Posted on 07/25/2010 1:46:59 PM PDT by cradle of freedom
Has anyone heard of Voice of the Martyrs? It is a publication about the persecution of Christians around the world. If you go to www.persecution.com and www.persecution.net you will learn about what is happening to Christians around the world.
We need to stand up for our Christian brothers and sisters wherever they are. There needs to be unified and coordinated outreach to Chistians who are suffering. Please put www.persecution.com and www.persecution.net on your favorites list. It will keep you informed of what is really going on in the world.
It’s been happening to Catholics for ages.
I’ve supported Voice of the Martyrs for years. My kids learn a lot from their newsletters.
VOM was founded by dear, dear friends of mine, who are both now with the Lord, Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand. They were both the sweetest people you’d ever want to meet.
Sabina would give you anything she had if you needed it, and Richard had the most adorable twinkle in his eye as he told stories of his own imprisonment and torture. Inspirational.
"She could never be a saint, but she thought she could be a martyr if they killed her quick" — Flannery O'Connor.
My youngest daughter (10) is named Sabina after Mrs. Wurmbrand.
Really. Tremendous, tremendous good fortune and blessing to have known them.
I’ve subscribed to VOM for years. Don’t even know how I learned of it.
I have sent money. Oh! The stories! True Christians!
Years ago, I was shooting some short video segments with them in a private home and after we were finished, Sabina insisted on giving me, my wife and our daughter (who was probably 5 or 6 at the time) a dozen or more books they each had written. She just gave them to us, and insisted we accept them.
That was the day I learned why Richard never wore shoes. His bare feet had been beaten so badly in prison that he could not bear to have shoes on his feet.
Rev. Rashid Emmanuel (32) and his younger brother, Sajid Emmanuel (30), were shot and killed on July 19 after they were accused of blaspheming the prophet Muhammad. The two men, leaders of United Ministries Pakistan, were being returned to jail under police custody when they were attacked and shot by several masked men. Sajid was instantly killed, while Rashid later died from his injuries. The bodies of the two reportedly bore cuts and other signs of being tortured while in police custody.
Rashid was arrested for blasphemy on July 1 at a train station, where he went to meet with a stranger who had requested to see him. When Rashid arrived he was surrounded by police, who showed him copies of a three-page document that insulted Muhammad and was supposedly signed by Rashid and Sajid. Police arrested Sajid three days later. On July 14, handwriting experts notified police that the signatures on the blasphemous document did not match the brothers’ writing. Sources believe the brothers were likely to be exonerated of the charges.
When news of the murder reached the brothers’ neighbourhood of Dawood Nagar, Faisalabad, Christians gathered to protest. Police fired teargas cannons at the protestors, who in turn threw stones. The situation quickly became volatile, with indiscriminate shooting occurring between Christians and Muslims. At last report, a curfew had been initiated in the area.
In the days before the murder, Muslims organized large demonstrations calling for the death penalty for the brothers. Islamic extremists reportedly led the protests, which were attended by hundreds of Muslims. A church building was damaged and believers hid in their homes or fled the area. Announcements were also broadcasted from mosque loudspeakers, calling on Muslims to “burn the houses of Christians.” (Source: Compass Direct)
Pray for all those mourning the loss of Rashid and Sajid. Pray that those who perpetrated this attack will repent and come to know the Lord. Pray that, even in the midst of such injustice, Christians will respond with grace and love. Pray for lasting peace between Muslims and Christians in Pakistan. Post a prayer for those who are grieving for Rashid and Sajid; visit our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.
To learn more about persecution in Pakistan, please visit the Pakistan Country Report.
And been carried out by Catholics on Protestants since the Reformation.
We have supported them and gotten their news letters for a long time. They are a great organization.
VOM is similar in some ways to “Aid to the Church in Need.” There are so many worthy organizations!
You lucky person. I wish I could have known them....
n 1979 Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. "An individual of unsurpassed courage and integrity, Archbishop Romero has not allowed government persecutors to frighten him into submission," wrote twenty three American Congressmen who joined in nominating the outspoken Archbishop for the award.
Since his appointment in 1977, Romero had regularly received threats from both the right and left wings of unhappy El Salvador. This was because he spoke out vigorously in behalf of the downtrodden in his nation. He denounced the assassinations and kidnappings so common in his country. Human rights must not be violated in the name of the government or the army he insisted.
Death was a very real possibility to Romero. Several other clergy had been killed in recent years. Among them was the Jesuit Rutilio Grande, murdered by government forces when he spoke out for social justice. An attempt to dynamite Romero was foiled. Even so, he refused government protection. "The Shepherd seeks protection not for himself, but for his flock." Other bishops accused him of supporting the Communists.
The toll of killings by both left and right neared 700 in the first three months of 1980 alone. Contributing to the violence were soldiers who killed poor farmers that tried to get land under the government's land reform program. On March 23, 1980 Romero spoke out against this. He urged soldiers to disobey orders which were against God's will. "I ask you, I pray you, I order you in the name of God to stop this oppression," he pleaded.
The violence did not stop. The next day, March 24, it claimed another victim. As the Archbishop lifted his chalice during mass at the Divine Providence Cancer Hospital, a single shot rang out. Romero fell, a bullet through his heart.
Six days later, 30,000 people jammed into the plaza and Metropolitan Cathedral for the Archbishop's funeral. Midway through the service gunfire erupted. Hundreds fell wounded and screaming as bombs and bullets ripped through the crowd. Forty died. International dignitaries were trapped in the church for hours as panic and horror seethed in the streets outside.
Romero was a brave pastor. He died as he had lived, a peacemaker, whispering, "Father, forgive them," as he breathed his last.
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I was just thinking that when the Catholic Church has religious processions they should include pictures and names of contemporary martyrs.
This should be preached about in church more often. People should be asked to pray for persecuted Christians throughout the world.
Somewhere, I have a rare book written by a Priest describing exactly how the Communists purged the Christians out of China when they took over in the late 40’s. Evil.
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