Podcasts about wurmbrand

Welcome to another special episode in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series on the China Compass podcast! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, back from Asia. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our ministry endeavors or get one of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Why the Prison Pulpit? I want to remind you once again why I do this weekly Prison Pulpit series: to encourage you to pray for Pastor Wang Yi (and others like him) as Hebrews 13:3 teaches us, by sharing from his own words and sermons, as well as many stories and sermons from the late Richard Wurmbrand. Bucharest Below! Speaking of Wurmbrand, just a couple hours after posting last week’s episode of the Prison Pulpit, my flight from Oman to London took me directly over Iraq (dry and desolate), Turkey (green and gorgeous), and then after crossing the Black Sea, Bucharest, Romania, where Richard Wurmbrand was from, and where he was arrested and spent years in solitary confinement! I’ve been to Bucharest once, even meeting a few folks who KNEW Wurmbrand, but I don’t know the city well enough to locate anything in particular from the sky. However, it was fascinating nonetheless! Unbeaten.vip Also, and I promise this is the last time I’ll mention this until NEXT year, Sunday, May 25, was the anniversary of my arrest and interrogation seven years ago…UNBEATEN.VIP! May 25, 2018: 21 Japanese detained in China likely targeted in crackdown on missionaries https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2147864/21-japanese-detained-china-may-have-been-targeted What Will You Do In the Time of Testing? https://chinacall.substack.com/p/what-will-you-do-in-the-time-of-testing Follow China Compass Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also send any questions or comments via comment or DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3

Welcome to another special episode in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series on the China Compass podcast! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben, back from Asia. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our ministry endeavors or get one of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Why the Prison Pulpit? I want to remind you once again why I do this weekly Prison Pulpit series: to encourage you to pray for Pastor Wang Yi (and others like him) as Hebrews 13:3 teaches us, by sharing from his own words and sermons, as well as many stories and sermons from the late Richard Wurmbrand. Bucharest Below! Speaking of Wurmbrand, just a couple hours after posting last week’s episode of the Prison Pulpit, my flight from Oman to London took me directly over Iraq (dry and desolate), Turkey (green and gorgeous), and then after crossing the Black Sea, Bucharest, Romania, where Richard Wurmbrand was from, and where he was arrested and spent years in solitary confinement! I’ve been to Bucharest once, even meeting a few folks who KNEW Wurmbrand, but I don’t know the city well enough to locate anything in particular from the sky. However, it was fascinating nonetheless! Unbeaten.vip Also, and I promise this is the last time I’ll mention this until NEXT year, Sunday, May 25, was the anniversary of my arrest and interrogation seven years ago…UNBEATEN.VIP! May 25, 2018: 21 Japanese detained in China likely targeted in crackdown on missionaries https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2147864/21-japanese-detained-china-may-have-been-targeted What Will You Do In the Time of Testing? https://chinacall.substack.com/p/what-will-you-do-in-the-time-of-testing Follow China Compass Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also send any questions or comments via comment or DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #29 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (http://PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Last week, I shared my heart and told stories about my arrest and interrogation exactly seven years ago… Get my book and other special content @ UNBEATEN.VIP! Why Prison Pulpit? I also wanted to remind everyone again why I started this second weekly China Compass podcast. I want to encourage people to pray for Pastor Wang Yi (and others like him, as Hebrews 13:3 teaches us) by sharing from his own words and sermons. (We’ve also looked at sermons from Richard Wurmbrand.) Sometime soon, we’ll return to Richard Wurmbrand’s collection of Sermons in Solitary Confinement, but today I want to read an excerpt from a newsletter I received last week from Michael Wurmbrand, the now 80+ year old son of Richard Wurmbrand and founder of the Richard Wurmbrand Foundation. What's Wrong With VOM? BTW, Michael does NOT recommend the ministry of Voice of the Martyrs, which he helped to found many decades ago. He was fired from the ministry more than ten years ago, when he demanded a more broad inquiry into the travels and contacts of former VOM director, Tom White, who committed suicide in VOM’s Bartlesville, OK, warehouse in 2012, after allegations surfaced of him molesting a ten year old girl. (Read his “Open Letter” about VOM here: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html) Michael Wurmbrand also runs another parallel ministry, Help For Refugees, focused primarily on his native Romania, and has made all of his father’s books (and formerly unpublished writings) available for free since VOM continues to use his parents’ likeness and writings without his permission. In contrast, check out one of my favorite ministries, Asia Harvest: https://www.asiaharvest.org/ How To See Angels All that to say that in each month’s ministry newsletter, he includes a formerly unpublished homily or devotional by his late father, Richard Wurmbrand. And that’s what I’m going to share with you now… https://chinacall.substack.com/p/how-to-see-angels A Word from Michael Wurmbrand Also, here is a quote I stumbled across earlier from Michael Wurmbrand, which should challenge us: “As my father emphasized many times, the head of the serpent needs to be crushed and we need not tickle its belly. Christians have to attack the head of evil. Love of money is the root of all evil. The reason the communists wanted and worked to see us dead, was described by one of the Romanian communist ambassadors in a confidential discussion: ‘because of Wurmbrand, Romania lost preferred-nation status with the United States, 8 years in a row.’ (Isn’t that amazing, that one man did that?!) While many missions fight [evil with] programs, countless banks and businessmen support evil in the same areas through their financial interest, [doing] business as usual, like [in] China, Vietnam, Moslem countries, etc. How can a Christian in good conscience work and draw a salary in the oil industry in Moslem countries where his fellow Christians are maimed, even killed for their faith? How can Christians while claiming to help persecuted believers in China, encourage trade with the communist Chinese?” Follow China Compass Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also send any comments or questions via DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3!

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #29 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (http://PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Last week, I shared my heart and told stories about my arrest and interrogation exactly seven years ago… Get my book and other special content @ UNBEATEN.VIP! Why Prison Pulpit? I also wanted to remind everyone again why I started this second weekly China Compass podcast. I want to encourage people to pray for Pastor Wang Yi (and others like him, as Hebrews 13:3 teaches us) by sharing from his own words and sermons. (We’ve also looked at sermons from Richard Wurmbrand.) Sometime soon, we’ll return to Richard Wurmbrand’s collection of Sermons in Solitary Confinement, but today I want to read an excerpt from a newsletter I received last week from Michael Wurmbrand, the now 80+ year old son of Richard Wurmbrand and founder of the Richard Wurmbrand Foundation. What's Wrong With VOM? BTW, Michael does NOT recommend the ministry of Voice of the Martyrs, which he helped to found many decades ago. He was fired from the ministry more than ten years ago, when he demanded a more broad inquiry into the travels and contacts of former VOM director, Tom White, who committed suicide in VOM’s Bartlesville, OK, warehouse in 2012, after allegations surfaced of him molesting a ten year old girl. (Read his “Open Letter” about VOM here: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html) Michael Wurmbrand also runs another parallel ministry, Help For Refugees, focused primarily on his native Romania, and has made all of his father’s books (and formerly unpublished writings) available for free since VOM continues to use his parents’ likeness and writings without his permission. In contrast, check out one of my favorite ministries, Asia Harvest: https://www.asiaharvest.org/ How To See Angels All that to say that in each month’s ministry newsletter, he includes a formerly unpublished homily or devotional by his late father, Richard Wurmbrand. And that’s what I’m going to share with you now… https://chinacall.substack.com/p/how-to-see-angels A Word from Michael Wurmbrand Also, here is a quote I stumbled across earlier from Michael Wurmbrand, which should challenge us: “As my father emphasized many times, the head of the serpent needs to be crushed and we need not tickle its belly. Christians have to attack the head of evil. Love of money is the root of all evil. The reason the communists wanted and worked to see us dead, was described by one of the Romanian communist ambassadors in a confidential discussion: ‘because of Wurmbrand, Romania lost preferred-nation status with the United States, 8 years in a row.’ (Isn’t that amazing, that one man did that?!) While many missions fight [evil with] programs, countless banks and businessmen support evil in the same areas through their financial interest, [doing] business as usual, like [in] China, Vietnam, Moslem countries, etc. How can a Christian in good conscience work and draw a salary in the oil industry in Moslem countries where his fellow Christians are maimed, even killed for their faith? How can Christians while claiming to help persecuted believers in China, encourage trade with the communist Chinese?” Follow China Compass Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also send any comments or questions via DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3!

