Secret Church

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Worst Case Scenario Posted: 29 Aug 2013 02:00 AM PDT Out of all the amazing statements of Jesus in Matthew 10, this one may be the most astounding and most important: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Frankly, this seems a weird way to encourage disciples who were risking their lives in obedience to him. Jesus was telling them – and us – that we need to fear God, not people. God is the ultimate Judge, and he holds eternity in his hands. People don’t have that power, so we need not fear them. Let me paraphrase what Jesus was saying here to help us feel the weight of it. Jesus was telling disciples who would face certain persecution and suffering, “Don’t be afraid of people.  The worst they can do is kill you.” What kind of encouragement is that? We say, “Well, if I go to this place, I could be killed.” Jesus replies, “That’s all?” We don’t need to be afraid to go anywhere in this world, because the worst that could happen is that we might be killed. And this is supposed to comfort us! The only way this can comfort us is if we have already died with Christ. The only way this can encourage us is if we are so focused on an eternal God that temporal human beings strike no fear in us. In the words of Paul, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” Clearly, the only way death can be a reward is if dying really is gain. - David Platt, Radical, pp. 174-75

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Weekly Prayer Updates Update 08/30/2013

vom groups weekly prayer updates "Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness." - Andrew Murray "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18 VOM-USA Prayer Update for August 30, 2013 On Thu. Aug 29 2013 at 03:24 PM Moderator wrote: Kazakhstan--Mother Fined for Son's Witness Source: Forum 18 News 1 Peter 1:6-7 A Christian woman was fined one month's average salary because of her 9-year-old son's "illegal religious activity" at school. Tatyana Degterenko's son, David, gave two Christian CDs to his teachers as gifts. When the head teacher saw one of the CDs, labeled "God loves you too," in a teacher's room, she immediately called the police. A police investigator questioned the boy in the absence of his parents. When the investigator asked him who permitted him to bring the CDs to school, David replied, "my mother." Tatyana was then fined for allowing her son to participate in religious activity. She appealed the decision on July 30, but a high court upheld the fine.[/quote] Malaysia--Government to Appeal Ruling on Use of "Allah" Source: VOM Sources, AP News Deuteronomy 32:4 On Thursday, Aug. 22, the Malaysian government won the right to appeal a previous court ruling that had allowed the country's non-Muslim minority to use the word "Allah" in reference to God. "Allah," the Arabic word for "God," is commonly used in the Malay language to refer to God. The Malaysian government, however, insists that "Allah" should be restricted to use by Muslims only. Some Christians in Malaysia argue that limiting the use of "Allah" to Muslims is unreasonable because Christians who speak Malay used the word to refer to God in their Bibles, literature and songs long before authorities tried to ban its use in recent years. Pray that justice and the rule of law will be upheld. The appeal is scheduled to begin Sept. 10.[/quote] Vietnam--Bibles Confiscated from House Church Source: VOM Sources Revelation 12:10-11 Local authorities confiscated 16 Bibles and some hymnals from a group of Hmong believers during a house church meeting two weeks ago, a VOM worker reports. The house church of 30 families was formed two months ago after an evangelist came and shared the gospel in their mountain village. No Christians lived in the village prior to the evangelist's visit, and police are especially opposed to Christianity spreading in new areas. Police are watching the house and have threatened to arrest the group's leader and tear down the house if they meet again. They also took the believers' cell phones and told them not to contact anyone outside the house. VOM is making plans to replace the Bibles that were taken by police.[/quote] Burma/Myanmar--VOM Project Pray for a project that provides evangelism, church planting and discipleship training to indigenous missionaries that are reaching difficult tribal areas in northern Burma.[/quote] Nigeria--VOM Project Pray for provision and encouragement of Nigerian widows and for VOM's support of them.[/quote] ************* • Printer-Friendly Format • Add the PrisonerAlert application on Facebook • Download the prayer application on the iTunes Store or the Android Marketplace • Download the photo issue application on the iTunes Store or the Android Marketplace • Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company or visit the eBooks aisle on VOMBooks.com.[/quote] Suggested Links Persecution.com The Voice of the Martyrs official homepage. Find links to our programs, read news about recent events, and learn more about the organization. VOMBooks.com Order books, videos, and other materials related to the persecuted church through our secure online store. Like us on Facebook Become a fan of VOM on Facebook! Connect with other fans and discuss recent events. PrisonerAlert.com Write to a Christian Prisoner in their own language! Use our letter-writing template online to build your letter, and send it by mail to a needy Christian. Follow us on Twitter Follow VOM-USA on Twitter for updates and prayer requests. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the Weekly Prayer Updates topic at www.vomgroups.com. If you have received this email in error or if you wish to unsubscribe, click here.

