Four in 10 people on earth have never heard the name of Jesus. Brother Harold, a gospel worker for 15 years among Muslims in Central Asia, joins VOM Radio this week to share what he’s seen and learned during seven years mobilizing missionaries to go into all the world. Harold will share how his own daughter was called to full-time missions and offer advice and encouragement to parents sending out their sons and daughters to be gospel workers, knowing that some will never come back. “There are about 450,000 Christian missionaries worldwide,” Harold says, “but only 15,000 go to the unreached, to the 3.4 billion unreached people.” Today Latin American and African churches are on fire for Christ, sending out the greatest number of missionaries to the world. How can the church in North America come alongside these willing workers? Listen as Brother Harold encourages local pastors to be involved and supportive of missions in their congregations, including practical advice to pastors. He will also encourage those of every age to be involved in missions and share the benefits of attending the  course that helps all believers understand their roles in the Great Commission. Harold also shares a recent experience where he was convicted by God in a taxicab. Pray for unreached people groups to hear the gospel and for missionaries to be sent into the harvest fields. &nbsp;for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as giving&nbsp;free&nbsp;access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp; device today.

MISSIONS: Christ Will Empower Us to Take His Message to the World

Dozens of foreign Christians have been quietly forced out of Türkiye in recent years. After moving his family to Türkiye (formerly Turkey) in 2001, Jerry Mattix served in aid ministry and as a pastor. Last month he was told he is no longer allowed to enter the country—even for short visits. Jerry and his wife grew up in missionary families with hearts for missions. During his first semester in Bible school, God grabbed Jerry’s heart for the Kurdish people in Türkiye, one of the largest unreached people groups in the world. Listen to hear how Jerry and his wife started ministry together in Türkiye, and the story of Jerry’s first expulsion from the country in 2013, when he was labeled a “threat to national security.” Türkiye was founded as a secular republic, but in recent years government leaders have grown more open about favoring Islam. Jerry fought his first expulsion in court, and judges ruled in his favor, allowing him to reenter the country in 2016—but not to live there. Jerry and his family planted new roots in North Cyprus. They have seen the Lord’s hand at work despite their family’s upheaval. Following the massive earthquake on February 6th, 2023, Jerry made repeated trips to Türkiye to partner with local pastors and lead international Christians in to serve in relief work. Listen as Jerry explains the government’s decision to remove foreign Christians from Türkiye and hear how the local church has “grown legs” to carry forward the ministry as foreign workers are being forced out of the country. “We’re not praying for peace and prosperity, or for Christian persecution;” Jerry says, “We are praying for the kingdom of Christ to grow and thrive—whatever it takes.” Pray for Jerry and other foreign Christians who have been kicked out of Türkiye and for believers in Türkiye to continue in the ministry God has called them to. Listen to more stories from Türkiye on VOM Radio with , , and . &nbsp;for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as giving&nbsp;free&nbsp;access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp; device today.

TÜRKIYE: Foreign Christians Being Forced Out

Do you believe the Lord brought them to us so they can hear the gospel?” The question was asked by a pastor in Aleppo, the war-torn city in Syria. Members of the Islamist group that would soon control the country were standing in front of his home, machine guns in hand. “That’s a Kingdom-minded church!” says John Samara, a Christian from Syria and the founder and leader of , a ministry reaching people with the love of Christ in Syria, the Middle East and North Africa. Samara has seen God answer prayers for revival during the last 12 years of civil war in Syria. Yet he also sees more Christian persecution coming as more Muslims come to know Jesus—and as the new regime in Syria tightens it’s control over the country. While the new government—which overthrew the longstanding Assad regime late last year—publicly says they want more religious freedom and will make a place for religious minority groups, what’s happening on the ground isn’t matching their lofty words. “We’re looking at potential genocide against Christians in Syria,” says John. The new government grew out of a group that formerly claimed allegiance to Al Qaeda and ISIS. John will also discuss his new book, , living as a persecuted Christian in the Middle East, and seeing his father deal courageously with constant interrogation and interference from the secret police. Order a copy of  today to read amazing stories of God at work and learn how the Spirit of God speaks through us, even in times of great fear! John spoke during The Voice of the Martyrs’ . You can still access this powerful event online to hear stories of faith and courage in the shadow of radical Islam. Pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in Syria to stand firm in their faith amidst rising Christian persecution. &nbsp;for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in Syria, North Korea, Iran, China and other nations throughout the year, as well as giving&nbsp;free&nbsp;access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp; device today.

SYRIA: What’s Happening with Christians Under New Regime?

