There’s a path not far from my house that winds through nearly eleven miles of the city. The pathway runs beside the Caney River and courses through the woods, and connects a number of the city’s public parks. After sunset, many parts of the trail become incredibly dark. Only distant street lights and nearby businesses light up the surrounding area.

A web site went live this week that represents a significant new endeavor for The Voice of the Martyrs in answering our call to be a voice for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.

Last Wednesday's post explains this video diary project and the nature of our trip to Iraq, and includes the first entry in this video diary. You can watch Day 2 here, and Day 3 here.

Wednesday's post explains this video diary project and the nature of our trip to Iraq, and includes the first entry in this video diary. You can watch Day 2 here.

Yesterday's post explains this video diary project and the nature of our trip to Iraq, and includes the first entry in this video diary.

What’s it like when you travel to restricted nations for VOM? That question is one of the most common as I meet people at VOM conferences and as I talk with Christian friends. I hope that in the coming days on the blog you’ll get a little bit of an answer to that question.

Liena and her family turned down offers of asylum in Western countries after civil war broke out in Syria. They knew the cost that they might be required to pay, but they chose to remain as witnesses to their Muslim neighbors and as an encouragement to other Christians in Syria. Liena was a dedicated Christian, faithful wife and mother of two. In her prayers, she asked God to use her to reach more people. And then God asked her to make one more commitment.

VOM staff members have been encouraged by the amazing response to the “I-am-N” t-shirt VOM offered last month. Thousands of American Christians have chosen to stand with our Christian brothers and sisters facing Islamic extremism in Iraq and Syria by publicly wearing the Arabic “N” shirts.

Each week VOM department directors meet to discuss the ongoing business of the ministry and update each other on various projects and priorities. Each meeting begins with a short devotional led by one of the directors. Last week that director was Jill from VOM's financial services area. She shared how God used a VOM donor and a well-timed phone call to answer her prayer and encourage her heart. Here is her devotional:

Imagine waking up one morning to find a red spray-painted symbol on the front of your house identifying you as a Christian. The Arabic letter “N” (nun), from the Arabic word nasara (meaning “Nazarene” to indicate Christians), was recently painted on homes of Christians in the city of Mosul, Iraq, by an organized terrorist group called IS (Islamic State). Then on July 17, the terrorists gave area Christians an ultimatum: convert to Islam, pay a high tax, leave the area or die. The Voice of the Martyrs is now actively serving Iraqi Christian families forced to flee from the terrorists (some with only the clothes on their backs). You can help by making a donation to help our Iraqi brothers and sisters. VOM is also releasing a new T-shirt to allow you to show your support, boldly proclaiming that you are also “N”! Show your support for persecuted Iraqi Christians by purchasing the i-am-n T-shirt. The T-shirts cost $20 each (including free shipping), and $10 of the purchase price will be used directly to help persecuted Iraqi Christians. The front of the shirt features an Arabic “N” similar to the symbol that the organized terrorist group IS (Islamic State) is spray painting on the homes of Christians. The back of the T-shirt features the Arabic “N” along with the Web address www.i-am-n.com.