The Voice of the Martyrs

"There's going to be some backlash. You can get it in Afghanistan, sadly, on all levels- from within your own family, from within your community, from within your local mosque...even politically from the government..." says Author John Weaver, long-time gospel worker in Afghanistan, about the risks of becoming a Christian in Afghanistan. Pray for our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan as they face persecution. #persecutedchristians #voiceofthemartyrs

WHAT IS DAY OF THE CHRISTIAN MARTYR? According to church tradition, June 29 marks the martyrdom of the Apostle Paul. This month, join Christians around the world in remembering the faithful witness of those who, like Paul, have given their lives for the advancement of the gospel. And be inspired by their example to have that same boldness to share Christ in your community. Inspire your family, group, class or church to be bold witnesses for Christ at any cost. THE FAITHFUL WITNESS OF THOMAS AND KANDE The Apostle Thomas is often thought of today as "doubting Thomas." The truth is that he simply wanted to know if Christ's Resurrection was real. Once he knew for sure, he took that message to the ends of the earth. Historians believe his commitment to sharing about Jesus Christ was so strong that he traveled as far as India, preaching the gospel all along the way. He endured hardship and beatings, and ultimately was speared to death in southern India. The seeds of the gospel that Thomas planted in India continue to bear fruit today, in Christians like Kande Mudu. Kande became a fervent evangelist after coming to faith in Christ, despite opposition from radical Hindus. Village elders pressured him to recant, but he remained faithful to the Lord. After Kande helped lead his three brothers to Christ, village elders knew there was no changing his heart ... so they killed him. "The disciples said to him, 'Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?' ... Then Jesus told them plainly, 'Lazarus has died. ... But let us go to him.' So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.' " -John 11:8-16 #dayofthechristianmartyr #vom #persecutedchurch #sharethegospel #voiceofthemartyrs

After working in South Asia and living in Nepal for 18 years, Matthew Hanson has taken on leadership of The Voice of the Martyrs international ministry efforts on a new region: West and Central Africa (WACA). Listen as he tells how the persecution of Christians looks different in Africa from South Asia. The church in Africa is large; attacks on Christians there often affect a larger scale. Radical Islamist groups are the main persecutors in his region, and Matthew will share how it's affecting believers in his region, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria and Togo. Just in the DRC, there are 100+ active rebel groups. Church attacks and the displacement of followers of Christ has become sadly common. How does The Voice of the Martyrs respond to the intense persecution Christians in his region are facing? Listen as Matthew explains how he and his team evaluate needs and work through partnerships and local believers to help meet those needs and encourage believers. Matthew will share about the ministry of presence and how it plays such a key part of helping with trauma recovery for persecuted Christians. As Islamist groups move into places like northern Togo, a new addition to VOM's Global Prayer Map, Matthew and his team are hearing new reports of persecution and needs that VOM can help to meet. "The church does an incredible job of serving one another," Matthew says, "it's a community of believers coming together, and it's really exciting." Hear stories from Matthew about a woman's joy when she received a Bible provided by VOM, the holy moment when eight new believers from Muslim backgrounds took the step of baptism, and the story of a kidnapped Christian miraculously saved from a jihadist group. Please pray for persecuted Christians in West and Central Africa. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as providing free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today. ? Explore More Resources: Access free resources including ebooks, feature films, short videos and The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) Radio through the VOM App for your smartphone or tablet. You'll also have access to a new prayer request from persecuted Christians each day. https://www.VOM.org/app. ? Stay Updated: Subscribe & Share our journey! Join us here: Subscribe to ‪ @VoiceOfTheMartyrsUSA‬. Your support means everything! ? Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to The Voice of the Martyrs Radio for powerful stories & insights. Find us on your favorite podcast platform here: https://bit.ly/42yVMEj ? Connect with us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/vomusa/ https://www.instagram.com/vom_usa/ https://twitter.com/VOM_USA/ The Voice of the Martyrs - https://www.vom.org Founded by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand - https://www.persecution.com/founders/ The Voice of the Martyrs President Cole Richards - https://www.persecution.com/bios/cole-richards/ The Voice of the Martyrs Radio Host Todd Nettleton - https://www.vomradio.net/host #podcast #martyr #voiceofthemartyrs #christianmartyrs #africa #missions 00:00 - Why Pastors Stay Amid Persecution 02:15 - Martyrdom and the Cost of Discipleship 04:36 - Bibles, Baptisms, and Hope in Refugee Camps 07:15 - Persecution in Togo and Miraculous Escape 10:58 - Nigeria's Crisis: Boko Haram and Fulani Attacks 15:12 - How to Pray for the Church in West Africa

