Persecution Blog

VIDEO: A Letter from Prison

If you've been to a VOM regional conference this year, you may have heard one of the members of the Hovsepian family speak or sing. This family is an amazing part of the legacy of Pastor Haik Hovsepian, the leader of the Assembly of God church in Iran who was martyred for his faith and his outspoken call for religious freedom in his country. It's now been more than 20 years since Pastor Haik was killed, yet the ministry of his family into Iran continues each week via satellite television.

The Hovsepian family partnered with our sister mission in Canada to produce a video calling Christians everywhere to remember Christians suffering in prison for their faith. You'll be blessed as you watch the video and listen to the music, and then as Joseph, Gilbert and others explain the mission behind the song and the video.

 

You can meet members of the Hovsepian family and hear more of their amazing testimony at upcoming VOM Regional Conferences in Oostburg, WI (Gilbert), Huntley, IL (Gilbert),  Butler, PA (Joseph), Ocean Springs, MS (Gilbert), Williamstown, NJ (Gilbert), Bay Village, OH (Gilbert), Leominster, MA (Gilbert), Fort Pierce, FL (Gilbert) and Northern Indiana (Gilbert). There is no charge to attend a conference, though we do ask you to register ahead of time online at www.VOMMeetings.com.

I'd Rather Have Jesus

This morning in the VOM chapel service for staff and volunteers, we sang a song that relflects so clearly the heart of our persecuted brothers and sisters that it is worth offering as today's blog post. Perhaps you know it and have sung it many times; perhaps you've never seen these words before. Either way, the song's lyrics invite us into reflection about where we place Jesus on our life's list of priorities and values:

• I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
  I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
  I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
  I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
  • Refrain:
    Than to be the king of a vast domain
    And be held in sin’s dread sway;
    I’d rather have Jesus than anything
    This world affords today.

 

• I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
  I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
  I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
  I’d rather be true to His holy name

 

• He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
  He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
  He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
  I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead

~Rhea F. Miller, 1922 (Public Domain)