Good morning. Good morning and god bless you wherever you are. This is Reverend Ben Cooper and Sandra this morning as you join us here at Elim church, we thank you so much for joining us for these podcasts. You can find us on Amazon music, Apple Music, I Heart Radio, Buzzsprout, Spotify and multiple podcasting platforms. Just going to Google and search Reverend Ben Cooper podcast and we will come up with 253 I believe podcasts that we have done. And we just want to give a big thank you to all the listeners across the globe, when I see the stats, it is absolutely mind blowing what God is doing through the power of voice, the power of the spoken word. So whoever you are, wherever you are, we just want to say thank you so much for sharing all this stuff that's coming out these deep conversations, the light conversations. And just to found that everything that comes in the teaching that comes from here at Elim church with the many different guests that we have. So we want to welcome Sandra this morning. And her heart Her mission is for the persecuted church. You know, it's a very powerful ministry. She's a very gifted lady. She's a good friend of mine. And she's a member of this church, and she has been here for many years. And she is she is absolutely on point with what we are looking at. And I'm not lifting her up, you know, you know what I'm saying listeners, but where credit is needed credit has to be given. And I thank God for her life. I thank God for her ministry. And because the ministry that she brings can be very heavy can be very drawing, and can really bring some distress as Sandra we welcome and we thank you, for your ministry for your life and your family. And may God bless you and strengthen you, Sondra, it's been a while since we've been gathering, isn't it?
Sandra Robson:Yes. Good morning. Nice. It's really good to be with you. And yes, to see this new place to do the recording. It's great. So nice and nice and airy.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's great, isn't it? Yeah, we're in we're in we've come down to the finished product that we're almost done, we're almost completed, we are nearly there. So close, so close. And hopefully the sound is better. And the quality is a little bit better with the audio. But that's what we want to achieve. So we can push this word out, push the conversations out across the globe. Just in case there are any other lockdown but Sondra, we are in a very interesting subject today. And I know that's floating around at the moment. I know it's changed its name. But there is across the globe, women's world their prayer always been changed the World Day of Prayer, which is bit of a shame, really, because it should be the women we should lift up. And we should give God praise and thanks for the women of this world. But today we're in an interesting subject. And the title is sea change. For women. This is coming from open doors. And if you have to go onto their site, it's very easy to find it's easy to navigate. Open Doors is a great site. And as soon as you open it up, it's helping persecuted Christian women. And it's branded up invisible but visible. It's really interesting. So I would urge any one of you to to share this podcast out today. Sandra has a lot of information over the next 43 minutes or so 45 minutes as we as we dive into this, but I would ask you, whoever you are, and wherever you are across the world to pray for women, women around the world, you know, we are looking at women within the world of persecuted church, because this is what this podcast is about. But we need we need the sisters in the church. The sisters are what is requiring? Because you know without going into too much detail, Sandra. Good morning. Come on. Let's
Sandra Robson:get morning. Come on. It was a while ago, and I was looking through my notes to see what we talked about. Yes. And I found that it was this place people because we've been talking about Nigeria, and all the difficulties that are going on there, you know, terrible violence and everything. And that, sadly, is ongoing. And so we continue to pray for the pastors and the people. But obviously, when they hear that, you know there's a raid or something that people have to flee other, you know, and they're fleeing this danger. So we were talking about displaced people where they are and what help there is and we were thinking about other displaced people because at the time, and Afghanistan had been invaded by the Taliban. And we were waiting to hear news about that and we talked about some of the prayers being asked for by those who are still there, and it was saying, you know, that guy said about, if you love us, you will pray for us. And we sort of we ended on that note. And then I was looking in the Barnabas magazine for January, February this year. And they were giving an update about what they've been able to do for Afghans who had become refugees, and how they've been able to help them and some encouraging stories, but also, you know, again, needing to pray for them because they are being hunted down if they are founded, particularly the men. They are they are killed on the spot. And then the women, they are made to be slaves and trophies for the Taliban fighters.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Trophies. Yes. Yes, they get is barbaric. This is beyond human understanding. I just, Oh, my God, this is just a conversation stopper on a starter all in one go. Sandra, howdy. How do you deal with that as a woman?
