This week on VOM Radio we talk with former Congressman Pete Hoekstra about how the United States government responds to Christian persecution around the world, and how we can influence our leaders in Washington DC to be more informed and involved in standing up for our persecuted family. Then Cole Richards, who leads VOM’s international work, gives us an inside look into how VOM works in hostile and restricted nations, how we find and help Christians facing persecution and ways you can pray for our international workers.

Being a Voice: Raising Persecution in Washington, D.C.

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”

Gilbert Hovsepian’s father, Pastor Haik Hovsepian, was a church leader in Iran with an outreach to Muslims and a voice that wouldn’t be silenced. He was threatened many times. Then he disappeared. For 12 days Gilbert and his family searched and worried. Gilbert says those 12 days were the hardest of his life. Then Haik’s body was found, stabbed repeatedly. Listen to VOM Radio this week as Gilbert shares how his family responded, and how the prayers and care of the Body of Christ around the world encouraged and carried them. He’ll also share how God has taken the misery of those days and used it to shape a ministry that still reaches into Iran today, strengthening the church and leading Muslims into fellowship with Jesus.

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Iran: From Misery to Ministry

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.

Niger: “You Shouldn’t Be Alive”

Padina was ready to kill herself on live TV to earn Allah's favor and prove the God of the Christians was powerless. Instead, she met Jesus Christ and saw Him heal her mother from sickness. She became passionate to introduce her countrymen to the Savior. Today she leads a house church network inside Iran, including training church leaders to be ready to face arrest, harassment and persecution. She'll tell us how they prepare to face persecution, and describe the ways that VOM is helping and strengthening the church in Iran today. Finally, we'll talk about specific ways to pray for Christians inside Iran.

You can read more of Padina’s story in Iran: Desperate for God, or watch a video about how she came to Christ on YouTube.

Book: https://secure.persecution.com/p-302-iran-desperate-for-god.aspx?SOURCE=VOMRADIO
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz38KW3_wfI

Iran: Church Planting with Padina

His cell phone rings. When Brother Matthew answers, it is an angry voice, threatening to kidnap his children and abuse his wife. Radicals in Nepal are angry at his Christian witness and his support for Christians there. Matthew and his family have been forced to move multiple times, to different cities, because of the threats. Yet they boldly continue to serve our persecuted family in Nepal. Brother Matthew says when he sees the suffering other Nepali Christians endure, he doesn't even feel his own suffering is worth mentioning. You’ll meet this brave Christian brother and learn how to pray for our spiritual family in Nepal this week on VOM Radio.

Nepal: “Only God Listens”

Jim Dau served at VOM for 18 years, including in recent years as VOM’s President and CEO. Join VOM Radio this week to hear about Jim’s recent visit to persecuted Christians in Myanmar (Burma), including a family that faced intense persecution just days after coming to faith in Christ. Jim will also look back on some of the Christians that impacted him during his service at VOM, and some of the spiritual qualities he’s seen in these brothers and sisters that inspired his own faith. He’ll share how he prays for our persecuted family members, and how he and his wife, Peggy, have been intentional to share the stories of persecuted Christians with their grandchildren to inspire their commitment to Christ, using VOM resources like The Torchlighters and I Am N videos.

If you live in the U.S. and do not receive VOM’s free monthly newsletter, sign up at persecution.com.

Prayer and Forgiveness

The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) is a nonprofit, interdenominational missions organization that offers practical and spiritual help to persecuted Christians around the world.

Nepal: “Only God Listens”

The Voice of the Martyrs - VOM Radio

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