A commenter on www.VOMGroups.com related an interesting, if non-biblical, description of heaven and hell. The commenter said, "The Chinese version of hell is a sumptuous banquet at which the guests are starving because they've been given six-foot chopsticks and can't feed themselves. Heaven's the exact same setting except that the guests are feeding each other with the chopsticks instead of trying to feed themselves."

It is amazing how time flies and how sometimes it is very easy to forget such horrendous massacres. For example, one year ago today - April 18, 2007 three Turkish converts were murdered.

VOM Sources

In an article posted by the AFP titled China slammed over "grave" crisis facing NKorean refugees that is really a very sad look at is what is happening to those inside of North Korea and those who fled from North Korea and had the opportunity to take refuge in China.

NEW DELHI, April 15 (Compass Direct News) – Believing that his brother’s Christian faith was black magic that resulted in the death of his teenage daughter, a tribal villager in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh state on April 3 killed Thakur Sing Bhil with an arrow shot to the chest, relatives said. Bhil, also known as Thakur Baba, was a Christian leader from Gatiya Dev village who had faced opposition from relatives after converting to Christianity. He was estimated to be 55 years old. Relatives said his brother Mangar Singh, 45, entered his house in a drunken rage at noon and shot an arrow into this chest from close range. “My husband’s younger brother, Mangar Singh, had a 17-year-old daughter who died about three months ago because of ill health, and he blamed us for he thought that the conversion of my husband and his praying were responsible for his daughter’s death,” Bhil’s wife Inda Pasaha Bhil told Compass. “He somehow misunderstood our belief and prayers to be black magic of some kind, and since he was always opposed to our embrace of Christianity, it further infuriated him.” Relatives said police had arrested Singh, but because of poor communications infrastructure Compass was not immediately able to obtain a police account of the incident.

A fellow prisoner who was a priest in a Russian prison had betrayed Zoya. He made false accusations about her so that he could be released from prison and escape his own torture. During the trial, Zoya refused to say one word against him. She said, “When Judas betrayed Jesus, he was a treacherous man. But Jesus called him ‘friend’ in Gethsemane. Should we not learn from Christ’s example and behave like this towards those who betray us?”

Pastor Dmitry Shestakov has been in an Uzbekistan prison for more than a year. The Voice of the Martyrs received an update that Pastor Shestakov’s faith is strong and while in prison he has had opportunities to share his faith. We invite you to send birthday cards and letters of encouragement to Pastor Shestakov as he celebrates his birthday this month. Let him know of your love and that you are praying for him. Pastor Shestakov has been strengthened by the prayers and help of believers like you. We encourage you to continue writing him letters and to continue praying. Also, write to the Uzbekistan government requesting he be released. Please send this e-mail to others who have a heart for persecuted believers and encourage them to write, as well. Get involved. Pray and write today! I encourage you to send Pastor Shestakov a letter of encouragement by visiting www.prisoneralert.com.

- China Aid Association

-Forum 18 News Service

VOM Sources