Persecution Blog

How Prison Changed Bob Fu's Prayers

For the first few days after Bob Fu was arrested for his Christian work in China, his prayers were pretty simple: "Lord, get me out of here!" He even prayed that God would punish his interrogators for persecuting God’s children!

But as days passed, Bob saw that God had a ministry for him in prison, and his prayers changed. Instead of praying only to be released, he asked God to use him while he was in prison. And God answered his prayer.

Today Bob is the president of the China Aid Association, a bold advocate for China's Christians and author of God's Double Agent. Listen as he shares why the Chinese government is so afraid of the growth of the church, and how persecution is spreading even to government-sanctioned churches. We'll also talk about the biggest needs of the Chinese church, so that you can pray effectively for our brothers and sisters in China.

 

You can also listen to every episode of VOM Radio by subscribing to the VOM Radio podcast.

 

VOM Radio: Earthly Suffering, Eternal Fruit

Turn on the news and you’ll see upheaval in every corner of the world, including attacks on our Christian brothers and sisters. But Cole Richards, Executive Vice President at The Voice of the Martyrs, reminds us that in the midst of this earthly suffering God is producing eternal fruit every single day.

Listen as Cole shares some of the ways God has allowed VOM to help persecuted believers in the past 12 months—especially Christians displaced by ISIS. He’ll also give listeners a preview of an exciting new way you can be involved to directly help Christians facing persecution, as well a new book coming soon from The Voice of the Martyrs.

 

Hear every new episode of VOM Radio as soon as it's available: subscribe to the VOM Radio podcast.

 

"Different Challenges" for Korea Work

Balloon launches are one of the key ways VOM is delivering Bibles into North Korea. This week on VOM Radio, Dr. Eric Foley shares how weather balloon and GPS technology are even allowing us to pinpoint where the Bibles are landing. Recently North Korean government press also confirmed the delivery of these Bibles, and threatened to turn South Korea into a 'sea of fire' if the balloon launches continued.

Dr. Foley tells how South Korean police tried to stop the balloon launches after the threats...and how God opened a path. He and VOM Radio host Todd Nettleton also discuss the best books to read to truly understand the situation for our brothers and sisters in North Korea, and we hear from a reader blessed by VOM Radio.

 

You can order two of the books mentioned in this broadcast directly from VOM's online bookstore, These Are the Generations by Eric Foley and Restricted Nations: North Korea by Todd Nettleton and The Voice of the Martyrs.

Subscribe to the VOM Radio podcast.

 

 

Barber Shop Taboos

An unspoken rule of many barbershops and hair salons is that two topics are never to be discussed: religion and politics.

Why do we dodge these topics?

Because they create conflict, and many of us have been taught from an early age to avoid conflict. We are taught to get along, to compromise and to be careful not to bring up topics that may offend others.

When I think about brothers and sisters that I have been honored to meet around the world, I remember people who are unafraid to create conflict for the cause of Christ. 

They are not looking for a fight, but they are looking to faithfully follow Jesus no matter how much it costs.

As we all know, Jesus made some very exclusive claims. If we believe what Jesus said, and if we tell others the way that He told us to…

We will create conflict. 

And, we will need boldness. 

And it is a type of boldness that only God can provide—a supernatural boldness!

God’s Word is clear. If we faithfully represent Christ we will generate conflict. We will “suffer” for His name’s sake. But scripture also teaches that Jesus will be with us and that He will ultimately be glorified through our suffering.

In some of the earliest stories about Jesus’ followers, we witness this type of boldness. In Acts chapter four we find two of the earliest leaders of the Church, Peter and John, making a bold stand for Jesus.

Have you ever found yourself in a spot when you knew that if you said something, or did something, you were guaranteed to create conflict? That is exactly where Peter and John found themselves in Acts chapter four.

Instead of quietly slipping away, rather than carefully avoiding the topic, John and Peter seized the opportunity to proclaim the hope that Jesus offers to all who seek Him.

They set the pace for hundreds of thousands of Christians after them who would do the same. And many are still boldly proclaiming today in the most difficult spiritual frontiers. As you get acquainted with these brothers and sisters, God will lead you to pray with them and to help serve them.

You can be an international missions worker without ever leaving your knees. I remember speaking with a strong leader from Vietnam. He said, “When you pray in America, you are working in Vietnam.”

Are we willing to boldly stand for Christ wherever He places us? Pray today that you will have the opportunity to follow the example of Peter and John, and so many others around the world, and to share God’s good news with someone in need. And remember those around the world who are bravely willing to discuss the topics that many of us were taught to avoid.