Sandra Robson:Um, well, it, you know, you can't switch off and, you know, just unimaginable, you know, so demeaning. And this is why we're talking about women today. And how, you know, they can be abused, and used in such an awful way because of of teachings, either religious teachings, or community teachings about the place of women. And so, you know, yeah, it is shocking. You know, I mean, we think about that girl in Nigeria, and layer liar, who is a slave for life for everything is Bucherer, around Bucherer. Because she wasn't recounts her faith. So there are two things we're looking at today, we're looking at the vulnerability of women as women, and also on top of that, had then having a faith in Jesus, which makes them doubly vulnerable. Yeah. So that's what we're looking at the double persecution of women. So for
Reverend Ben Cooper:one for being a woman, yes. Second for being a believer in the God of Israel. Yes. Is that any particular way round that you think that is the stronger? One that would? That would be the more demeaning for? Is it purely? Is it? Is it every woman? Or is it more, so more so sorry, that they are Christian women, so we are going to violate, yeah, Christian,
Sandra Robson:Christian women, definitely. But some of them are being mistreated as women to begin with. And this is quite interesting, why some of them are reaching out to Jesus, because they are being mistreated as part of the understanding that the man is over the woman and can do with what they were there, like their property, in certain countries, they are their property, and they can do with them what they like, and you know, so So that's a net then obviously, if they then become a Christian, then they are made homeless. They obviously in some countries, you have to have family or a man or be married, to have any income. And they don't respect single women, they are seeing like, women on the street. They can be sexually abused in the marriage outside the marriage, and there's violence in the marriage. Sometimes people attract to it with us. The Testimony I'm going to give you is of a woman who was caned to become a Christian. And but then was trapped into a marriage because what happens is that some in particularly, it seems in Muslim countries, some men will seem sympathetic, okay, to these women, and will come across as if they're going to be okay about it. But it's all a lie. It's all a fragile front
Reverend Ben Cooper:to cover them back into narcissistic control traits. Of Yeah, dangerous leaders.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. So and so we're going to look at this. You know, how they can be tricked, and, you know, yeah. And then another thing that's quite sad, and is that they're also not only shunned by their community, so they have to maybe leave their village we've talked about that we've had we had a testimony of a woman who had to leave her village somewhere. I can't remember exactly where but around Africa way that way. And she had been accused her. Her father in law said she was responsible for her husband's death, and her child's death because she wasn't following their religion. And she was following Jesus. And so she was ostracized. And he told lies to the community that she was pushed out and she had to fend for herself. But also, when that happens, that can be misunderstanding by the church, by churches in particular areas if they see that, you know, they can believe these lies that being said that this woman is sleeping around and further else you know, that sorry, said about
Reverend Ben Cooper:the vocal. It's the focal grapevine that starts all this off. Yeah. misinterpretation manipulation. Ever have I got this right. If I could put it as quickly as this? Is the law set up in certain religions? to favor the man over the woman? Yes. Yeah, that would be that. So Right. So that will be right, wouldn't it? So what we have is a culture already looking down and discarding God's gift to mankind? Yeah. Yeah. So this guy, this is this is so this is steeped in religion, this is steeped in tradition. So when you have anything like that it has a heavier press, because they will automatically go. God said, you are because of God. Yeah. And not certainly not the God. Let me clear this up. Certainly not the God of Israel, that created the heavens and the earth. Yeah. So we have a very dangerous situation, don't we with religion and the power of religion? And we're not referring to Christianity? Because you will not find this in the Christian faith. You might you will find it in a cult, you will find it in other religions where women are? Or gotta be careful. Put on the back end of everything. Yeah. And which
Sandra Robson:seems to be somebody to marry so the man can have children. Yeah. And either children to inherit what he has or work for him. That is her job to look after the home and to produce children. Yes. You know,
Reverend Ben Cooper:I know. You mentioned about being a slave. Yeah. They even though they might not be labeled as a slave from what we see in certain cultures and certain areas, the way that they are treated, which are inhumane, and very brutal. They're there they are slaves within their own family. Oh, yeah. They are tied to that family. Yeah, even though they may not have been bought, even though they not have been traded. They have in a roundabout way. So this is a very, very dangerous a very, very thin conversation, isn't it? Because this really hits home and very close to home. And we just pray that well, way. Sometimes it feels not enough. When I say we pray for you. Because anyway, Sandra, let's carry on, I'm going to hand back to you because getting getting
