much Hello and welcome. Thank you so much for joining us wherever you are today across the earth. Thank you so much for joining us today here at Elim church as we gather around the mics wherever you are, and whatever your presses on this world today. You're joining Sandra and you're joining myself as we just speak and look and pray over and talk about the persecuted church to suffer in church and we are looking at a very beautiful title. I really believe this today. unshakable faith, you know, this is what we need today. On shakable faith, we're going into look at India, Sandra may have a bit of a recap that we're going to hand over to Sandra, we want to say thank you to everybody in the world of podcasting for all the shares and the downloads and all the listens, and all that sorry, rather to all the listeners that are out there for sharing everything that is coming out of here there is nothing that has been edited. Everything is just straight out the barrel, straight roar, speaking with a coffin and the splatter in northern noises off the table that we're here. But this is what is so beautiful about audio and audible. It catches everything this morning. And God bless you, man, the hand of God just be upon you today. Never give up hope. We are prisoners of hope. Zechariah nine verses 12 to 13 says he is our stronghold. He is our God. But we are prisoners of hope. Sandra, good morning. And welcome. Good
Sandra Robson:morning.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Thank you so much as we just gather around the mics again today as we talk about the persecuted church. And we had a good week last week, the Voice of the Martyrs week didn't we was quite a very interesting week in that progress. For me, I've done a little bit more reading a little bit. Bit more studying, I should say, into the Voice of the Martyrs and it opened up quite a lot really. But Saundra where we're gonna go today, are we are we going to drop into India? We're gonna have a quick look through there and see where we're where you take us where the Lord leads us this morning?
Sandra Robson:Yes, well, apparently it was about a year ago that we looked at this because one of the stories we looked at, there's actually an update of that story. And just about a week ago, my new Open Doors magazine popped through my letterbox and I opened it and there it was all about India. And so I was just asking, you know, for more information, and so here it is. And as we might know that India had the unfortunately persecution has increased in India, and it is now at number 10 on the World Watch list. And so that's very sad to climb. Yes, but at the same time, and God is at work, and that's the god bit in all of this. So persecution is increasing is becoming increasingly more violent. And a lot of this is due to the anti conversion laws that started to be introduced. And now they've managed to push it through in 11 regions. So that's the third of the 28 regions, yes, of India, are now have anti conversion laws. And, as we've seen in Pakistan with things anti blasphemy and other places where the anti conversion, that it's misused. The idea was that it was, you know, to stop anybody harassing and forcing people into conversion of any faith, but now it's been particularly used by Hindus against Christians, and it's part of their drive to nationalize India and make it Hindu only. But as we know, God has his plans. And so that's what they're doing and they had this 10 year plan and they hoped by now that they would have pushed most Christians out of India. Do you think because I've been doing this about Yeah, that length of time and I remember looking at and being shocked when the government at the time they you know, So, when this new leader came in the national the, the Hindu nationalist organization said, we have a 10 year plan and to remove Yes, to become Hindu only. So, try and reconvert those who were Hindu Christians to Hinduism, Hindu we reconvert and not allow any conversions the other way. And so they've been against Muslims in the country, seeps in the country, anybody who isn't a Hindu has come under pressure and attack and many fled. But a lot are remaining. And, and I think I said last time didn't I am main thing that is happening is God is is, is revealing to the Hindus himself through healing, healing. And so it is not that Christians are particularly the hands on anybody, or even been there, they've heard about Jesus, but then the healing has taken place. Yeah, and, and so, and then that person has then gone and told others, and then that's where the trouble starts. But of course, they put it, blame the church, the local church, wherever this happens, they blame the local church. And, you know, if they see any support for this person who's just come to know Jesus, then they will attack those who are supporting them. And at the moment, open doors have on the website, and they sent me a little clip, with my email, showing me footage of a particular attack. And we're going to talk about that today. So, the background for India, if you if people don't know if they haven't heard this before, is the population is 1.4 billion. Wow. And there are 68 point 9 million Christians how many 6068 point 9 million Christians and the leader is Prime Minister Modi. So persecution of Christians in India is intensifying as Hindu extremists aims to cleanse the country of their presence and influence. Violence against Christians remains extreme social media is increasingly contributing to this, as it is used to spread disinformation and stir up hatred. false accusations are