Today in India, Hopegivers President, Samuel Thomas, was arrested.

Many thanks to those of you who have posted comments recently. I really appreciate the feedback you're giving concerning the work of Richard Wurmbrand. And it is nice to see that I'm not the only one touched by what he went through. There is something inspiring about hearing about a faithful saint who doesn't waver in his devotion or faith in Christ.

Enjoy another great devotion from the book Extreme Devotion.

I'm happy to let you all know that the Bibles Unbound program is alive and kickin' - and I just think it's so cool that all of us have an opportunity to give out bibles to those who can't get them by just going to a local Christian bookstore.

If you're like me then you love and I mean LOVE great radio. Which is exactly why I'm very happy to inform you of the new connection between Voice of the Martyrs and Jesus Freaks Radio.

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I was going to buy a few things from the VOM bookstore and recently I started reading one of the books I purchased called If Prison Walls Could Speak, and all I can say is that if you want to hear the heart of man who knew suffering, and also intense love for Christ, please get the book.

• While walking to his bank in Lahore, Pakistan, Pastor Joseph Priam of Full Gospel Assemblies Church, was abducted and taken hostage by a group of Muslim militants on February 16th. Assist News Service reports that the captors sprung out of their car and applied a chemically treated handkerchief to the pastor’s face, rendering him unconscious as they stole his gold ring and cash. He was brutally tortured for five days and confined in a pitch-dark room. They never gave Joseph food or water, causing the shrinking of his kidneys. The radicals told him, “You are a Christian and your Christian brothers have published blasphemous caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in Denmark. That’s why we are going to kill you.” On February 21st at 1:30 a.m., Joseph was bound and thrown on the roadside before he untied himself and fetched a ride to safety.

A very interesting news item went up on the VOM web site late Friday afternoon. The information, which came to VOM through our partnership with China Aid Association, told of a Chinese police raid on a church in Henan Province, China.

Suffering may prevent sin, but sin will never prevent suffering.

Earlier this week we received a report from one of our Middle East workers. He informed us that in one of the countries where he works, persecution is so concealed it is illegal to even discuss the topic. Consequently, many of those attacked for their Christian beliefs don’t even know what persecution is! This contact acts as a voice for this suffering Christian community by revealing incidents of persecution.