Persecution Blog

St. Nicholas: The Real Story of the Man Who Became Santa Claus

Many American children are looking forward to the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, bearing presents for good little boys and girls. But most of those celebrating don't know that there is a real man behind the story of Santa Claus, and  that real man was a Christian persecuted because of his faith and actions.

The following is excerpted from "A Note from the Author to Parents and Educators" that is included inThe Story of St. Nicholas: More than Reindeer and a Red Suit, a book for children published by VOM that tells the true story of St. Nicholas of Myra, the man whose story became the basis of our modern-day Santa Claus.

Throughout history many legends about the life of Saint Nicholas of Myra have circulated around the world, bringing us to the man we know today as Santa Claus—a chubby man in a red suit who delivers presents to good boys and girls with his reindeer on Christmas Eve. 

But who is this man behind the myth of Santa Claus?

Nicholas of Myra was born in the third century in a province called Lycia, which was a part of the Roman Empire. Today ancient Lycia is a part of the country we know as Turkey. Nicholas is believed to have died around 343 A.D., on December 6^th, a date that is currently celebrated by many nations, such as Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, where it is called “Saint Nicholas Day.” For example, in Germany, children are known to put a boot, called a Nikolaus-Stiefel, outside their front door on the eve of Saint Nicholas Day, hoping he will fill it with gifts if he thinks they were good. But if found bad, they will receive a lump of charcoal.

The real Nicholas was a man full of generosity and conviction. He was born to wealthy parents who, when they died, left him their fortune. He chose to use his inheritance to help those in need. For example, one of the vignettes in the book is about three sisters who were saved from life on the streets. Their father was unable to arrange suitable marriages because he did not have enough money for their dowries. (Therefore, the father was left with no choice but to sell them to a brothel.) Upon hearing this, Nicholas secretly threw bags of gold into the girls’ room. The father was elated and, after discovering his daughters’ mysterious benefactor, was sworn to secrecy by Nicholas that he would never tell anyone who had given him the gold.

Nicholas is recorded to have exposed the corruptness of a government official during a famine. He uncovered the governor’s deceitful actions of hoarding grain until the demand forced it into higher prices. Later, Nicholas intervened in an execution of three innocent men…all falsely accused by the same, crooked governor. It is said that one of the prisoners was situated on the block for decapitation, and Nicholas grabbed the sword from the executioner’s hands, setting all three men free. He was praised for his bravery.

Even though many have preserved the stories of Nicholas’ acts of righteousness, few know of his sufferings for Christ. When the Roman emperor Diocletian took power, he instigated a horrific persecution of Christians. Nicholas was imprisoned and physically tortured (pinched with hot iron pliers) for refusing to deny Jesus as God. One account mentions the prisons were so full of church leaders there was no room for the actual criminals.

After the reign of persecution ended, Nicholas would still face a fierce testing of his faith—this time within the church. A preacher named Arius began promoting a heresy that Jesus was not God in the flesh. Arius even went so far as to set his false teaching to music by putting words to popular drinking songs. Constantine, the new leader of the Roman Empire, called together church leaders at Nicea to discuss Arius’ teachings and other issues dividing the church. This was called the Council of Nicea. According to legend, as Arius was making his presentation, he began singing one of his blasphemous songs about Jesus. Unwilling to see this man shame Christ, Nicholas stood up and punched Arius in the mouth. Those in attendance were shocked! Although they understood Nicholas’ need to stand up for Christ’s reputation, they did not believe they could allow such behavior since Christ taught us to love our enemies and live a life of peace. Therefore, Nicholas was no longer allowed to serve as bishop. (It’s noted he was later restored to his position.) But this action did not stop Nicholas from serving the sick and needy.

Those who are persecuted for following Christ today are much like Nicholas of Myra: They humbly serve their fellow countrymen and courageously stand for the Lord when faced with the choice of prison with  Christ or no prison withoutChrist. His story of boldness and generosity in the face of persecution from the government and conflict within the church is for everyone. By any Christian definition, Nicholas was indeed a saint.

May Nicholas of Myra’s life challenge us to live generously by serving the poor and courageously by standing for Christ in a culture that is increasingly hostile to Him and His people!

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.

Remembering Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand

Merv Knight read Richard Wurmbrand’s book, Tortured for Christ, and it changed the path of his entire life. Merv helped found VOM-Australia and worked side by side with Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand for decades. This week he gives us an inside look, with stories of what it was like to minister alongside Richard and Sabina but also what kind of people they were behind the scenes and the deep love for Christ that allowed them to endure persecution while still holding firmly to their faith. Merv will also share the stories of some of the persecuted Christians that have inspired his own faith during almost five decades of ministry with The Voice of the Martyrs.

After you listen to the interview, get a free copy of Richard’s book Tortured for Christ on our bookstore.

Six Gifts to Inspire This Christmas

 

 

This Christmas, consider giving some of The Voice of the Martyrs’ top resources to your friends and family. All of our resources now ship for free! Order online now and enjoy free shipping on all resources.Here are VOM’s current top-selling resources in order of popularity.

