Just Because They Maintained Their Testimony!

My heart has been stirred in the past week concerning the nations of China and North Korea. God has allowed me an opportunity to have a glimpse of what is happening to Christians in these countries. Most Christians are aware of the challenges that North Koreans face because the media has focused on the failing economy, famine, Kim Jong Il’s dictatorial leadership and recent nuclear tests. In mainstream media, we rarely hear about our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted because they believe in Jesus Christ.

Unlike North Korea, where I knew believers were imprisoned and killed for their faith, until recently I believed that Christians in China were free to worship. I have heard different people who visited China give reports that believers there are not persecuted. I know that I was not the only one who listened to these reports and believed. Through my association with The Voice of the Martyrs I have learnt that most of what I had heard was not true. Our family in China is being imprisoned and sometimes even killed because of their belief in Jesus Christ.

Christians in China who are not part of the officially-approved church, The Three Self Patriotic Movement, are forced to meet in house churches and risk imprisonment. While in prison authorities allow the other prisoners to beat and abuse them. Even though the Chinese constitution says it allows freedom of religion to all citizens, in practice there is no freedom of religion in China. We need to pray that Christians in China continue to stand for the gospel in the midst of these great challenges.

This week a contact working in China and North Korea said our brothers and sisters are being persecuted because they maintain their testimony. In the past I thought that people who ended up in prison were individuals who might have preached in the streets, or held huge crusades, but no, our brothers and sisters end up in prison because they said the sinners’ prayer or were found in possession of the Bible.

I have been challenged to learn more about my family in more than 40 nations who are suffering because of their faith. I believe it is our responsibility as Christians to stand with our family in chains (Hebrews 13:3). I encourage you to pray for these believers and get involved with VOM. Pray about giving to Bibles Unbound, where you will have an opportunity to mail a New Testament in the appropriate language to those who have not heard the Good News in a restricted nation. This program will give you an opportunity to stand alongside our brothers and sisters and help create a witness for Jesus Christ. Log on today to www.BiblesUnbound.com to sign up and begin mailing today.