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Where is Raymond Koh?

Published on October 15th, 2019

In February 2017, three SUVs forced Pastor Raymond Koh’s car to the side of the road in Malaysia, removed him from the car, and kidnapped him. His family has not seen him or his car since that day. You can read more about them in this post.

The 2017 abduction wasn’t the first time the pastor had faced persecution because of his faith and service; he had previously received a box of bullets in the mail, warning him to stop his ministry work.

Early in 2019, Malaysia’s Human Rights Commission issued a report blaming the kidnapping of Pastor Raymond and others on the “Special Branch” of Malaysia’s police. But to date, no one has been held accountable, and Pastor Raymond’s whereabouts and condition remain unknown.

You and your family can visit ReleaseRaymond.com and sign a petition calling for Pastor Raymond’s release and for the disclosure of all information the government has about his abduction. The petition will be delivered by VOM to Malaysia’s embassy in Washington, D.C.

“I pray that a growing chorus of voices from around the world will lead to Pastor Raymond’s freedom and to a full explanation for his abduction,” said VOM Radio’s Todd Nettleton. “The criminals should be brought to justice, even if they wear police uniforms. And I hope that Susanna and her family will be encouraged by knowing that members of Christ’s body around the world are standing with them.”

Note: For security reasons, the Malaysian government will only receive your first name, last initial and country of residence.

(Photo: The Koh family before Pastor Koh disappeared.)

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Head Carry Relay

Published on October 9th, 2019

Needed: Two books

Instructions: Women in Nigeria and some other African countries carry items on their heads. Divide students into two teams with an equal number of players. Have the first player on each team carefully balance a book on their head.

After a signal to start, the players walk as far as they can without touching the book with their hands. At the point where the book falls off or the player touches it with their hand, the second player from that team takes over and continues from that point. When both teams have used all their players, the team that went the farthest distance wins.

Enter “Nigeria” in the Search box to find stories of bold Nigerian Christians.

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Remember the Persecuted

Published on September 12th, 2019

Needed
1/4–inch thick foam board
Mod Podge (decoupage medium)
Applicator
Box cutter
Hexagon pattern cut from card stock, approximately seven inches from top to bottom
Photos from VOM publications, websites, or outdated prayer calendars
Help from an adult

What to Do
1. Trace the hexagon pattern onto foam board.
2. Ask an adult to cut out the hexagon with a box cutter on a protected surface.
3. With the hexagon pattern, trace around a photo of a Christian from a VOM publication, website, or calendar. Cut out the photo.
4. Apply a layer of Mod Podge to the foam board. Place the photo on top of it. Carefully rub the photo to remove any bubbles.
5. Let it dry. Apply one or two more coats of Mod Podge on the photo.
6. Display by itself or with other reminders on a wall at home or in your Sunday school classroom. Pray for the Christians in the photos.

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A Secret Bible, Part 2

Published on August 28th, 2019

Peter and Ruth
The previous post told about Peter and Ruth, Christian workers who spread God’s Word in areas where it can be hard to get a Bible. Do you know how they get the stories of Jesus to hard-to-reach places?

Peter revealed the answer. “It’s inside us!” he said.

Peter and Ruth are part of a “Word by Heart” program, which helps people learn and share Scripture. “In some countries we can’t take the Bible, but if we know [a Bible story] word for word in our heart, in any country we go into, they can’t take it away,” Peter said. “No country can outlaw storytelling,” added Ruth.

Word by Heart workers tell Bible stories while translators share the story with their audience in the local languages. Not everybody they talk to can read or write. “Anybody can listen,” said Peter. And the message spreads quickly. “We can tell the story to 10 or 15 people, and those people can go and share it with more family and friends.”

“If the police come, they won’t find anything,” said Ruth.
(Source: VOM Radio. Edited for length.)

Gladys Aylward
Gladys Aylward was a missionary to China in the 1900s. She helped an older missionary operate an inn where they shared Bible stories with Chinese merchants and drivers who passed through the area.

The men had never heard the stories of a man named Jesus who “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). Yang, the cook at the inn, helped Gladys learn Chinese words to tell the stories.

Enter “Aylward” in the Search box to find more stories about Gladys.

To Do
The activity below is from The Torchlighters Ultimate Activity Book. Learn more about the book here.

Choose a Bible story to learn well enough to present it to others. Read the story in a Bible or Bible storybook several times until you can tell it without looking at the book. Ask your parent or teacher if you can tell your family or class the story during a meal or other break. Share the story. If there is time, ask your listeners questions about it to learn what they remember and understand.

Here are some story suggestions:
*A story from Mark 4–5 or a parable of Jesus
*Daniel and the lion’s den (Daniel 6)
*David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)
*Jonah (the Book of Jonah)
*Jeremiah’s rescue (Jeremiah 38:1–13)
*Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:1–20)
*Jesus’ resurrection (Luke 24)
*Moses and the burning bush (Exodus 3:1 – 4:17)
*Noah (Genesis 6:9 – 9:17)
*The Story of Creation (Genesis 1:1 – 2:4)
*****

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Iranian Date Snack

Published on August 22nd, 2019

Cut open lengthwise about ½ pound of dates. Break walnut halves in half lengthwise and insert one walnut piece in each date and close the date. Arrange the dates on a shallow serving dish. Melt a stick of margarine and stir in a half cup of flour over low heat until smooth. Pour the mixture over the dates and let it set before serving.

Learn more about Christians in Iran in Bold Believers in Iran, available in the Downloads section.

 

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