Donate | VOM Resources

Obstacles for New Christians

Published on July 31st, 2012

2009 IDOP Cover

The Voice of the Martyrs recently received the following prayer request from a country where Christians are persecuted in some parts of the country:

“I want to let you know that we led one family to Christ. There are still more families that want to come to Christ and we ask you to pray for them. The new official here who just became leader in this country hates Christianity so much and when he became leader, no permission is allowed for a church anymore.”

Please join VOM workers and supporters in praying for the Christians in this country and in other countries where leaders do not like Christians. Pray also for the ones who want to come to Christ but may be concerned about what might happen to them if they do. Pray for non-Christian leaders to open their hearts to God’s love for them.

Posted in Spotlight | No Comments »

Getting Ready for Christmas

Published on July 31st, 2012

Christmas presentation
Iraqi children presenting a Christmas drama

Youth leader Tonja T. shared with The Voice of the Martyrs her plan to prepare for Christmas. Her group planned to put up a Christmas tree in their meeting room this summer. “We will be working on ornaments from June to December,” Tonja said.

The group will make one ornament for each country in the world. A VOM prayer map hangs in their room. Each youth will choose 10 countries and will research to find out facts about the countries. They will then design ornaments for the countries, and add a reference for a Bible verse to the ornaments. “It will be their responsibility to pray those verses over the countries,” said Tonja.

Tonja has done a similar project with younger students. “We cut 3-inch by 3-inch shapes out of red poster board,” Tonja said. “Then we used a silver marker to print the name of the countries on the ornaments. We punched holes in the ornaments and attached a hanging hook. (One could use string or yarn also.)”

Use the contact form on this site to share your ideas for helping and praying for persecuted Christians.

Posted in Spotlight | No Comments »

Changes in North Korea

Published on July 30th, 2012

North Korea
North Korean school boys

News reports say that Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, is now married. His new wife, Ri Sol Ju, has been seen with him in several public places.

Kim Jong Un’s father, Kim Jong Il, was the former leader of North Korea. He generally kept his personal life secret.

Kim Jong Un seems to be doing things differently. Reports say he is also allowing women to wear jeans or slacks, which was often forbidden before his father died. Jewelry, cell phones, high heels, and foods like pizza, French fries, and hamburgers are becoming more available. Recently the government has chosen some children to go on trips to zoos and parks.

Still, many people in North Korea are too poor to enjoy such things. Probably not much has changed for them.

Many Christians are in prison in North Korea. There are few churches, and the government controls who can attend and how often they can go. The government has persecuted Christians for years.

Will things change for Christians, too? Pray that all North Koreans will have the opportunity to learn that Jesus loves them.

Tags:
Posted in Spotlight | 1 Comment »

The John Bunyan Story

Published on July 30th, 2012

Torchlighters

Nine-year-old John Bunyan lived in England in the 1600s. He was a troublemaker. He lied, stole, cursed, and got into fights. Secretly John worried that he was not living a life pleasing to God. But he could not seem to stop his bad behavior. As he grew older, his behavior did not get any better, and he had no peace.

John decided to try to be good, hoping his good works would make him feel better. He married, went to church, and got a job as a tinker. (A tinker repaired pots, pans, and kettles.) Then he met some women who seemed to have joy and peace in the Lord. The women and their pastor encouraged him to trust in Jesus, who save those who cannot save themselves. John listened to them and gave his life to the Lord!

John began preaching to others about the truths in the Bible. But preaching outside of the official government church was against the law. John was arrested, and he went to jail.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags:
Posted in Spotlight, Videos | No Comments »

Tipcat

Published on July 30th, 2012

Torchlighters

As a boy, John Bunyan enjoyed playing tipcat and other popular games of the time. During one tipcat game, God led him to understand that life was not all play, and he began to seek God’s will for his life.

Tipcat has been played in various forms around the world for hundreds of years. Today, players can buy tipcat equipment on the Internet. Equipment includes one large stick and a smaller stick about 3 to 6 inches long and sometimes pointed on both ends.

The smaller stick is placed on the ground. Using the larger stick, a player hits one end of the smaller stick, flipping it up in the air. As the smaller stick rises, the player hits it with the long stick. Points are awarded based on how far the stick goes after it is hit. Some versions of the game include fielders chasing the stick.

To play your own version of tipcat, put an inflated balloon on the floor and use a long-handled cooking spoon to tap in gently so it rises, then hit the balloon with the spoon while it is in the air. It may take some practice to tap the balloon so that it rises before you hit it.

Tags:
Posted in Activities, Spotlight | No Comments »