February 7th, Bob Fu, who is a leading advocate for the persecuted church in China, received the 2007 John Leland Religious Liberty Award for his service to the Lord and the persecuted church, from Richard Land, the President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

This morning I received an email from a blogger friend of mine who hosts a radio program in Australia. My friend, Rodney Olsen, wrote a wonderful post about The Staines family, and also posted an audio interview with Gladys Staines regarding the extraordinary story of what happened to her family.

Today you will have the opportunity to tune in to Janet Parshall's America so that you can hear The Voice of the Martyrs, very own Todd Nettleton talk to Janet about Christian persecution around the world.

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly stores change the merchandise on their shelves after Christmas to valentine cards, candy and anything else you can imagine that symbolizes love. Through the years, I have made a conscious effort not to be pressured by the many commercials and merchandise because, surely, there is more to life than buying stuff and feeling all giddy about a holiday.

This just in from VOM Canada and our friends at Mission Network News.

Today highlighted in the online website the Orlando Sentinel.com the highlighted Senior Spotlight is Mary Heitz who among many other things, says this about The Voice of the Martyrs.

After they all had been tried, found guilty, and sentenced to die, twenty-six Christians were marched to the place where crudely made crosses stood. Almost three months earlier, they had been arrested in Kyoto, Japan, and charged with following Christ. One of the convicts was named Ibaragi Kun.

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.

Yesterday, my friends from VOM Canada sent out their weekly prayer email, and this story about a Christian leader being detained in China really stood out to me because I send bibles to China every month. Read on and pray pray pray!