Voice of the Martyrs

I love posting photos and new work on my blog and sharing it with all of you. But I also want my blog to be about who I am and what I believe in. So if you're here to see photos, feel free to skip this post. This is a non-photo post :).

Years ago when I was in college (I can't believe how long it's been!) at Azusa Pacific University in CA, I sang in choir. That may sound kind of nerdy to you but it was an amazing choir that I was privileged to be a part of. We gave concerts around southern CA weekly. And one week we sang for the leadership of a non-profit ministry -- Voice of the Martyrs. I hadn't heard of them previously but they have since had a huge impact on my life. We were there to encourage them but we ended up being the ones encouraged. As we sang praises to the Lord they didn't just observe as an audience, but they entered into worship with us and God's presence was heavily felt in the room. I grabbed one of their free newsletters after the concert and found out more of what they're about.

Pastor Richard Wurmbrand founded VOM over 30 years ago. He was in prison in Romania for 14 years for his faith in Christ. In the `60s he and his family were ransomed out of Romania for $10,000 and came to the U.S. where he began traveling, educating the free world of the atrocities committed against Christians in Communist and other restricted countries. VOM's five main purposes are based on Hebrews 13:3 -- "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Their purposes are:

1 - To encourage and empower Christians to fulfill the Great Commission in areas of the world where they are persecuted for their involvement in propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ. We accomplish this by providing Bibles, literature, radio broadcasts, and other forms of aid.

2 - To give relief to the families of Christian martyrs in these areas of the world.

3 - To equip local Christians to win to Christ their enemies who are opposed to the gospel in countries where believers are actively persecuted for their Christian witness.

4 - To undertake projects of encouragement, helping believers rebuild their lives and Christian witness in countries that have formerly suffered Communist oppression.

5 - To emphasize the fellowship of all believers by informing the world of atrocities committed against Christians and by remembering their courage and faith.

As I read their monthly newsletter, my eyes were opened to "the real news" - what's really going on around the world that the media never tells us. It's unbelievable. Growing up in America with the freedoms we enjoy, I never would have thought that people in other nations suffered so gravely for what they, and I, believe. Hearing these true stories motivates me to pray for these people in other nations who I will not meet in this lifetime but with whom I have much in common. Their faith strengthens and encourages me in mine.

If you are interested in being encouraged and hearing "the real news," click here and sign up for a free newsletter. It just might change your life like it did mine.