Sandra Robson:so so we're going to have a look at this testimony from this lady. And they're calling her Sarah. But that's not her real name. And she was from a Muslim household in North Africa. And it starts with the words you deserve to be dead. And that was because she became a Christian. And her parents, well, they were very religious, and her dad was actually in a man. So this was a massive disappointment, massive shame and, you know, to his reputation and everything. So it was the worst thing, you know, that she could have done as far as they were concerned. But looking at her story, why did she turn to Jesus? Well, you know, her, she hadn't really had very much love in her in her upbringing. This particular girl, she said she believed in God, but only because she was taught to obey Him out of fear. When I was a child, my parents used to tell me that God would torture and punish me and how, remember Sarah, I had more fear for God than love. And it wasn't just Muslim God that Sarah feared she also feared her family of violence in her family. My family used to beat me so that I would practice the rituals of Islam. According to them, a woman who goes out in the streets without covering her hair bring shame and dishonor and is considered To disgraceful, and in disrepute. And then when she was 16, she walked into a church, she'd been told that only foreigners would be Christians and would follow a different God. But she found that there were people that she could, you know, relate to. They were North Africans. And so she started to go along and find out about Jesus, then she was given a Bible. And over the next couple of months, through Facebook, and through social media discipleship, she gave her life to Jesus. And as we've said, in other podcasts, that's how important social media and you know, like we've said about Trans World Radio, all these things are very important. And our way is for these women to find Liberty through Jesus. And so she was filled with joy. But at that point, she became even more vulnerable. Not only did she faced the discrimination for being a woman in her culture, she also now faced persecution for her faith, and the persecution was coming from a home, not outside. So it was hidden. And a few weeks after she became a Christian, her dad found Bible. And she had to admit to him that she had become a Christian. And so he beat her and threw her out of the house.
Reverend Ben Cooper:That's right. My mind actually just switches off. I don't know if that's an issue that I have when I hear this. This just doesn't load. This is just brutal.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, but this this is when it's coming from your family and your father, your dad. Yeah, it's your dad, because the religion takes over
Reverend Ben Cooper:from exactly what I said. Yeah, religion takes the first place of everything. Yeah. Over. How can we say this is religion of a loving God? No luck, the loving God. Whatever way you look at that would allow a father to be a child, this is the abuse. This is religious, dictatorial, control, narcissistic, evil driven. This is not of the God of love the God of Israel. Yeah, this is very dark. This is this is an excuse. This is for the darker things. And Sandra, these artists, I
Sandra Robson:know, it's amazing, you know how these women but because of prayer, because of you know, open doors, knowing about these things, and working with people there who have come through this, that they have the resources there, and and God puts them in touch, you know, with these women. And because, yeah, she said not only was she thrown out of her house, but then as I say, her dad started telling nice about her and saying that she'd run off with a man and she does say here, it really hurts her. She said, How could he destroy my reputation? It is explained extremely painful to hear such things. Yet, she says that she still wants to forgive them and that she still wants to meet with them the power of forgiveness. Yeah, she still wanted to. She didn't want to completely be cut off from them. And and so, you know, this is where she made her next mistake. So they said okay, we will meet with you, if you will get married. So she found a way through some friends, some mutual friends. As I say, I met this guy and she thought that he would look after her. He seemed very tolerant to her faith and wanted to know more. She thought he would become a Christian. But as soon as they got married, she said he turned into somebody else. I experienced physical abuse, disrespect, mistrust. He didn't allow me to have a phone. He wouldn't let me go to the shops on my own. I had made a grave mistake. One day Sarah's husband ordered her to leave the house. You are not useful anymore. He said
Reverend Ben Cooper:Cheryl husband. Yes. So
Sandra Robson:so she said her family disowned. Okay. And now the person who
Reverend Ben Cooper:died? Yeah. Now husband? Yeah. Yeah, okay. Yeah.
