Do the images of refugees fleeing Syria tug at your heart? Have you seen news reports of churches destroyed in Nigeria, Syria, Iraq and other countries?
We are blessed in the United States although the tragedies taking place around the world touch us too. The shootings at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado and the horrible massacre in San Bernadino are a grievous loss of life.
But we don’t have the level of persecution that is taking place in Africa and the Middle East. Is there anything we can do?
On Sunday morning we had a speaker from the Voice of the Martyrs. This organization provides support to the persecuted Church. We can pray for believers that have been imprisoned for their faith by name. Click here to go to the site provided by VOM.
Next Sunday members of our church will devote an hour to writing Christmas cards that will be sent to prisoners. The site mentioned above takes you through the process of writing a message in the prisoner’s language and provides addresses.
I am pleased that Voice of the Martyrs also has a website with items that can be purchased as gifts. Buying items from the store or giving a donation supports the work of this organization. Click here.
It was a blessing to hear stories about the people that are turning to the Lord in the face of persecution. An article in the current VOM newsletter is titled, Great Evil, Great Revival. The article describes the persecution AND the revival taking place in evangelical churches. Our speaker told us about an ISIS soldier that has become a Christian, about Moslems that are reading the Bible and seeking truth.
We can pray for many more to be saved, for God to be glorified and for the endurance of all believers!
Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12: 1-3
Linking with Essential Fridays, Thought Provoking Thursday, A Little R & R, Worshipful Wednesday, WholeHearted Wednesday, Soul Survival, Reflect and the Art of Homemaking
What a tremendous service and blessing your church and its members are providing for those who have been imprisoned for their belief in Christ. I will need to look into this more. It is encouraging to hear the stories. Next to you at Thought-Provoking Thursdays.
Blessings,
Janis
How awesome that your church is doing that! I pray that many are blessed by the kind and encouraging words of faith. What an inspiration. Happy to be linked up behind you 🙂 #SoulSurvival