Secret Church

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Egyptian Christians Targeted Posted: 27 Aug 2013 01:26 PM PDT Horror stories continue to come out of Egypt concerning the targeting of Christians by Islamic extremists. While it's true that most Muslims are peaceful and respectful toward Christians, and tragically many Muslims are also suffering in the midst of this chaos, we shouldn't ignore the fact that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering on account of their faith. In the last two weeks, between 40 and 75 church buildings have been either damaged or completely destroyed and 212 private Coptic Christian properties have been attacked. Here's one example from Open Doors: “In Minya, groups of armed [Muslim Brotherhood] supporters converged on a village street and spent the entire evening setting fire to one Christian shop/ house after the other until they were all gone. No police or army forces were present; no one was there to offer help or provide protection” (OD). But hear this encouraging testimony of God’s help and mercy: “In the midst of the chaos, Egyptian Christians have still seen the hand of God at work. According to a VOM worker, the Good Shepherd Monastery in Suiz city was surrounded by a mob of radical Muslim Brotherhood members earlier today. The monastery was full of women and children. Miraculously, everyone was able to flee to safety as the monastery was attacked and burned down” (VOM). Suffering is often God’s vehicle to display His glory, which should be our supreme pursuit in every circumstance. So let’s recognize persecution when it is present and then be earnest in intercession for our suffering brothers and sisters. In the end, they need our prayers, we need their example, and God deserves the glory. Open Doors, Voice of the Martyrs

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Did Old Testament Saints Believe In Christ? Posted: 22 Aug 2013 07:27 AM PDT Pastor David explores the question of how how people under the old covenant were saved before Jesus came incarnate. Go here to view Secret Church 9, "The Body of Christ,” in its entirety.

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Weekly Prayer Updates Update 08/23/2013

vom groups weekly prayer updates "Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness." - Andrew Murray "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18 VOM-USA Prayer Update for August 23, 2013 On Thu. Aug 22 2013 at 02:43 PM Moderator wrote: Egypt--Non-stop Attacks Source: VOM Sources James 1:12 Christians in Egypt are experiencing increased attacks in conjunction with the government's attempt to disperse two groups calling for the reinstatement of former President Morsi. At least 650 people have been killed and 4,000 injured during recent protests. Forty church buildings have been attacked and burned, and Islamists are targeting Christian-owned businesses as well as convents and monasteries. In one incident, members of the Muslim Brotherhood surrounded a monastery full of women and children in the city of Suez. Those inside fled to safety before the monastery was attacked and burned. Egypt has declared a month-long state of emergency. Please pray for the protection of our VOM contacts and all believers in Egypt, and pray for political stability.[/quote] Iran--Believer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison Sources: VOM Sources, Mohabat News Romans 1:16 A Christian convert from Islam, Mostafa, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison because of his involvement with a house church. Mostafa was arrested on Dec. 27, 2012, on charges of "attending an illegal gathering and participating in a house church." His lawyer was informed on July 31 that Mostafa had been convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The lawyer is preparing an appeal. Three other Christian converts, Farshid Modares-Aval, Mohammad-Reza Pirri and Yashar Farzin-No, were reportedly arrested on July 20 and beaten during interrogation. The beatings were so severe that Pirri had to be hospitalized for four days. The believers' families have tried to contact security and judicial centers, but authorities have released no information about the men's health or situation.[/quote] Vietnam--Woman Beaten for Her Faith Source: VOM Sources Mark 13:13 A Hmong Christian woman, Pao Thao, was beaten by authorities in northern Vietnam when they learned that she had become a Christian, according to a VOM worker. The woman and her husband are the only Christians in the village where they live. When a village leader learned of Pao Thao's Christian faith, he called her to meet with the local officers. After questioning her about her belief in Jesus, the officers harassed her and tried to persuade her to renounce her faith in Jesus. But Pao Thao told them that she would not stop believing, whether she lived or died. The officers then hit her and pushed her to the ground, causing bleeding on her face.[/quote] Iran--VOM Project Pray for the recipients of more than 6,000 Action Packs in Baghdad. These believers have experienced ongoing persecution in 2013.[/quote] ************* • Printer-Friendly Format • Add the PrisonerAlert application on Facebook • Download the prayer application on the iTunes Store or the Android Marketplace • Download the photo issue application on the iTunes Store or the Android Marketplace • Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company[/quote] Suggested Links Persecution.com The Voice of the Martyrs official homepage. Find links to our programs, read news about recent events, and learn more about the organization. VOMBooks.com Order books, videos, and other materials related to the persecuted church through our secure online store. Like us on Facebook Become a fan of VOM on Facebook! Connect with other fans and discuss recent events. PrisonerAlert.com Write to a Christian Prisoner in their own language! Use our letter-writing template online to build your letter, and send it by mail to a needy Christian. Follow us on Twitter Follow VOM-USA on Twitter for updates and prayer requests. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the Weekly Prayer Updates topic at www.vomgroups.com. If you have received this email in error or if you wish to unsubscribe, click here.