 1. i-am-n T-shirt — $20
VOM’s best-selling T-shirt declares that we are not afraid to be known as Christians, as we identify with Iraqi Christians who were run out of their homes by IS extremists. $10 from the purchase of each shirt goes directly to help Christians facing Islamic extremists. The T-shirt is now also available with long sleeves for $25. (Size S-2XL)

2. The Twelve graphic novel — $15
Learn about the lives and deaths of the 12 apostles through this new graphic novel.

3. Torchlighters 12-DVD set — $50
Teach your children the stories of some of Christianity’s greatest heroes of the faith: Eric Liddell, Gladys Aylward, Jim Elliot, William Tyndale, John Bunyan, Perpetua, Richard Wurmbrand, Samuel Morris, Amy Carmichael, William Booth, Augustine and Corrie ten Boom.

4. 2015 Prayer Calendar — $4
The Voice of the Martyrs’ 2015 prayer calendar serves as a reminder to pray for persecuted Christians and for the lost all year long.

5. Jesus: He Lived Among Us DVD — 5 for $10
This DVD is a powerful tool for reaching others. Foreign language copies are $2 each.

6. Extreme Devotion — 5 for $35
Give a meaningful gift this year with our timeless devotional. 

Who on your Christmas list needs a little inspiration? Order these and other VOM resources today!

Extreme TV Preacher

VIETNAM: BROTHER K’BE

This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 2 Timothy 2:8-9

The first time Brother K’Be’s children saw him on Vietnamese television, they were excited. Their excitement disappeared when they heard the announcer say that their father was a criminal. They claimed he was guilty of many “crimes” against the Vietnamese government.

Brother K’Be’s “crimes” were preaching the gospel at unregistered house-church meetings. The government put his face on TV to shame him and to warn others to watch out for him. They also played police interviews with him on TV and radio, but this only helped to spread the gospel message further. It gave him a platform to reach many others for Christ. Those who saw him on TV asked about his faith, and he was able to tell them about Christ.

He explained, “They put my face on TV so people can identify me. My neighbors say, 'Why leave your family?’ I tell them that God will take care of that. I must go. The harvest is ready, and there are few workers.”

Seeing that the public shame was not deterring K’Be’s ministry, police have threatened to arrest him the next time he is caught preaching. “My wife rejoices that our names are in the Book of Life and that my face is a witness on television. The police are helping to spread the gospel. They can close the church, but not our witness.”

Believers may be nailed to a stake, chained in a prison cell, or locked in stockades. Believers may even die. Yet the gospel lives on. K’Be reminds us that the gospel is not about a church building, a meeting, or any one believer. A church building can be closed. A meeting may be disbanded. A believer can be imprisoned or killed. Is your understanding of Christianity tied to a certain pastor or church building or activity? Would your faith still thrive (as it does in restricted nations) if all of these outward forms were taken away? God’s Word would yet remain, despite these restrictions. Would you still find a way, like K’Be did, to live out your faith?

This is one of the readings from the book, Extreme Devotion, available from VOM’s online bookstore. You can also receive devotional thoughts daily via email. Sign up here.

Are You N?

VOM staff members have been encouraged by the amazing response to the “I-am-N” t-shirt VOM offered last month. Thousands of American Christians have chosen to stand with our Christian brothers and sisters facing Islamic extremism in Iraq and Syria by publicly wearing the Arabic “N” shirts.

The Arabic letter “N” (nun), from the Arabic word nasara (meaning “Nazarene” to indicate Christians), has been painted on homes of Christians Raqqa, Syria, Mosul, Iraq, and other cities taken over by by an organized terrorist group called IS (Islamic State). The symbol on the homes allows IS to target the Christians for expulsion from their homes so that IS members can take them over. Christians who don’t submit or flee face death.

Last month VOM introduced a t-shirt with that same symbol on it, and Christians around the nation have jumped at the chance to publicly mark themselves in solidarity with Christians marked by IS. Wearing the shirt also provides direct help to Christians in the region, as $10 from the purchase price of each shirt goes directly to support Christians facing persecution from radical Islamic groups.

The shirt also provides an opportunity to be a witness and to share your heart for persecuted Middle East Christians with your Christian friends…or to share the plight of Middle East Christians and the gospel with unbelievers.

But it isn’t just individuals. Churches also are taking up the challenge.

Pastor Matt Richardt of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church has implemented an I-am-N challenge. The challenge consists of 80 members of his congregation who purchased an I-am-N shirt. They will make a video wearing their shirts and challenge another congregation to do the same. Gloria Dei is excited to help Iraqi Christians in this capacity and have high hopes that this video and the challenge to support Christians in the Middle East will become a viral phenomenon.

Owasso First Assembly of God in Owasso, OK took up the challenge as well. They invited each member of the congregation to wear an N shirt or hold up an N sign, then took a picture which they posted on their web site and on their Facebook page.

One of our international staffers shared today that Iraqi Christians are aware of this effort and are so encouraged as they know American Christians are standing with them in their trials.

