When I prepare to conduct a radio interview on behalf of VOM I often type up “talking points” of the major information I want to share, to help me speak clearly on behalf of the persecuted church and the Christians that VOM serves around the world.

Several weeks ago, I worshipped with a group of 20-something Muslim-background believers in a musty basement room in a Middle Eastern country. These men and women had each come to faith in Jesus Christ though their families were Muslim.

What can a country boy, a city girl and a prison convict have in common?

“The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea.” (Psalms 93:4).

The following account comes from VOM’s Be-a-Voice Network member, Jessi S. For information about how you can be a part of the Be-a-Voice Network, visit http://www.be-a-voice.net.

Tears misted Basma’s eyes as she touched my arms and looked at me. “Beautiful. You are beautiful.” It was the look a proud mother would give her daughter.

A few weeks ago in our staff chapel service, the speaker reminded us again that “our work matters on behalf of the persecuted church.” When you work in a Christian organization, it’s easy to get caught up in your day-to-day tasks and forget about the big picture of the work you are contributing to. We try to do the tasks we’re given with excellence, but it can be easy to forget why we are doing them.

It was Sunday, and the congregation of Grace Sonmin Church in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, had gathered for their weekly worship service. Even though their country was now free from oppressive Communist rule, radical Muslims still blatantly opposed the church. The oppression had simply changed hands from one terrorist authority to another.