Learning to Love the Persecuted Church
The prophet Jonah and I have something in common. We both heard God’s directive, but ran away. God was calling me to represent a part of the Body of Christ that often goes unseen and unheard. And He was calling me to voice a challenge to believers. As God merciful put me back on track, I began to grow in love for our world-wide, persecuted Christian family.
Fear of man paralyzed me for six months. Persecution is not a touchy, feely subject. Our natural reaction is to be repelled, as we would toward a thorn on a rose bush. However, God had plans. Pastor Matthew did the Jonah series. I was sunk.
My passion for persecuted believers grew. Where did this passion stem from? It was God, of course. He built on years of missionary exposure, orchestrated a meeting with the founders of Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, and even led me to a VOM conference.
Richard told of singing praise to God while in prison wearing instruments that God provided: ankle chains. He sang, “The joy of the Lord … cling, clang, cling, clang.” He talked of the sweet presence of Jesus in the prison cell so small one could not stand upright. He was imprisoned, but free
Two army-related images moved my heart. A group of over 100 front-line evangelists, each armed with a bicycle, megaphone, a make-shift horn, and the love of Jesus, going village to village, blowing their horns, and telling people of Jesus. These evangelists spoke of Columbian guerilla militia hearing the Gospel by radio waves, experiencing love from those persecuted and then coming to Christ. I learned to pray that our persecuted family would be courageous and remain faithful, entrusting themselves to God.
These dear ones are just like us, vulnerable and fragile, but certain of their only hope, Jesus. We can follow their examples. As I read VOM’s newsletters about our world-wide church family, how God is working through persecution, and how persecutors’ hearts are softened to Christ, my faith deepens. We are asked to remember them, bear their burdens and intentionally pray for them and their persecutors, through Christ's strength working within us.
Is God shifting your heart toward persecuted believers around the world? Connect with the unique Global Action Team called Fellowship Voice." This team is devoted to learning about, praying for and serving these brothers and sisters in Christ.
Ellen Doran has attended New Hope Church for over 10 years. In her 20s, she did street evangelism through Youth With a Mission in Hollywood and church planting in Japan. Being involved in this Global Action Team has opened her eyes to what God is doing around the world and inspires her to reach out to others.
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