Spotlight on Mission Positive Stories. Valuable Work.
Media technology mirrors martyrs’ plight
Western Christians encouraged to advocate for the persecuted
Kelly Rempel
ChristianWeek Staff
A Canadian ministry is using online and multi-media technology to give a "voice to the voiceless."
For the past 40 years, Voice of the Martyrs Canada (VOM) has supported persecuted Christians around the globe, highlighting their stories and advocating on their behalf. Originally working in just a handful of nations, the Canadian ministry is now active in 30 countries.
With a mission to "glorify God by being Canada's effective and reliable source of information and support of persecuted Christians around the world," VOM relies heavily on its website (www.persecution.net), a comprehensive collection of persecution resources.
VOM materials include newsletters, an e-mail news service highlighting up-to-date reports on persecuted Christians, a children's magazine, books, videos and a weblog. VOM also runs a second website, persecution.tv, which features links to video reports (Persecution Report, The Overcomers), radio broadcasts (Jesus Freaks) and podcasts.
According to the World Evangelical Alliance, more than 200 million Christians in at least 60 countries are denied fundamental human rights solely because of their faith. Other persecution experts estimate about 173,000 Christians will be martyred between mid-2006 to mid-2007.
But despite those facts and the plethora of resources, there are still a number of Christians and churches that rarely pray for the persecuted, says VOM Canada CEO Glenn Penner. "They're not aware of what's going on around the world. Or, if they are aware, they're not convinced that they're supposed to do something about it," he says.
VOM is working hard to change that. The theme for 2007 is "to encourage Christians to step up, stand up and speak up," says Penner. "Step up to make a difference, stand up with the persecuted church and to speak up for the church and say something."
Penner wants to see advocacy on behalf of persecuted Christians become more of a "lay movement rather than an 'expert' movement."
To that effect, VOM has recently launched The Ambassador Network. Volunteers submit references and go through a training program. Once completed, they have a 100-kilometre radius in which to share about the persecuted church, whether in Bible studies, church services, prayer meetings or other venues.
If volunteering isn't an option, interested parties can get involved on behalf of persecuted Christians, says Penner. The first step is prayer.
"I don't think it's unreasonable to ask churches to pray for the persecuted church specifically," says Penner. "Take one of the stories and pray for one situation every week. It's showing that 'oneness' that Paul talks about when he says when one part suffers, we all suffer, showing that sort of compassion, showing that we really do care about what goes on outside the walls of our church."
Then, he says, find other areas to get involved, whether it be letter writing, advocacy or actually visiting some of the countries where Christians struggle for their faith.
"We have an obligation to stand with our brothers and sisters, to give them tools they need in order to continue to witness for Christ, standing particularly with those who have lost loved ones or are in prison and speaking up on their behalf," says Penner.
