What might God do if you made the commitment to pray every day for a specific country? What doors might He open to connect with the people and even walk in the land? Two decades ago, Peter Smith and his wife were challenged to “adopt a country” and specifically pray every day for God’s Spirit to move in that place. The country God laid on their hearts was the Islamic Republic of Iran, a place where Christian persecution is common and missionaries are banned. Listen to learn how Peter and his wife began to pray; hear how God opened the door for him to visit Iran, “to go on site to gain God’s insights” about the Iranian people and ways to pray for them. He will also share how his whole family has made a conscious effort to reach out to Persian people living in the United States—and found amazing openness to the gospel. Just as Jesus had compassion on the multitudes, we can ask God for that same heart of compassion towards those around us. As you listen to VOM Radio this week, you’ll be challenged to make the same decision Peter and his family made all those years ago: adopt a country and consistently pray for the people there and specifically for God to work in that nation. Who knows the doors God will open in your life to minister to the people you’re praying for? If you’ve taken up the challenge to pray for a specific nation in 2023, please let us know! Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the podcast.
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Two years ago, extremist Muslims launched attacks on Christians in the community where Isayas lives. They torched Christians’ crops, homes and possessions and destroyed the church where Isayas and others worshiped Christ. The Christians fled the area but later returned and bought land on which to rebuild their church.
Read MoreGita has believed in Jesus since she was 11, but her parents gave her in marriage to a Hindu man 20 years her senior. She is an active member of a local church despite her husband’s opposition. Twice he has destroyed the Bibles given to her by the church, and he has beaten her many times for attending church.
Read MoreWhen 18-year-old Rung and her brother left their village to find work, they were employed by a Christian family whose example won Rung and her brother to the Lord. After they returned to the village, their mother became ill, which was blamed on their Christian faith.
Read MoreLawrence Tong wakes up each morning excited to pursue this goal: vibrant communities of Jesus followers among the least reached. As the International Director for Operation Mobilization, he oversees the ministry of 5000 gospel workers—including many serving in places where Christians face intense persecution, like Afghanistan, China, Iraq and India. Lawrence’s first taste of missions—and of the work of OM—came aboard a ship, docking at different ports to share the gospel and train up local Christians. Witnessing a spiritual fire among the young people on the boat, Lawrence committed two years to serving with OM. That commitment has now grown into more than 4o years of gospel work amongst the least reached! Listen as Lawrence shares about his six years of ministry work in China, and an update on the current challenges faced by persecuted Christians there. OM workers were able to return to Afghanistan and continue to serve Afghan people, even after the Taliban takeover. These bold believers understand the danger, but their commitment to Christ and the Great Commission is stronger than their fear. God is still calling people to go to dangerous places to share about Jesus. If you feel called to global gospel work, Lawrence will offer advice about how to think about, pray about and prepare for that calling. He’ll also equip listeners to pray for the persecuted church in Afghanistan, Nepal, and China to stay firm in faith, and help us pray for the work of OM around the world. To hear more about the history and work of Operation Mobilization, listen to previous VOM Radio conversations with founders George Verwer and Dale Rhoton, and also with OM-USA President Andrew Scott. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the Podcast.
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watching the church go underground After turning away from Christ in the early days of Kim Il Sung’s Communist regime, a North Korean woman was led back to faith by a single Bible verse. Rhee Soon-ja has vivid memories of her father reading the Bible to her and her six siblings when they were children. She remembers that the verses were printed vertically, rather than horizontally. And although now 82 years old, she can still picture the phrase “Christ Is Lord of This House” hanging from a wall in their home. “My parents prayed that God would use me as His servant,” she said, recalling another childhood memory. “I grew up dreaming of becoming an evangelist.” Those were the days before Korea split into North and South, communist and free. Those were the days when the Christian faith flourished in northern Korea. “There were many Christians,” Soon-ja shared from her living room in South Korea. “I attended the Methodist Church. All the congregations gathered every Sunday.” When Soon-ja was a young girl, her family was among the first to experience persecution under the rule of Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s first leader. Today Christianity is illegal there, and those who
Read MorePastor Nahtiya, his son and other church members had worshiped together and were walking home through the jungle when they were ambushed by Hindu radicals throwing stones at them. Some were able to break away only to be attacked again by villagers wielding axes, sticks and other tools.
Read MoreProtests erupted across Iran following the recent death of a 22-year-old woman in police custody. The Iranian government has responded to the demonstrations with force and brutality. When soldiers shot at a group of protesters and hit a passing bus, an Iranian Christian was wounded.
Read MoreIn recent years, Fulani militants have been attacking Christian areas of northern Nigeria, regularly kidnapping, injuring, and killing thousands of people. To protect their town, Pastor Ibrahim Isa and a group of men guarded it throughout the night.
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Shahzad and his wife, Shama, clung to each other and prayed as more than five hundred Muslims surrounded their house, shouting insults and threats. The mosque leader had accused the couple, over the loudspeaker, of burning a copy of the Koran, fueling the mob’s rage. “They have burned the Holy Koran!” they shouted. “We will teach them a lesson!” It didn’t take long for the accusation to spread. After entering their house through a hole in the couple’s thatched roof, the angry Muslims dragged them outside. Despite their pleas for mercy and Shama’s pregnancy with their fourth child, the mob beat them ruthlessly, breaking both Shahzad’s and Shama’s legs. Next, the mob tied them behind a tractor and dragged them for more than thirty minutes. Shahzad had moved to the Pakistani city of Kot Radha Kishan in 2000 with his brothers and their father, Nazar. Because of their Christian faith, they had difficulty finding work. In Pakistan, Christians are treated as second-class citizens and often must work as street cleaners or sewage workers. Shahzad and his family found work at a brick kiln. It was hard work but provided enough money for food and a place to live, even though
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