Tuesday, March 24, 2015

A Direct Line to the Persecuted Church?

Wouldn't it be something if you could write a letter to a brother or sister in Christ who was being persecuted for their allegiance to Jesus? I mean, a real letter that would actually get to these believers so they could be encouraged and comforted...and to know their sufferings mattered to Christians in the West?

Oh yes, wouldn't it be especially wonderful if you could communicate your message in their own language?

Well, if your answers to the questions above are yes, then get yourself over to Voice of the Martyrs' Prisoner Alert website and see how you can not only pray for individual Christians, not only how you can contact the political figures responsible for their imprisonment, but how you can write notes to the prisoners themselves!

I print three samples of such letters below. They are some of the messages going inside Easter cards to 15 persecuted Christians in places like China, Pakistan, Eritrea, and Vietnam. We will be putting these cards together tonight at our home (along with writing other letters regarding pro-life issues, freedom, marriage, etc.) at Vital Signs' quarterly P.A.L. Night party. We start at 7 o'clock, if you're interested, and we're all done by 8:45.

But here are those examples of letters going to imprisoned believers that I mentioned:

I gave thanks for you when I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus. When one part of the body suffers the whole body suffers. Many Christians around the world are standing with you. I pray you will feel the presence of Christ with you today.

1 Peter 1:6 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.”
Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

And this one.

You are fighting a good fight. May you keep the faith and finish the race. My heart rejoices that you are strong in the Lord. We love you and your family. We are praying for you, your family, and your guards.

Psalm 23:4 “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

And just one more.

My prayers are with you as you endure the fellowship of suffering. The Lord is your shepherd and He will be with you. May your light reveal the truth to those around you.

Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Revelation 21:4 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Shouldn't you be taking advantage of this neat opportunity that VOM presents? For that matter, shouldn't you and your church be involved in something like a Vital Signs letter-writing ministry? You know, we have been doing these for more than 30 years and we would be honored and overjoyed to help you get started. Drop us a note.