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #27 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (http://PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! First, I want to remind everyone why I started this second weekly podcast within China Compass. I wanted to remind people to pray for Pastor Wang Yi (and others like him, as Hebrews 13:3 teaches us) by sharing from his own words and sermons. We kept at it for a dozen weeks or so (Oct and Dec of last year), working through Wang Yi’s pre-arrest letters and declarations. Next we return to Richard Wurmbrand’s Sermons in Solitary Confinement: I then began an extended series working through Richard Wurmbrand’s Sermons in Solitary Confinement, giving us a glimpse of life from within the walls of persecution from the perspective of a well-known pastor. Richard Wurmbrand was a Romanian Lutheran minister who spent fourteen years in prison (three in solitary confinement) and published ”Tortured for Christ" after his release in the late 1960s. He later founded Voice of the Martyrs, but son Michael does NOT recommend VOM’s ministry today. (Read his “Open Letter” about VOM here: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html) Michael Wurmbrand now runs his own ministry, and has made most of his father’s books (and formerly unpublished writings) available for free: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/. The last two weeks I took a break from the Sermons in Solitary Confinement series to share a couple excerpts from Richard Wurmband’s longer book of prison stories & meditations, In God's Underground (https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf), but today we return to the Solitary Confinement Sermons, looking at a shorter one called “Word Made Flesh”, found on pages 65-67 in the original book (scanned to pdf): Sermons in Solitary Confinement. As I’ve said before, I want to preface this (as Wurmbrand himself did) with the statement that he is sharing these prison sermons “as is”, not editing out certain thoughts that he may have disagreed with later in life, or in more mentally stable moments. Not to say that they are heretical sermons either, but that they are not here presented to be as theologically accurate as possible, but to give us a glimpse into the heart, mind, and solitary cell of a prisoner for Christ. Here is the text version of this week’s prison sermon: https://open.substack.com/pub/chinacall/p/on-laban-leah-and-loving-ugly-souls Follow China Compass Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina . us or send me a DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #27 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (http://PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! First, I want to remind everyone why I started this second weekly podcast within China Compass. I wanted to remind people to pray for Pastor Wang Yi (and others like him, as Hebrews 13:3 teaches us) by sharing from his own words and sermons. We kept at it for a dozen weeks or so (Oct and Dec of last year), working through Wang Yi’s pre-arrest letters and declarations. Next we return to Richard Wurmbrand’s Sermons in Solitary Confinement: I then began an extended series working through Richard Wurmbrand’s Sermons in Solitary Confinement, giving us a glimpse of life from within the walls of persecution from the perspective of a well-known pastor. Richard Wurmbrand was a Romanian Lutheran minister who spent fourteen years in prison (three in solitary confinement) and published ”Tortured for Christ" after his release in the late 1960s. He later founded Voice of the Martyrs, but son Michael does NOT recommend VOM’s ministry today. (Read his “Open Letter” about VOM here: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html) Michael Wurmbrand now runs his own ministry, and has made most of his father’s books (and formerly unpublished writings) available for free: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/. The last two weeks I took a break from the Sermons in Solitary Confinement series to share a couple excerpts from Richard Wurmband’s longer book of prison stories & meditations, In God's Underground (https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf), but today we return to the Solitary Confinement Sermons, looking at a shorter one called “Word Made Flesh”, found on pages 65-67 in the original book (scanned to pdf): Sermons in Solitary Confinement. As I’ve said before, I want to preface this (as Wurmbrand himself did) with the statement that he is sharing these prison sermons “as is”, not editing out certain thoughts that he may have disagreed with later in life, or in more mentally stable moments. Not to say that they are heretical sermons either, but that they are not here presented to be as theologically accurate as possible, but to give us a glimpse into the heart, mind, and solitary cell of a prisoner for Christ. Here is the text version of this week’s prison sermon: https://open.substack.com/pub/chinacall/p/on-laban-leah-and-loving-ugly-souls Follow China Compass Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina . us or send me a DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #25 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (http://PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Once again, we turn to Richard Wurmbrand to give us a glimpse into the suffering of the persecuted church… Richard Wurmbrand was a Romanian Lutheran minister who spent fourteen years in prison (three in solitary confinement) and published ”Tortured for Christ" after his release in the late 1960s. He later founded Voice of the Martyrs, but son Michael does NOT recommend VOM’s ministry today. (Read his “Open Letter” about VOM here: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html) Michael Wurmbrand now runs his own ministry, and has made most of his father’s books (and formerly unpublished writings) available for free: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/. Last week I read an excerpt from a “Sermon To My Own Soul”, (or, “Preaching in a Straitjacket (Gagged)”, from Wurmbrand’s book, Sermons in Solitary Confinement, where he writes the following: You know my secret. You know the place where I have hidden some thirty sleeping pills which, taken at once, will ensure that I do not become a Judas. These suicides are acts of love and honor. They protect the Underground church. Read the text version of last week’s podcast here: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/preaching-in-a-straitjacket-gagged Today I am reading a portion from Richard Wurmband’s longer book of prison stories & meditations, In God's Underground (https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf) where he gives more context (and a finale) to the potential suicide that he only mentions in the aforementioned sermon. Here is the text version of this week’s podcast: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/to-live-is-compromise-to-die-is-gain Follow China Compass Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina . us or send me a DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #25 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (http://PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Once again, we turn to Richard Wurmbrand to give us a glimpse into the suffering of the persecuted church… Richard Wurmbrand was a Romanian Lutheran minister who spent fourteen years in prison (three in solitary confinement) and published ”Tortured for Christ" after his release in the late 1960s. He later founded Voice of the Martyrs, but son Michael does NOT recommend VOM’s ministry today. (Read his “Open Letter” about VOM here: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html) Michael Wurmbrand now runs his own ministry, and has made most of his father’s books (and formerly unpublished writings) available for free: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/. Last week I read an excerpt from a “Sermon To My Own Soul”, (or, “Preaching in a Straitjacket (Gagged)”, from Wurmbrand’s book, Sermons in Solitary Confinement, where he writes the following: You know my secret. You know the place where I have hidden some thirty sleeping pills which, taken at once, will ensure that I do not become a Judas. These suicides are acts of love and honor. They protect the Underground church. Read the text version of last week’s podcast here: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/preaching-in-a-straitjacket-gagged Today I am reading a portion from Richard Wurmband’s longer book of prison stories & meditations, In God's Underground (https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf) where he gives more context (and a finale) to the potential suicide that he only mentions in the aforementioned sermon. Here is the text version of this week’s podcast: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/to-live-is-compromise-to-die-is-gain Follow China Compass Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina . us or send me a DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #24 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (http://PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Once again, we turn to Richard Wurmbrand to speak to us on behalf of the persecuted church… Richard Wurmbrand was a Romanian Lutheran minister who spent fourteen years in prison (three in solitary confinement) and published ”Tortured for Christ" after his release in the late 1960s. He later founded Voice of the Martyrs, but son Michael does NOT recommend VOM’s ministry today. (Read his “Open Letter” about VOM here: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html) Michael Wurmbrand now runs his own ministry, and has made most of his father’s books (and formerly unpublished writings) available for free: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/. What follows was taken from a “Sermon To My Own Soul”, (or, “Preaching in a Straitjacket (Gagged)”, one of the sermons in Wurmbrand’s book, Sermons in Solitary Confinement. Read the text version of this podcast here: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/preaching-in-a-straitjacket-gagged If you enjoyed this, I highly recommend Richard Wurmband’s longer book of prison stories & meditations, In God's Underground: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf Pray for Myanmar Asia Harvest: “Our staff have taken the Gospel outside—meeting in villages, under trees, and in open spaces to share the hope of Christ (see our photo below). In this desperate time, more and more people are joining the gatherings, searching for hope and stability. The hunger for truth is growing, and God continues to move in this nation.” Please pray for the people of Myanmar, and if you would like to donate to help the earthquake relief work we guarantee that 100 percent of the funds received will go to help people in the affected areas. Nothing will be deducted for admin or any other expense. https://www.asiaharvest.org/myanmar-earthquake Follow China Compass My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a sermon I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get the book at http://Unbeaten.vip, or read just the sermon for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina . us or send me a DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #24 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (http://PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Once again, we turn to Richard Wurmbrand to speak to us on behalf of the persecuted church… Richard Wurmbrand was a Romanian Lutheran minister who spent fourteen years in prison (three in solitary confinement) and published ”Tortured for Christ" after his release in the late 1960s. He later founded Voice of the Martyrs, but son Michael does NOT recommend VOM’s ministry today. (Read his “Open Letter” about VOM here: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html) Michael Wurmbrand now runs his own ministry, and has made most of his father’s books (and formerly unpublished writings) available for free: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/. What follows was taken from a “Sermon To My Own Soul”, (or, “Preaching in a Straitjacket (Gagged)”, one of the sermons in Wurmbrand’s book, Sermons in Solitary Confinement. Read the text version of this podcast here: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/preaching-in-a-straitjacket-gagged If you enjoyed this, I highly recommend Richard Wurmband’s longer book of prison stories & meditations, In God's Underground: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf Pray for Myanmar Asia Harvest: “Our staff have taken the Gospel outside—meeting in villages, under trees, and in open spaces to share the hope of Christ (see our photo below). In this desperate time, more and more people are joining the gatherings, searching for hope and stability. The hunger for truth is growing, and God continues to move in this nation.” Please pray for the people of Myanmar, and if you would like to donate to help the earthquake relief work we guarantee that 100 percent of the funds received will go to help people in the affected areas. Nothing will be deducted for admin or any other expense. https://www.asiaharvest.org/myanmar-earthquake Follow China Compass My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a sermon I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get the book at http://Unbeaten.vip, or read just the sermon for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina . us or send me a DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #23 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (http://PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Once again, we turn to Richard Wurmbrand to speak to us on behalf of the persecuted church… Richard Wurmbrand was a Romanian Lutheran minister who spent fourteen years in prison (three in solitary confinement) and published ”Tortured for Christ" after his release in the late 1960s. He later founded Voice of the Martyrs, but son Michael does NOT recommend VOM’s ministry today. (Read his “Open Letter” about VOM here: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html) Michael Wurmbrand now runs his own ministry, and has made most of his father’s books (and formerly unpublished writings) available for free: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/. What follows was taken from “Samson in Prison”, one of the sermons in Wurmbrand’s book, Sermons in Solitary Confinement. Read the text version of this podcast here: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/samson-in-prison If you enjoyed this, I highly recommend Richard Wurmband’s longer book of prison stories & meditations, In God's Underground: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf Follow China Compass My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a sermon I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get the book at http://Unbeaten.vip, or read just the sermon for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina . us or send me a DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #23 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (http://PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve published, visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Once again, we turn to Richard Wurmbrand to speak to us on behalf of the persecuted church… Richard Wurmbrand was a Romanian Lutheran minister who spent fourteen years in prison (three in solitary confinement) and published ”Tortured for Christ" after his release in the late 1960s. He later founded Voice of the Martyrs, but son Michael does NOT recommend VOM’s ministry today. (Read his “Open Letter” about VOM here: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html) Michael Wurmbrand now runs his own ministry, and has made most of his father’s books (and formerly unpublished writings) available for free: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/. What follows was taken from “Samson in Prison”, one of the sermons in Wurmbrand’s book, Sermons in Solitary Confinement. Read the text version of this podcast here: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/samson-in-prison If you enjoyed this, I highly recommend Richard Wurmband’s longer book of prison stories & meditations, In God's Underground: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf Follow China Compass My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a sermon I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get the book at http://Unbeaten.vip, or read just the sermon for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains Follow or subscribe to China Compass wherever you are listening. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina . us or send me a DM on X: @chinaadventures. Hebrews 13:3

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #22 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish, please visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Once again, we turn to the late Richard Wurmbrand to speak to us on behalf of the persecuted church… First, for those who don't know who Richard Wurmband is, here's a brief intro: Romanian Lutheran minister / 14 yrs in prison, 3 in solitary confinement / Published ”Tortured for Christ" Founded Voice of the Martyrs, but son Michael (aka, Mihai) does NOT recommend VOM’s ministry. Michael Wurmbrand’s VOM “Open Letter”: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html Michael Wurmbrand’s Ministry (and free books!): https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/ Sermons in Solitary Confinement: Duty Never Ends Most likely published in the early 1970s, just a few years after he fled Communist Romania… Read the book for yourself: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/ssc-english.pdf What follows was taken from “Duty Never Ends”, one of the sermons in Wurmbrand’s book, Sermons in Solitary Confinement. You can read the book for yourself or listen to the audio version of this article on the latest episode of the China Compass podcast. https://chinacall.substack.com/p/duty-never-ends If you enjoyed this, I highly recommend Richard Wurmband’s longer book of prison stories & meditations, In God's Underground: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get both the book and the accompanying sermon, at Unbeaten.vip, or read the latter for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains Follow or subscribe to China Compass on Spotify or Apple or right here on PubTV. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina dot us. And don’t forget to check out everything we are involved in at PrayGiveGo.us. Hebrews 13:3!

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #22 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish, please visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! Once again, we turn to the late Richard Wurmbrand to speak to us on behalf of the persecuted church… First, for those who don't know who Richard Wurmband is, here's a brief intro: Romanian Lutheran minister / 14 yrs in prison, 3 in solitary confinement / Published ”Tortured for Christ" Founded Voice of the Martyrs, but son Michael (aka, Mihai) does NOT recommend VOM’s ministry. Michael Wurmbrand’s VOM “Open Letter”: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html Michael Wurmbrand’s Ministry (and free books!): https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/ Sermons in Solitary Confinement: Duty Never Ends Most likely published in the early 1970s, just a few years after he fled Communist Romania… Read the book for yourself: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/ssc-english.pdf What follows was taken from “Duty Never Ends”, one of the sermons in Wurmbrand’s book, Sermons in Solitary Confinement. You can read the book for yourself or listen to the audio version of this article on the latest episode of the China Compass podcast. https://chinacall.substack.com/p/duty-never-ends If you enjoyed this, I highly recommend Richard Wurmband’s longer book of prison stories & meditations, In God's Underground: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get both the book and the accompanying sermon, at Unbeaten.vip, or read the latter for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains Follow or subscribe to China Compass on Spotify or Apple or right here on PubTV. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina dot us. And don’t forget to check out everything we are involved in at PrayGiveGo.us. Hebrews 13:3!