commonly leveled against Christians, including allegations of forced conversions. In some areas, during the pandemic, Christians have been deliberately overlooked in distribution of government aid, and have even been accused of spreading the virus. Now, we know that during the pandemic, we talked about India, and some other places because there was again, campaign by open doors and others saying about being last in the queue. And to take a picture of a bowl and send it we're hashtag, you know, last last in the queue, I think something like that anyway. And that was the highlight the fact that Indians and others were, I think it was in Nigeria, and some other countries, were being told, No, you're not a Hindu, you're not receiving aid, go to the back, ask your God, ask ask your church, you know, but, you know, you'll be lost or you won't get anything. So that was the situation and a lot of churches have did struggle through a pandemic because their poor pastures weren't receiving any any income because the people weren't able to work. And it was a very, very difficult situation. But thank God, that aid got through and, you know, they were called happens, yes, but they are trying to prevent more and more stopping churches having funds from outside and, you know, so that's another thing that they're doing. And I just wanted to read to you and what, Henrietta Blythe, who is the CEO of open doors, has written at the beginning of the magazine. So Oh, we said unshakeable faith and that comes from Hebrews 1228. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and so worship God acceptable with reverence and all. Okay? So she says Indians const, India's constitution guarantees religious freedom. It says, All persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience, and have the right to freely press, profess, practice and propagate religion. That's in writing. But the reality is very different. And it's getting, it's getting more and more different by the day. However, many faiths, both violent persecution and everyday discrimination is becoming institutionalized police and others in authority frequently collude with attackers and persecute Christians. And they find no not that they no longer no longer are seen as victims of crime, but are accused of the criminal acts themselves. And not only this, nurses and doctors are being bribed, to not give treatment to Christians caught up in the violence. And we're going to read a story about that now.
Reverend Ben Cooper:This is so serious, isn't it? This is this is really, this is it goes to sometimes when we discuss and when we look and I listen to what Sandra is bringing out. Sometimes it goes to a different level. Sometimes it rises. And sometimes it seems to be maybe a little bit more palatable just just to cope with it when you hear some of this stuff. And like last week, that poor young girl what happened to that poor young girl and everything that went on with that voice, the martyrs week, then this week, where the authorities are bribing doctors and nurses not to give treatment to believers. He can't actually can't believe certain things happen because where we live within the UK. It's just mind blowing what what is going on. But God is with this church, God is, is with the persecuted church. God just makes a way where were this vile control on this? This this ostracizing and pushing away just God seems to open a door that that just the door doesn't even seem to be there. It just seems to be a wall. It seems to be an impossible situation. But you look at the stories you look at their faces, and you see this hope beaming from their eyes, you see this powerful presence of the Holy Spirit with them. It's like long we long to have that here. God we long to have what they have we long for that peace. And that rest that they have, even though they've been disturbed and displaced and, and pushed aside and beaten and everything that goes along with with the persecuted church. Please, please, you know is like if any, anyone out there in the world of the persecuted church, pray for us. Pray for us here in the UK. May God give you strength.
Sandra Robson:And I mean, this was why I said particularly about that. The MPs freedom of religion and belief. Yeah. ministerial that took place. The last two days. Yes. And I'm praying that that wasn't disrupted by all the upheaval that's going on is going on. envoi Fiona Bruce, she was speaking yesterday to foreign ministers who can do something about it, the foreign minister, MPs and, and highlighting what's going on in saying, you know, this is a democracy, this should not be going on people should not be doing being discriminated for their faith and being treated this way. And so I do pray that, you know, what she said has rung alarm bells, because it's the fact that it's a democracy. Yeah. And you know, we're a democracy and other countries are a democracy. But, you know, through social media through different you know, manipulations, how things can can change.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I think we need to pray for Fiona Bruce as well, don't we? We need to pray that God will guide her in her wisdom. Yeah, she that God actually opens that door of opportunity and not only opens the door of opportunity to also opens the heart and the ears of those that she's speaking to. Because we can do something we can. Yeah, look what we've done for the Ukraine and all that over the last number of months. Yes. You know, what if the if the government would would put as much effort into the persecuted church, how different would it be?