Andrew Ginsberg has been the president of Operation Mobilization USA for the last six months, stepping into the role and following in the footsteps of George Verwer, founder of OM (and past ). Coming from a Jewish upbringing, Andrew tells the story of the nine-year path that led him to following Jesus—and then his eventual route into full-time ministry. Andrew shares three things the Lord taught him in the 18 months before he took over the presidency of OM-USA, preparing him to lead OM through this season. He also talks about the weight of leadership when sending gospel workers to places where their lives are at risk due to Christian persecution. Andrew is reminded that it’s his job to inform, not to stop people from being a witness for Christ. “It’s very easy to give up control, hold my hands up, and let the Lord do the work,” Andrew says, “The gospel moves in our presence but not because of our presence.” Andrew will also share the story of one witness in Sudan, and how OM-USA is using social media to reach individuals willing to be disciple-makers. His greatest joy is to see others called to go and spread the gospel to the unreached parts of the world. Pray that the Lord would call more laborers into the harvest and that the gospel wildfire would continue to spread in closed nations. OM co-founder Dale Rhoton has also . &nbsp;for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in Syria, North Korea, Iran, China and other nations throughout the year, as well as giving&nbsp;free&nbsp;access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp; device today.

OM President: Who Am I to Stop Missionaries From Going To Hard Places?

Nik and Ruth Ripken went to Africa as missionaries. They experienced great works of God, but also great hardship and loss. Malaria almost killed them. Four Christian friends in Somalia were killed in one day. Their 16-year-old son died suddenly.&nbsp; Out of their wrestling with grief and loss God gave them a new mission: meet with persecuted Christians all over the world and learn from them. For Nik, it was a very personal quest. “I don’t know if Jesus is trustworthy anymore. Somali believers are dead. Our son is dead. Our dreams are dead. And we want to know, Is Jesus for the tough places?” Out of their quest  was born. Nik shared the lessons persecuted Christians had taught him in a book, . The book eventually became a , released shortly after this interview was recorded. Today, Nik and Ruth host their own podcast, , and have recently launched a video-based group study, . Listen as Nik and Ruth share their stories of God calling them to missions from very different backgrounds, and the hardship and loss they experienced on the field in Africa as missionaries. &nbsp;for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in Syria, North Korea, Iran, China and other nations throughout the year, as well as giving&nbsp;free&nbsp;access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp; device today.

Learning From Persecuted Christians: “Is Jesus for the tough places?”

Brother Nathan had a ministry sharing the gospel and praying with Muslims in the Middle East. He and other believers had been evangelizing for more than eight years. The responses were almost completely positive. Then, as he was ministering with two others last year, they ran into a very different response. Nathan and his two friends found themselves in a police office, their hands behind their backs, facing a serious charge of “heralding Christianity.” Nathan’s missionary journey started long before his arrest. At 19, Nathan joined YWAM to experience short-term mission work after deciding to give his entire life to be used by the Lord—wherever He asked Nathan to go. Nathan will share how Peter’s choice to step out of the boat on the water with Jesus inspired him to be all in with Christ. As a young man and zealous missionary, Nathan didn’t think much about the risk of Christian persecution—until it happened. Nathan will share advice and encouragement to future missionaries and describe his missionary work each day in the Middle East. “Muslims are hungry for prayer,” Nathan shares. “They are real people with real issues who long for prayer.” Nathan had many opportunities to pray healing over Muslims and see the Lord at work. Listen as he tells the story of his arrest and what he felt when as he realized he could be facing years in prison. Nathan will also share how the Lord relieved fear and anxiety when they took their prison bread and the water and turned it into a remembrance of Christ’s suffering. Since they didn’t have a Bible, the scripture they knew in their heart was all they had to hold onto during their worship and prayers to the Lord in prison. Join us next week to hear more of Nathan’s experience in prison and how it became their mission field for Christ! &nbsp;for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in Syria, North Korea, Iran, China and other nations throughout the year, as well as giving&nbsp;free&nbsp;access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;&nbsp;device today.

