VOMRadio

Omid Sabouki grew up in a Muslim household in Iran. Today he is a follower of Christ, and helping reach more Iranian Muslims with the message that Jesus is the Son of God and that He loves us. Listen to Omid's story of finding Jesus, including a dream during which a man in white told Omid, "stay on my way." The next morning, the driver of his taxi gave Omid a package. Inside the package was a complete Bible. That Bible led Omid and his wife to faith in Christ—a decision that would cost him his relationship with his family. Listen to Omid's story of finding Christ, then finding a spiritual family through a home church. Soon after, persecution forced Omid to leave Iran after the government closed his business and froze his bank accounts. But Omid says, "God had a plan for me." Listen to Omid's story of coming to faith and how God sustained him through persecution and trials. And hear how his ministry into Iran continues to lead others to Christ—including placing Bibles into mailboxes all across Iran. Omid serves as the President and CEO of Jubal Band Ministries. Never miss and episode of VOM Radio. Subscribe on your favorite podcast service.

Andrew Scott is back to talk about missions right now—including the effects of coronavirus on international gospel workers. He says every follower of Christ is called to be part of spreading Jesus' glory around the world. Andrew is the President and CEO of Operation Mobilization – USA, and the author of a book, SCATTER: Go Therefore and Take Your Job With You (affiliate link). Andrew will talk about how world missions is changing—including more missionaries raised up and sent out from developing world nations. He'll also share how OM is collaborating with other mission orgs—including The Voice of the Martyrs—to complete the task of preaching Christ to every tribe, tongue and nation. Finally, he'll share thoughts for those thinking about what role they might play in overseas gospel work, and coach every listener in how to pray for mission workers and the advance of Christ's Kingdom around the world. OM's founders, George Verwer (interview) and Dale Rhoton (Part 1 and Part 2), have also been guests on VOM Radio. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the podcast.

Aaron Miller leads VOM's work in South and Central Asia, including India, where five Christians have been killed in the past two months. Listen as he shares how coronavirus is affecting VOM's work, including stories of blessings that have grown out of the COVID-19 pandemic. One pastor said his interrogation was postponed because authorities in his area are focused on the virus, not on the church. Aaron brings unique expertise on persecution in India. Listen to the stories of some of the recent martyrs, including a teenager who stepped up when his pastor could no longer shepherd the flock in his village—and paid with his life. You'll also hear how a husband, knowing persecution was coming, prepared his wife to stand strong in her faith even if she became a widow. How does VOM respond when a Christian is killed in India or other nations? How are help and encouragement delivered to family members left behind? How can we pray for Christians in South and Central Asia? Never miss an episode of VOM Radio. Subscribe on your favorite podcast service.

"Brother Joel" continues the conversation we left off last week about God's work in China, work which continues in spite of an ongoing wave of Christian persecution and the coronavirus pandemic. Brother Joel helps VOM distribute Bibles in every part of China. He'll give us an update on current challenges for Bible efforts in China—including Chinese Christians currently in prison simply for providing people—including children—access to God's Word. Joel will tell us how new laws in China affected foreign Christian workers, including thousands who found their visas cancelled and were forced to leave China, sometimes almost immediately. He'll also talk about a current project to complete a new translation of the Bible into Chinese—a translation more favorable to Communist Party and socialist principles. Yet in spite of persecution, the virus and the other challenges facing China's church, Joel says Chinese Christians are encouraged and excited about what God is doing in their nation. He'll equip listeners to pray with current, specific needs of the church in China. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe on your favorite podcast service.

In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, the government's focus on persecuting Christians and closing churches hasn't faded. In fact, there's been an increase in persecution in recent months as Chinese Communist Party leaders continue their efforts to control the hearts and minds of the people. Churches have been closed. Pastors have been arrested. But Chinese Christians are responding with boldness, finding new ways to spread the gospel even amidst pandemic and persecution. "Brother Joel" helps VOM distribute Bibles in every part of China, and this week he'll share what's happening with the church in China. How is coronavirus affecting the church? Why does the Communist Party fear Christians so much? What does persecution in China look like right now? Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe on your favorite podcast service.

