Persecution Blog

VOM's Jason Peters Featured on ChurchLeaders Podcast

VOM’s Dr. Jason Peters recently shared stories of Christians facing Islamic extremists with Andrew Hess of ChurchLeader’s Podcast.

They discussed the current state of persecution around the world, and specific ways that we can pray and support those who are experiencing persecution. 

Peters noted that in ISIS-controlled areas of the Middle East, Christians can “either convert to Islam or they can stand for Christ and lose everything they own, or maybe even their life.” When asked about the graphic photos and testimonies that often accompany persecution stories, Peters responded, “This is our family. We need to know their stories; we are not going to sugar coat what’s happening.”

He then shared a concern that many Christians have as they consider their own response to persecution. “I wonder, would I be able to stand up under this kind of persecution? I’ll be honest with you, the only answer is yes, because it wouldn’t be me, it would be Christ in me.”

VOM’s new book, “I Am N” shares riveting accounts of believers who choose to follow Christ.  As Dr. Peters reports, “We are not going to be paralyzed by fear because God has helped us embrace risk…God is glorified when Christians do things that just don’t make any human sense, they just, they don’t add up.”

Dr. Peters shares how persecution “purifies the church,” by sharing that persecuted believers frequently make statements like this: “When everything was stripped away and all I had left was Jesus, I realized that Jesus is enough.”

The interview concludes with a reminder for listeners that many of these persecuted followers of Jesus have a solid hope and eternal perspective. As fellow Christians, we should look forward to the day when we will meet these dear family members face-to-face.  According to Peters, “It’s going to be really neat in heaven one day to be sitting around and to be able to meet people who have been martyred.”  May we be inspired by their example to serve faithfully—wherever God has called us.

You can hear more challenging interviews like this every week on VOM Radio.  Subscribe today via iTunes or Google Play Music.

Partnering to Tell The Stories of Persecuted Believers

Telling inspiring stories of our persecuted family has always been at heart of VOM's ministry. We are thankful for wonderful ministry partners who come alongside to help us tell those stories in various forms—books, songs, films—to impact and inspire more Christians with the courage of our persecuted family and the faithfulness of God.

This week on VOM Radio we'll meet some of those partners, including Cris Doornbos, CEO of David C. Cook publishers; Steve Merkel, who co-wrote the song "We Stand As One" for the I Am N album; and Bill Curtis, President of Vision Video and producer of The Torchlighters series of animated films telling the stories of Christian heroes, including heroes who boldly stood for their faith in the face of persecution.

Listen to hear how our persecuted family has inspired each of these men—and their families—and how they are spreading those stories even further.

 

Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the VOM Radio podcast on iTunes or Google Play.

Be an "N" Leader in Your Church

Equip your church or small group to stand with persecuted believers like those whose homes were tagged by radical Muslims with a spray-painted Arabic letter ن, or “N.”

This collection of ministry resources will provide everything you need to lead your church, small group or class into fellowship with courageous believers who refuse to deny Christ. Be encouraged by your persecuted family members, who have so much to share about sacrifice, courage, joy, perseverance, forgiveness and faithfulness.

Get the I Am N Ministry Kit

These videos will introduce you to courageous Iraqi believers who were displaced by ISIS. As you learn their names and hear their stories, you will discover how your group can serve them and serve alongside them. Experience God’s work in some of the darkest places in the world through the stories of your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Your ministry kit includes a DVD of six inspirational videos with a Leader’s Guide, six I Am N books, six wristbands, six Christians Facing Islamic Extremists guides, six Participant’s Guides, and one I Am N music CD featuring artists such as All Sons & Daughters, Lincoln Brewster and Paul Baloche. Individual add-ons are available so you can customize your kit.

Build a Custom Kit for Your Group

VOM Book Nominated for 2016 Audies

When the Audio Publishers Association announced the nominees for 2016 Audio Book Awards ("Audies"), The Pastor's Wife by Sabina Wurmbrand was one of the nominees. Sabina (1913-2000) was the wife of Pastor Richard Wurmbrand and the co-founder of The Voice of the Martyrs.