Sandra Robson:Yes. You know, we're, you know, and there have been good news. I mean, they did support Iraq, and there has been support for Syria. And I think some people's eyes are being opened with amongst the MPs, but yeah, what what's wow, you know, who are going to be representatives, you know, but it's anyway, God is going to do his work. And there are people there who are are listening. And as we've said, you know, where there doesn't seem to be a God makes away and I was just thinking about that. I think it's the verse in Isaiah, where it says, We, you know, go through the waters go through the fires, but you will not be drowned or burned. And reading this, it is like that, that, you know, they are going through some awful harrowing situations. But then God is revealing things to them. And in that they are becoming stronger. And though they didn't think that would be the case, and this girl, Lady is only in her 20s. And she's told my hair. That's a name given to her. You know, that's not her true name because of security reasons. But that's a name that is used. I grew up as a Hindu, like many and all her family were Hindus, and all her community were Hindus, but she started to question her religion, when it couldn't offer her help from a chronic illness. And then somebody told her about Jesus. And this these are her words, my mother took me to church, I was healed. I came to know Jesus as a true healer, and the living God, I gave my life to Jesus. Our lives changed as we got to know God. So her mum was open to it and her sisters, but the rest of our community weren't. And they called them traitors. When we accepted Christ, the people in our community accused us of taking money to become Christians. We denied such accusations we told them, Christ did not come for religious conversion. He came to change lives. When we come to the Lord, we receive peace, and we are filled with joy. But they isolated us and hurled even more abuse, setters comments, and shamed us for being involved in illegal activities. They constantly used abusive words and mocked us, it was hurtful. Their words hurt momentarily, but my joy in Christ overpowered all the opposition. I believed and prayed that they would experience Jesus and the same way we did. So well story, but then worse was to happen because they were so incensed, because obviously these the words were not having an effect on them. That wasn't bring them back into Hinduism. So they thought, well, we have to do something more drastic. And so they were on the way home from prayer meeting and a mob gathered and started beating them all. The attackers started to beat me merciless, merciless lessly and try to strangle me with a cloth. I fell unconscious, I was wounded and bleeding and suffered severe injuries across my body. Thankfully, thankfully, a bystander managed to stop them and phoned for an ambulance. I was in shock after the incident. I was not aware of my surroundings. I was in constant fear that the attackers would look for us again, and unexperienced panic attacks. So she's been treated at hospital. She lost her job because of being in hospital. Yeah. And she was then very despondent for some time. And she said, I felt desperate. But my mother, her mother, and her sisters reminds her of her hope in Christ. And she says that they pointed her to Psalm 23. For you are close beside me, your rod and your staff protect and comfort me, God. I was devastated and crushed, unable to understand all that had happened. But when my sister or my mother prayed with me, I was revitalized the strength of the Word of God, that He protects and comforts me. My relatives, my pastor, my other churches came to pray for me why? One of them said, those, those whose fight the Lord's fight, they will never you lose. I slowly started to regain my strength and be fortified in reading the Bible and writing down my thoughts into a form of a song. But there was still more to come. And her ordeal wasn't out there, because the people who attacked her and her family were very influential in their community. And they bribed the medical staff to stop treating her. Doctors were pressured to stop treating me. The nurses stopped all care medicine was also stopped, my heart was gripped with fear, how will I survive? This kind of injustice should not be done to anyone, Christians or non Christians.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I'm just on open doors, having a look. I'm gonna read and put some things on the social networks that we're on here. And we got to stand with India, we got to stay within this sander is bringing some really beautiful stuff to the table today. You know, so many crops, so many millions of Christians that are displaced when you really read. And you listen to Sandra, what she brings to the table. And as Sandra said, 10 years or so, Sandra, has been been involved in this missionary work. And it is missionary work, you know, even though she doesn't leave the shores of the UK is very heavily involved. And we need to pray for Sandra as well. That's, that brings this to the table. So please, if you can, if you're listening, listening now and you can listen as well as just get to your device. Can you go to open doors dot sorry, open doors uk.org. And you can have a real few moments just looking at India, and great articles that are on there. And also it rolls over into Afghanistan but India today, you know unshakeable faith, thank you Sondra, can you please just carry on? Oh,
Sandra Robson:yeah, so basically opened doors. Thankfully, the partners heard about it, and they got her medical treatment. And she says, you know, without that help, she you know, she doesn't know what would have happened because she couldn't afford it. And she just said it was such an encouragement, because then she knew other people from other places were thinking about her. And she said, she just overwhelmed, continue to receive support and groceries for our family. And she just said about and that's all that has made her want to give her testimony. And she says that she sees that God, through this suffering that she's been through. She says, My God is my strength. Holy God, my fortress. May God use my testimony to strengthen my brothers and sisters. Wow. And she says I forgive you
Reverend Ben Cooper:my story. Yeah, my pain, agony loss. Here's my story to strengthen.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. And she says that she's living out. You know, she believes what Jesus said, the sermon on the mount to pray for my enemies and those who persecute me, the people who did this to me, I have forgiven them. God gave me strength to do this, to so I could forgive them. Her strong desire is that all her neighbors, even those who launched a vicious attack will come to know Jesus. The plan that God has for my life is big. I will use for God's glory. Jesus Christ is everything to me. However much persecution increases, God's people will not decrease. No matter how much people persecute them. They will grow. So, yeah, that's unshakable faith. Good. So, you know, God met with her. And whatever was this condition she had, it must have been such a miraculous, you know, that it's just yeah. But the thing that people need to realize these people go through stuff, you know, and just because we're Christians, we're not going to not suffer and but through that God does amazing things. But at the time, it's so painful, and that's where the prayers come in. And what I thought was interesting as well, here was they're talking about lament and they're saying that we should lament and learn the men's
Reverend Ben Cooper:unusual word. I haven't heard that for I don't know how long lament Yes.
Sandra Robson:So there's a resource and I'm going to have a look at it. And it's saying that, you know, like lamentations, you Yeah, terrible destruction, obviously that Israel and Jeremiah came along and, and he cried out to the Lord about it all. And the they saying that it isn't wrong for Christians who are being persecuted, to cry out to the Lord and think, Where did God go and and be honest, and they're talking about this pastor who built up this church and he was 18. He said, Oh, God spoke to me, Rohan in India. And he said, he said, I heard I have chosen you, and called you by name and you are mine. And that day, he dedicated his life to ministry, claiming evangelist and raised up a church in his village established it. And then one night, the church was set on fire. And it was the next morning, he said everything was burning, it was all burnt to ashes. And he cried out to the Lord about it. And, and so, apparently, I have a say, this is all fresh to me. So it says that you we can find out more about Ronan's story. And it's one featured in among the ashes, which is a new open doors, film, and resource, okay, and but through that now Rowan has rebuilt the church with help from partners. And he's reaching out to even more people than before. But his experience of trauma and loss is common to so many of our persecuted church family. And this is it, what we learn from the stories of the persecuted church. And indeed, what we learn from the Bible itself is that it's no shame to find ourselves in the ruins. Because in the runes, we have the opportunity to encounter a different God than the one we'd imagined. So that's why he says in Malachi, lament is important, because it brings us to our knees, it takes away all human resources. This guy lost everything, lost his church, everything that he had built for the glory of God, but it was taken away. And he had to, he was in the ashes, nothing. But God showed himself to be even more great and powerful than he had experienced before. And that's what it's about. But we have to go to that place of, of mourning before because it says doesn't it? Weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice? So I will look into that.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah. Take you takes you to a place of of complete strip back. Yeah. place of complete, relying on the father. A place of complete, complete surrender where there is no there is no one else there is nothing else. There is no materialism, there is no food there. There is nothing. Everything has been taken.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, and you're just crying. You just cry.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's raw, it's painful. In bereavement, it's lost. Yeah, it's have everything wrapped up.
