Empowering persecuted Christians in hostile and restricted nations
Christianity Is A Very Bad Religion! - 2 by VOM NZ
Pakistan Christmas Church Bombing In Quetta by VOM NZ
Do you wonder what Christmas is like for Christians living in hostile or restricted nations? Usually, it’s very much different to the celebrations we are accustomed to as followers of Christ here in New Zealand! The Christmas season can be a time of intense and increasing persecution for Christians in many nations. Because it’s the most well-known Christian holiday, it means that those who celebrate it become a target by the authorities and other groups who would seek to stop any recognition of Christ in their countries. And it goes far beyond replacing “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays” in corporate greeting cards... When Christians are found acting out their Christian faith, even celebrating holidays like Christmas, they can become a target. Churches can be burned and bombed, even on Christmas Day itself. How you can Pray for the Persecuted this Christmas • Pray for believers in hostile and restricted nations to know the presence and peace of the Lord this Christmas. • Pray that God will comfort all those who were bereaved or injured in attacks in this past year. • And Pray that 2018 will bring peace and security to their families. Download a list of these and more prayer points for the Persecuted Church at www.voiceofthemartyrs.org.nz
Gao Zhisheng is a Christian human rights lawyer who has spoken up in the defence of other Christians and minority groups in China. Because of his work, he has had his legal practice shut down, and has faced arrest, torture, and long stretches of time in prison. Gao is known as an unyielding advocate for justice in the Chinese courts, and has been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize. In August this year, Gao went missing from his home, and his whereabouts remain unknown, however, it’s feared that he has been arrested and imprisoned at a secret site away from supporters and family again. You can help. Raise your voice in prayer for Gao, and also consider writing to the government on his behalf. Visit https://www.vom.org.nz/jesus-freak-stories/ to help
When the boy in the hotel finally spotted the visiting “businessman,” he ran to him and grabbed his hand. The startled visitor tried to pull away but soon realized that the boy was making the sign of the cross on his palm silently with his finger. The man, actually a missionary who had prayed to make contact with the Church, looked down into the face of the thin boy and immediately understood the message: “The Church is alive in North Korea!” The next day, the missionary met secretly with the boy. He learned that his father was a Christian who had been imprisoned years before. The boy’s family had suffered greatly under the brutal government and had to beg for food to survive. When the missionary asked what he could do, he thought the boy would simply request food for his family. But the boy asked him for four different things: to take his tithe that he had saved up, to baptize him, to give him Communion, and to give him a better Bible. The man was moved to tears as he realized the boy’s wisdom and hunger for God. Visit https://www.vom.org.nz/jesus-freak-stories/ to learn more.
In Pakistan, speaking against the majority religion can earn you a death sentence. These are called “Blasphemy Laws” and right now, dozens of Christians are in prison after being falsely accused of breaking these laws. One of these is Zhafar Bhatti. He established a small charity called “Jesus World Mission” with the purpose of helping the poor, but in 2012 he was accused of sending blasphemous text messages from a mobile phone. Zhafar and his wife left their village to avoid a riot, but police arrested him soon after, charging him under the blasphemy laws. Other prisoners have beaten Zhafar many times and tried to poison his food, and he faces continual pressure to embrace Islam. Learn more at https://www.vom.org.nz/jesus-freak-stories/
Pray For A House Church In Indonesia by VOM NZ
Arrested For Their Faith In Laos by VOM NZ
Do you have a “prized possession” or something that is very special to you? Jatya, a pastor and evangelist in southern India has an unusual treasure. He keeps a manila folder filled with photos and newspaper articles recounting the eight times he has been beaten for sharing the Gospel in his village. It all started in 1992, when Jatya refused to sign a document promising to stop evangelising. Police officers responded to Jatya’s stubbornness by breaking all of his fingers.... Read more at www.voiceofthemartyrs.org.nz
Hussein* was arrested and charged with apostasy for his ministry to house churches in Iran. His charge meant he was sent to death row in prison. Despite his initial confusion and fear, he prayed and felt God’s presence and comfort, and knew that Jesus had him there for a purpose. Soon after, one of the gang leaders in the prison ordered to meet him. Somehow the gang leader had heard that Hussein had contacts outside of Iran, and they wanted him to get the word out about the terrible conditions they faced. Because of this, Hussein was accepted into the gang’s inner circle. In the overcrowded prison, Hussein was given status amongst the prisoners and treated well. Soon after, Hussein’s death sentence was repealed – however, Hussein chose to stay on death row. His fear had been overcome by God’s provision. Death row — if that’s where God wanted him — was the safest place for him to be. Hear more stories of Jesus Freaks in the centre of God’s will by subscribing to our email updates at www.voiceofthemartyrs.org.nz
