Voice Of Persecuted Christians (Formerly Release International) Highlights And Prayer Points Oct-Dec 2026
. Despite all the troubles in Iran new believers are coming to Christ. Some Iranians after coming to Christ abroad now even feel complelled to come back to Iran despite the risks.
. Pastor Thongkham left a legacy he would never see- three known churches which by God's grace became 90. Him and his wife Sengdara cared for the persecuted church so much in their country they opened their home to young people persecuted for their faith in Christ. Pastor Thongkham was shot dead in 2024.
. Lucy Hoy makes the Christian walk plain- true life is not clinging to comfort, happiness, etc but by surrendering ourselves to Christ. In losing our lives, we truly find them.
. Andrew M describes his visit on a trip in Nigeria- at the check-in desk the woman working there was humming Christian hymns and on Sundays large amounts of people were heading to church- certainly a change to us in the arrogant West who seem to think we know more than God or proffesing believers who think sitting idly on Sunday watching church online counts as going to church!!!!!
Faithful Followers Who Will Not Be Silenced
. Lencho- The man who stabbed him, now himself lay in hospital. Instead of celebrating Lencho brought him a carton of orange juice. Lencho's child later died and the village elder refused his burial. A mob later stormed the family home, dragged his wife from her bed and throwing their newborn baby on the floor, leaving injuries on him that would still require treatment yesrs later- yet they still preach the gospel.
. Sophia- While fleeing persecution Sophia's daughter suffered injuries that would claim her life. Sophia still preached the Gospel. One day a man struck her with a stone. She replied "Today you stone me but one day you will worship Christ Jesus". The response haunted him and he sought her forgiveness and in doing so came to Christ Himself.
. Hear this quote from Sultan "I don't know when I'm going to die but I can never stop preaching the Gospel. Even after I die preaching the Gospel, this is a benefit for me"
Forgiveness from a Nigerian workshop
. Pastor Dickson Andrew had his village attacked by Fulani militants- and unbelievably, later, he was asled by them for food.... and he gave them potatoes.
. Sanatu was relaxing one night with her sons and husbands at home, before they knew it they heard gunshots. Her husband and eldest son were shot dead, her youngest son was shot in the leg and she had been shot five times. Samatu had to learn to walk again and now lives with her younger sister. Since doing this course she can now sleep properly.
. Reverend Birih Gado Sunday saw an attack which destroyed 80 houses in his village- the workshop helped him find forgiveness and he learnt to take his pain to the cross and he feels unexplainable peace and joy in his heart.
. Guar Isaac- Was not supposed to be on this course. His mum was. But she died protecting her younger children in an attack. Guar has found joy and piece in his heart after the workshop.
END
Reading the last part about the forgiveness workshop particularly affected me.
I am not sure how I could ever have that level of forgiveness if something like the above happened to me but God's grace is radical.
I hope and pray these stories encourage us to stop looking to ourselves and think of our brothers and sisters in Christ abroad, how God works in many cultural contexts besides ours. It's not about us.
They truly are our brothers and sisters, it is not hard to find this point in the NT unless the Apostle Paul had the world's largest point.
If you do not ciew these people as your family and care about them, well, according to 1John you cannot be called a Christian.
. Pastor Thongkham left a legacy he would never see- three known churches which by God's grace became 90. Him and his wife Sengdara cared for the persecuted church so much in their country they opened their home to young people persecuted for their faith in Christ. Pastor Thongkham was shot dead in 2024.
. Lucy Hoy makes the Christian walk plain- true life is not clinging to comfort, happiness, etc but by surrendering ourselves to Christ. In losing our lives, we truly find them.
. Andrew M describes his visit on a trip in Nigeria- at the check-in desk the woman working there was humming Christian hymns and on Sundays large amounts of people were heading to church- certainly a change to us in the arrogant West who seem to think we know more than God or proffesing believers who think sitting idly on Sunday watching church online counts as going to church!!!!!
Faithful Followers Who Will Not Be Silenced
. Lencho- The man who stabbed him, now himself lay in hospital. Instead of celebrating Lencho brought him a carton of orange juice. Lencho's child later died and the village elder refused his burial. A mob later stormed the family home, dragged his wife from her bed and throwing their newborn baby on the floor, leaving injuries on him that would still require treatment yesrs later- yet they still preach the gospel.
. Sophia- While fleeing persecution Sophia's daughter suffered injuries that would claim her life. Sophia still preached the Gospel. One day a man struck her with a stone. She replied "Today you stone me but one day you will worship Christ Jesus". The response haunted him and he sought her forgiveness and in doing so came to Christ Himself.
. Hear this quote from Sultan "I don't know when I'm going to die but I can never stop preaching the Gospel. Even after I die preaching the Gospel, this is a benefit for me"
Forgiveness from a Nigerian workshop
. Pastor Dickson Andrew had his village attacked by Fulani militants- and unbelievably, later, he was asled by them for food.... and he gave them potatoes.
. Sanatu was relaxing one night with her sons and husbands at home, before they knew it they heard gunshots. Her husband and eldest son were shot dead, her youngest son was shot in the leg and she had been shot five times. Samatu had to learn to walk again and now lives with her younger sister. Since doing this course she can now sleep properly.
. Reverend Birih Gado Sunday saw an attack which destroyed 80 houses in his village- the workshop helped him find forgiveness and he learnt to take his pain to the cross and he feels unexplainable peace and joy in his heart.
. Guar Isaac- Was not supposed to be on this course. His mum was. But she died protecting her younger children in an attack. Guar has found joy and piece in his heart after the workshop.
END
Reading the last part about the forgiveness workshop particularly affected me.
I am not sure how I could ever have that level of forgiveness if something like the above happened to me but God's grace is radical.
I hope and pray these stories encourage us to stop looking to ourselves and think of our brothers and sisters in Christ abroad, how God works in many cultural contexts besides ours. It's not about us.
They truly are our brothers and sisters, it is not hard to find this point in the NT unless the Apostle Paul had the world's largest point.
If you do not ciew these people as your family and care about them, well, according to 1John you cannot be called a Christian.
