Pastor and Wife Sent to Labor Camp in Henan

Recently, Pastor Dou Shaowen and his wife Feng Lu were sent to a labor camp for one year of "re-education" because of their “engaging in illegal religious activities.” For the whole story, click on this link.

Also, on the link is contact information so you can request that the Zhengzhou city authorities release these Christians.

VOM on Twitter

For those of you who use Twitter, VOM is now tweeting! Check their account out here and get quick, concise updates on the persecuted church.

Kids of Courage

If you're looking for a way to introduce your kids to the stories of persecuted Christians, but don't want graphic info or picture, then Kids of Courage is for you! There are many faith-building stories of children and young people that have endured much for Jesus.

Not only does Kids of Courage have updates and news, it also has activities like writing in ancient languages and how to bake recipes from the countries the kids are reading about.

Christian Tortured in Pakistan

On June 23, it was reported that a 37 year old man is languishing in a Pakistani jail. This was after his back was broken by police because his father was preaching Christ.

Arshad Masih had been in a hospital – chained to his bed on false robbery
charges – after police torture that began Dec. 28, 2008 left him incapacitated.
He was discharged from General Hospital in Lahore on Saturday (June 20) and
returned to jail despite efforts by the Community Development Initiative (CDI),
a support group that is providing Masih legal assistance.

Pray that justice will be found for this man and also that he will keep a strong testimony before unbelievers. To read the whole article, click here.

Extreme Quote

Before prison we heard about God. But in prison we experienced God. -Pastor Sze, A Chinese house church leader

Where'd this quote come from? Find it and more inspiring quotes and stories in the Extreme Devotion book from VOM.

Christian Pakistani Woman Arrested

Asia Bibi, a 37-year-old Pakistani woman from the village of Ittanwali, was
arrested by police on Friday, June 19, and faces possible blasphemy charges.
Asia is the wife of 50-year-old Ashiq Masih, and their family is one of only
three Christian families in a village of more than 1,500 families.

Bibi told women how Jesus died for them and then asked them what Mohammed had done for them. She also said that Jesus was alive, but Mohammed was dead.

Pray that Asia Bibi will stand strong for Christ and that the Lord will protect her while in prison.

Quote taken from here.

"The Truth Does Not Change..."

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (Jn. 14:6 ESV)

Not only does the Bible say that Jesus is "the truth" it also says He is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb. 13:8). Therefore, we know that "the truth" never changes. Serghey Mechen also believed this and applied it to the persecuted.

Serghey lived in Russia (around 1923) when the Communists took over and things were changing drastically. The Russian government had launched the "Living Church" which was nothing more than communism dressed up in "Christianity". So, when asked to comply with the Communists in reading the prescribed prayers and preaching watered-down sermons, Pastor Mechen refused. He made the decision to preach the truth to his flock, even when he knew it might cause him personal suffering.

Then, for five years, Serghey was imprisoned and the government closed his church down. However, his imprisonment only prepared Mechen even more for the Christian ministry. He believed in Jesus' words that "a good shepherd gives his life for his sheep." In the end, Serghey Mechen was executed (in 1941) by a firing squad for his Christian activities. His messages still remains though, "The truth does not change to benefit one's needs."