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #19 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish, please visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get both the book and the accompanying sermon, at Unbeaten.vip, or read the latter for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains Richard Wurmbrand: Once again, we are going to turn to the late Richard Wurmbrand to speak to us on behalf of those of the persecuted church who are currently being imprisoned and tortured for Christ. For those who don't know who Richard Wurmband is, here's a brief intro: Lutheran minister in Romania. 14 years in prison, including 3 in solitary confinement. After “escaping”, published ”Tortured for Christ" in the 1960s and testified to Congress. Helped start Voice of the Martyrs (but his son Michael doesn’t trust VOM). Michael Wurmbrand’s VOM letter: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html Michael Wurmbrand’s ministry (free books!): https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/ Sermons in Solitary Confinement No publishing date, but most likely in the early 1970s, just a few years after he fled from Romania… Today we looked at the second half of the Preface… https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/ssc-english.pdf Also, here is the link to Richard Wurmband’s book In God's Underground: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf If you enjoy this podcast, follow or subscribe on Spotify or Apple or right here on PubTV. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina dot us. And don’t forget to check out everything we are involved in at PrayGiveGo.us. Hebrews 13:3!

Welcome to this special episode of the China Compass Podcast, #19 in the weekly “Prison Pulpit” series! I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. You can follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I post daily reminders to pray for China (PrayforChina.us). To learn more about our various ministry endeavors and to get any of the missionary biographies I’ve helped to publish, please visit www.PrayGiveGo.us! My little book Unbeaten tells the story of my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China in 2018. One of the appendices, Remember My Chains, is a message I’ve given all over the world about praying for the persecuted church. You can get both the book and the accompanying sermon, at Unbeaten.vip, or read the latter for free on my China Call Substack: https://chinacall.substack.com/p/remember-my-chains Richard Wurmbrand: Once again, we are going to turn to the late Richard Wurmbrand to speak to us on behalf of those of the persecuted church who are currently being imprisoned and tortured for Christ. For those who don't know who Richard Wurmband is, here's a brief intro: Lutheran minister in Romania. 14 years in prison, including 3 in solitary confinement. After “escaping”, published ”Tortured for Christ" in the 1960s and testified to Congress. Helped start Voice of the Martyrs (but his son Michael doesn’t trust VOM). Michael Wurmbrand’s VOM letter: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html Michael Wurmbrand’s ministry (free books!): https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/ Sermons in Solitary Confinement No publishing date, but most likely in the early 1970s, just a few years after he fled from Romania… Today we looked at the second half of the Preface… https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/ssc-english.pdf Also, here is the link to Richard Wurmband’s book In God's Underground: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf If you enjoy this podcast, follow or subscribe on Spotify or Apple or right here on PubTV. You can also email any questions or comments to contact @ PrayforChina dot us. And don’t forget to check out everything we are involved in at PrayGiveGo.us. Hebrews 13:3!

A haunting "tale" . How long does Jesus wait to have His thirst quenched by us? For He still thirsts...

Wurmbrand (1909-2001) a Romanian pastor, tortured for his faith, when released came to America and founded "Voice of the Martyrs." In this current VOM magazine article he reflects on a quality needed to be successful in Christ's way.

Welcome to this episode of China Compass, the 6th in a weekly series called “The Prison Pulpit”. I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I share a new region to pray for daily. You can learn more PrayforChina.us. Every week, I mention the Appendix to my little memoir, Unbeaten, which details my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China. This appendix, entitled Remember My Chains, is the written version of a message I have given all over the country dealing with remembering and praying for the persecuted church. You can get the book, Unbeaten, including the sermon, Remember My Chains, at Unbeaten.vip Today I want to read an illustration from that sermon, written by Richard Wurmband in his book In God's Underground (https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf). For those who don't know who Richard Wurmband is, let me give you a brief intro: Lutheran minister in Romania, part Jewish. 14 years in prison, including 2 in isolation. Helped start Voice of the Martyrs, but his son Michael doesn’t trust VOM. M. Wurmbrand’s VOM letter: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html Michael Wurmbrand’s ministry (free books!) : https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/ Pastor Richard Wurmbrand shares this moving testimony from a dirty underground prison cell: Our friendship began while I was trying to eat my first meal at Craiova (prison). The vile, greasy smell of the soup preceded its arrival in the cell. Shreds of rotten cabbage and unwashed [intestines] floated in a scum. But to eat was a duty and I emptied my dish. “How can you?” asked [my friend], whose stomach had revolted. “It was a Christian secret,” I said. “I think of St. Paul’s words ‘Rejoice with those that rejoice.’ Then I remember friends in America who are now eating grilled chicken, and I thank God with them as I take the first mouthful of soup. Next, I rejoice with friends in England who may be eating roast beef. And I get down another mouthful. So, by way of many friendly countries, I rejoice with those that rejoice—and stay alive.” [My friend] and I had to share a bunk through the hot, stuffy nights. I was [blessed] not to be on the floor. “You lie very still,” he said as others coughed and fidgeted around us. “What are you thinking? Does St. Paul help you now, too?” I replied, “Yes, for now I rejoice with those in the West by thinking of their comfortable homes, and the books they have, the holidays they can plan, the music they hear, the love they have for their wives and children. And I remember the second part of the verse, from the epistle to the Romans, ‘And weep with those that weep.’ I am sure that in the West many thousands think of us and try to help us with their prayers.”

Welcome to this episode of China Compass, the 6th in a weekly series called “The Prison Pulpit”. I'm your China travel guide, Missionary Ben. Follow me on X (@chinaadventures) where I share a new region to pray for daily. You can learn more PrayforChina.us. Every week, I mention the Appendix to my little memoir, Unbeaten, which details my arrest, interrogation, and deportation from China. This appendix, entitled Remember My Chains, is the written version of a message I have given all over the country dealing with remembering and praying for the persecuted church. You can get the book, Unbeaten, including the sermon, Remember My Chains, at Unbeaten.vip Today I want to read an illustration from that sermon, written by Richard Wurmband in his book In God's Underground (https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/pdfs/IGU-english.pdf). For those who don't know who Richard Wurmband is, let me give you a brief intro: Lutheran minister in Romania, part Jewish. 14 years in prison, including 2 in isolation. Helped start Voice of the Martyrs, but his son Michael doesn’t trust VOM. M. Wurmbrand’s VOM letter: https://www.billionbibles.com/michael-wurmbrand-vom.html Michael Wurmbrand’s ministry (free books!) : https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.com/ Pastor Richard Wurmbrand shares this moving testimony from a dirty underground prison cell: Our friendship began while I was trying to eat my first meal at Craiova (prison). The vile, greasy smell of the soup preceded its arrival in the cell. Shreds of rotten cabbage and unwashed [intestines] floated in a scum. But to eat was a duty and I emptied my dish. “How can you?” asked [my friend], whose stomach had revolted. “It was a Christian secret,” I said. “I think of St. Paul’s words ‘Rejoice with those that rejoice.’ Then I remember friends in America who are now eating grilled chicken, and I thank God with them as I take the first mouthful of soup. Next, I rejoice with friends in England who may be eating roast beef. And I get down another mouthful. So, by way of many friendly countries, I rejoice with those that rejoice—and stay alive.” [My friend] and I had to share a bunk through the hot, stuffy nights. I was [blessed] not to be on the floor. “You lie very still,” he said as others coughed and fidgeted around us. “What are you thinking? Does St. Paul help you now, too?” I replied, “Yes, for now I rejoice with those in the West by thinking of their comfortable homes, and the books they have, the holidays they can plan, the music they hear, the love they have for their wives and children. And I remember the second part of the verse, from the epistle to the Romans, ‘And weep with those that weep.’ I am sure that in the West many thousands think of us and try to help us with their prayers.”

Dans cet épisode, nous plongeons dans l'histoire extraordinaire de Richard Wurmbrand, un homme de foi dont le courage a défié la persécution communiste en Roumanie. Emprisonné pendant 14 ans pour avoir prêché l'Évangile, Wurmbrand a enduré des tortures inimaginables, mais sa foi est restée inébranlable. Découvrez comment il a su pardonner à ses tortionnaires, fonder The Voice of the Martyrs, et devenir un défenseur mondial de la liberté religieuse. Son témoignage puissant est un rappel de la force de la foi face à l'adversité. Image : https://biteproject.com/richard-wurmbrand/ Film  : https://www.vm1.tv/yo/watch/tortured-for-christ-fr

Herzlich Willkommen zu Rund um Rapid

Viele Absagen, aber ein paar Spiele mit Austria- bzw. Rapid-Bezug gab's dann doch. Der SCR war in Wolfsberg zu Gast und kam nach anfänglicher Dominanz doch nur zu einem Remis. Wieso war dem so, hätte der WAC eine Rote Karte bekommen müssen, wieso führte Grün-Weiß zur Pause nicht höher, wie toll war Wurmbrand bei seinem Startelf-Debüt und was ist mit Louis Schaub los? Wir gehen allem nach, schauen auf die weiterhin souveränen FAK-Frauen und widmen uns natürlich dem Tippspiel. Aufs Derby gibt's noch wenig, weil dazu kommt bald ein eigenes Stammtisch-Special! Stay tuned ...Sende uns eine Nachricht!_______________________________________________________________________________________Kontakt: nogo.wien@gmail.comBlog: https://nogo-wien.blogspot.com/Tippspiel: https://www.kicktipp.at/nogo/Social Media:https://twitter.com/NogoWien ...Du möchtest deinen Podcast auch kostenlos hosten und damit Geld verdienen? Dann schaue auf www.kostenlos-hosten.de und informiere dich. Dort erhältst du alle Informationen zu unseren kostenlosen Podcast-Hosting-Angeboten. kostenlos-hosten.de ist ein Produkt der Podcastbude.Gern unterstützen wir dich bei deiner Podcast-Produktion.

Viele Absagen, aber ein paar Spiele mit Austria- bzw. Rapid-Bezug gab's dann doch. Der SCR war in Wolfsberg zu Gast und kam nach anfänglicher Dominanz doch nur zu einem Remis. Wieso war dem so, hätte der WAC eine Rote Karte bekommen müssen, wieso führte Grün-Weiß zur Pause nicht höher, wie toll war Wurmbrand bei seinem Startelf-Debüt und was ist mit Louis Schaub los? Wir gehen allem nach, schauen auf die weiterhin souveränen FAK-Frauen und widmen uns natürlich dem Tippspiel. Aufs Derby gibt's noch wenig, weil dazu kommt bald ein eigenes Stammtisch-Special! Stay tuned ...Sende uns eine Nachricht!_______________________________________________________________________________________Kontakt: nogo.wien@gmail.comBlog: https://nogo-wien.blogspot.com/Tippspiel: https://www.kicktipp.at/nogo/Social Media:https://twitter.com/NogoWien ...Du möchtest deinen Podcast auch kostenlos hosten und damit Geld verdienen? Dann schaue auf www.kostenlos-hosten.de und informiere dich. Dort erhältst du alle Informationen zu unseren kostenlosen Podcast-Hosting-Angeboten. kostenlos-hosten.de ist ein Produkt der Podcastbude.Gern unterstützen wir dich bei deiner Podcast-Produktion.

“You can help persecuted Christians, but they can help you more.” Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs, shared this truth with Steve Cleary and it changed forever his perspective about being in fellowship with our persecuted family. Cleary, founder and president of , was an early staff member at The Voice of the Martyrs, including traveling to churches and other events with Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand. Today, Steve is following God's call to develop to share Gods Word in animated video form with people all over the world. The iBible app and content is designed to present the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. It's already impacted people all over the world. “I want to make iBible and give it to the church. So, we're asking the church to help us,” Cleary says. By 2033, Steve and his team hope to have the whole Bible completed in 300 animated episodes. Listen as Steve shares memories from serving with Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand and what he learned from them about our persecuted family. “Richard taught me that [persecuted Christians] are not victims, but that they are strong in Christ. And they can strengthen us.” Steve will also tell about his role helping bring Wurmbrand's story to life on film through . You can watch completed episodes of the Bible—in multiple languages—on the , and you can watch Tortured for Christ and the prequel, SABINA: Tortured For Chris, the Nazi Years, on the . Pray for Steve and the iBible team as they work with the global church to develop partnerships to build and distribute Biblical content throughout the world. Never miss an episode of VOM Oz Radio!

“You can help persecuted Christians, but they can help you more.” Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs, shared this truth with Steve Cleary and it changed forever his perspective about being in fellowship with our persecuted family. Cleary, founder and president of Revelation Media, was an early staff member at The Voice of the Martyrs, including traveling to churches and other events with Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand. Today, Steve is following God's call to develop iBible to share Gods Word in animated video form with people all over the world. The iBible app and content is designed to present the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. It's already impacted people all over the world. “I want to make iBible and give it to the church. So, we're asking the church to help us,” Cleary says. By 2033, Steve and his team hope to have the whole Bible completed in 300 animated episodes. Listen as Steve shares memories from serving with Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand and what he learned from them about our persecuted family. “Richard taught me that [persecuted Christians] are not victims, but that they are strong in Christ. And they can strengthen us.” Steve will also tell about his role helping bring Wurmbrand's story to life on film through Tortured For Christ. You can watch completed episodes of the Bible—in multiple languages—on the iBible app, and you can watch Tortured for Christ and the prequel, SABINA: Tortured For Chris, the Nazi Years,  on the VOM app. Pray for Steve and the iBible team as they work with the global church to develop partnerships to build and distribute Biblical content throughout the world. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the podcast.

Pastor Andrew Brunson, author of the book God's Hostage, was imprisoned two years for his Christian work in Turkey (now called Türkiye). He says every single day was a battle to overcome fear, grief and anxiety. One who inspired him in these battles was Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs. Brunson explains how Wurmbrand inspired him to dance inside his prison cell before the Lord. He says he didn't feel joy or happiness, but he set his will to act joyfully, in spite of his feelings. Brunson was also inspired by another former prisoner for Christ (and ), Dan Baumann, to lock away doubts and questions and choose to leave those in God's hand. Brunson says he told God from his prison cell, “I don't need answers to have a relationship with You.” Listen as Andrew shares how he came to “embrace my assignment” of being in prison for Christ. “I came out of prison with a deeper intimacy,” says Brunson, “I had the privilege to suffer for Christ.” God birthed a song in Andrew's soul while locked in prison. He'll share how his heart changed over the long months of his incarceration to a posture of faithfulness and trust; a change that happened despite not seeing his outward circumstances change at all. That heart change, he says, was his victory over the terrible circumstances and the injustice of Christian persecution he faced in prison. Finally, Brunson will tell the story of a letter he wrote to Norine that clearly demonstrated his changed heart. In the letter he expressed his commitment to drink every drop from “the cup of suffering” that the Lord had ordained for him. Andrew tells the entire story in his book, God's Hostage, which you can (affiliate link). Brunson has also released a teaching series helping Christians in the midst of difficulties and suffering. In the eight-session video series, Brunson shares practical insights from his own time in prison. You can also of our conversation with Andrew Brunson, and listen to his wife, as she shares her side to this story. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! . Or listen each week—and receive daily reminders of specific ways to pray for persecuted Christians—in the for your smartphone or tablet.

Pastor Andrew Brunson, author of the book God's Hostage, was imprisoned two years for his Christian work in Turkey (now called Türkiye). He says every single day was a battle to overcome fear, grief and anxiety. One who inspired him in these battles was Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs. Brunson explains how Wurmbrand inspired him to dance inside his prison cell before the Lord. He says he didn't feel joy or happiness, but he set his will to act joyfully, in spite of his feelings. Brunson was also inspired by another former prisoner for Christ (and VOM Radio guest), Dan Baumann, to lock away doubts and questions and choose to leave those in God's hand. Brunson says he told God from his prison cell, “I don't need answers to have a relationship with You.” Listen as Andrew shares how he came to “embrace my assignment” of being in prison for Christ. “I came out of prison with a deeper intimacy,” says Brunson, “I had the privilege to suffer for Christ.” God birthed a song in Andrew's soul while locked in prison. He'll share how his heart changed over the long months of his incarceration to a posture of faithfulness and trust; a change that happened despite not seeing his outward circumstances change at all. That heart change, he says, was his victory over the terrible circumstances and the injustice of Christian persecution he faced in prison. Finally, Brunson will tell the story of a letter he wrote to Norine that clearly demonstrated his changed heart. In the letter he expressed his commitment to drink every drop from “the cup of suffering” that the Lord had ordained for him. Andrew tells the entire story in his book, God's Hostage, which you can order here (affiliate link). Brunson has also released a teaching series helping Christians Prepare to Stand in the midst of difficulties and suffering. In the eight-session video series, Brunson shares practical insights from his own time in prison. You can also listen to Part 1 of our conversation with Andrew Brunson, and listen to his wife, Norine, on VOM Radio as she shares her side to this story. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the podcast. Or listen each week—and receive daily reminders of specific ways to pray for persecuted Christians—in the VOM App for your smartphone or tablet.

Hans Lindelöw följer upp läsningen av boken Torterad för Kristi skull av Richard Wurmbrand med tankar om förföljelse i våra dagar. #RichardWurmbrand #förföljelse #lärjungaskap Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Taking risks in love, from one who took many such risks.

This episode is about missed opportunities, like the one that perhaps created the dictator of Romania.

Angelic transmission of messages--

Author of -Tortured for Christ- and founder of Voice of the Martyrs Richard Wurmbrand, counsels Christian parents to go beyond earthly duties and prepare their children to bear the cross. Then, we visit Wurmbrand in the Jilava prison where he meets a fellow pastor.

Author of -Tortured for Christ- and founder of Voice of the Martyrs Richard Wurmbrand, counsels Christian parents to go beyond earthly duties and prepare their children to bear the cross. Then, we visit Wurmbrand in the Jilava prison where he meets a fellow pastor.

A new MP3 sermon from Hackberry House of Chosun is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: A Message from Wurmbrand Subtitle: Wurmbrand Speaker: Richard Wurmbrand Broadcaster: Hackberry House of Chosun Event: Testimony Date: 1/8/2023 Bible: Hebrews 13:3 Length: 9 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Hackberry House of Chosun is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: A Message from Wurmbrand Subtitle: Wurmbrand Speaker: Richard Wurmbrand Broadcaster: Hackberry House of Chosun Event: Testimony Date: 1/8/2023 Bible: Hebrews 13:3 Length: 9 min.

Andrew and Daphne share the surprising way they received their heart for the persecuted, how this is being passed to others, and ways they practically help and support people around the world.- www.G2gMandate.org- www.G2gMandate.org/IssacharNetwork- info@G2gMandate.org 161: Andrew Brunson // The Unexpected Prisoner - https://youtu.be/FrvLlKtY80Y 178: Andrew Brunson // The Lion Will See Us Through - https://youtu.be/NgFiJL6UBTgYouTube Version: www.youtube.com/RadicalLifestyle- Radical Lifestyle Instagram Click Here- Telegram channel and discussion: Click HereYou can also follow Andrew and Daphne on their social media platforms:Andrew Kirk: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | ParlerDaphne Kirk: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | ParlerTo support the channel: Click Here- UK only Donations here: Click Here

http://www.fedecultura.com/marx-compagno-di-settaKarl Marx è stato tra i più influenti pensatori dell'Ottocento, ma la storia ha mostrato ampiamente che l'utopia comunista è in grado di produrre soltanto miseria e morte in larga scala. Ma da dove proviene un simile pensiero? Gaetano Masciullo sta scrivendo per voi un libro sulla teologia e la storia della Massoneria. Un piccolo assaggio delle sue ricerche. Presto sul nostro e-commerce!

Sabina Wurmbrand is sleeping. A soldier shows up at the house to speak to her husband Richard. The soldier turns out to be the murderer of his wife's family. How would you greet the soldier-

A new MP3 sermon from Hackberry House of Chosun is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Extreme Devotion, Wurmbrand Speaker: Bob Faulkner Broadcaster: Hackberry House of Chosun Event: Testimony Date: 10/9/2022 Bible: Hebrews 13:3 Length: 3 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Hackberry House of Chosun is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Extreme Devotion, Wurmbrand Speaker: Bob Faulkner Broadcaster: Hackberry House of Chosun Event: Testimony Date: 10/9/2022 Bible: Hebrews 13:3 Length: 3 min.

In a Communist prison with a man who sounds very much like Wurmbrand. Today we learn how the Communists issued musical instruments to all the praising Christians...

Wurmbrand. Every story about him challenges our own devotion to the Lord. See him bring a prison guard to Christ in this episode.

A new MP3 sermon from Hackberry House of Chosun is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Extreme Devotion, Wurmbrand Subtitle: Extreme Devotion Speaker: Bob Faulkner Broadcaster: Hackberry House of Chosun Event: Testimony Date: 6/19/2022 Bible: Acts 4:29 Length: 3 min.

In deze 50ste editie van podcast de Stem een special over Richard Wurmbrand, de grondlegger van het werk van SDOK. Deze Roemeense voorganger zat 14 jaar gevangen vanwege zijn geloof ten tijde van de koude oorlog. Na zijn vrijlating ging hij naar het westen en bezocht ook Nederland meerdere keren. In deze podcast zijn unieke opnamen te horen uit een toespraak van Wurmbrand die hij in 1971 in Oud-Beijerland heeft gehouden over het thema blijdschap in verdrukking. Links in deze aflevering: Vertel ons wat je van de podcast vind via www.sdok.nl/enquete Beluister de hele preek van Richard Wurmbrand: www.sdok.nl/preek De meest bijzondere aflevering volgens Richard is aflevering #26.

Wurmbrand is spared much mental anguish in his suffering by remembering this simple story...

Wurmbrand: We Are Not Jesus' Customers by Pastor Mitch Coston

Here's one way to bring Russians to Jesus, begun by Romanian Richard Wurmbrand when Russia took over his country.

Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned for 14 years in Communist prisons, yet came out loving his enemies. Hear his words.

Join us as we continue to look back on some of the most moving moments on VOM Radio in 2021: “Brother Aaron” says Christian persecution in Pakistan is “like the air”—all around, all the time. Aaron Miller says his personal experience of persecution was surprising—but sacred as well. Dan Baumann and Andrew Brunson said they don't miss being in prison, but sometimes they do miss that intimacy with God. (Register to view the Imprisoned for Christ Virtual Event.) Ellen Oblander shared how Richard Wurmbrand responded to suffering—even long after he was released from prison. Anita Smith remembered the death of her husband, Ronnie Smith, in Libya, and how she began to pray for the men who killed him. Tat Stewart tells about being in Tehran the day the US Embassy was taken over in 1979—and how God honored the spiritual seeds he planted in Iran. Andy Byrd told of a young lady who came to Christ in the Himalayas—and paid a very high price. “Brother Stephen” remembered telling the story of Jesus in a Bedouin camp to people who had never heard it before. Tom and JoAnn Doyle shared how God transformed a man from Syria named Mohammed—and through that transformation reached his wife, Dina, as well. John Weaver shared specific ways to pray for Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover of the country. After hearing these brief program excerpts, you'll want to go back and listen to the entire conversations. You can search for VOM Radio on your favorite podcast app, or listen online at the links below. Brother Aaron from Pakistan Aaron Miller Dan Baumann and Andrew Brunson panel discussion Ellen Oblander, editor for Richard Wurmbrand Anita Smith on forgiving her husband's murderers Tat Stewart on living in Tehran in 1979 Andy Byrd, leader of The Send Brother Stephen from Operation Mobilization Tom and JoAnn Doyle John Weaver on Afghanistan We praise God for allowing VOM Radio to share these amazing stories of His faithfulness in 2021. THANK YOU for listening. Please subscribe to the podcast and share VOM Radio with Christian friends you know would also be encouraged by these testimonies!

John Grooters is the director of a new movie portraying the marriage, choice to become Christians and early persecution of VOM's founders, Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand—told through the eyes of Sabina. SABINA: Tortured For Christ, The Nazi Years will screen in more than 800 theaters in the US for three days only – November 8, 9 and 10. Buy tickets here. Grooters also directed Tortured For Christ – The Movie, which portrayed how the Wurmbrands were persecuted under communists in Romania. SABINA is a prequel to the first film, telling an earlier part of the Wurmbrands' story, including their persecution—and how they blessed—Nazi forces that occupied their nation. Listen as John talks about the challenge of making a film in the Wurmbrands' native Romania in the midst of a worldwide Covid-19 pandemic. John will also share how God's hand was on the production, including filming the scene of Richard's baptism in the very room where it happened! You'll hear how Richard and Sabina's faith has impacted Grooters as he spent five years deeply connected to their story as he created two films, and how he hopes it will impact the faith of viewers around the US and all over the world. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio. Subscribe to the podcast!

On December 14, 2020, I posted a book review on "Tortured for Christ" by Richard Wurmbrand. The late Wurmbrand was the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs. This episode is an audio version of the aforementioned book review. Please be aware that I share some graphic quote citations in this review. ***RESOURCES*** Here is the link to the book review: https://earnestlayman.wordpress.com/2020/12/14/book-review-tortured-for-christ-by-richard-wurmbrand/ I made mention of a book review I did on "God Doesn't Whisper" by Jim Osman. Here is the post to that review. It amplifies the points I was making about the plethora of false teachers in visible evangelicalism: https://earnestlayman.wordpress.com/2021/06/23/book-review-god-doesnt-whisper-by-jim-osman/ Thanks for listening! “Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. “Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org” Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Wurmbrand got introduce to wrestling at Lincoln High School. Later in life, he was an assistant coach in the 1980s at James Madison High School. After some years he took over the Upper Ten Eyck wrestling program in the early 2000s. He has coached several athletes, such as Jayden Cardenas, Demitreus Henry, Isaias Torres, etc. Currently, he is a retired teacher from the NYCDOE and supports GSC at practices, dual meets, and tournaments. 

As a teenager in Cuba, “Maria” encountered the book Tortured For Christ, written by VOM’s founder, Pastor Richard Wurmbrand—when she was told to burn the books before Cuban authorities could find them and arrest her father! Today, Maria and her husband, “Pedro,” help VOM serve persecuted Christians in Cuba and other Latin American nations. Listen as they share a recent experience when Cuban authorities issued an arrest warrant for Pedro, and how Pedro and Maria experienced the prayers of Christians around the world in that time of pressure and trial. Listen also to learn how Cuban pastors are pressured by communist authorities, and whether or not anything changed for Cuban Christians after the death of Fidel Castro. Bonus content: This is release week for the new book, When Faith is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines With Persecuted Christians, written by VOM Radio host, Todd Nettleton. We’ve posted the first two chapters of the audiobook version into the podcast stream. Listen to:  Departure Day: Preflight Checklist and Day 1: Beyond Our Control. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the podcast.

January 9. Richard Wurmbrand. In his younger years, Wurmbrand  was an atheist. He prayed:  “God, I know surely that You do not exist. But if perchance You exist, which I contest, it is not my duty to believe in You; it is Your duty to reveal Yourself to me.”  But in time, Wurmbrand learned the truth about himself, about God, and about Jesus. […] The post Richard Wurmbrand, Romania, Pastor first appeared on 365 Christian Men.

Hear now the word of the Lord from 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, ESV This is the word of the Lord which is given to us in love. A few weeks ago, I watched a movie a movie called “Tortured for Christ”. It's based on the true-life story of a pastor named Richard Wurmbrand. Wurmbrand was a Lutheran pastor in Romania in the 1940s when the Soviet Union occupied Romania. When the Soviet soldiers entered his country, he risked his life on multiple occasions not to stay away from them, but to boldly share the gospel with them. He would find excuses to share the gospel with these Soviet soldiers who were occupying his homeland. What really got him in trouble though was at a gathering of churches, where the communists were exerting more and more control over the churches, and he spoke out against that. Eventually he was arrested by the secret police on his way to lead a worship service for his church. He spent three years in solitary confinement underground where there was no light and there was no sound. The guards actually wore rubber soled shoes so that they would not be heard by him. So, he spent all of his time in darkness and in silence. To keep his sanity and his faith he preached himself a sermon every day. Every day he would spend his time composing and preaching to himself a sermon, for three years, while he was in solitary confinement. He stayed in prison eight and a half years. After which he was released, he was warned not to continue preaching the gospel. However, like the apostles before him, when Wurmbrand was released from prison he was warned not to preach the gospel, but he decided he must obey God rather than man and he continued preaching the gospel and he was arrested three years later. It was then he was tortured and mutilated, including a horrific torture where his feet the soles of his feet were beaten repeatedly so badly that he was never able to walk without difficulty again. Eventually Christians raised money to ransom him, to buy him out of prison, and he spent the rest of his life advocating for martyrs around the world. Ge was the founder of Voice of the Martyrs, the organization who is in charge of this day of international prayer for the persecuted church. I tell you that story first of all because I would encourage you to read the book on which it's based, or to watch the movie. We have a copy in the library over there, it's called “Tortured for Christ”. You can also get it free on Amazon Prime if you want to stream it that way. It's an excellent story, but the main reason I tell you this is to really understand what we're dealing with when we consider our texts today. These are not just religious ideas, this is an issue of life and death. Literally of whether there will be life after death, whether there will be a resurrection of the dead. If we ask ourselves why would Richard Wurmbrand ,why would the reformers not only write religious ideas, but give their lives for the sake of the gospel of Jesus? Why would anyone in any age in any culture throughout history give their life for the cause of Christ? The answer is that they were looking for something beyond this life. They were awaiting with expectation the hope that we have laid out in this passage, the resurrection of the dead. Not a doubtful, “boy I hope that happens someday”, but a confident expectation that there will be life beyond this life, life beyond this world. So, because of that our big idea this morning is that The resurrection of Christ assures us of truthful preaching and powerful faith. As we think about the resurrection of the dead and the life and death significance it bears on our own lives today, let's look at how we're going to study this passage. First Paul is going to lay out an assertion, the assertion which is the foundation for everything we have as Christians, not least of which are the two points that he's going to draw from that, but the assertion is that Christ is raised from the dead. Everything begins there, Christ is raised from the dead. Then he's going to draw two particular implications, again the resurrection of Christ is the foundation for everything we have. The two particular implications that Paul pulls out are that we have, number one, true preaching and, number two, powerful faith 1. Christ is Raised from the Dead 2. True Preaching 3. Powerful Faith Christ is Raised from the Dead So, let's look at what Paul says in verse 12. Laying out this basic foundational assertion that Christ is raised from the dead he writes, 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 1 Corinthians 15:12, ESV What Paul is doing, which it's important to understand, is he's linking what he says here to what he just wrote in the previous paragraph, in verses 1 through 11 of this chapter. There Paul talked about his preaching, “if Christ is proclaimed”. If you look up the page just a little bit at verse 11 the word, we see in our Bibles is “preach”, or at least in my Bible. So, it's a different English word that's used here in verse 12, “if Christ is proclaimed”, but in both cases those are the same original word in Greek. Paul summarizes his preaching in verse 11, and now he's talking about the preaching that he just laid out. Well what did Paul preach? What did he proclaim? In verse 12, “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised.” Well again, that was the content of Paul's preaching that he talked about back in verse 4, that Christ was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. This is what Paul was preaching, that Christ was raised. Notice the way that Paul reminds us of what he has just talked to us about, but now turns the corner a little bit because he says something new in verse 12. “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead.” “Raised from the dead”, Paul didn't use that phrase in the previous paragraph, in verses 1 through 11. Here he talks about the resurrection of Christ as being raised from the dead. What this means is that Christ was not merely raised from death in an abstract way, whatever that might be. He was one of the dead, he was numbered among the dead ,he was a man who died like every other man before him and after him. What's different is that unlike any other man or woman who died, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. His death was just like ours in that he died, and death held power over him in the grave. Yet his death was absolutely unlike ours because it was impermanent, because it was temporary, because before his body saw corruption God raised him from the dead. So Paul is saying if this is true, if Christ is raised from the dead, how then can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? Now we don't know why some in Corinth were saying this. Some people in Corinth were apparently saying, “well sure we believe that Christ is raised on the third day accordance with the scriptures”, but for whatever way they were saying that apparently they didn't draw the connection that Christ's death was a real death and therefore his resurrection was a resurrection of someone from the dead. Somehow, they weren't connecting those concepts that Christ was just as dead as everyone else who has ever died, but it was from that that he was raised. We don't know why the Corinthians were saying that there is no resurrection from the dead, although the New Testament gives us several possibilities of what they might been thinking. We know from the gospels that there were Jewish reasons for saying that there is no resurrection of the dead. Not all Jews rejected the resurrection, but the Jewish Sadducees taught that there is no resurrection. We see this in several places for example Matthew 22:23. We know there were not only Jewish reasons for rejecting the resurrection of the dead, but there were Greek reasons. When Paul went to Greece and he was in Athens and preaching to them, all those philosophical types love to hear new teaching and they gladly listened to Paul, until the point when he talked about the resurrection of the dead and then it fell apart. Then they started laughing at him and mocking him because this strange teacher is teaching us something about the resurrection of the dead, what a joke, what a silly thing to believe in. They thought, “we know that others taught that there was a resurrection but didn't talk about it in the fullness of the idea of being raised from the dead like Paul was talking about here.” So, for example, in 2 Timothy 2:16-18 Paul warns Timothy, a pastor. to confront the teaching of at least two people Hymenaeus and Philetus who taught that the resurrection had already taken place. Well certainly there's a resurrection, but it's already taken place, it's not going to happen again, what we've seen has already happened, it's already taken place. Paul says don't let that spread, it's going to spread like gangrene, like cancer, through the church to destroy the confidence of those who are awaiting the gospel promises of the full resurrection of the dead. We know, fast forwarding 2000 years, that even in our day many continue to reject the resurrection of the dead, especially those who embrace a philosophy called materialism the belief that all that exists is simply what exists in the material world. If you can't taste it, touch it, feel it, smell it, see it, measure it, then it isn't real. So, for those reasons today people still reject the resurrection of the dead. We don't know why the Corinthians were teaching that there was no resurrection of the dead and we don't know how many people were doing this or why it was being tolerated or to what degree was being tolerated, but Paul isn't concerned about that so much. In fact, I think one of the reasons we don't have the reasons that the Corinthians were teaching this is so that we can keep our focus on the necessity of the resurrection, without getting too bogged down in the Corinthians and why they were allowing this to go through their church. Whatever the reason this is a devastating doctrine. If there is no resurrection from the dead, Paul says everything falls apart. Look what he says in verse 13. 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 1 Corinthians 15:13, ESV If we're talking about Jesus Christ's death as a death of a man, just like our deaths when we go to die, and we're talking about Christ's resurrection from the dead as the resurrection of a man who is truly dead, then if there is no resurrection of the dead then that would exclude Christ from being raised from the dead. The consequences of that, if it were true, would be horrific. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:14, ESV This idea of in vain means empty or hollow. So, there's a real tension, we should feel it. We're not just here for the fun of it. Is our preaching hollow? Is our faith empty and without any real substance or reality to it? That's what Paul is raising this question and that's what was being talked about and believed by the Corinthians. True Preaching Well Paul goes on and to address these two questions, is the preaching true and is the faith powerful or are both of these in vain? Paul says absolutely it is not true, absolutely Christ is indeed raised from the dead. Therefore, in this second point, Paul says we have true preaching, in verses 15 and 16. The next thing Paul does in the second point where Paul talks about the truthfulness of the preaching is in verse 15, he says, 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 1 Corinthians 15:15-16, ESV What Paul is doing is he's drawing this to the logical conclusion. He is saying if that's true, if there is no resurrection the dead and therefore no resurrection of Christ, then we are found out, we're found guilty of bearing false witness, of perjuring ourself against God Almighty. Saying that he raised the dead when he didn't, if what you were saying is true, then we're false witnesses. Now what's interesting about this is again Paul absolutely believes that Jesus Christ is raised from the dead. He said in the previous passage that he was an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ. What he is doing here is not simply teasing out the implications of this, although he is doing that, but he's giving us an insight into what he thinks he is doing as an apostle. Paul did not think that he was just an entertaining speaker. He didn't think of himself as a speculative philosopher or an agitating activist or charismatic leader. Paul sees his work as doing nothing less than bearing witness, giving sworn testimony, about the work of God before the courtroom of the world as they listen to what he is bearing as eyewitness testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. To bear witness that a dead man has been raised up from the grave. So what Paul is saying is not merely true, it is true, but he's testifying about what God is doing and therefore he is testifying about real power the power of God unto salvation. Powerful Faith So now Paul is going to address not just the preaching, not just what he's saying, but the faith in the preaching. The faith in what is proclaimed about Jesus Christ as raised from the dead, have they believed in vain? Well this brings us to our third point, that no in fact they have powerful faith. In verses 17 through 19. Look what Paul says in 17-19, 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:17-19, ESV Earlier Paul said that their faith would be in vain, hollow, empty, without substance. Now he says their faith is futile, it's worthless, it is useless, it can't do anything for them. Paul brings out a particular area where it is useless, namely it is useless in doing anything about your sins. Your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins if Christ is not raised. The problems wouldn't end there, in verse 18 he says, “Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.” He's saying, understand some people who believe in Jesus Christ as crucified and raised up have already died. These are the people who have fallen asleep and if they believed in a faith, that was in vain. If they had a faith that was futile, a faith that could not really deal with and put away their sins if Jesus Christ remains dead in the grave. If he suffered for our sins, but he was not powerful, he didn't rise in victory over our sins, then he has nothing to offer not only to us but to those who have already died. If they died without any provision for their sins, any resurrection power over their sins, then they've perished. The word here Paul isn't saying merely that they died. That's just to repeat what he's already saying. He's saying these are condemned to be tormented for all eternity in hell. That's the consequence of not finding an atoning sacrifice and a resurrection power for our sins. If Christ didn't die for our sins, and if he wasn't raised up from the dead, then those who die in Christ have nothing to stand for, they have nothing to take away their sin. They have no righteousness to offer God and they will be tormented for all eternity in hell. In fact in verse 19 Paul goes on to say that if the resurrection is not true then Christianity is nothing but harmful verse 19, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only”, if this is just something that makes us feel good in the here and now, “we are of all people most to be pitied.” We have no hope in this life if that were true since we would continue to live under the condemnation of God against our sins. We would have no hope, not only in this life but in the life to come since there will be no life to come since we will die, perishing in eternal condemnation in hell forever. Again, Paul is saying that's what would be true if there were no resurrection from the dead, that's what the consequences would be if Christ were not raised up for our justification. However, Christ was raised from the dead, so the opposite is true. Our faith is not empty, it's not voids of substance, it is not idle, it is not worthless, it is not useless. Your faith is powerful to save not because of you or the strength that you have in the faith that you exercise, but in the faith that allows you to receive the gifts that God gives you through his son Jesus Christ. Not only that, but you are not still in your sins if you have faith in Christ. By faith in Jesus Christ, God has forgiven us of our sins. That's what we remind ourselves every week in the assurance of pardon. More than that, those who have died having faith in Christ have not perished, they are rather those who are asleep awaiting the day of the resurrection when they will come awake with Christ forever. So, what all of this means is that since we have hope not in this life only, but in the life to come in Christ, then we are not of all people most to be pitied. Christianity is difficult. We're told in the Bible that God will discipline us as his own children, that's hard. More than that we are told that we have to lay off and forbear from indulging ourselves and all the pleasures of this world, that can be hard. More than that we are told that we are going to face opposition and persecution and maybe even death in this life, that's very hard. Yet we live not in the confidence of what we can experience for ourselves today, we live in confidence of a life to come. A confidence in the resurrection where we will be raised up to an eternity with Jesus Christ forever. This confidence is not built on our speculation, but on what God has already done. Just as Christ was raised, so also all of us who believe in him will be raised up with him for salvation. Application Now what Paul is implying for this, if we think about how to take this and apply this to our lives, what Paul is saying is he's giving us a gospel a hope, a confidence that should affect our lives drastically in at least three ways. Here are the ways to apply this in three ways. 1. We must believe in our crucified and resurrected savior the Lord Jesus Christ. We must believe in him. We have no hope except through faith in Christ. If you're still working out what it means to be a Christian, thinking through what it might mean to be a Christian, understand Paul is telling us in no place clearer than he does right here what that would mean. Paul is telling us about what he was an eyewitness to. He's not making religious speculations. Anyone with a blog and a basement and enough time can offer religious speculations. Paul is not doing that. What Paul is doing is bearing faithful witness and testimony about what he saw. He was an eyewitness of this. Now understand it's one thing to be confident about something you speculate about. We do this all the time right? Everybody's an expert on everything and we all will take to our grades, things that we really don't know that much about, right? All of us are do that, we're confident in things that we've never actually seen, that's one thing. It's another thing, however, to go to your grave to suffer and bleed and be beaten and left for dead and to die for something you know to be false. Again, Paul's not a speculator on religion, Paul is either truly an eyewitness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to the resurrected Christ himself, or he's not. Either he saw Jesus raised from the dead or he didn't. There's no middle ground and Paul went to his death preaching and proclaiming that Christ was raised from the dead. He made the good confession before Caesar himself in Rome and was ultimately beheaded for his faith. If that was false, then Paul is of all people most to be pitied. Paul says it wasn't just me, there were 500 with me, and go ask them. We saw Jesus raised from the dead. This is true, a man was raised from the dead. If this is true then Paul's preaching is not just information, it's the power of God unto salvation. The Christ whom Paul preaches is powerful to save, to raise up from the dead those who have died just as he was raised from the dead, this isn't pie in the sky, head in the clouds, religious fantasy. We're talking about a real event that took place in human history, that points forward in great expectation and confidence to a real event that will happen in the future. A human being was crucified, he died, and he was buried in a tomb for three days. That same human being really rose from the dead in a glorified human body. This isn't an inspiring idea to give us warm fuzzies, this is an announcement of God's powerful work in this world to raise the dead and to reverse the entirety of the curse that's brought into this world by sin, far as the curse is found. This is our confidence for the future that just as Christ was raised, so we will be raised up with him when he returns. So, what Paul proclaims is that God has made a real accomplishment. He didn't just make promises and give us empty words, he gave us substance, reality, something worthful not worthless. Something that can really do something about our sin and corruption and guilt and eventually our death. It's the resurrection. That a solution has been made to human sin and suffering and death, it's the resurrection that all those who look to Christ in faith will experience with him when he returns. What's more, this is not a message that's just for those who've already believed in Christ. Maybe you think of Christianity as well there's a group of people who are Christians and I guess they get this promise, but maybe I don't, maybe I'm left out of this. What the gospel declares is that this message is true for even those who haven't yet put their faith in Christ. It's true that Jesus died for our sins and now he is raised up from the dead and he's ascended into heaven where he is reigning as king at the right hand of his father. As king here is what he proclaims what he preaches by his word and his Spirit through the gospel of Jesus Christ, it's this, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. This is the gospel proclamation for all those who have so far resisted his reigning, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. The question you have to ask is will you come to believe him today? 2. Well there's a second way that this should drastically affect our lives. What this tells us is that we can live with confidence because of the resurrection. We can live in this life with confidence because of the resurrection. This has been a year that's overturned any confidence we might have had in anything that this world has to offer, any comfort, any security, any satisfaction, any salvation. Have you sought your confidence in health? Well here's a pandemic that came out of nowhere. While if this is not perhaps quite as devastating as some thought, the next one could be. Do you have confidence in the government? Well this has been a year of upheaval and chaos and confusion, and let's throw an election in to make things interesting. Have you sought confidence from the economy? This has been a year that has been devastating for the economy. Have you sought confidence from your social relationships? You've been distanced from those relationships for this year. This year is a confidence killer, if our hope and our confidence is in this life only. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, then we are of all people most to be pitied. The hope of the resurrection gives us a hope beyond this life, beyond this world. Because the hope of the resurrection the dead reminds us this world is not our home. Our ultimate goal in life, the reason for which we exist, the chief end of our existence, is not to squeeze everything we can from this life because this world is not our home, it's slipping through our fingers like sand. Whatever happens in this world is fleeting and temporary and passing away, while it is eternity that would be long. So what are your fears, what has you down, why are you frustrated, irritated, and angry? The hope of the resurrection lifts up your soul, it lifts your eyes beyond this world, beyond the chaos of this world, to confidence in the resurrection to come. Let me put this in a litmus test perhaps as we've been looking at this passage, Paul is teasing out the implications. If the dead are not raised, then Christ is not raised, if Christ is not raised then our preaching is false, we're misrepresenting God. If the dead are not raised, if Christ's not raised then your faith is in vain, it is futile, you are still in your sins. Those who have died in Christ have perished and we are of all people most to be pitied. Have you been more anxious about what would be the case if that were true or are you more anxious about what's going to happen on Tuesday? Where is your confidence in this life? Is it in the kingdoms of this world and who's in power or is in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ? 3. There's a third way that this should drastically affect our lives. Not only that the resurrection gives us hope to live in this world, but also confidence that we can die in this world, that we can die with confidence in the resurrection. Today is a day where we've been reminded of and praying for all those who have who are in the midst of persecution, who are joining all those faithful witnesses. That's what the word martyr means, someone who bears witness, who gives testimony. It's the same word that Paul is using in this passage about bearing false witness against God. All those who bear witness about Christ, all the way to the point of death. Many people in history, especially in the midst of the Reformation, gave their lives for Christ. Today we have brothers and sisters who are being persecuted, even to death, for their faith. We need to lift them up in prayer. Again, why would any Christian willingly give up his life for Christ? The answer is because of our confidence in the resurrection. Those who give up their life to bear witness for Christ are not those who are living for this life but are those who are living for the next. Those who give up their lives are those who know that if they have all the pleasures, all the riches, all the relationships that this world has to offer it will all be for nothing if they do not have Christ. As Jesus puts it in Mark 8:36 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36, ESV On the other hand, if we forfeit, not Christ or our souls, but if we forfeit this world for the sake of Christ then we seek to gain everything, to profit everything from the life to come. Brothers and sisters, we need to understand that all of us who seek to faithfully follow Jesus will face persecution of one kind or another. Paul tells us this in 2 Timothy 3:12 indeed all those who desire to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. That's going to happen to some degree or another, but it may even be that some of us sitting here today will face the kind of persecution that so many have faced before, so many are facing right now. The choice of whether we will be faithful to Jesus Christ and make the good confession, just as Jesus made the good confession before Pontius Pilate, just as so many have given the good confession about Jesus Christ in order to be put to death. So also we may have the choice, do we choose Jesus and confessing Christ before a hostile world or do we choose whatever we have to gain in this life, in this world? Understand the time to make that decision is now. The time to make that decision is when we're here and studying God's word because if the word is not hidden in our hearts, then we'll be toast when it comes to withstanding the persecution of God. Unless God gives us supernatural strength. one of the fascinating things I learned from this movie of Richard Wurmbrand is that he prepared for persecution by memorizing 366 verses against fear. So, he had a verse against fear to recite every day of the year. In fact, the day of when he was arrested was February 29th, a leap year, so he had one extra verse for that day when he went into persecution to recite for himself before he suffered for Christ. The best way to prepare for the possibility of persecution is by dying to this world every day. To die to yourself and to die to the world. Are you living for this world or dying for this world? Or are you living for Christ in the hope that when you die, he will raise you up to newness of life, to the resurrection life, not in a temporary world that's falling apart but in a world that is secure and unshakeable forever and ever. Is your hope in what you can squeeze from this world now or is it in the resurrection of Christ for all eternity? Brothers and sisters through the gospel of Jesus Christ let us live with confidence in the resurrection that we may live with confidence and die with confidence. Let's pray. Heavenly Father we ask that you would give us confidence in the resurrection of Christ to believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ who made the good confession. Who didn't worry about his death, who sought out the joy that was set before him and despised the shame and the suffering of the cross, as he awaited the joy of the resurrection. We pray that that would be our hope, our lives, our outlook as well. We pray this for Christ's glory and for our good. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Richard Wurmbrand (1909–2001) was born to a Jewish family in Bucharest, Romania.  In 1936, he married Sabina Oster and in 1938 they placed their faith in Jesus Christ.During World War II, Richard and Sabina preached in bomb shelters and rescued Jewish children out of the ghettos. They were repeatedly arrested and beaten and, at least once, nearly executed. Sabina lost her Jewish family in Nazi concentration camps.In 1945, when Romanian Communists seized power, Richard and Sabina attended a congress where many religious leaders praised Communism and swore loyalty to the new regime. Richard declared to the delegates, and to the whole nation, that their duty was to glorify God and Christ alone.On Feb. 29, 1948, the secret police kidnapped Richard.  In 1950, his wife, Sabina, was also imprisoned leaving their 9-year-old son, Mihai, alone and homeless.  Sabina was released after three years, and Richard was also later released, only to be re-arrested and then released in an amnesty in 1964.In December 1965, two organizations paid a ransom to allow the Wurmbrand family to leave Romania for Norway and then on to England.  Richard began his ministry as a voice for persecuted Christians to the West, where he also wrote "Tortured for Christ", the story of his time in prison.Recorded June 24, 2018