Sandra Robson:So, Sarah thought that the marriage would be a form of rescue from the persecution she faced birth It turned out not to be. And Christian women or girls are often persecuted by those who are supposed to love them the most the father, her husband, her family. And so his country, not everyone is shocked at this behavior towards the wife. Sadly, even women often think this violence from a husband is acceptable. Sara hoped her parents would accept her home again. But they told Sarah, she should go back to her husband. So she's then since then, she's been helped with discipleship, discipleship training, and given a job so she can become financially independent. And Sarah is beginning to see change in her life and knows that God is the one she has to thank. Sarah is far from an isolated case, as we've said, There's millions of Christians across the world who suffer this complex persecution. Yeah. And the vision of open doors is that they should be seen, that the persecution that she is experiencing for our faith and gender should be seen. And she should be valued and empowered to reach her God given potential. And as you know, and was that declaration? I don't know how far that Scott. I haven't heard any more about it. But I know, quite a lot of faith leaders have signed it. And so that was the thing about, you know, the church side of things about being aware, and not adding to the women's pain by then ostracizing them. And, you know, so teaching the church, how they should respond, and understanding what was going on and turning culture on its head, like Jesus. Yeah. So. So they've developed a framework for strengthening and making the church more resilient. Said one of the Open Doors partners, and they look at Genesis one and two, and how God views identities, and they see a pattern of the world and God's view of us. And she says that many women have been healed from bitterness, unforgiveness and hatred. Once we are healed, we can help other sisters to heal said one lady, and Sarah prays, pray for change for protection, enlightenment's in Christ also pray that He will change my family, and that the gospel will open more hearts around the world. So
Reverend Ben Cooper:I'm reading this story of Sandra, I'm online and Sandra's reading it from the good old paperback version. And I'm reading it online. As we follow this through this story, there's an interest in video, it's free minutes or just four minutes long. I would click the button, but obviously it wouldn't want to hear the voice on that. But I would, I would urge anyone to, to jump onto this page and open doors and to follow Sarah's story all the way through. It does. It does pull up the heart, I will tell you it does pull up the heart and I will watch that video off air later on today. This is this is a really important podcast because this is champion this is this is pushing this is asking the church, the church to support women to really support women because we have religious narcissistic, controlling men, not just outside of the framework of the UK, I must emphasize within the UK itself, there are certain religions and certain areas and certain cultures that abused women through verbal abuse, control, sexual abuse, you know, there is so much going on. And we are living in a time where I believe that that women should be protected like never before. Women need to be protected not not they are put into into too many vulnerable situations. Religion, the word religion is being used and for some unknown reason this government seems to back away from certain religious cultures where they are where they are. I find this government is shameful in not protecting women of all cultures, all upbringings all understandings. And I pray that this government, this government does something very seriously about anybody that lifts a hand to any woman or any child. We need leaders that will lead and if the leaders are not leading, they are partnering with this disgusting despicable action that men are doing under the current hovering of religion. And I know, I know that these are not real men, they aren't they should not even be labeled as men, I'm afraid to say, this is really getting me quite, quite upset and quite angry, and I need God to deal with me. There's no, there's no excuse. There's no excuse. I know we're in a persecuted church. But this, this does reflect to every woman, every young girl, every every child that is being abused by by a man and they label it up quite easily in religion. And I pray that number 10 Downing Street really does something seriously in this nation, because we are allowing, we are allowing slave trade, we are allowing human exploitation, we are partnering with it with certain products that we sell certain areas of life this nation really needs to to, well, I won't say the nation, I will say the leaders of this nation, I apologize for that. The the leaders of this nation really need to rise up, rise up and protect women across across this nation. And that will certainly go out and that will put a standard and that will put a big call across the world that we will not allow. As the British government, any woman in this nation, whatever label they are being coming under the protection of we will not allow any woman young girl to be abused and we will deal with you severely. We need leaders. Sandra, this is a heavy press today you brought to the table it really ruffled me up I'm and I'm not afraid to say it. Because we need we certainly need. And I know and I you know, and I know I get a bit vocal but but please God, please God, shake this government up. We are tinkering around silly things, and ridiculous things. And we have women right in front of our eyes that are being abused, being abused, not just by religious areas, but by men that are in this nation that are just abusers. Please God do something Sandra back to you. Because I'm getting a little bit so