Pray For Musa in the Middle East by VOM NZ
There seems to be a never-ending need for prayer points for the mission field. Have you ever wondered where to begin? Here’s five quick prayer points to start praying for persecuted Christians today: Number 1. Pray that persecuted believers will sense God’s presence, Number 2. Pray that they will feel connected to the greater Body of Christ, Number 3. Pray that their ministry activities will remain undetected by authorities or others who wish to silences them, Number 4 Pray that they will have more opportunities to share the gospel, And number 5. Pray that they will be refreshed through God’s Word and grow in their faith. Pray that believers in hostile or restricted nations will be strengthened through the prayers of fellow believers like this and join in prayer for them yourself on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church this year. Learn more at http://extremedevotion.vom.org.nz/project/five-ways-to-pray-for-persecuted-christians
It was 4AM at the river bank in northern China. It was damp, cold, and dark, yet songs of praise filled the air. Why? The crowd of believers had gathered that morning with a special purpose – to be secretly baptized. One of the pastors spoke compassionately as he baptized them, each with hands lifted up to a new life in Christ. He and his fellow workers baptized eleven hundred new believers that day! For decades, the church in China has suffered consistent persecution. The government instituted a “strike-hard” policy in a vain effort to curb the growth. However, we see God moving in China in a powerful way, and believers are being added to the Church daily. Another pastor commented, “We believers are stronger than before. The more they want to pull down the banner of Christ, the higher it flies.” As this pastor and the story of the Chinese Church shows, the more a church is persecuted, the more its members often rise up as a testimony to the steadfastness of Christ. Hear more stories of the church growing in hostile places by subscribing to our email updates at http://extremedevotion.vom.org.nz/project/baptisms-at-4am
Communist Romania: a prisoner is released after 14 years of imprisonment for his faith. During that time, he has suffered beatings, torture, starvation, and solitary confinement – all because he chose to publically declare his loyalty to Christ above the communist regime. In October 1967 – 50 years ago this month – his story is published and a work started to bring hope and encouragement to Christians who suffer for their faith around the world. The man was Richard Wurmbrand – the prisoner who was tortured for Christ and who then spent the rest of his life serving the persecuted Church and being a voice for those who know persecution for following Christ. We celebrate the heritage of saints who have gone before us, following Christ and raising their voice for those who suffer for the same faith we share.
Saving Marriages Of The Trafficked by VOM NZ
India: "Burn Us We Don't Fear That" by VOM NZ
North Korea: Pastor Han Faithful Until the End by VOM NZ
Pakistan - Courtroom Statement That Shocked by VOM NZ
Pakistan - A Nervous Rickshaw Ride by VOM NZ
Tajikistan - Arrested For Worship Songs by VOM NZ
Nigeria - It Was Only God Who Saved Me by VOM NZ
Indonesia - The Pastor Who Would Not Die by VOM NZ
VOM’s Jesus Freak stories give listeners an insight into the lives of persecuted Christians around the world. From China to Laos, Iraq to Nigeria, you will be inspired and challenged as you hear about followers of Christ standing strong through some of the toughest trials.
VOM’s Jesus Freak stories give listeners an insight into the lives of persecuted Christians around the world. From China to Laos, Iraq to Nigeria, you will be inspired and challenged as you hear about followers of Christ standing strong through some of the toughest trials.
VOM’s Jesus Freak stories give listeners an insight into the lives of persecuted Christians around the world. From China to Laos, Iraq to Nigeria, you will be inspired and challenged as you hear about followers of Christ standing strong through some of the toughest trials.
VOM’s Jesus Freak stories give listeners an insight into the lives of persecuted Christians around the world. From China to Laos, Iraq to Nigeria, you will be inspired and challenged as you hear about followers of Christ standing strong through some of the toughest trials.
VOM’s Jesus Freak stories give listeners an insight into the lives of persecuted Christians around the world. From China to Laos, Iraq to Nigeria, you will be inspired and challenged as you hear about followers of Christ standing strong through some of the toughest trials.
VOM’s Jesus Freak stories give listeners an insight into the lives of persecuted Christians around the world. From China to Laos, Iraq to Nigeria, you will be inspired and challenged as you hear about followers of Christ standing strong through some of the toughest trials.
VOM’s Jesus Freak stories give listeners an insight into the lives of persecuted Christians around the world. From China to Laos, Iraq to Nigeria, you will be inspired and challenged as you hear about followers of Christ standing strong through some of the toughest trials.
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