Pastor Andrew Brunson, author of a new book called God’s Hostage, was imprisoned in Turkey for two years, and he says every single day was a battle to overcome his fear and grief and anxiety. One of those who inspired him in these battles was Richard Wurmbrand, VOM’s founder. In Part 2 of our interview with Brunson, he explains how Wurmbrand inspired him to dance inside his prison cell. He says he didn’t feel joy or happiness, but he set his will to act joyfully in spite of his feelings. Brunson was also inspired by another former prisoner for Christ (and VOM Radio guest), Dan Baumann, to lock away doubts and questions and choose to leave those in God’s hand. Brunson says he told God from his prison cell, “I don’t need answers to have a relationship with You.” Listen as Andrew shares how he came to “embrace my assignment” of being in prison for Christ. Andrew will share about the song God birthed in his soul while he was locked in prison, and how his heart changed over long months in prison to a posture of faithfulness and trust in spite of not seeing his outward circumstances change. That heart change, he says, was his victory over the terrible circumstances and injustice he faced in prison. Finally, Brunson will tell the story of a letter he wrote to Norine that clearly demonstrated his changed heart as he expressed commitment to drink every drop that the Lord had ordained for him to drink from the “cup of suffering.” Order your copy of God’s Hostage (affiliate link). You can also listen to Part 1 of our conversation.

Merv Knight has served persecuted Christians for more than 50 years, including co-founding The Voice of the Martyrs Australia and serving for decades as a member of the board of directors for VOM-USA. He worked side-by-side with Pastor Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, VOM’s founders and former prisoners for Christ in Romania. Recently Merv spoke to the staff at VOM headquarters on the occasion of his retirement from active service on the ministry’s board. Listen as he shares insights about the Wurmbrand family, the early days of the ministry and some of the persecuted Christians who inspired Merv over his many years of serving through VOM. He’ll tell about: Hiding money on a Russian train so that it wouldn’t be confiscated before it could be delivered to the families of Christian prisoners in Siberia. Meeting a pastor’s daughter in the former Soviet Union, and blessing her with Christian literature. Meeting with Chinese house-church Christians, and seeing how careful they were to hide and protect the only Bible they had: small gospel tracts. Finally, Merv will challenge each of us to be faithful in the things that God has called us to do to serve Him and build His Kingdom, wherever we are.

John Grooters spent many months deeply immersed in the story of VOM’s founders, Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand. They lived exemplary Christian lives, even loving and witnessing to their torturers. Their example has deeply challenged Grooters, who directed Tortured For Christ – The Movie, as well as the video segments for the WURMBRAND small-group curriculum. Listen as Grooters shares the philosophy that drove this project, and the challenges for Christian filmmakers competing with big-budget Hollywood studios. John will share how viewers responded to the film—including a 10-year-old boy who committed his life to Christ after seeing Richard and Sabina’s example of following Christ under persecution. You can receive a complimentary copy of Tortured For Christ – The Movie on DVD when you make a donation to VOM’s work with persecuted Christians. You can learn more about Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand through the Wurmbrand small group study, or by reading WURMBRAND: Tortured For Christ The Complete Story.

Steve Cleary Steve saw the mission field through the eyes of Richard Wurmbrand, his employer. Wurmbrand had been jailed and tortured for years in Communist Romania for preaching the gospel and when finally set free, he started Voice of the Martyrs. Steve went on many trips with Richard and his wife and witnessed the persecution faced by brave men and women who stood for the gospel. Now Steve wants to help the missions that reach out to the lost around the world. And by creating films that can be used in the language of the people being reached, they can hear the good news. Pilgrim’s Progress is the first and is already set to air on Christian Satellite TV for Easter in Iran as well as the Philippines and Turkey.Website: http://www.Pilgrims.movie.Trailer: https://pilgrims.movie/ STEVE CLEARYSteve started his missionary work with Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) in 1989. Soon he found himself traveling with VOM founders Richard and Sabrina Wurmbrand. He still contracts for them and has traveled around the world, including, Cuba, Sudan, Iraq and ISIS occupation. In 2015 he joined with Robert Fernandez to build an animation studio to create films for the mission field. Steve launched Revelation Media in 2017 to produce quality and culturally engaging media for the global mission’s community. His projects include: Pilgrim’s Progress, Tortured for Christ and The Animated Bible Series.

John Grooters directed Tortured For Christ – The Movie, a feature-film telling the amazing story of VOM’s founders, Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand. The story has inspired millions of Christians over the past 50 years through Pastor Wurmbrand’s best-selling book, Tortured For Christ. Listen as John talks about turning this iconic book into a film, including the challenge of portraying Richard’s suffering in an appropriate way. John will also share how God’s hand was on the production, including snowfall and sunshine in Romania that miraculously cooperated with the filming schedule. Hear how God led John to just the right song for the close of the film—a song written by a Christian cellmate of Richard Wurmbrand in prison! You’ll hear how Richard’s faith impacted John as he studied the story and created the film, and how he hopes it will also impact the faith of the viewers, including ending the movie not with a scene of suffering but a scene of American Christians worshipping the Lord. US Residents: as a THANK YOU for your generous donation in the month of March to support VOM's work assisting persecuted Christians, VOM will send you a complimentary copy of Tortured For Christ - The Movie on DVD. You can give online here. VOM Radio host, Todd Nettleton, has also been a guest on John’s podcast, “No Shame,” which is available wherever you listen to podcasts. You can hear the interview with Todd by clicking here.

