Quoted from Live Dead Joy: 365 Days of Living and Dying With Jesus by Dick Brogden

Dr. Sasan and Dr. Mehrdad are providing theological training for church leaders in Iran through PARS Theological Centre. It is a challenge even to connect with students in a closed Muslim nation, let alone train them up to lead churches and withstand persecution.

Psalm 105:1-6

It took a horrific attack on her church for Emily to realize that her understanding of God was wrong. Three years ago, her bishop asked her to move to a new church plant near Mombasa, Kenya. The Joy in Jesus Church in Likoni was struggling, and the bishop thought Emily could help. Over the next several months, the church grew to 60 people.

"Steve" and "Mai" left behind the American Dream to serve God in Southeast Asia--a place Mai had left decades before as a refugee and said she'd never return to. But God began to call them, and Steve and Mai submitted to His will.

Tohar Haydarov was quietly released from prison in Uzbekistan on Nov. 8. He had served nearly seven years of his 10-year prison sentence and was released for good behavior. He may face parole conditions, and authorities verbally told him not to get in trouble or he would return to prison. Authorities had told him earlier this year that a parole in his case "would not happen." Tohar was imprisoned in 2010 for allegedly selling large qualities of drugs, although fellow church members say the charges were falsified, and he was accused only because of his Christian faith. Fellow Christians told Forum 18 News, "We are thankful to everybody who prayed for him and sent letters to him while in prison." They ask for continued prayer for him.

Recently a team from VOM's sister mission in Holland, SDOK, visited northern Kenya. While there, they visited a church in Garissa that was the sight of an attack by radical Muslims in 2012. Here is their video report from the church:

More than two years ago, I was handed a slip of paper with the name “Nguba Buba” on it.

Ali Sassi is a Tunisian man who always accepts a challenge. So when a Christian friend challenged him to demonstrate when and how the Bible had been changed (which nearly all Muslims believe has happened), Ali accepted the challenge. He figured he'd read the Bible for an evening and be able to demonstrate the changes.

Nine year old Cole Staples from South Carolina is making a difference in the lives of his persecuted family. Below, Cole shares in his own words how he got involved with VOM: