preaching

Bishop Tudor Bismark

VOM staffer Grace Taylor shares how she learned about VOM when her parents received the newsletter, and how God planted the seeds through that which grew into her serving full-time with VOM. Dmitry Shestakov, former prisoner for Christ in Uzbekistan, shares what it meant when Christians around the world wrote letters of encouragement to him in prison. And Anna, the wife of a VOM international worker, shares about God’s call to their family to serve persecuted believers.

Prison Letters and Calls to Serve

One of the great blessings of traveling for VOM is meeting bold and on-fire believers serving Jesus in hostile and restricted nations. That great blessing comes with a heavy burden, though. Especially when those believers—people we know and love, people with whom our staff have shared fellowship—come under severe persecution. This week on VOM Radio, Jeremy, part of VOM’s international team, will tell us about that burden. We’ll learn what it’s like to get that phone call that says one of our partners—and a close friend—has been gunned down in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: “What It Means to Die for Jesus”

Not many Americans have been attacked by Al Qaeda terrorists and lived to share the story. Brent Teague was shot twice and left for dead, but God wasn’t finished with Brent or with his ministry in West Africa. In fact, God had already performed a miracle to provide for Brent’s rescue…before he’d even been shot! This week on VOM Radio we’ll hear Brent’s incredible story, as well as an update on recent attacks and church burnings in Niger and how Christians there are responding with love and forgiveness, even to their persecutors.

Subscribe on iTunes

Niger: “You Shouldn’t Be Alive”

Tom Doyle, author of a new book about Christians facing persecution in the Middle East, tells us that, in spite of the advance of Islamic State, God is changing the hearts of people in the region as Christians continue to boldly share the gospel message in spite of the risks and violence. He’ll share the story of a Muslim convert forced to choose between her daughter and her Savior, and a group of pastors ready to die rather than leave the work God has called them to in Syria. Tom also challenges Christians in free nations to live with the same boldness and faith, and reminds us that believers facing persecution are praying for Christians in America.

Tom Doyle: No Panic in Heaven

What would you do if an ISIS fighter wanted to meet up with you? You’d probably have lots of questions. What are his intentions? Is his spiritual hunger real, or is it a trap? Is the Lord really calling me to go to this meeting? Those questions aren’t new. Ananias had the same doubts when he was told to go visit a man named Saul. Christians in the Middle East face this dilemma today. This week on VOM Radio we’ll hear what happened when a Christian worker from YWAM was introduced to an ISIS fighter, a man with Christian blood on his hands.

When an ISIS Fighter Wants to Talk

The Church in Niger is growing and getting stronger. Earlier this year, enemies of the gospel responded: churches were burned and Christians’ homes were attacked. Missionary Ron Childs shares what happened during those attacks, and how Niger’s Christians responded with forgiveness and boldness. Ron also shares how VOM provided assistance to affected Christians after the attacks, and the response of Christians encouraged by that help. You’ll be equipped to pray for the nation of Niger, and also hear two stories of answered prayer as God stepped in to save the lives of His people through miraculous intervention. (One of those stories is from VOM’s book, Extreme Devotion. Sign up to receive devotionals in your email box each morning here: https://secure.persecution.com/extremedevotion/default.aspx?source=VOMRADIONT)

Niger: “The Church Is Getting Stronger”

Before sunrise, a North Korean Christian seals his small, secret radio into a plastic bag and buries it in the ground. He will dig it up late that night to listen again to Biblical teaching while trying to avoid the prying eyes of his neighbors and his government. At the same time, a radio transmitter built by Adolf Hitler’s propaganda machine broadcasts Jesus’ love on a million watts of broadcast power, and a Christian in the Middle East secretly downloads the Gospel of John onto his phone. TWR is using radio waves, smart phones and internet connections to share the gospel message around the world, and The Voice of the Martyrs is partnering to provide content to strengthen those serving Christ under persecution. Learn more about this important work this week on The Voice of the Martyrs Radio Network.

Sharing the Truth, Any Way Possible

Pastors in the “red zone” areas of Colombia—areas controlled by FARC guerillas—are targets. The FARC resents the gospel message which makes it harder to recruit the population to support the guerilla movement. Pastors in such areas face danger and threats. This week on VOM Radio we’ll discuss how The Voice of the Martyrs provides such pastors with training and encouragement and how these encounters bless them, as well as the VOM workers involved. You’ll also hear an update on two ongoing court cases; the case against Asia Bibi in Pakistan and the ongoing trial of two pastors accused of espionage in Sudan.

Colombia: “We All Know the Risk”

“Brother Jay” served more than a decade among Muslims in North Africa, sharing the love of Christ and discipling believers to become strong in their faith and share Jesus’ love with their countrymen. He shares how God is tearing down walls to allow His word to go forth. Jay has seen the persecution Muslim converts face, often persecution that comes first from their own families. He’s also seen Western Christians expelled and sent home. Jay will share with us about the faithfulness of God—even amidst persecution—and how Christians overcome fear to boldly share the gospel and keep serving the Lord in North Africa.