Secret Church

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Last Week’s Simulcast Rescheduled… Tonight! Posted: 21 Aug 2013 07:23 AM PDT The free Follow Me simulcast from the Middle East has been rescheduled due to technical difficulties. This is good news for those of you who may not have been aware of it the first time around. There’s still time to sign up! And while it is scheduled to be shown tonight at 6 p.m. EDT, you can delay your start time and even watch it anytime in the 30 days that follow. Just make sure you sign up with LifeWay. In light of the technical problems last week and resulting date-change, Pastor David commented on tonight’s broadcast in a recent blog post. Here is how he concluded: At the end of our time in the Middle East last week, those brothers and sisters from 50 different nationalities prayed specifically for you. They prayed that God would speak clearly through His Word and through the testimonies of His people. And they prayed that all of us, along with all of them, would lock arms together as disciples of Jesus making disciples of Jesus wherever God calls us, however God leads us, no matter what it costs us. May it be so. May the Lord accomplish his work in and through such gatherings around the world tonight. Hope you can join!

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Egyptian Christians Living In Turmoil Posted: 19 Aug 2013 10:01 PM PDT The situation in Egypt is complex and overwhelming. We see the headlines; we know there are believers living there; but putting two and two together doesn’t necessarily make prayer easy, especially if we want to offer up anything more than vague pleas for God’s help. For those of you who find yourselves at such a loss, I humbly submit this short, enlightening blog post from a Christian brother living and ministering in Egypt. Far from flashy and dramatic, Ramez Atallah offers a unique and fair perspective on what is going on in Egypt right now. He gives us both insight into how we can pray for his specific situation and a general model of intercession for all Egyptians. As fellow believers, we should use the frequent newsflashes as reminders to pray for brothers and sisters like Ramez Atallah – people seeking to live out their faith in Jesus amid a climate that is all but conducive to it. Read the full post here: Bible Society Bookshops Burned And Destroyed

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Weekly Prayer Updates Update 08/16/2013

vom groups weekly prayer updates "Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness." - Andrew Murray "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:18 VOM-USA Prayer Update for August 16, 2013 On Thu. Aug 15 2013 at 03:07 PM Moderator wrote: Indonesia--Evangelists Sentenced to Three Years in Prison Sources: VOM Sources, Release International Proverbs 2:8 Kashfi and Jalaudin, two Christian brothers, were sentenced to three years in prison on Aug. 2, 2013, after being convicted of "evangelizing Muslims," a VOM source reports. On March 20, 2013, their home was attacked by an angry mob of about 200 Muslims. Police stopped the attack on their home and then arrested the two brothers. The brothers were convicted despite their lawyers' insistence in court that the trial violated their human rights. Five other families associated with the brothers' ministry were forced to leave the area for their own safety. Release International has provided support to help these families resettle elsewhere. Kashfi and Jalaudin, along with others in their team, have led more than 100 Muslims to Christ. They plan to appeal their conviction.[/quote] Vietnam--Christian Leader Beaten Source: VOM Sources Psalm 9:13-16 A Hmong Christian leader, "An," was beaten recently by local authorities, according to a VOM worker. An was called in for questioning about his Christian activities, and authorities attempted to force An to renounce his faith in Christ and stop leading believers into Christian worship. An told the officials that he would do neither of these. When they asked him if he was afraid to die, An replied, "Everyone is afraid of death, but to renounce Christ and stop leading others to worship God would be worse than death." An official then choked An and hit him on the chest. His injuries have hindered his ability to help his family and work on their farm.[/quote] Philippines (Mindanao)--Christian Villages Attacked Source: VOM Sources Psalm 12:5 Two Christian villages in Midsayap, Cotabato, were attacked by the Muslim Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) on July 29 and July 31, according to VOM sources. More than 70 armed men attacked the villages, using four boats to reach the villages and to carry away their spoils. They ransacked the villagers' homes, taking belongings such as rice, clothing and utensils. The attackers also took all the animals from the village, including goats, pigs and more than 300 ducks. Reynaldo Aloro, a village leader who ran for help when he saw the armed Muslims, was caught by the attackers and killed. The villagers now walk to their farms by day and stay at an evacuation center at night for fear of more attacks. The BIFF continually harass and threaten Christians as part of their campaign for a pure Islamic state.[/quote] Nigeria--VOM Project Pray for a project that provides for the livelihood and education of 300 Nigerian children who have lost one or both parents to violence against Christians in Nigeria.[/quote] ************* • Printer-Friendly Format • Add the PrisonerAlert application on Facebook • Download the prayer application on the iTunes Store or the Android Marketplace • Download the photo issue application on the iTunes Store or the Android Marketplace • Digital versions of our books are available on the Amazon.com Kindle and Barnes & Noble NOOK bookstores: search for Living Sacrifice Book Company[/quote] Suggested Links Persecution.com The Voice of the Martyrs official homepage. Find links to our programs, read news about recent events, and learn more about the organization. VOMBooks.com Order books, videos, and other materials related to the persecuted church through our secure online store. Like us on Facebook Become a fan of VOM on Facebook! Connect with other fans and discuss recent events. PrisonerAlert.com Write to a Christian Prisoner in their own language! Use our letter-writing template online to build your letter, and send it by mail to a needy Christian. Follow us on Twitter Follow VOM-USA on Twitter for updates and prayer requests. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the Weekly Prayer Updates topic at www.vomgroups.com. If you have received this email in error or if you wish to unsubscribe, click here.