You can order your I-Am-N shirt and give online to support Christians in the Middle East at www.I-Am-N.com. 

Are You "N"?

Imagine waking up one morning to find a red spray-painted symbol on the front of your house identifying you as a Christian. The Arabic letter “N” (nun), from the Arabic word nasara (meaning “Nazarene” to indicate Christians), was recently painted on homes of Christians in the city of Mosul, Iraq, by an organized terrorist group called IS (Islamic State). Then on July 17, the terrorists gave area Christians an ultimatum: convert to Islam, pay a high tax, leave the area or die.

The Voice of the Martyrs is now actively serving Iraqi Christian families forced to flee from the terrorists (some with only the clothes on their backs). You can help by making a donation to help our Iraqi brothers and sisters.


VOM is also releasing a new T-shirt to allow you to show your support, boldly proclaiming that you are also “N”!

Show your support for persecuted Iraqi Christians by purchasing the i-am-n T-shirt. The T-shirts cost $20 each (including free shipping), and $10 of the purchase price will be used directly to help persecuted Iraqi Christians. The front of the shirt features an Arabic “N” similar to the symbol that the organized terrorist group IS (Islamic State) is spray painting on the homes of Christians. The back of the T-shirt features the Arabic “N” along with the Web address www.i-am-n.com.

Pray for the Persecuted Church All Year Long

"Every time you kneel down and pray for Vietnam, you are working with us in Vietnam."

— Vietnamese pastor with more than 30 years of ministry experience

Prayer continues to be one of the main requests we receive from our persecuted brothers and sisters. Agreeing with them in prayer for their faithful witness for Christ in spite of the hardships and persecution they face brings us into fellowship with them.

“After going through what I went through, seeing other Christians go through suffering, having other Christians encourage me and pray for me, it all brought me closer to Christ.”

— Awuna Sunday, injured in a bomb attack at a Nigerian church

The Voice of the Martyrs’ 2014 Prayer Calendar is an excellent tool to help us remember our persecuted family in prayer each day throughout the year. Each day features a prayer request from one of the hostile or restricted nations where Christians face harassment and persecution for their faith.

The calendars also make an outstanding gift to help your Christian friends join with you in prayer for the persecuted church, and quantity discounts mean you can order multiple copies for less than $1.50 each. Give one to your pastor, to members of your Sunday School class and to other Christian friends.

Click here to order your 2014 VOM Prayer Calendar.

VOM’s Kids of Courage VBS Curriculum

VOM’s Kids of Courage resources help parents and educators teach children ages 5 to 13 about persecuted Christians around the world. The resources also provide opportunities for the children to serve and pray for suffering believers. 

After some minor editing changes, the Kids of Courage VBS curriculum is again available.

The curriculum includes true stories of children from 5 countries: Egypt, China, North Korea, India, and Nigeria. 

Kids learn that Kids of Courage: Trust God, Get Prepared (by learning about how Christians in other countries and in the Bible faced difficulties), Forgive Others, Witness Boldly, and Remember Persecuted Christians. They learn that they, too, can be Kids of Courage.

Learning about persecution does not have to include graphic details. Kids can understand from a young age that we can trust God when we are afraid or having problems, and that we can praise Him even in adverse circumstances. Kids can be introduced to the concept that some people have false ideas, and that non-Christians may get angry with people who tell the truth and do the right thing. 

Children can discover that persecuted Christians may experience joy and victory in times of struggle, and they can learn about obedience to God and perseverance in tough situations. They can also learn about forgiving and praying for enemies.

The VBS is being used in small and large churches, and is quite affordable for all groups. Some children’s workers are finding that the curriculum includes so much information, they can also use it in Sunday school and other settings after their VBS is over. Several groups have said they plan to use it for two years. 

The curriculum includes opportunities to share and explain the gospel to children who have not yet trusted in Christ as their Savior. Directors who have used the curriculum report that children have come to Christ during the VBS.

Each kit includes:

• 5 teachers’ guides, one for each country

• Director’s guide

• Skits and plays book

• Games, snacks, and activities book

• Craft and classroom activities book

• Photo CD; Music CD

• Resource and project guide

• VOM prayer map

www.kidsofcouragevbs.com has more information, samples of the curriculum, and feedback from VBS directors. www.kidsofcourage.com provides additional resources, including free downloads of material similar to what is in the VBS.

Reaching Toward the Heights by Richard Wurmbrand

If you're anything like me, then I bet you really enjoy reading your bible and also a daily devotional book to get your mind focused on the things that matter.  Which is why today I wanted to introduce you to our current featured book by Richard Wurmbrand called Reaching Toward the Heights.

For only  $10 you can purchase this through our book store and help the persecuted church at the same time, while also being inspired and encouraged in your daily Christian walk.

Here's a little bit about the book:

Our savior suffered immensely for us. What are we willing to suffer for God? In this daily devotional, Pastor Wurmbrand reflects on his intense love for God born during his suffering. These devotions encourage us to elevate our relationship with the Lord.

With Father's Day and graduation just around the corner for many people, this also will make a lovely gift that will bless the recepient for years to come.