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Pakistan Update: Making a Huge Impact for Christ
The Pakistanis living in the disaster zone are predominantly hard-line Muslims, but God has opened their hearts through this tragedy. Mosques are now opening their doors to the gospel. VOM staff reported that one Mullah made sure children were not left without copies of He Lived Among Us. Another Muslim leader said: "You are the first who came to us. We thought Christians were our enemies, but after distributing Action Packs, we came to know that we were wrong. You are the real believers; you have a real compassion for Muslim people." Mosque leader Muhammad Aseem told us: "This was our rigid concept--that Christians (especially the Americans) are not good. But in our difficult time, the Christians have been supporting us with tents, food packages, blankets, medical camps and Action Packs. With this concern and good behavior, we are sure that 'heaven' is your treasure."
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this timely
Indonesian Pastor Attacked by Muslims
"Santoso" is a farmer and a pastor for a small village church in Indonesia. He was attacked on the way home after sharing Christ with Muslims on a farm in the city of Poso. He and a friend, both on motorbikes, were hit with a machete wielded by a Muslim who jumped from a bush. The Muslim tried to cut off his head but missed, hitting him in the mouth. He ran to his village holding his face. Because of the attack Santoso lost 10 teeth and damaged his tongue and his friend's fingers were cut off. (This was the third attempt on Santoso's life.) The Voice Of the Martyrs Medical staff has flown him to Java twice for treatment and is happy to report that Santoso now has teeth implants. Before going into his last surgery, he told us, "I read Ephesians 1:19 which promises God's great power to us who believe. God sends me power so I can bear suffering. We rejoice that one Muslim has come to Christ." Christians across the 3,000 inhabited islands of Indonesia are suffering increased attacks, church burnings, imprisonment and threats from angry mobs because of their bold faith in Jesus Christ! Much of the world would like you to believe that Christians are no longer persecuted but Santoso would disagree.
Christian family miraculously survive ambush in Nigeria
The Muslim attackers soon aimed their weapons at the driver, in hopes to first kill the Christian "infidel" then kill his entire family. In an attempt to protect his father, son Gyan lunged at the bullets to shield him, but the bullets found their way to their intended target; killing Davou. Gyan, trying to help his father, took 14 bullets during the ambush. Davou's wife Mary was hit in the eye during the attack. Mary was taken into surgery immediately. She lost one of her eyes as a result of the attack. Son Gyan was also operated on; removing all 14 bullets from his body. Miraculously he survived! Davou left behind a wife and 10 children. More than 10,000 Christians have been killed since 1999 in Nigeria and nearly 1,000 homes and churches have been burned down by Muslim radicals-all because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Voice Of the Martyrs has opened up a center in Jos, Nigeria for the purpose of helping Christian widows who have lost their husbands at the hands of Muslim fanatics. This center will help these widows develop a trade in sewing or computers.
A Pakistani Teenage Christian Barely Escapes Death at the Hands of Her Own Family!
Sudanese Boy "Crucified"
Damare was miraculously rescued and has told The Voice of the Martyrs that just as Jesus was nailed and forgave, he forgives also. What bold faith from a simple Sudanese boy! Damare is not alone in the persecution he has endured. The Muslim government of Khartoum in the North has declared a jihad, or holy war, against the mostly Christian South. Omar Hassan al-Turabi, an Islamic leader, has stated that anyone who opposes Islam "has no future." Since 1985, approximately two million have perished due to the genocide. Families in the South are terrorized-fathers killed, mothers raped, and children sold into slavery. Yet in the midst of these atrocities, the Christians in Sudan remains strong, worshiping their Savior and leading others to Him. Damare has now received some assistance from workers with The Voice of the Martyrs. His wounds are still open and additional medical attention as well as some rehabilitation is still needed.
Christian Survives Horror of North Korean Prison
The missionary says a woman in his Chinese church gave him an ID number to use in traveling to North Korea, saying it belonged to her cousin. When authorities saw the ID number, they immediately arrested Lee, who later discovered the woman was a North Korean spy. He had been set up. Wrote Lee of his prison experience: "Between March 5 and 19, I was interrogated daily. Because of the beatings I began to have severe pains in my liver and kidney.” Lee says at one point the authorities believed he was near death, so they transferred him to another location and fed him well to make sure he stayed alive. "Within two weeks I had recovered, so they brought me back to the interrogation center where I was again beaten and tortured for another 54 days," wrote Lee. Why torture a man for weeks on end? Stated Lee: "My No. 1 crime against the People's Republic of Korea is that for the past eight years I have been spreading the gospel in North Korea and bringing people to Christ." Lee says his heroes are those Christians who have endured hardship, torture and the loss of their lives – but who never denounced their faith: "They truly live and die for the Gospel, and they are my heroes. Though their lives were short, what they've done will forever shine with Christ."
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The
earth was not the only thing shaken as a result of the greatest earthquake
in Pakistan's history, which claimed more than 84,000 lives. God has
shaken many hearts free from the bondage of Islam and shown them His love
through the faithful contributions of VOM readers. Many of our friends
responded in the past two months to the Pakistan earthquake, and we are
thankful. Donations of more than $75,000 have helped provide Action Packs,
food, medicine, blankets, tents and most importantly He Lived Among Us
gospel storybooks.
his
work is continuing as our faithful Pakistani contacts are ministering in
the earthquake region, and it is not too late for your gift to help in
this exciting ministry opportunity. This is an opportunity for more than
just a financial gift, this is an opportunity to reach out to thousands
with the gift of eternity. We invite you to be a part of showing the love
of Jesus Christ and His Body to hard-line Muslims in Pakistan.
Davou Bulle, his wife, and their 10 children each
climbed into the van, exhausted from another full day of work on their
family's farm. He started to pull away but was soon jarred to
attention by the sound of gunshots hitting the tires. They were being
ambushed because of their faith!
Diana
grew up in a strict Islamic family in Pakistan. Her life was pretty typical
until she met a girl named Mary who was a Christian. Now Diana is also a
Christian and on the run.
Damare,
a small Sudanese boy, was taken as a slave and forced to tend camels after his
village was attacked by radical Muslims. One day Damare, who had been raised in
a Christian home, snuck away from his master to attend a church service. When he
returned, his Muslim master was waiting for him and accused of committing a
deadly act, "meeting with infidels." The master then dragged Damare into a field
where he nailed his feet and knees into a large board while the boy cried out in
agony. 
