hall and shared about his prison experiences: “You are alone in a cell; they meant you to be alone. But, we were not alone!”

I have met and prayed with Christians who have been held captive and faced unimaginable tortures. But they report that God was with them; they supernaturally experienced His presence. Some even share that these dark times were the times of greatest intimacy with their Father in heaven.

We invite you to partner with us as we stand alongside our persecuted brothers and sisters, who remain joyful and blessed by their relationship with Christ despite having lost everything they own. These Christians are our family members — part of the body of Christ. We will not let them suffer in silence. We will not let them serve alone.

Learn more at www.i-am-n.com.

As a global voice for our persecuted family members, Dr. Jason Peters travels frequently to meet face-to-face with persecuted believers around the world. Peters was executive editor of I Am N: Inspiring Stories of Christians Facing Islamic Extremistsand host of the I Am N video curriculum (David C Cook, March 2016). Jason and his wife Kimberly ministered overseas for several years, where two of their five children were born.

Strongholds Shaken in Iraq

Dr. Jason Peters and VOM Radio host Todd Nettleton just returned from meeting Christians and delivering aid in northern Iraq. This week they’ll share about the Christians they met, many of whom have been displaced by the advance of ISIS over the past 18 months. They’ll also talk about some of the ways VOM is helping these Christians, including the launch of a new effort inviting American believers to prepare a medical first-aid kit to give to these displaced Christians. They’ll share other ways VOM is helping Christians, and the story of a displaced Christian who is experiencing joy and contentment in spite of living in a tent surrounded by enemies of the gospel.

There is good news coming from the Middle East; we’ll talk about what God is doing in the region, and how longstanding strongholds are being shaken, this week on VOM Radio.

 

You can also download and listen to every episode of VOM Radio as a podcast. Subscribe here.

A Prisoner's Hope: "We Are Never Alone"

“On a Sunday morning, I walked towards my church and mused about the sermon, which I would have to deliver…while I was debating with Jesus the sermon, which I had to deliver after half an hour, at once a car of the secret police stopped near me, four men rushed out of the car, in a minute’s time, I was in the car, I was handcuffed, I was blindfolded. And now, I was under arrest.” 

As Richard Wurmbrand shared this story at the Royal Festival Hall in London, on April 13, 1969, he invited the listeners to enter into a dark world. He continued, “And now, in our imagination, let us all leave this hall. You descend with me blindfolded down some slippery stair, I do not know where I am led. A door opens before me. The blindfold is taken away. I am pushed in. The door is banged after me, it is locked. And now, Jesus is no more simply at the door; he is at a locked door, which I cannot unlock.”

He asked the spellbound audience: “What would be your first feeling, if such a thing would happen to you? I can tell you what happened to me first: I trembled. We knew already, how the communists behave towards prisoners. It is not only beatings, whippings, but refined tortures, cruelties, and dopings. And I feared that under these atrocities, my faith might break, I might become a traitor to the Church.”

These words provide a window into the soul of a frightened prisoner and the deep questions that each one of us would face when confronted with an unjust imprisonment. It is a space of denial, fear and loneliness. However, as believers, we have an assurance that can never be taken away.

Richard continued his speech, “You are alone in a cell; they meant you to be alone.”

“But, we were not alone!”

Right now. Today. This very moment, there are Christians who are facing the same denial, fear and loneliness. I have personally encountered, and prayed with, Christians in Asia and Africa who have spent years in prison, facing unimaginable tortures.

Even in these dark moments, Scripture reminds us that we are never alone. When Joseph was placed in a dark prison cell, the Lord was with him: “Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (Genesis 39:20-21).

Will you join me today in praying specifically for those who are in prison right now because of their faith? Let’s pray that they will sense the deep comfort of God’s presence with them, that they will experience His mercy and that they will find favor in the eyes of those who have detained them.

We are never alone.

Dr. Jason Peters serves as Associate Vice President of Connection for The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM). As a global voice for our persecuted family members, Dr. Peters travels frequently to meet face-to-face with persecuted believers around the world, leads VOM’s outreach initiatives, including media development, special events, public relations, and oversees hundreds of speakers and representatives. Peters was Executive Editor of I Am N: Stories of Christians Facing Islamic Extremism and Host/Producer of the I Am N video curriculum (David C Cook, March 2016). He has ministered in 40 countries, as diverse as Sudan, Cuba, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Bangladesh and Nigeria. Jason and his wife Kimberly ministered overseas for several years, where two of their five children were born.