Americans will celebrate Independence Day on July 4th. And while Americans celebrate freedom and liberty, 600 persecuted Christians in the African nation of Eritrea will spend another weekend in prison—some of them have been in prison more than 15 years! Dr. Berhane knows what it's like inside Eritrean prisons. He spent 11 months in prison for his faith in Christ. But, even in prison, he saw God's hand at work and found opportunities to witness to others—including prisoners about to be executed. Imagine the feeling as prison guards would read the names of prisoners scheduled for execution that day, each prisoner wondering if this was the day their name would be on that terrible list. Yet in the midst of suffering and executions, Dr. Berhane says he experienced an inner peace through the presence of Jesus Christ. "Whenever I read the Scripture," he says, "it's full of persecution." Listen as he explains how there is more freedom for Christians to worship inside Eritrean prisons than for Christians outside of prison. Today, Dr. Berhane is a voice for persecuted Christians in Eritrea through Release Eritrea, a UK-based charity. Be inspired as he shares his own story, and equips every listener to pray for Christians in Eritrea, including those 600 currently in prison. You can write letters on behalf Christians in prison in Eritrea through PrisonerAlert.com. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe on your favorite podcast service.

Ed Cannon is the President and CEO of FEBC. For 75 years, FEBC has been using radio to communicate the gospel to the least-reached people on earth. Their radio signals—and internet connections, smartphone apps and social media feeds—reach people speaking 129 languages in 50 countries. Included in those countries are hostile and restricted nations where Christians are persecuted for their faith in Christ. Ed has travelled the world to meet and support the broadcasters—including a 10-hour stay in jail when police discovered him carrying Christian materials for distribution in a hostile nation. Listen as Ed talks about the workers who lead FEBC's in-country work, and how their commitment to Christ and to sharing the gospel inspires Ed's own walk with Christ. Listen as Ed shares how FEBC signals and content are reaching minority language groups, including a Khmu language broadcast sponsored in part by VOM. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe on your favorite podcast service.

Brother Jeremy, VOM's deputy regional director for Africa, met Mary Sankagui just days after her husband—a pastor in Central African Republic—was killed for his faith in Christ and his ministry in a Muslim neighborhood. In spite of her loss, the woman Jeremy encountered had a deep sense of joy. Listen to hear Jeremy share the story of Pastor Jean-Paul Sankagui, and give us an update on current persecution in CAR and how the church there is responding and training the next generation of church leaders. Cole Richards, VOM's President, joins us first to talk about Day of the Christian Martyr (free resources here). How are Christians in free nations inspired by stories of exemplary Christians who served in the face of persecution and laid down their lives to advance Christ's Kingdom? How can we pray for the families of martyred Christians? Learn more about the Central African Republic and the church there in VOM's Global Prayer Guide. Never miss and episode! Subscribe to VOM Radio on your favorite podcast service. You can also access VOM Radio, as well as books, audiobooks, movies and short videos—for free—in the VOM App for your smartphone or tablet. Cole Richards is the President of The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM). In addition to leading VOM's service to persecuted Christians abroad, Cole serves as Publisher and Executive Producer of VOM's publishing and media initiatives. Cole joined VOM in 2006 after living and ministering in a restricted nation, one of the least-reached in the Middle East, where he, his wife and their children reached out to Muslims and supported persecuted Christians. Cole holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering as well as two master's degrees: one in missiology, with a focus on evangelism in the Muslim world, and one in business administration (MBA) in the context of organizational leadership. Before entering full-time ministry, Cole served as a USAF officer, focusing on the rise of Islamic terrorist groups in the Middle East.

Covid-19 has hit hard in Syria, yet many are unwilling to acknowledge the illness in their honor-shame culture where getting sick can bring shame on a family. Brother John will update listeners on how the virus is affecting Syria—and how God's Kingdom is advancing even amidst the pandemic. Learn what Christian persecution looks like today in Syria, and how Christians there respond. You'll also hear specific ways to pray for Syrian Christians. John will share the story of God's work in one family. Their son was born with a birth defect, and his mom felt such shame she attempted suicide multiple times. Then she met Jesus—and the transformation was so dramatic it radically changed the outlook for her family and impacted people all over their city. Brother John leads Ananias House, working to proclaim the light and hope of Jesus Christ in the Middle East and North Africa. To learn more about the honor-shame culture in the Middle East, listen to our conversation with Audrey Frank about sharing the gospel in an honor-shame culture. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app.

When Petr Jasek spent 445 days in prison in Sudan, Omar al-Bashir was the dictatorial leader of the country. Since Petr's release, Bashir's government has been overthrown and Bashir locked inside one of the same prisons where Petr had been held. But are things really different for Christians in Sudan? Petr will answer that question as he returns to finish the conversation we began last week about his arrest and imprisonment in Sudan. In prison, Petr felt the Lord's presence very near as he spent hours every day reading the Bible and praying. What has he done to maintain that same closeness as he returned to his normal, busy life? The story of Petr's imprisonment—and the ministry God allowed him inside—is told in a brand new book, Imprisoned with ISIS: Faith in the Face of Evil. You'll receive a copy for free when you make a donation to VOM here. Petr first told his story to VOM Radio listeners nine days after his release from prison. You can hear that conversation—recorded in Prague—here. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app.