ARRESTED IN MIDDLE EAST: Prison Was a Mission Field

Last week, Brother Nathan, a gospel worker in the Middle East, shared his testimony and how his gospel work in the Middle East led to his arrest. This week on VOM Radio, we’ll hear more about his time in prison and how the Lord opened the prison doors for release. Listen to hear how Nathan’s wife left the country—with their two young children—not knowing when or if she would see her husband again. Nathan will also share what a powerful difference it made for him to have fellow Christian believers by his side in prison. Nathan says it was such a gift to go through this suffering with other believers rather than alone and shares how one of those believers encouraged him not to let prison quench the evangelistic fire that burned inside him to share the gospel with Muslims. He also tells the story of how God revealed the exact number of days he and his friends would be in prison—and how he’s seen seeds planted in prison produce gospel fruit in a very closed country since his release. Learn how you can pray specifically for Nathan and his family, as well as Christians in the Middle East, as they face persecution. &nbsp;for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, India, Nigeria, China and other nations throughout the year. The app also gives you&nbsp;free&nbsp;access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp;&nbsp;device today.

LOCKED IN A MIDDLE EAST PRISON: “We See Jesus Clearer In Times of Suffering”

How is God at work amid ongoing fighting since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? Eric Mock, from the Slavic Gospel Association, wants to remind us that the gospel is going forth as Christians stay faithful to serve the Lord in spite of difficulties and hardship. He’ll share stories of Ukrainian pastors who kept up their ministries, even with Russian tanks outside their homes. The  (SGA) started in 1934, built on a foundation of prayer with a heart to reach those behind the Iron Curtain with the gospel. One of the ministry’s early effort was a dictation-speed recitation of the Bible broadcast over shortwave radio—allowing believers in Russia and other Soviet nations to create their own hand-written Bibles. (The Voice of the Martyrs has a similar broadcast reaching into North Korea today.) Hear more about SGA’s history and how the Lord brought Eric to serve there in 2002 to support local churches and other ministries in 13 countries. He will describe how the fall of the Iron Curtain led to revival but then how consumerism later lessened revival fires. Eric challenges all of us to see the examples of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine who are ministering and risking their lives for the sake of the gospel. Pray that the gospel would continue to go forth in Russia, Ukraine and other nations in the region, and that Christians would stay faithful through hardship. &nbsp;for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as giving&nbsp;free&nbsp;access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp; device today.

RUSSIA/UKRAINE: “The War Accelerated Our Ministry”

Doug Clay and Sam Brownback work in very different arenas. But both have a heart to serve Christians around the world. Doug Clay, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God - USA, shares about the genesis of the AG church and their current goal to put a church within walking distance of all humanity—including people living in hostile areas and restricted nations. “The finishing of the Great Commission is doable in our lifetime,” Clay says. Clay will share three ways to pray for your pastor and how he works to help the church equip the saints to have a biblical worldview and to endure. Seeing the church as the expansion of God’s Kingdom, Doug knows it’s crucial to encourage and pray for your pastor and for church leaders around the world. Sam Brownback served as United States Ambassador for International Religious Freedom during the first Trump administration. He has worked for decades to defend religious liberty in nations hostile to Christian teaching. Brownback will share from his experiences meeting with leaders of foreign nations, including one conversation that led directly to the release of a Christian pastor from prison. He’ll also share how a formerly imprisoned Christian in Saudi Arabia encouraged him to continue in the work God called him to, and how raising religious freedom issues with your elected officials can be a practical way to serve persecuted brothers and sisters. Currently, Brownback is working on a book about persecution in China. &nbsp;for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as giving&nbsp;free&nbsp;access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp; device today.

Different Jobs, But Both Help Christians in Restricted Nations

With a passion for serving and growing the local church, particularly in areas where it’s difficult to train and raise up leaders, Dr. Michael Reeves, President of  explains how UST trains pastors and leaders in the church worldwide—including pastors for churches in hostile areas and restricted nations. Listen as Dr. Reeves explains the importance of the education to equip church leaders to know God, love and adore Him and His ways, and know the gospel so they may effectively preach it. This training, and the deep knowledge of God is fosters, helps pastors withstand persecution when it comes. Dr. Reeves will also share about his own missions experience living on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the lessons he learned living in a Muslim culture and seeing how Christians were treated—and how they responded. “You become like the God you worship,” Reeves says. “When believers only have Christ—and not other substitutes for Him—it seems that they’re able to taste of that joy more deeply. He’ll also share thoughts on how each of us can nurture our own prayer life. Pray for believers to have a deeper knowledge of God and be inspired by the testimonies of persecuted Christians, which display beautiful evidence of the power of the gospel. &nbsp;for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as giving&nbsp;free&nbsp;access to e-books, audio books, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your&nbsp;&nbsp;or&nbsp; device today.

Deep Knowledge of God Helps Christians Endure Persecution

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

OM President: Who Am I to Stop Missionaries From Going To Hard Places?

The Voice of the Martyrs - VOM Radio

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