"Any Christian is Worth a Bullet"

Earlier this year, I traveled to meet with Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The national crisis facing Lebanon is noteworthy. A country long known for its hospitable people, towering cedars and beautiful shores has been flooded by Syrians who have been displaced by the spread of Islamic extremists and government troops.

I traveled from Beirut into the interior of Lebanon, to a wide valley dotted with camps established by the United Nations and various aid organizations. The survivors who occupy these refugee centers stand in long lines to receive the basic necessities of life. They live in tents, lean-to shelters and even concrete factories. I met with a family of five occupying a single room, with a closet-sized adjoining room where they cooked over an open flame.

One family looked particularly “shell-shocked” and distressed. As we began to talk, I learned that the day before my interview with this Syrian Christian family, ISIS came into their former village and killed four men and two women, including their 28-year-old niece. Reportedly, she desperately struggled with the insurgents, refusing to go with them. Finally, they slit her throat and left her in the street.

Understandably, this family refused to be interviewed on camera, or even to have their voices recorded. They were reared under a Syrian regime of terror and now they live in fear of ISIS. It is hard for us to comprehend how deeply traumatized many of these families are.

I also met with a former Syrian military officer. Years ago, he was sent abroad to study for his military specialty. While completing his training overseas, he became a Christian. Immediately upon his return to Damascus he was rejected by his Muslim family.

He reported that he has endured many trials, but that they have been "beautiful trials." He also said, as so many have said before him, that "Jesus has been with me every day.” Because of his unique situation, he had the opportunity to immigrate to a European country but he chose to stay and to minister instead. He chose to be a light in the darkness of this overwhelming crisis.

He highlighted the distinctive shift in the challenges that Syrian Christians face. Formerly, Syrian Christians were threatened by the government. He shared that years ago he experienced intense struggles with Syrian police but noted that they would not kill him because of the government structure that was in place. Now, he said, with ISIS in control "any Christian is worth a bullet."

What compels Christians to stay and continue to minister in these types of situations?  It is only by God’s grace, and they will be the first to admit that. But their examples challenge us to look at our own posture toward those who are displaced. How is God calling us to respond to the refugee crisis?  Are we willing to minister to our family members who continue to suffer because of Islamic extremists, even if it costs us something…or maybe everything? Are we willing to reach out to those who have been admitted into our own countries, or will we be the next stop on a long journey of painful rejections that they have already experienced?

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 Iraq, Cuba, Nepal, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, 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.

Barber Shop Taboos

An unspoken rule of many barbershops and hair salons is that two topics are never to be discussed: religion and politics.

Why do we dodge these topics?

Because they create conflict, and many of us have been taught from an early age to avoid conflict. We are taught to get along, to compromise and to be careful not to bring up topics that may offend others.

When I think about brothers and sisters that I have been honored to meet around the world, I remember people who are unafraid to create conflict for the cause of Christ. 

They are not looking for a fight, but they are looking to faithfully follow Jesus no matter how much it costs.

As we all know, Jesus made some very exclusive claims. If we believe what Jesus said, and if we tell others the way that He told us to…

We will create conflict. 

And, we will need boldness. 

And it is a type of boldness that only God can provide—a supernatural boldness!

God’s Word is clear. If we faithfully represent Christ we will generate conflict. We will “suffer” for His name’s sake. But scripture also teaches that Jesus will be with us and that He will ultimately be glorified through our suffering.

In some of the earliest stories about Jesus’ followers, we witness this type of boldness. In Acts chapter four we find two of the earliest leaders of the Church, Peter and John, making a bold stand for Jesus.

Have you ever found yourself in a spot when you knew that if you said something, or did something, you were guaranteed to create conflict? That is exactly where Peter and John found themselves in Acts chapter four.

Instead of quietly slipping away, rather than carefully avoiding the topic, John and Peter seized the opportunity to proclaim the hope that Jesus offers to all who seek Him.

They set the pace for hundreds of thousands of Christians after them who would do the same. And many are still boldly proclaiming today in the most difficult spiritual frontiers. As you get acquainted with these brothers and sisters, God will lead you to pray with them and to help serve them.

You can be an international missions worker without ever leaving your knees. I remember speaking with a strong leader from Vietnam. He said, “When you pray in America, you are working in Vietnam.”

Are we willing to boldly stand for Christ wherever He places us? Pray today that you will have the opportunity to follow the example of Peter and John, and so many others around the world, and to share God’s good news with someone in need. And remember those around the world who are bravely willing to discuss the topics that many of us were taught to avoid.

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 Iraq, Cuba, Nepal, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, 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.