Sandra Robson:well, we need to pray for women, pray for women in these situations. And they will realize that this is not right, that, you know, they are not to be treated this way. So a change in attitude for them to not accept this. Treatments. And also for others, like we say not to accept it. And for more people to join the sea change campaign have a look at it on open doors. And they're particularly asking, you know, just talking about the government about inviting MPs to the event on the Eighth of March. So there's an event on the Eighth of March, which is with another organization, Aid to the Church in Need. And you can watch it live, and you can invite your MP, and they'll hear stories and information and how to respond. So that to help these women not to be so vulnerable. But the aim is to open the eyes and increase the awareness of those in power of what is going on. Because a lot of them don't know. I mean, last year, they had this, as I say the declaration and people were invited to the launch of what it was about there was that report about the fact that women were being doubly persecuted. And I think that was the first report that had been done. And it was done with another group. And so it really did, you know, pull a punch, as it were and MPs did start to take notice. And we know from the World Watch List launch. There were some tweets. But at the moment, it's just Yes, we see. But it's not action. And next we need some action at the moment. We have just got. We agree. Yes, we can see it's going on now. Yeah, we didn't know about it, or, Oh, we didn't realize it was that bad. Or, you know, so there is movement, but we're praying that there will be even greater movement and we thank the Lord for the envoys that we have that she is working and you know, wanting to do more. And that is Fiona. What's the name again? Fiona. Bruce. Oh, Fiona. Bruce. Yeah, okay. Fiona Bruce. She is the MP Special Envoy for freedom of religion or belief. And so you know, contact her, you know, contact your local MP. He show them that this is important that you feel this is really important. The more they hear from us, the more they'll realize and it gets pushed up the agenda. I know difficult things are happening in the world. But again, women are part of that. You know what's going on and are vulnerable. And Frey particularly for the International Women's Day of Prayer pray, particularly on the day of March. And as I was looking at this, because it was saying about sea change. I just thought about God is a God who sees, and I was looking for that verse When I thought about Hagar, and in Genesis 1613, where she says, You are the God who sees you. Yeah, and, and there are women who, through this abuse come to know Jesus, because he sees what's going on in the home, he sees these things. And as they cry out, he meets them and leads them. But we do need the resources to help and support them. Because as you can see, they have no family, they have no income, they have no support, their children can be taken away from them. And so you know, you've got to build a whole new family for them help the churches. But God sees me as a friend to the widow and the outcast. And in Luke 418, it says to He heals the brokenhearted the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, as Jesus, you know, to heal the brokenhearted and we pray that many brokenhearted women will be healed and hear the Gospel. And we thank You, Lord, that we have Transworld radio and other media sources that can women can access and comes to know you. And we pray for those who are in that situation. In fear that, you know, they are listening and finding out about you, Lord, I pray for their protection, Lord, and that you will lead them to safety and law that in some cases, you know, their families do come to know you as well, and husbands. But some Father, we just we just bring this situation to you today. And we ask that you will help and, you know, guide open doors and what they're doing, and that the events on the Eighth of March will be well attended. And we will see change and these women will not feel alone or invisible anymore. In Jesus name. Amen.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen. Amen. Father, we thank you for this time. It's been absolutely painful but glorious. We thank you for the women across the world, Sarah, Lord, and how many father how many fathers are there just like Sarah, right within a parochial stretch of these microphones as well, Lord, Holy Spirit, I thank you for Sondra, I pray that you will strengthen her and be with her as she studies as she reads as she is open to the scripture to the to the very voice of the living God as she is guided into these. And she is led by you into what she brings to these these podcast in times. So Father in the name of Jesus bless everybody. Lord, I'm lost for words. I'm a bit choked, Father, I'm angry Jesus. I'm frustrated. And Lord, I pray that this government, this government law, will stop fluffing around, messing around with time wasting issues. And Father I pray a rescue mission will go on to rescue every woman. Every young woman, child father that is abused, and is manipulated and shaped and threatened under the word religion, marriage, relationship, Father, do something with this government, please God and Lord, I don't even know how to pray anymore, Lord, across this brushstroke of the persecuted church, but please, Lord, you hear our heart today. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Sandra that was that was absolutely fantastic. And I'm sorry to the listeners if I got a little bit jumpy. I can't, I can't help it. I can't honestly, I can't help it. But Sandra, what would you? What would you say in just a closing few words of how someone should pray into this, this ministry? What advice would you give? If anybody is is in this position in the UK? What would you say? Bit of a heavy question to leave you and ask you with
Sandra Robson:I mean, obviously, if you're in a difficult situation, seek help. And, you know, and obviously, you know, to keep on praying and know that God is with us, and He is a loving Heavenly Father. And He's nothing like father's earthly fathers can be. And yeah, you know, just that, thanking the Lord, that people like open doors are bringing this more into the light something that's been in the darkness. So yeah, it's reached out and you know, don't suffer in silence. And God will make away you reach out to different organizations that can help and use social media. Brilliant, you know? Yeah. And when you can, when, as you're able to. Yeah, so thank you. So that's, that's the
Reverend Ben Cooper:thing. You've wrapped it up. Absolutely beautiful. You've been listening to Sandra Robson, myself, Reverend Ben Cooper for today's podcast. Wherever you are across the world, please go on to Google. And search Reverend Ben Cooper his podcast you will find us on Amazon music I Heart Radio, Buzzsprout, Spotify, and many other platforms. Have a great day, keeping the Word of God and share all this stuff out. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.