I remember the day I first learned about the magnitude of evil at work in this world. I was about 8 when the lady across the street, the mother of three of my friends, tried to commit suicide. She was a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust and had seen her entire family die in a concentration camp. My mother later told me the neighbor was watching a TV show about the Nuremberg Trials and had a flashback. Her 5-year-old daughter walked home from kindergarten that day after her mother didn’t pick her up. The little girl found her mother on the kitchen floor and ran to get the neighbor. Medics were able to save her life.

“Preach the gospel always: when necessary use words.” This famous quote by St. Francis of Assisi is compelling, but it is also easy to hide behind in the current culture we live in.

The third chapter of 2 Timothy describes the terrible situation Paul calls the “last days.” These verses speak of the way things were following the coming of the Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ when he first came to earth. They also tell us about the days leading up to his second coming. In the middle of that chapter (verse 12) Paul says: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men” (Proverbs 22:29).

"Where is it?" Gowda asked.

There was good news from Iran last week as Pastor Robert Asseriyan, one of the leaders of the Assembly of God Church in Tehran, was released from prison. He had been arrested during a worship service at the church on May 21.

A few weeks ago I attended my first VOM Conference in Amarillo, TX. A friend invited me along, so I agreed because she spoke so highly of the conferences. I thought it sounded like a fun little road trip mixed with some volunteer work. Since I have worked at VOM for almost six years now, I expected it to be like an extended chapel service, with stories I had read in the newsletter.

Several years ago Heather Mercer, former prisoner for Christ in Afghanistan, visited VOM's offices. Her visit happened during Ramadan, and we asked Heather specific ways that Christians should pray for Muslims during Ramadan.

From a letter sent in by a VOM reader:

VOM offices are closed today as our staff join in celebrating Independence Day in the United States. We are thankful for the country where we live and work, and we pray that God will bless our nation and draw many Americans into fellowship with Him.