Persecution Blog

Petr Jasek: God Opened the Prison Door

From the first days after his arrest in Sudan, Petr Jasek repeatedly said, "God is the One who holds the key to my cell."

Jasek, a Czech citizen, is VOM’s Africa regional director and he was just released after 14 months in prison in Sudan. In this third and final part of our conversation with Petr, he shares about how he stopped praying to be released from prison and simply focused on fulfilling the Lord’s purpose for him inside prison walls.

Listen as Petr shares what it was like to hear the judge announce that he was sentenced to life in prison, and the verse he read from Psalms moments before he found out God would be using the key and opening Petr’s cell door. Petr will also share—from his personal experience—how we should pray for Christians in prison, and for their families who sometimes suffer more than the prisoners.

You will be challenged to think about what it means to wait on the Lord as you hear Petr share how, after 445 days, God set this captive free.

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"Holy, Holy, Holy" in a Sudanese Prison

What verse of Scripture would you grab onto if you were locked in prison for your faith? Perhaps you'd choose Isaiah 61:1: 

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound"

Petr Jasek, a Czech national and VOM’s Africa regional director, was released last month after 445 days in prison in Sudan. Listen below as he shares the verse that God brought to his mind which became a theme for him during those long months in prison, Revelation 4:8:

The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”

That verse became a theme for Petr; he would use it to guide his prayers and recite it over and over each day throughout his imprisonment.

Meditating on God’s holiness provided strength for Petr as his radical Muslim cellmates began to pressure, persecute and torture him. Listen also for the story of the opportunity God provided that encouraged Petr as he began to lose hope after four months in prison. Petr’s story challenges each of us to think about how we deal with hardship or opposition, and reminds us to seek God’s plan and His will, even when we’re uncomfortable or suffering.

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Petr Jasek Tells of Being Imprisoned in Sudan

Petr Jasek, a Czech national and VOM’s Africa regional director, spent 445 days in a Sudanese prison. Days after returning home, Petr sat down with VOM Radio to share his story and thank the thousands of people who prayed for him and his co-defendants during his long months in prison.

Listen in as Petr shares about going to the airport to leave Sudan in December of 2015, and the point when he knew that what he faced was much more than a routine security screening. He’ll share how he kept praying as he was questioned, and how he found out that his cell mates were members of ISIS. Your faith will be encouraged as you hear how God had been preparing Petr—even years before his arrest—to remain faithful even during months in prison.

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Petr Jasek Finally Free

Czech national and long-time VOM staff member Petr Jasek has been released from prison in Sudan, following a pardon issued by Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir. Petr was arrested by the Islamic Sudanese regime after visiting Sudanese Christians and providing a small gift to help with a man’s medical treatment. He was convicted of multiple “crimes” last month, including espionage and entering Sudan illegally. He was sentenced to life in prison for espionage, which according to Sudanese law means 20 years in prison, plus four additional years for other alleged crimes. Negotiations between the Sudanese and Czech governments have been ongoing since the sentence was announced, culminating in a visit to Khartoum by Czech Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek. Zaorálek tweeted out a picture of Petr Jasek returning home on the plane with him Sunday afternoon.

Jasek was arrested in December 2015 and had remained in prison since that time. He was found guilty in January by a Sudanese court of “waging war against the state,” “violating restrictions in military areas,” “spreading rumors to defame the state,” committing “espionage” and “inciting strife between communities.”

Jasek has passionately served persecuted Christians as a staff member with The Voice of the Martyrs for more than 15 years. Prior to his arrest, he served as VOM’s Africa Regional Director. He traveled extensively throughout Africa, personally overseeing the delivery of material and spiritual assistance to Christians on behalf of VOM.

“Early in his imprisonment, Petr made the statement that ‘God holds the key to my cell,’” said VOM spokesperson Todd Nettleton. “We are so thankful that God has opened that cell door and that Petr is back with his family.”

Petr was originally tried with three Sudanese men, including two pastors. Near the end of the trial, the judge ruled that there was no evidence of a crime by Rev. Kuwa Shamaal, and he was released.