"We Are Proclaimers, Not Concealers"

On a rooftop in Cairo recently, I sat down with Dick Brogden to learn more about how God is at work in the Middle East. Dick oversees workers in many countries in the region and has unique insights into the miraculous, history-shaping wave of ministry happening there now.

Dick has witnessed persecution on many fronts and has helped our persecuted family members stand strong against intense opposition. He noted that workers will continue to be killed for this “glorious thread” of redemption.

In the video below, Dick shares that “men and women are coming to Jesus all across the Arab world. They are getting baptized, they are suffering, they are being persecuted, but the Holy Spirit is upon them and they are witnessing.” He ask us to rejoice because “God is at work in history, and God is at work in the Arab world.”

 

As an influential speaker and author, Dick has mobilized and mentored many aspiring cross-cultural ministers. He has chosen to live in the heart of the region and to demonstrate his own personal commitment to sharing the love of Christ to those who have never heard.

He asked for our continued prayer as his team wrestles with spiritual battles and the reality of human depravity and a fallen world. He also challenged us to boldly fulfill our vocation as witnesses for Christ — wherever we have been called!

He said, “We are proclaimers, not concealers.” The commission that God gave us does not involve hiding our light. We are to ascend the heights and to shine brightly for Christ!

Frequently, this is when The Voice of the Martyrs steps in to help. As Front-line workers boldly proclaim God’s redemptive story, they may encounter persecution. As Jesus said, “’A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20)

Our family has been reading Dick’s daily devotional, “Live Dead Joy,” at the breakfast table each day. His daily challenge and request to pray for unreached people groups has helped our five children broaden their understanding of the vast opportunities to share God’s grace around the world.

May we all be willing to be “proclaimers” instead of “concealers” in the unique places God has called us. And, may we be willing to stand firm amid the persecution that inevitably follows bold proclamation!

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.

Disclosure: VOM is part of the Amazon Associates program. If you click on the link in this post and purchase the book from Amazon, VOM will receive a very small percentage of your purchase as a referral fee.

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.

A "Yellow Church" Dream

Recently I met with a worker in a restricted nation. He related the story of a Muslim woman who had an amazing dream that changed her life forever.

In her city, a prominent epicenter in a region dominated by Islam, there is a historic church known by its distinctive color. One evening, the Muslim woman said that Jesus appeared to her in a dream and told her, “Go to the ‘Yellow Church’ and I will show you what to do.”

She had never heard anything about a "Yellow Church" and was understandably stunned by the appearance of Jesus in her dream.

Bewildered, she eventually settled back to sleep, wondering what this bizarre dream meant.

The next day as she went about her business in this bustling, dusty, crowded metropolis, she overheard someone asking for directions. She was astonished to hear the direction-giver respond, "It is over there, near the ‘Yellow Church.’"

She decided to follow the person and was led to a place that was obviously the "Yellow Church."

She tentatively knocked on the locked door.

The guard answered, and was stunned to see a Muslim woman on their doorstep. He eventually let her in, told her not to touch anything, and went to find the pastor.

When the pastor greeted her, she asked him simply, "Why did Jesus tell me to come to the ‘Yellow Church?’"

He responded, "Have you read in the Quran that Jesus was a good teacher?"

"Yes, of course."

He continued, "Have you read that he was only a good man? That he was not the Son of God, but simply a messenger who is inferior in status to Muhammad?"

She said, "Yes, I have."

He asked, "Can you explain how a good man from centuries ago appeared in your dream last night and told you to come to this place?"

"I can't," she responded, "and that is why I am here to ask you. I don't understand."

He proceeded to tell her that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and that it was true. Jesus is all powerful, and he is still drawing people to himself today. He still works miracles, and he has a message of hope for her.

Today, if you watch this Muslim woman's home, you will see her quietly slip out her door early in the morning. You could follow her to the "Yellow Church," where she enters to pray on her own. A short time later, she will be joined by others who gather there to worship each week.

After the service, she will meet with her new female friends who pray with her, answer her questions and encourage her in her journey to faith in Isa al-Masih, Jesus the Messiah.

This true story represents hundreds of stories around the Islamic world. You can read about the phenomenon of Jesus revealing himself in dreams in Tom Doyle's fantastic book Dreams and Visions. 

You can also listen to Tom share more remarkable interventions in person on VOM Radio .

We should not be discouraged. God's Kingdom continues to advance in the most difficult places in the world!

Pray today for the openness to follow Jesus to whatever destination he leads you to. You may be surprised to find that he has someone waiting for you there…

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.