Photo credit: “Ousseni” by Guillaume Lecoquierre
https://www.flickr.com/photos/glecoquierre/4219789824/
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

North Africa: Tearing Down Walls

“Brother Jay” continues the conversation about working in North Africa, including the biggest challenge that new Muslim converts to Christianity face, and how they prepare Christians—from their first days walking with Christ—to face persecution and rejection. Jay also shares ways that American Christians can reach out to Muslims who live right here in the United States. Then we’ll talk with Christian recording artist Nicole C. Mullen about her love for VOM’s book, “Jesus Freaks,” how she prays for persecuted believers and why she shares the stories of the faith of persecuted Christians with her children.

Jesus Freaks: https://secure.persecution.com/p-310-jesus-freaks.aspx?source=VOMRADIONT

Photo credit: “Ahmed” by Guillaume Lecoquierre
https://www.flickr.com/photos/glecoquierre/4219732856/
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

North Africa: Preparing for Persecution

Those who come to Christ in Sri Lanka—especially in rural areas—face challenges and trials from Buddhist or Hindu family members or village leaders. Sometimes the challenges are extreme: church buildings torn down, Christians beaten and even martyred for their faith. Yet God is at work: even with persecution the church in Sri Lanka is growing. Rev. Godfrey Yogarajah, the leader of the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka, is in a unique position to tell us about both the exciting growth in the Sri Lankan church and the persecution that our brothers and sisters there are facing, and how they prepare to stand strong even in the midst of persecution. You’ll meet him this week on VOM Radio.

Sri Lanka: Part of God’s Plan

The Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 promised great things for the Iranian people. The mullahs that took over the nation promised an Islamic paradise on earth. More than 35 years later, Iran’s people have lost hope in their government, and in the religion it upholds. Dr. Hormoz Shariat speaks daily to millions of Iranians through satellite television. He shares the hope of Jesus with a nation that has lost hope in their Islamic government, and he sees great waves of people who have rejected Islam now embracing Jesus, the Savior. This week on VOM Radio, Pastor Hormoz shares exciting things God is doing in Iran and challenges Christians in the United States to be as committed to our God as radical Muslims in the Middle East are committed to theirs.

Iran: Ready for Some Good News

The house church pastor had been arrested and tortured. Now he wanted to talk to his leader. Dr. Hormoz Shariat expected the pastor to ask how a loving God could have allowed him to suffer. The pastor would ask, and how he would answer? Instead, the young man called being tortured for his faith in Christ an honor. It is bold witnesses for Christ like this that God is using to change the nation of Iran. Listen in this week to hear Pastor Hormoz share the stories of these faithful believers and explain how persecution in Iran is different from what Christians in other Muslim nations are facing. Encourage your faith and equip yourself to pray for the church in Iran with this week’s episode of VOM Radio.

Iran: The Honor of Being Tortured

Put In The Work

Imagine hefting a suitcase with 80 Bibles inside onto the X-ray machine in Iran. Patrick Klein has carried Bibles into hostile and restricted nations all over the world. He’s been warned many times to STOP. But he continues, answering the call of God to take the Word of God into some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places. He’s seen God close the eyes of customs agents and border guards. And he’s also seen God open the hearts of those most opposed to the Gospel. Listen as Patrick shares stories of the miraculous ways God intervened to allow him and his Vision Beyond Borders smuggling teams safe passage and used them to make a Kingdom impact all over the world.

Confessions of a Bible Smuggler

Fight

Before Patrick Klein leaves on a trip to deliver Bibles into hostile and restricted nations, he asks God to show him His plan for that trip. Sometimes God closes the eyes of customs officials and ushers the Bibles through without incident. Other times God has a different plan: Patrick is stopped and has opportunities to witness to officials trying to confiscate Bibles and hinder the gospel. After meeting with Christians who have faced imprisonment and beatings for God’s Word, Patrick has learned to see either outcome as a part of God’s plan. This week on VOM Radio you’ll hear more stories of Bible smuggling around the world, as well as how you might join a trip* to personally carry Bibles into hostile and restricted nations.

* https://visionbeyondborders.org/get-involved/go/

Bible Smuggling: “God Has a Strategy”

At some point in life everyone faces a crisis. Whether as an individual, a family, a business and even a nation, we all go through crises at some point. A crisis is not an opportunity for you to lose your mind. Take measured steps to navigate and compensate for the adversity that crisis brings.

Get the Study resource here: http://ow.ly/ULdx6 

Crisis

In a message recorded at a recent VOM conference (www.VOMEvents.com), VOM Radio host Todd Nettleton shares stories of some of the witnesses (Acts 1:8) for Christ that he’s met during 17 years of service with The Voice of the Martyrs. Todd offers Biblical truths from the lives of these Christians—Biblical truths that Christians who are not persecuted can practice and live by in order to impact those around them for Jesus Christ.

preaching

Nina Lane