Sandra Robson:But it's that relationship, isn't it that you know, knowing he is the father and, and you know, even in the searching, guys not lost his faith.
Reverend Ben Cooper:That's incredible. That is that that is that is incredible to hear. That you're stripped back of everything around you. But the faith within still burns like a fire the faith within still burns locker and increases and and barons, the flame gets stronger, the fire gets strong
Sandra Robson:and God brings other resources and changes the you know what he thought he'd built this little, you know, now, now he's got something even greater and like with her, she she was just being a follower and a believer and just living her life daily as a follower of Jesus. And now she has a testimony and now she's going out and now she's like an evangelist and now she's telling others and and they can't deny what's happened to her. You can't deny what God has done. So and in this other other story, which we we looked at some time ago. There is a an update, and then they do this sort of giving an update to everybody about what they'd been open doors have been able to do. It's their review The yearly review, annual review. And within that it says about the support they're giving to India helping them to stand against persecution, and the teaching and support they're giving. But they say a little bit about this story. And I remember that we talked about it, and it's permanent Ponyta brinsea. And one of one that one lady was praying with the other lady went to see her and she was the pastor's wife. And on the way home, she was set upon and received terrible head injuries. And, again, she was denied medical treatment until Open Doors intervened with the partners there. And so says, Thank you for thanks. I'm thankful for your support. And shirt recently Vinter shared how your continued prayers are having an impact. I thank God that even though I had severe head injury because of the incident, God healed me without major treatment,
Reverend Ben Cooper:thank you, Jesus, what I'm ever called that alone.
Sandra Robson:Thank you, Lord, because we were praying for her because she was still recovering from the attack when we talked about that. And these are up to date prayers, and the July August issue of open doors. So for Saturday, it was because of many of those who are coming to faith or poor converts from impoverished areas of India, often they are accused of illegally being played paid to become Christians, which is what we heard in that account. And pray for those who have been falsely accused of paying people to become Christians, that their names will be cleared. And then today, the Prayer for Today thought is being a pastor is one of the riskiest vocations. Now in India, Hindu extremists target leaders to instill fear in the local Christian community. Pray for protection for the church leaders and their families and courage to share God's word despite the risks. And then tomorrow is Pastor shuck er, was arrested, tortured and driven from his town by extremists who accused him of paying Hindus to convert. Yet he still longs to share God's Word with others. Ask God to restore him so he can continue his ministry. He asks, pray that we may have faith in God and be undeterred. Remember God in all suffering and happiness, and live the Word and remain in God. So that's open doors, and then I looked at the prayer shield for release International, which is their prayer diary. And again this week, India, yesterday, third of India's 28 states now limited or prohibits religious conversion. religious freedoms are declining. Pray for reversal of this trend. Pray for believers in Padua, Pura Adesh, where persecution against Christians has increased dramatically since New anti conversion laws were passed last year. Within six months, at least 2047 churches have been forced to close please pray for three Christian families and I had
Reverend Ben Cooper:so difficult to pronounce Yeah
Sandra Robson:EJARIGU de a village, Odessa state who were beaten and their homes destroyed because they had refused to join in with festival traditional festivities. house church leader Palladia mad mad cam who is a widower had three daughters kidnapped by tribal villages 10 years ago, they remain missing. Pray that Poggio and his daughters will be reunited. And it it goes on last. Yeah, this for more incidence. People either have been killed, and they've been badly injured, brutally beaten. Another pastor arrested in April on suspicion of forced conversion and brutally beaten over a 24 hour period in police custody before being released pray for his healing. Somebody else was beaten unconscious. And then another pastor. Yeah, so Yes, so that that's a strong the other side. And that's why they're asking us to pray for a pastors and pros, evangelists and people who are wanting to bring the gospel
Reverend Ben Cooper:Shandra can have a quick peek at that we've been putting some pictures up online as we've been going. And I just want to put it just want to capture that that what Simon has been talking about there. That is that is the message today unshakeable faith. So we pray, and we pray, and we pray, and we pray, and we continue to pray. And also I asked those that will capture this through however, whatever means devices they do in the persecuted church world. Please pray for the UK. Please pray for the Christians in the UK, that we come to a place where the government here really bring the Word of God back into the schools, really press Christianity and not embrace in every other faith, except Except the gospel of Jesus Christ. So we, we need your prayers persecute the church, we need your prayers. We are next on the list for a wave of satanic moves from leaders that are anti anti God, ungodly, and we are in a nation that is very ungodly. And it is led by ungodly leaders that are doing whatever they want to do whenever they want to do it and to fit their ill gotten lifestyles. So we need prayer. We need prayer. But we are praying for you.