"I have claimed this land for God." The words were written by John G. Paton and adorn the grave of his wife and child. It was a declaration of faith that God would bring the people of the New Hebrides, now Vanuatu, to Himself. The islanders were thought of as savages; in fact Paton slept on the grave to prevent the bodies of his wife and child from being eaten by cannibals. Paton famously said, "If I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms." Today the islands are full of churches-even some very close to the site of Mrs. Paton's grave. Stephen McCaskell is the producer and director of a six-part video series called Missionary, which includes an episode about Paton, as well as others which tell the stories of famous missionaries. Listen as he tells why the church today needs the example of men and women sent by God and obedient to the Great Commission. Watch this behind-the-scenes video of Stephen and the team tracking down Paton's legacy in Vanuatu. He'll also share about filming in England on the path of William Tyndale, as well as stories of David Livingston, Amy Carmichael, Hudson Taylor and William Carey. Stephen also shares what he wants viewers and churches to take away after viewing the Missionary film series. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as providing free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today. ? Explore More Resources: Access free resources including ebooks, feature films, short videos and The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) Radio through the VOM App for your smartphone or tablet. You'll also have access to a new prayer request from persecuted Christians each day. https://www.VOM.org/app. ? Stay Updated: Subscribe & Share our journey! Join us here: Subscribe to ‪ @VoiceOfTheMartyrsUSA‬. Your support means everything! ? Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to The Voice of the Martyrs Radio for powerful stories & insights. Find us on your favorite podcast platform here: https://bit.ly/42yVMEj ? Connect with us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/vomusa/ https://www.instagram.com/vom_usa/ https://twitter.com/VOM_USA/ The Voice of the Martyrs - https://www.vom.org Founded by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand - https://www.persecution.com/founders/ The Voice of the Martyrs President Cole Richards - https://www.persecution.com/bios/cole-richards/ The Voice of the Martyrs Radio Host Todd Nettleton - https://www.vomradio.net/host #podcast #martyr #voiceofthemartyrs #christianmartyrs #missions 00:00 - Why John G. Paton Risked His Life for the Gospel 00:45 - What Jesus Really Promised His Followers 01:50 - Why Missionary Stories Still Matter Today 03:33 - How We Got the Bible in English 06:57 - Living Among Cannibals: The Real Cost of Missions 10:59 - Lessons from David Livingstone's Sacrificial Life 16:52 - How One Man's Death Brought the Bible to a Nation

Miguel Angel Angeles, executive director of Bethel Radio & TV, shares the history of a ministry that started with one Christian asking a radio station to play audio cassettes of his sermons on the air. As the radio ministry encouraged and built up the church, it expanded into Venezuela, Colombia, and other areas. Today, Bethel is a network of hundreds of radio and television stations, based in Peru and reaching Spanish speakers all over Latin America and the world. Miguel will share about his own start serving in IT with Bethel TV, and how he came to understand the importance of bringing awareness of the persecuted body of Christ through Bethel programming. "My first time listening about the persecuted church was when Petr Jasek came to a conference in Peru to share his testimony," Miguel said, "and it created a hunger for me to learn more." After hearing Petr Jasek speak at a conference about his own arrest in Sudan, Miguel's church began to meet every Monday to pray for the persecuted church and to learn more about fellow believers facing Christian persecution. Week after week, God prepared Miguel's heart as it was continuously stretched by the stories of bold faith in the face of hostility and persecution. After reading Tortured for Christ, by Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs, Miguel knew he needed to share about persecuted Christians with the broader church in Latin America and with his radio audience. Listen as Miguel shares the heart of his church for missions. Churches dedicate one Sunday a month to focus on missions and missionaries. You and your church will be encouraged to make missions and praying for persecuted Christians a regular part of your worship gatherings as well. Pray this week for Miguel, his family, and Bethel Radio & TV as they continue serving the Lord and sharing the voice of persecuted Christians with Spanish-speaking people around the world. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as providing free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today. ? Explore More Resources: Access free resources including ebooks, feature films, short videos and The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) Radio through the VOM App for your smartphone or tablet. You'll also have access to a new prayer request from persecuted Christians each day. https://www.VOM.org/app. ? Stay Updated: Subscribe & Share our journey! Join us here: Subscribe to ‪ @VoiceOfTheMartyrsUSA‬. Your support means everything! ? Never Miss an Episode: Subscribe to The Voice of the Martyrs Radio for powerful stories & insights. Find us on your favorite podcast platform here: https://bit.ly/42yVMEj ? Connect with us on social media: https://www.facebook.com/vomusa/ https://www.instagram.com/vom_usa/ https://twitter.com/VOM_USA/ The Voice of the Martyrs - https://www.vom.org Founded by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand - https://www.persecution.com/founders/ The Voice of the Martyrs President Cole Richards - https://www.persecution.com/bios/cole-richards/ The Voice of the Martyrs Radio Host Todd Nettleton - https://www.vomradio.net/host #podcast #martyr #voiceofthemartyrs #christianmartyrs #missions 0:00 - Gospel Boldness in Peru 6:56 - From the Airwaves to the Andes 12:01 - When Comfort Competes with Calling 17:58 - A Father's Legacy and a Servant's Heart 21:45 - How to Pray for a Ministry Leader 23:04 - Supporting Gospel Work Through Prayer and Provision