Voice of the Martyrs

One thing I would like to do with this blog is to introduce you to some of the wonderful ministries that are out there, helping spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and helping those who are sharing the news. One  such organization is Voice of the Martyrs. I first learned about VoM when we were in the process of adopting our oldest daughter from China. I didn't really know much about the daily persecution that Christians undergo throughout the world for their faith and their incredible testimonies. VoM helped me learn so much!

When Jesus was asked by His disciples about His return, Jesus spoke these words (Luke 21),
"But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.”

Persecution, betrayal, martyrdom - these are not things that many of us may think of very often in America, where it is relatively easy to be a Christian. But in many countries our Christian family is treated horribly! Imagine yourself at church on Sunday morning or at a ladies' Bible study. Now, if you lived in North Korea, Vietnam, China, Pakistan, Iran or a host of other nations, the police could come into the room, take everyone to prison and torture or even kill you without any legal proceedings. Right now Pastor Andrew Brunson is on trial in Turkey for sharing his faith, Pastor John Cao was sentenced to 7 years in prison in China for sharing his faith and two men were arrested in Pakistan for handing a Christian book to a man in a marketplace.

When many Christians in America do think about persecution and martyrdom, they automatically think of Rome, the gladiators, lions, Stephen and Paul. But do you know that more Christians became martyrs for their faith in the last century, approximately 41 million, than in all the centuries before that combined?

I encourage you to go to the VoM website, read through it and sign up to receive their free monthly newsletter. You can also order the free book Tortured for Christ. Learn about what our brothers and sisters are enduring as Christians so that your heart will be broken for them and so that you will pray for them. Prayer for the persecuted church is the number one thing each of us can do and it is the main request that they have. We need to do what Hebrews 13:3 asks of us, “Remember those in prison as if you yourselves were prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”