Sandra Robson:Yes. Yeah. So yes, pray, lament, email your MP, it's not too late. And give, if you're able to see what what you can do. You know, and we give thanks for those who come in to Jesus, because many are coming to Jesus. And, you know, that's, that's the side of the other side of things. And we thank Lord for, you know, the yes, that he is making a kingdom that is unshakable. And while everything else shakes, and yeah, as people see this, more people will be drawn, to ask questions, and those who persecute will think about what they're doing. And just pray for those who maybe are being bribed and give them money. And that they will, you know, stand, you know, they will say no, you know, that remember that they're there to to help, especially those in the hospitals, that they wouldn't be intimidated in this way that there'll be some way of stopping that happen. That they should this shouldn't be happening, that people are there to give Karen age should be intimidated to stop doing that for anybody. So just pray about that. And, yeah, so just thank You, Lord, for this information that we have here that we can pray in an informed way. And that we can just be encouraged by this lady's testimony. Yes, father. And yeah, thank you for what you're doing in her life and others lives. So yeah, just give that to you. In Jesus name. Amen.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen. Yeah, Holy Spirit, we just invite you in. We invite you into this nation. Please God, I pray for the UK as I've been reading through the prayer shield and listening to Sandra this morning. Father, I just I just selfishly can I use it like that, Lord, pray for us in West. Please God. Draw our leaders. Bless the businesses move, Lord, Lord, as I read and as I see what is happening through the anti conversion laws, through the pandemic, and as I hear about Hinduism is rising very powerfully in India, through the through the streams and the the way that he's going and other nations. Father, I clearly see the kingdom of God. I really see Lord, the Church of Jesus Christ amongst and in the hearts and in the eyes of the persecuted Christian. So Lord, please please do not turn your face from us here within the UK. Lord, I thank you for Sandra thank you for what she brings to the table. I thank you for this ministry. This calling that she's in this missionary filled Lord without leaving the shoreline of the UK Father, we pray that you will draw a closer Lord into this Lord that you will bring the lips richer you bring the wisdom how to deliver and how to address and how to present everything that we do. But Lord this morning, India we come and we stand with our sisters and brothers, Lord regarding the this law that is very strong and is moving very, very quickly the rise of the anti conversion laws Come Holy Spirit. We see, as Jesus said in the New Testament, look out for the signs. We see the signs loud and clear. Come Holy Spirit, the end is upon us. Bless us we pray. Thank you, Lord, for everyone that has been listening today wherever they are across this earth. Lord, we are so blessed here to be able to share these 45 minutes. Thank you, Lord for Sandra's heart sounder we thank you so much for bringing everything today week in week out. I know we have a little bit of a break here and there in between things. But just because we're not on air doesn't mean to say that you're not in prayer. So please lift our sister Sander up that is in this world of a very first world. A very frontline Ministry of reading and seeing what is happening to children and parents, displaced Christians around the world. You've been listening to Sandra Robson and myself, Reverend Ben Cooper as we look. And as I sit back and listen and to see what God is doing through the work of open doors, and release International and also our sister Sandra this morning. God bless you thank you so much for everything the shares, the likes, the pushes across the socials. Please share all this stuff out. And I pray that if you are a church leader within the context of the English, the West church within the UK, that I urge you, I urge you if you want your faith to grow, dive into the open doors, Trans World Radio, Voice of the Martyrs prayer shield release International. Get the church understanding what persecution is really about God bless you. And may God continue to guide you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Close:Thank you for listening to Elim church Swanleys latest podcast. You can find us on Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple Music, iHeart radio, Google Play, Alexa ,Mixcloud, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube