When we gather on Sunday mornings in freedom, millions of Christians around the world risk everything simply to worship Jesus Christ. They meet in secret. They whisper their prayers. They hide their Bibles. And yet their faith burns brighter than we can imagine.
The persecuted church isn’t a distant concept or a historical footnote. Right now, in countries spanning from North Korea to Nigeria, from China to Iran, believers face imprisonment, torture, and death for confessing Christ. According to recent estimates, over 360 million Christians worldwide experience high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith.
The Ministry of Voice of the Martyrs
For nearly seven decades, Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) has stood in the gap for our suffering brothers and sisters. Founded in 1967 by Richard Wurmbrand, a Romanian pastor who endured fourteen years of Communist imprisonment and torture, VOM continues his mission to serve persecuted Christians globally.
VOM provides practical support through Bibles and Christian literature, emergency relief, medical assistance, and legal defense. They amplify the voices of those who cannot speak freely, sharing their stories and helping Christians in free nations understand the price many pay for following Jesus.
One Story Among Millions
In northern Nigeria, Pastor Ibrahim’s church was attacked during Sunday worship. Militants opened fire, and in the chaos, Ibrahim shielded several children with his own body. He survived, though permanently disabled, and within weeks had rebuilt a simple structure where his congregation could meet again. When asked why he didn’t flee, he said simply, “Where would I go? These are my sheep, and this is where Jesus has placed me.”
Ibrahim’s story is one of countless testimonies that emerge from the persecuted church—stories not of defeat, but of resurrection faith that refuses to die.
Why We Must Respond
The persecuted church doesn’t ask us to rescue them or feel sorry for them. They ask for three things: our prayers, our practical support, and that we remember them.
Prayer is our most powerful tool. When we pray for imprisoned pastors, for families who’ve lost loved ones, for children who’ve watched their parents martyred, we participate in the invisible but invincible network of faith that spans the globe. Our prayers matter eternally.
Support through ministries like Voice of the Martyrs provides Bibles to those who risk their lives to own one, helps families of martyrs survive, and offers trauma counseling and medical care to those who’ve suffered violence for Christ’s sake.
Remembering them keeps us from the comfortable amnesia that can settle over the Western church. Hebrews 13:3 instructs us: “Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.”
What You Can Do Today
You can start by learning more about the persecuted church through Voice of the Martyrs at vom.org. Consider subscribing to their free monthly magazine, which shares current stories and specific prayer requests.
Give financially if you’re able. Even small amounts provide Bibles, support pastors, and help families in crisis.
Most importantly, pray. Pray consistently, specifically, and fervently. The persecuted church has told us again and again: your prayers reach us, sustain us, and empower us.
For those wanting to commit to sustained prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters, I’ve created a resource with 31 prayers—one for each day of the month—to help you intercede consistently and specifically for believers facing persecution worldwide: A Month of Prayers for the Persecuted Church
Let us not forget those who pay the highest price for the faith we hold. Their courage convicts us. Their faithfulness inspires us. And their need compels us to action.
“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” — 1 Corinthians 12:26
Voice of the Martyrs includes a Bible distribution ministry. If you’re interested in donating through their website, here’s the link.
Blogs about today’s persecuted church:
A Month of Prayers for the Persecuted Church – 31 prayers based on Scripture
Standing with Our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters – a short, simple reminder that we Christians are all one in Christ, called to love and support each other
When the Bible Becomes Precious – sometimes we forget the value of the Treasure we see every day
Never Alone: God’s Presence in the Prison Cell – Petr Jasek proves Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
One Body, Many Members: When the Church Suffers Together – reporting on an occasion when the Church stood together in prayer to support a member of our Body
The God of All Comfort: When Martyrdom Leaves Families Behind – in some dark lands, spiritual warfare can be fatal
Passing the Torch: Teaching Faith in the World’s Darkest Places – teaching children about God is risky in North Korea, maybe even a capital crime
Water for a Thirsty Soul: The Desperate Hunger for God’s Word – stories of hope and joy when Bibles reach believers eager to read God’s Word
Here are links to my blog indexes, so please click one and keep reading!
My Books, Workbooks, and Fun Books
Knowing the Unknowable One
Opening the Treasure Chest
Walking Heart-to-Heart with God
Walking Heart-to-Heart with Each Other
Fighting the Good Fight of Faith
Christian Mysteries: Why I Love Them!
List of Some Nonfiction Books You Don’t Want to Miss
Index of Assorted Topics