Dr. Jason Peters serves as Associate Vice President of Connection for The Voice of the Martyrs and travels frequently to meet with our persecuted sisters and brothers. He has ministered in 40 countries, as diverse as Iraq, Cuba, Nepal, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia and Nigeria. Jason ministered as a military chaplain for more than 18 years, with assignments at the Pentagon, the US Air Force Academy and as a faculty member of the Air Force Chaplain Corps College, where he directed Crisis and Trauma training. Jason and his wife Kimberly lived overseas for several years, where two of their five children were born.

Five Qualities of a Witness (Martyr)

In a message recorded at a recent VOM conference (www.VOMEvents.com), VOM Radio host Todd Nettleton shares stories of some of the witnesses (Acts 1:8) for Christ that he’s met during 17 years of service with The Voice of the Martyrs.

Todd offers Biblical truths from the lives of these Christians—Biblical truths that Christians who are not persecuted can practice and live by in order to impact those around them for Jesus Christ.

 

You can also listen to this episode, and every episode, of VOM Radio as a podcast. VOM's conference schedule for 2016 is currently being established. Watch www.VOMEvents.com to find out when there will be a VOM Conference near you.

Free Online Companion Study for "Killing Christians"

Not long ago, I had the opportunity to interview Tom Doyle, a conversation that aired over two episodes on The Voice of the Martyrs Radio. We talked about God’s work in the Muslim world, and also about Tom’s recent book, Killing Christians: Living the Faith Where it’s NOT Safe to Believe. (You can still listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of our conversation, as well as a separate interview with Tom’s wonderful wife and partner in ministry, JoAnn.)

Tom called recently to let me know that there is now a companion Bible study to go along with Killing Christians—and it’s available for FREE online. Here’s more detail from the publisher:

Ideal for small groups, personal Bible Study, or Sunday school, the Killing Christians online Bible study contains eight studies, one for each chapter of the book. The popular book is already in 6 languages in just a few months after it’s release. The Bible Study is free and available for download. Each study has an audio interview. Azzam, from The Pirate of Somalia, Farid from The Only Empty Graveyard in Syria, and Ali from The Gaza Strip Infiltrator are just a few of the inspirational Interviews that come with the Study, along with a video from author Tom Doyle. This study will challenge you to stand with your brothers and sisters in Christ who are experiencing persecution that is reminiscent of the first-century church. These Hebrews 11 type believers will refresh your faith and inspire you to serve Christ and love others like never before.

Widespread persecution can’t stop the faithful who spread Jesus’ love in the face of grave danger. Check out the news, and note the places where war, poverty, racism, seething religious violence, and killing seem to own the day. Right in the middle of it all, Jesus’ church is thriving.

In Killing Christians, Middle East director for e3 Partners Tom Doyle shares the personal stories of persecuted Christians, many of whom pay the ultimate price for their faith. From secret meetings to torture rooms, Doyle brings readers eight unique stories from the front lines with never-before-heard testimony of those Christians being targeted.Christians are being persecuted, but this book is about hope. The people in these stories are real and the depth of their faith is unfathomable and inspiring as they live it out in the midst of overwhelming odds and the evil that surrounds them.

I encourage you to check out this free Bible study material. I especially appreciate the chance to hear directly from these Christians who face persecution through the audio interviews that are included. What a great way to inspire our prayers as we hear these brave brothers and sisters share their stories in their own voice!

Todd Nettleton is the Director of Media and Public Relations for The Voice of the Martyrs – USA and the host of VOM Radio, a weekly half-hour radio show available online and broadcast on 30 stations around the United States.

Iran: The Honor of Being Tortured

The house church pastor had been arrested and tortured by the Iranian police.

Now he wanted to talk to his leader. Dr. Hormoz Shariat, the leader, expected the pastor—only 22 years old—to ask how a loving God could have allowed him to suffer so much. The pastor would ask, and how would Dr. Hormoz  answer?

Instead of complaining or questioning God, the young man called being tortured for his faith in Christ an honor.

It is bold witnesses for Christ like this that God is using to change the nation of Iran. Listen in this week to hear Pastor Hormoz share the stories of these faithful believers and explain how persecution in Iran is different from what Christians in other Muslim nations are facing.

Encourage your faith and equip yourself to pray for the church in Iran with this week’s episode of VOM Radio.

 

You can also subscribe to VOM Radio as a podcast.

VOM Radio: God Is at Work in Iran

The Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 promised great things for the Iranian people. The mullahs that took over the nation promised an Islamic paradise on earth. More than 35 years later, Iran’s people have lost hope in their government, and in the religion it upholds.

Dr. Hormoz Shariat speaks daily to millions of Iranians through satellite television. He shares the hope of Jesus with a nation that has lost hope in their Islamic government, and he sees great waves of people who have rejected Islam now embracing Jesus, the Savior.

This week on VOM Radio, Pastor Hormoz shares exciting things God is doing in Iran and challenges Christians in the United States to be as committed to our God as radical Muslims in the Middle East are committed to theirs.

 

You can also subscribe to VOM Radio as a podcast.

People of the Cross

One of my favorite memories is of a trip to North Africa some time ago. It was on this particular trip that I had the opportunity to stay in a remote village and visit with the people who live there. I remember walking the dusty village streets and being captivated by the sights and sounds of village life. On occasion passing the local people and exchanging glances, and when appropriate a smile — that needed no translation, and was mutually understood by all.

It was during one of those days that I came upon a young boy. He sat quietly beside the street building a wooden cross. Using two pieces of wood, a hammer, and some nails, he worked. The simple innocence he displayed as he constructed his cross spoke volumes to me. Surely he was aware that the symbolism of this cross could cost him? Living in an area hostile to Christians this symbol could cost not only him, but also his family. I believe he had counted the cost long before that day. The price one may pay for being in possession of a cross was not unfamiliar to him. Perhaps he was keenly aware of the cost associated with his cross. 

For Mary Sameh George, a 25-year-old Christian girl from Cairo; the cross would cost her very life. In March of 2014 she was attacked and killed after pro-Muslim Brotherhood supporters noticed her gold cross necklace. Her fiancé's mother was so overcome with grief that she died shortly after learning of Mary's brutal death.

I am reminded that the cross is much weightier then a verse in a song I sing, or design on a shirt I wear. For a follower of Jesus Christ it is a literal exchange.

²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. - Matthew 16:24-25 (NASB)

This past February, Libyan Islamic State (IS) militants released video footage of the martyrdom of Coptic Christian men in Libya. The footage of their martyrdom included a caption that read — “The people of the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian church.” The 21 men who knelt before their persecutors were identified as 'people of the cross', and asked to deny their faith or die. Many of the men are seen uttering their final words on this earth — "Lord Jesus Christ."

While it was reported that all of the men where Coptic Christians from poor villages in Upper Egypt; it was later discovered that this wasn't the case. One of the men martyred that day was identified as Mathew Ayairga; a young man from Chad. He is believed to not have been a Christian before kneeling in the sand beside the 'people of the cross.' Witnessing the courage and faith of the Egyptian Christians he also chose to follow Jesus.  Mere moments before Matthew was executed, His executors are seen asking "Do you reject Christ?" His reply was "Their God is my God." Matthew joined his brothers that day — and laid his life down alongside them. He and the other 20 men joined the ranks of those of whom the world is not worthy. I can only imagine the reception they received as they stepped out of their earthly bodies and took in their first breath of heaven.

The martyrdom of these 21 men by IS sparked the Bible Society of Egypt's biggest campaign ever. A Bible tract was created and sent to print within 36 hours following their public executions. Titled "Two Rows by the Sea," it carries a message of hope, comfort, and forgiveness for both Christians and Muslims alike. The Bible tract has been widely received in Egypt with 1.6 million copies distributed.

The vivid video footage depicting the killing of the 21 men did not spark division amongst Egypt's 10 million Christians and 73 million Muslims. Quite the contrary. The declarations of faith uttered by the men only moments before their death; have created fertile soil for conversation between Muslims and Christians. A brother of two of the Christian men martyred that day went on live television to thank IS for including their faith filled words in the media released to the world.

Evil can inflict pain, suffering and temporal death upon Christians. But it can never kill their stories. The testimonies of Martyrs echo through the halls of history. Their music can't be silenced. Songs of love, faith, courage, and forgiveness. Sounds that can be heard in the surrender brought about by the blood of the martyrs. Its melody piercing the most calloused of hearts. Moving it's listeners to their knees, and leading them to the cross. There is a beautiful finale to the persecution of Christians —this is the other side of Martyrdom.

Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters--their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred--had joined them. - Revelations 6:11 (NLT)

Tami Yeager was first introduced to the ministry of VOM through a newsletter she was handed in 2003. As she began to read the stories shared within those pages she was confronted with a reality that did not fit into the package she had unknowingly wrapped her knowledge of God in. As she began to learn of the suffering of Christians around the world a desire grew to serve them. Today she serves as volunteer Community Coordinator in the VOMVoice ministry.

VOMRadio: Update from Syria

For years the Christians in Syria prayed for God to bring revival to their country. Little did they know that revival would come, but it would come in the midst of war and suffering and death.

This week “Brother John” shares the story of that revival, and the amazing ways that God is working in Syria today to strengthen and unify His church and to bring Muslims to fellowship with Jesus. John also brings a challenge to American Christians: are we willing to pay a price to see revival in our own country?

You’ll be encouraged to pray for Christians in the Middle East this week, and VOM’s international ministry leader will also answer a question from a VOMRadio listener about whether or not persecuted Christians can or should defend themselves from the attacks of their persecutors.

 

Access all episodes of VOMRadio at www.VOMRadio.net, or access the show as a podcast.