This week we continue our look back on some of the amazing testimonies God has allowed VOM Radio to share in 2018. Brother Blake and Brother Joel told us about the state of the church, and the increased persecution, in China and how Chinese Christians wear out their Bibles. Manfred Mueller challenged the way his fellow Germans—and many Americans—think about refugees, urging us to see a gospel opportunity. “Sister Sahar” came to the US as a Muslim student from Saudi Arabia. Today she is a follower of Christ, and she shared ways we, as Christians, can reach out to Muslims we know today. “Brother Fahdi” told us that God is at work in Yemen, drawing Muslims to faith in Christ. Brother Aaron shared the story of how VOM’s help to a Christian family in Central Asia arrived at exactly the right time. John Grooters, the director of Tortured For Christ—The Movie, shared an inspiring chapter from the life of Richard Wurmbrand, VOM’s founder. George Verwer, the founder of Operation Mobilization, encouraged American Christians not to lose gospel focus, and to be intentional about sharing our faith in Christ with people around us. If you’ve been blessed by these snippets from conversations on VOM Radio this year, you’ll want to go back and listen to the entire conversation with each of these guests: Brother Blake and Brother Joel: here and Brother Joel on Bibles in China: here. Manfred Mueller, the head of VOM’s sister office in Germany: here. “Sister Sahar,” from Saudi Arabia: here. “Brother Fahdi,” talking about Yemen and other Middle Eastern countries: here. Aaron, on VOM’s work in Central Asia: here. John Grooters, on the making of Tortured For Christ—The Movie: here, and on the making of the Wurmbrand video-based small-group curriculum: here. George Verwer, the founder of Operation Mobilization: here.

George Verwer is the founder of Operation Mobilization; OM has mobilized more than 200,000 people to spread the gospel to the furthest parts of the world. Listen as George shares how he thinks about risk, and his challenge to Christian believers to refocus from comfort and convenience to serving the Lord. George will share about OM workers he has known who’ve sacrificed everything for Christ, and also how he makes tough leadership decisions—including sending mission workers into dangerous places. Verwer challenges each of us to be involved in sharing the gospel message and to focus more on the things of Christ than on the daily news or our social media feed. He’ll also share about his early encounters with VOM’s founder, Richard Wurmbrand, and how George declined to use OM vehicles to smuggle Richard out of Romania. Listen to OM co-founder Dale Rhoton on VOM Radio here and here. Current OM-USA President, Andrew Scott, has also been a guest on VOM Radio. Purchase George's book, Messiology (affiliate link).

This weekend marks the launch of a new video-based curriculum to allow your family, Bible study group or Sunday School class to take an up-close look at the lives and faith of Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand. Our guests are Cole Richards, President of The Voice of the Martyrs and one of the on-screen speakers in the video series, and John Grooters, the director of the video segments as well as of Tortured For Christ – The Movie. Listen as they describe the lessons from Richard and Sabina’s lives that most impacted them, and what they hope American Christians will draw out of this six-week study. We’ll also share how you can get a free DVD and digital download of Tortured For Christ – The Movie when you buy the curriculum video DVD and included group leader’s guide. Watch the trailer and purchase WURMBRAND six-week video curriculum. Listen to John Grooters share about the making of Tortured For Christ – The Movie in a previous episode of VOM Radio.

Rebecca George is the principal writer for VOM’s new book: WURMBRAND: Tortured For Christ the Complete Story. Listen this week as she shares how she went about researching the lives of Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, the founders of The Voice of the Martyrs. Rebecca will tell us what her writing process is like, and why she felt the need to start the story by telling about the Wurmbrand’s life before Christ—to show the difference that Christ made. She’ll talk about wrestling with how many details of the Wurmbrands’ terrible suffering to include, and how her own walk with Christ was impacted by the example of Richard and Sabina. Finally, Rebecca will give us a preview of the project she’s working on now: the story of another imprisoned Christian. Order your copy of WURMBRAND here.

The Christian Outlook – April 7, 2018 Mat Staver, founder and chairman of the Liberty Counsel, joins Georgene Rice to talk about California's attempt to dictate what type of counseling help is legal and what is illegal. Mark Elfstrand and John Stonestreet, President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, examine the topic of school shootings and violence. Frank Sontag addresses troubling statistics pointing to the fatherlessness of our nation's children. Dr. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Seminary, tackles the issue of the decline of European Christianity. Todd Nettleton of Voice of the Martyrs shares with Georgene Rice about the book detailing martyrs Richard and Sabrina Wurmbrand, “Wurmbrand, Tortured for Christ." Julie Woodley joins Mark Elfstrand to share details of her nightmarish childhood, and the people she thought she could trust and turn to for help, but betrayed her. Bob Burney explains the latest stop on the unstoppable locomotive of political correctness that has barreled through colleges and workplaces, sparing almost no one.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I had the pleasure of spending time with Todd Nettlleton at NRB 2018 in Nashville. During our conversation, Todd shares about his 20 years of work at The Voice of the Martyrs, a new book titled Wurmbrand: Tortured for Christ – The Complete Story (David C. Cook, 2018), and Tortured for Christ - The Movie. About the Book:  This biography explores the inspiring lives of Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, telling the complete story in one volume for the first time! On February 29, 1948, Richard Wurmbrand was arrested by the secret police. His crimes? Leading Christian worship and witnessing—both of which were illegal under the atheistic Communist regime of Romania. He also spoke up for Christ at a gathering of party officials and religious leaders. Because of his faithfulness to Christ, he endured 14 years of prison and torture. His wife, Sabina, suffered two years of forced labor. They emerged not with melancholy or a bitter spirit but with a story of victorious faith. Though Richard and Sabina endured intense persecution, they remained outspoken and bold about sharing their faith in the God who saved them. About Todd Nettleton:  Todd is the Chief of Media Relations and Message Integration for The Voice of the Martyrs and the host of The Voice of the Martyrs Radio. Todd serves as a voice for persecuted Christians, working with the media to tell people in the United States about the faithfulness of Christ's followers in 60+ nations where they face persecution. The son of missionary parents, Todd spent part of his youth in Papua New Guinea and the rest in Southern California. Todd and his wife, Charlotte, have two grown sons and recently welcomed their first daughter-in-law into the family. In his spare time, Todd enjoys reading, writing, music, travel and sports, including serving as commissioner of a fantasy football league. In 2015 he ran his first half-marathon. Connect with Todd and The Voice of the Martyrs: persecution.com VOM Radio Facebook Twitter (@VOM_USA) For additional show notes, visit ShaunTabatt.com/209.

The movie Tortured for Christ premieres in March of 2018, and it mimics the story written by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand in 1967 as he described his fourteen years of capture and torture at the hands of the Communists in his native Romania. Steve Cleary was the Executive Producer and John Grooters was the Director of the film. Together, they co-wrote the screenplay. Steve, a close friend of Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand before their deaths in 2001, was passionately involved in the making of their story.

What is so distinctive about our hope? Today were are looking at some Old Testament promises and prophesies to blow open our hearts about the reality of our hope. It’s time to get even more excited about the best time of they year.   Support the SPF Podcast Help fuel the podcast with a monthly gift! This helps me with equipment costs, web hosting fees, and getting the word out about this podcast! Thank you so much for considering it! patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful Free Monthly Bible Reading Plan Want to join me and other ladies in reading the Word every day? Get a free Bible reading plan by signing up here: sheprovesfaithful.com/bible Canon Press Books Discount Looking for great resources or Christmas presents? Check out the books at canonpress.org and use code SHEPROVESFAITHFUL for a 30% discount until December 12th! Need some ideas? Check out some of my favorites at sheprovesfaithful.com/canon If you see this before 9pm MST on 12/6/17 check out the giveaway on my Instagram account for the book Radiant - 50 Remarkable Women in Church History. G I V E A W A Y ➕ “One day Sabrina was moved to a new prison. A guard brought her to the commandment’s office. “In this place, Mrs. Wurmbrand, he told her, “you must know that I am more powerful than God. Now— have you seen through the sham of religion? Have you realized in a communist society, you don’t need God anymore?” . “I see that you are powerful,” Sabrina answered, “and probably you have documents there about me that can decide my fate. But God keeps records, too, and neither you nor I would have life without Him. So whether He keeps me here or sets me free, I’ll accept that as best for me.” Excerpt from Sabrina Wurmbrand’s story - 1944 Romania - from Radiant by Richard Hannula . ➕ I’m giving away one of my favorite books of all time: Radiant - 50 Remarkable Women in Church History.➕ . Every story is captivating and convicting. I see God moving His Kingdom forward from the first century to the 21st century using these brave women. Some are martyred, some imprisoned, some widowed, some on thrones, all faithful in their homes and communities, and all given the faith to prove faithful with the message of Jesus Christ as Savior and King. There is no other way and their conviction and boldness gives glory to God and hope to a hopeless world. . P L U S ➕ get a copy of Blah Blah Black Sheep for a little one in your life. It’s adorable. . Remember you can get 30% off @canonpress books (including these titles) with code SHEPROVESFAITHFUL unto December 12th. . To Enter: 1️⃣ Make sure you’re following @sheprovesfaithful (that’s me

If you are familiar with the New Testament or church history, you know that Christians have been persecuted for their faith in many times and places. Starting with the murder of Stephen soon after the resurrection, countless followers of Jesus have been tortured and killed for spreading the gospel and refusing to give up their faith. But did you know that there are more Christians facing harsh persecution right now than at any other point in history? This week Kevin’s guest is Todd Nettleton, the Director of Media and Public Relations for Voice of the Martyrs. This organization exists to raise awareness and provide aid for persecuted Christians around the world. Voice of the Martyrs was founded by Romanian Pastor Richard Wurmbrand in 1967, after he was finally released from a 14-year stay in a communist prison. What crime did he commit to deserve such a sentence? He refused to surrender control of his church’s teachings to the communist government, and said that his first loyalty would always be to Christ. Wurmbrand was able to survive his horrific experience and use it to glorify God, writing about it in his book Tortured for Christ (which is available for free through Voice of the Martyrs). Many more Christians are going through similar experiences right now, and their stories need to be heard. Todd shares a few such stories, and also explains what VOM is doing to help persecuted Christians and spread the gospel in places where it needs to be heard the most. He also talks about what those of us who live in safety can do to help our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. To learn more about Voice of the Martyrs visit Persecution.com, where you can subscribe to their newsletter about the state of the persecuted church worldwide. You can also listen to their radio show at VOMRadio.net. “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” —2 Corinthians 4:17-18 This episode first aired on October 4th, 2015. We make video lessons to raise up confident Christians: https://educateforlife.org/

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – Part 4Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”The fourth fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering. Patience is another word that expresses the same thing as longsuffering. However, longsuffering emphasizes patience during the time of suffering.This word could apply to a person who is suffering from sickness. I have known Christians who were bedfast for years. Some have a negative attitude, and it is depressing to visit with them. Others are happy Christians in spite of the circumstances. These Christians are the ones who cheer you up when you visit them. They are longsuffering. Richard Wurmbrand is an example in longsuffering. Wurmbrand spent fourteen years in a communist prison and was tortured repeatedly. I recommend his books. They are inspiring.There is the longsuffering of a faithful pastor who grounds his flock in the Word of God. I remember when I was a boy that I wanted to go to bed and wake up twenty-one. Growth to maturity seemed so slow. This is also true in the spiritual realm. Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” It is so important that the young Christian be grounded in the Word of God so that he is not blown around by every wind of doctrine. Ephesians 4:14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”May the Lord bless these words to our hearts today!In Christ,Bro. White