Rev. Hassan Abduraheem and Abdulmonem Abdumawla, however, were tried and found guilty of aiding Jasek in espionage. These two Sudanese men remain in prison, each serving a 12-year sentence.

“This has been a sobering reminder of the dangers VOM workers face as we serve persecuted Christians,” Nettleton said. “But it has been such a blessing to see Petr’s faith — and that of his family — shine through in this time of trial. Once again, God has shown Himself faithful. We are overjoyed at the opportunity to welcome our friend and co-worker home.”

After returning home, Mr. Jasek is expected to be hospitalized to evaluate the physical toll these long months in prison have taken on his body. He and his family request privacy as they reunite and begin to recover from this experience. After a period of rest, reflection and recovery, Mr. Jasek looks forward to sharing some of his experiences and the lessons God taught him in prison.

(This story originally appeared on www.Persecution.com.)

Pray for Czech Christian on Trial in Sudan

Petr Jasek, a former hospital administrator from Czech Republic, is currently being tried in Khartoum, Sudan, on charges of “crimes against national security.” If convicted of the charges, Mr. Jasek, along with two Sudanese pastors and another Sudanese man being tried on the same charges, could face the death penalty.

Mr. Jasek has a 20-year background in the medical field, including 10 years as a hospital administrator. This experience and training uniquely qualified him to serve suffering people in places like Sudan. Mr. Jasek has assisted VOM on different occasions to provide care to persecuted Christians in Sudan and Nigeria, including medical care for Christians attacked by Boko Haram.

Please pray for Mr. Jasek, along with Rev. Hassan Abduraheem, Rev. Kuwa Shamal and for the other Sudanese man, as their trial continues. Pray for favor with court officials, for justice in their trial and that all four men will be freed and allowed to return to their families. Pray that God will continue to protect and sustain these men who have been unjustly imprisoned for more than nine months.

Pray also for the wives and children of these men, who are naturally concerned for their loved ones. Pray that God’s peace will reign in their hearts during this difficult time.

VOM will be sending some of the prisoners' family members a link to this prayer request on the www.iCommitToPray.com web site so they can receive encouragement from your prayers. Please click on the link and add your prayers to those already offered from around the world.

We're Fighting for Petr's Life

Petr Jasek has been unjustly jailed for his faith. He needs your help today.

Christian aid worker Petr Jasek has been wrongfully imprisoned in Sudan for 293 days, and his family is asking you to help save his life.

Facing espionage charges that could lead to a death sentence, Petr is being held captive in the squalor of a Sudanese prison, but his faith is strong. VOM knows Petr as a kindhearted man who has assisted VOM in providing care to persecuted Christians in Sudan and Nigeria, including medical care for Christians attacked by Boko Haram.

He was arrested in December 2015 in Khartoum, along with two Sudanese pastors whose stories have been widely reported. The trial for these men began on Sunday, Aug. 21, after more than nine months of wrongful imprisonment because of their Christian faith. Petr’s family has asked The Voice of the Martyrs to bring his situation to the attention of American Christians, asking for prayer and advocacy as the trial continues.

VOM has stood with Petr’s family since the day of his arrest, meeting their immediate needs and providing for Petr’s legal defense, just as we do for many others around the world who are imprisoned for their faith. Petr’s faith is strong, and he knows we are lifting him up in prayer. In the first letter he sent to his family after his arrest last December, Petr stated that “God holds the key to my cell. He will open the door in His timing.”

The Voice of the Martyrs provides help to the families of imprisoned Christians through the Families of Martyrs Fund, and you can help today.

Help Petr and the Sudanese Pastors now.

Pray For Christians On Trial in Sudan

Two Sudanese pastors and a Czech aid worker are currently on trial in Sudan, along with a fourth man, facing charges that carry a potential death penalty.

The trial began in Khartoum on Aug. 21 for Rev. Hassan Abdelrahim Kodi, Rev. Kuwa Shemaal, Abdelmoneim Abdelmoula and Czech national Petr Jasek. After their arrest in December, all four were accused of conducting intelligence activities and providing material support for rebels in Sudan’s South Kordofan region. Pray for a just verdict and their immediate release.