The audio version of The Pastor’s Wife was narrated by Sadie Alexandru and published by Voice of the Martyrs. The audio version was produced and released by christianaudio. It was nominated in the Inspirational Non-Fiction category.

Cory Verner, President and Publisher of christianaudio offers, “The Pastor's Wife is a gripping account providing background on the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs, a ministry that serves the persecuted church. It truly is an honor to play a part in publishing these audiobooks and make them known to new audiences. Awards like this speak every bit as much to the underlying content as they do the professional narrators who read them. It is difficult to listen to books like... The Pastor’s Wife and walk away unchanged.”

The Audie Awards are the Audiobook Publishing Association’s highest honors. The Audies gala will be held Wednesday May 11 at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago.

10 Facts About VOM’s Kids of Courage VBS Curriculum

 

1. The VBS curriculum teaches kids about Christians in China, Egypt, Nigeria, North Korea, and India.

2. Kids learn that Kids of Courage trust God, get prepared, remember the persecuted, forgive others, and witness boldly.

3. The complete $30 curriculum kit includes nine books, about 400 pages of materials, a photo CD, and a music CD. VBS directors may choose to supplement the curriculum with Torchlighters DVDs or other additional VOM resources if desired, but extra materials are optional.

4. The lesson plans are adaptable for small and large churches.

5. The materials target children ages 5 through 13, but some churches have used them with older youth, too. The curriculum presents Christian persecution in a sensitive, age-appropriate manner without talking down to kids or overwhelming them. The emphasis is on persecuted Christians’ courage, obedience, joy, and perseverance in following Christ.

6. The format allows each teacher to present the same country at all sessions, reducing preparation time.

7. Students discover that persecuted Christians may experience joy and victory in times of struggle.

8. VBS directors have reported positive feedback from teachers, parents, and students. (See “Feedback” at kidsofcouragevbs.com.)

9. Children and youth workers have also used the curriculum in Sunday school classes, homeschool co-ops, missions conferences, and other settings.

10. The curriculum includes opportunities to share and explain the gospel to children who have not yet trusted Christ as their Savior.

For more information and to preview samples, visit www.kidsofcouragevbs.com.

VOM’s Kids of Courage resources help parents and educators teach children ages 5 to 13 about persecuted Christians around the world, while providing opportunities for the children to serve and pray for them. Find more information at www.kidsofcourage.com.

 

I Am N - The Story

 

I Am N is a collection of 48 inspiring stories about our faithful brothers and sisters who have stood strong for Jesus in the face of severe persecution from Islamic extremists. Their stories will challenge and change you, and your faith cannot remain the same.

Upon pre-ordering, you can expect to receive the book within three weeks from the retailer.

After pre-ordering, visit the link below. You will be able to download two songs from the I Am N CD and to request your Bonus Resource Kit, which includes a copy of Into the Den of Infidels, a Christians Facing Islamic Extremists guide, an I Am N commitment wristband and a copy of the Iraq and Syria Special Field Report. These will be mailed directly to you from The Voice of the Martyrs.

Pre-order I Am N at these retailers:

Pre-Order Here if you live in Canada.

After you complete your pre-order of I Am N

Get Your Pre-order Bonuses

All proceeds from sales of I Am N products will be used to provide help for ISIS victims and other Christians facing Islamic extremists.

Order I-Am-N Today, Receive Bonuses

 

Pre-order I Am N Before February 29 and Receive a Bonus Resource Kit

“Get up, apostate!”

Ali was jolted awake by the gruff command and a kick to his ribs from the soldier’s boot. The Somali fighters had discovered his Bible, and now they were dragging him away.

After forcing him to kneel in an underground cell, his captors removed his blindfold. They wanted him to fully experience the terror of the beating he was about to receive. As the wooden baton cracked against his back, Ali whispered, “God, save me!” Another blow, and everything went black.

The rest of Ali’s story is told in The Voice of the Martyrs’ newest book, I Am N: Inspiring Stories of Christians Facing Islamic Extremists.

I Am N is a collection of 48 inspiring stories about our faithful brothers and sisters who have stood strong for Jesus in the face of severe persecution from Islamic extremists. Their stories will challenge and change you, and your faith cannot remain the same.

Upon pre-ordering, you can expect to receive the book within three weeks from the retailer.

After pre-ordering, visit the link below. You will be able to download two songs from the I Am N CD and to request your Bonus Resource Kit, which includes a copy of Into the Den of Infidels, a Christians Facing Islamic Extremists guide, an I Am N commitment wristband and a copy of the Iraq and Syria Special Field Report. These will be mailed directly to you from The Voice of the Martyrs.

Pre-order I Am N at these retailers:

Pre-Order Here if you live in Canada.

After you complete your pre-order of I Am N

Get Your Pre-order Bonuses

All proceeds from sales of I Am N products will be used to provide help for ISIS victims and other Christians facing Islamic extremists.

 

Guide Helps You Pray for Christians Facing Islamic Extremism

Christians Living in Extremist Hotspots Need Your Prayers

ISIS. Al-Qaida. The Taliban. Boko Haram. Al-Shabab.

Islamic extremist groups threaten and attack our Christian brothers and sisters, but they continue to boldly fulfill Christ’s Great Commission. VOM created this 22-page guide featuring Christians living in nine extremist hotspots to help you stand with these believers in prayer. Will you pray?

This convenient and powerful prayer guide introduces you to persecuted Christians who need your prayers. The guide also provides information about nine of the most active Islamic extremist groups. Where are they active? Who started the group? Understanding the background of each group will help you to pray more effectively for Christians living in their shadows.

Request a copy to use in your personal devotions. Order multiple copies to share with your Sunday school class, small group or church.

SEND ME A PRAYER GUIDE.

"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.

 

 

What I Learned When I Helped Write “Restricted Nations: Nigeria”

To be concise: a lot. I learned a lot.

That isn’t very informative, though, so I suspect if I submitted those two sentences to the editor of this blog, I would get a kind email asking me to elaborate.

As I look back on that project, it seems now like I played just a tiny role. It’s interesting, because when I was hired to write a book (a real book and a real job!), I think in the back of my head I had an idea that it would be about me. Not the book, necessarily, but the whole experience would make me feel good and make me some great storyteller.

So, I guess the first thing I learned is that the stories in that book don’t need any embellishment in order to make them “great.” The stories of those Christians, of the persecution they face and their response to it, are already a part of the Greatest Story. I was simply a member of the relay team who had the real privilege of placing those stories in a setting where more people could read them.

I also learned the incredible story of Pastor John, which I wrote and which opens the book. I learned about the truly horrible things that had happened to him and the enormity of loss he had experienced. But I also learned of his forgiveness and the enormous faith he has that even in the midst of all that suffering God never turned His back on him. The men who attacked his family cross the street to avoid meeting Pastor John, but he hopes that he will have the opportunity one day to share the love of Christ with them. If that doesn’t move you, then I think you’ve missed the point of the Story.

I also learned of an aspect of VOM that I had never heard of, in spite of the fact that my father has worked there since I was a little kid. VOMedical provides prosthetic limbs to Christians who are attacked by persecutors. These limbs allow the Nigerian Christians to keep living their lives in a nearly-normal fashion, and I think this is a wonderful demonstration of Christian love. This part of VOM’s ministry sticks out to me because of its practicality, but also because of the stories we outlined in the book of people who have benefited from this unique ministry and the incredible difference it made in their lives.

One last thing I learned (well, not the last, but I do need to wrap this up) was the current-ness of the persecution in Nigeria. When you’re asked to write a book on the history of persecution in a given place, that word “history” seems to set it all apart from the time period you’re living in. In the case of the book I helped with, however, a lot of the stories and examples were startlingly recent. This is not a problem of the distant past; persecution in Nigeria happened yesterday, it’s happening today, and it will likely happen tomorrow.

I’ve never been to Nigeria, but learning about the country and about the church there for this project created a special place for it in my heart. Please continue to pray for peace, but more importantly, pray the love of Christ shines like a beacon in the midst of these brutal examples of persecution.

Order your copy of Restricted Nations: NIGERIA online.

Last month Kameron Nettleton finished his BA in English at Evangel University in Springfield, MO. He currently resides in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.