This week it feels like the Lord has got me thinking about age and the blessings He gives us as His children. Two chance encounters this week piqued my interest on the importance of staying involved in ministry irrespective of our age. I have been meditating on the scripture in Psalms 91:16, that promises that the Lord will satisfy us with long life, and how vital it is to give our time and extend God’s kingdom. I was reminded of this scripture when a couple that volunteers here at The Voice of the Martyrs shared with me that the husband had celebrated his 80th birthday this past weekend. Wow! What a blessing. This precious couple has served persecuted believers for years, while they continue to live active, full lives. After speaking to them, I was struck by their commitment to VOM and serving persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. I personally know that, apart from coming into the office and volunteering in different capacities, they pray for persecuted believers and have a heart for suffering Christians around the world.

Hello Friends,

I once talked to Pastor Noble Alexander, who died in 2002, about his years in a Cuban prison. (His story is told in the book I Will Die Free.) Pastor Alexander was severely beaten for refusing to work at his prison job on the Sabbath. Finally the guards gave up, decided he had mental issues, and allowed him to rest on the Sabbath. Pastor Noble said other prisoners then claimed to be Christians to get out of work. To “prove” they were Christians, they attended Bible classes taught by the pastor. As a result, many were saved. “Faith comes by hearing,” Pastor Noble said.

On February 25, lawyers representing the families of three Christians brutally killed in eastern Turkey last April demanded the three-judge panel hearing the case be replaced.

Before I begin posting some prayer requests for all of us to pray for, I wanted to share something with you that happened to me today. Well, it didn't really happen to me, I caused it, but regardless, it was something that happened.

Today I had one of the greatest opportunities I have had in a long time. I was asked recently to speak to a few Jr. High classes at a local church that has a Christian school, and all I can tell you is that it was totally fun to see these young men and women begin to learn about the persecuted church.

When you examine countries where Christians are facing persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ, many people would never think of Chiapas, Mexico. The Voice of the Martyrs’ recent newsletter gives us a glimpse of the challenges believers face in Chiapas state, and what is incredible is the determination of these precious brothers and sisters. Their testimonies and stories are inspiring because despite what they have been through, their faith in God is solid. To me, they are a great example of Christ’s redemptive love and what our dedication to faith should be, irrespective of what can be going on around us. I encourage you to get a copy of the newsletter and read stories that I can assure you will transform your faith.

For the last few years I have been so blessed to be working with the staff at The Voice of the Martyrs, and seriously, when I consider how I got connected to VOM, part of me laughs and the other part realizes that God's providence is always at work. Which is why I want to share with you a testimony that I received from Todd Nettleton the other day. For privacy reasons and protection, I have changed the names of the people involved. May this encourage you to share what you know of the ministry of The Voice of the Martyrs.

It’s a fine line we walk as we attempt to be the “voice” of the martyrs. VOM’s ministry is unique in that we don’t just try to be a news provider, nor are we exclusively an aid provider. VOM does both, as I’m sure you know, with the purpose of joining the American church together with the persecuted church through prayer, awareness and involvement.

I was in Indianapolis, IN this week on the way to a television interview, and had the great privilege of visiting the offices of Crescent Project. This organization works to train Christians in how to reach out to Muslims and share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ with them. And their focus isn’t necessarily on people who are going to barge into Mecca and hand out tracts, but on people RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA! You can reach your neighbor…your doctor…the exchange student at the university in your town. Crescent Project reminds us that you don’t have to GO to be a missionary…God is bringing the mission field onto our own soil!