We encourage you to add your prayers for justice in this trial online at www.iCommitToPray.com, and invite your Christian friends also to join this online prayer meeting on behalf of persecuted Christians. By registering at the site, you can receive a new prayer request each week via email. Share these requests with your pastor, your Sunday School class or other Christian friends.

Photo: Pastors Kuwa Shemaal (left) and Hassan Abdelrahim Kodi are imprisoned in Sudan (World Watch Monitor).

VOM Featured on Moody Radio

Earlier this week, VOM's Todd Nettleton was a guest on In the Market with Janet Parshall, aired nationwide on the Moody Radio Network.

In the conversation with Parshall, Nettleton shared some good news about what God is doing, including the recent release of two pastors in Sudan who could have faced the death penalty. He also discussed the case of Asia Bibi, as well as the story of a young woman recovering after escaping from Boko Haram in Nigeria.

Please click here to listen to this interview (a new window will open; Nettleton's interview begins about the 27:00 mark). We are thankful to our media friends who help VOM share the stories of our persecuted family.

Sudan: Pastors’ Release Still in Progress

In a stunning and controversial announcement on Aug. 5, a judge in Sudan ruled that two South Sudanese church leaders would not face execution for their crimes. Following eight months of waiting for an outcome, Pastor Yat Michael and Pastor Peter Yen were charged with less serious convictions, given credit for time served and told that they could go home.

I celebrated in my office and shared the good news with several coworkers and friends. One coworker said it best, “The judge may have successfully split the baby.” 

Under pressure from two sides, the Sudanese judge was forced to carefully navigate local expectations by upholding Islamic law as well as appease the international call for human rights. Both pastors were facing charges of “spying” and “undermining the constitutional system.” Each charge is punishable by death, life imprisonment, or prison and confiscation of property. With one side calling for death, it was difficult to speculate what the outcome might be.

The announcement that the men were not charged with either of these crimes was surprising. Given that the government has steadily persecuted Christians through both legal channels and violent attacks, it seems like a revolutionary change of heart.

Last year, Meriam Ibrahim was on trial for apostasy and sentenced to death. Jailed with her then twenty-month-old son, she was still shackled by the ankles when she gave birth to her second child, Maya. The birth of this child began a countdown to Meriam’s death sentence. Once Meriam had weaned her children, Sudan was free to carry out her execution. Her case raised an international uproar.

Though a judge in Sudan pardoned the woman, the celebration was interrupted by Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) who kept her from leaving. They claimed she did not have the appropriate travel documents. A nearly one-month battle ensued before the family was able to flee the country.

In a similar turn of events, both Pastor Yat Michael and Pastor Peter Yen and their families were prevented from leaving the Khartoum airport on Aug. 6. Authorities kept them from boarding the plane. The attorney swiftly took action and went back to the judge, but a meeting could not be arranged for three more days. It was unclear who had issued the ban, and if it was the NISS, things would not be easy. Whether the NISS, led by hardline Islamists, would allow the men that they arrested to leave the country was of deep concern.

A relative of one of the pastors shared, “your prayers are very needed.”

According to the latest information, it may take a few more days before the pastors and their families will be able to leave Sudan. The pastors’ attorney has been informed that the prosecution initiated the travel ban, giving the judge the authority and jurisdiction to lift the ban. If all goes well, the two Christian pastors and their families will be allowed to leave Sudan within the next couple of days.

"Ann Kay” is a writer for VOM. She learned about VOM five years ago when she read Tortured for Christ and began receiving the newsletter. She is passionate about reaching the world for Christ and sharing stories of the persecuted church.

Sources: Morningstar News, World Watch Monitor Photo credit: CBN News

COLOMBIA: "We All Know The Risk"

Pastors in the "red zone" areas of Colombia--areas controlled by FARC guerillas--are targets. The FARC resents the gospel message which makes it harder to recruit the population to support the guerilla movement. Pastors in such areas face danger and threats. This week on VOM Radio we'll discuss how The Voice of the Martyrs provides such pastors with training and encouragement and how these encounters bless them, as well as the VOM workers involved.

Listen in also to hear an update on two ongoing court cases; the case against Asia Bibi in Pakistan and the ongoing trial of two pastors accused of espionage in Sudan.