Well, good morning, everybody. Thank you so much for joining us this morning, wherever you might be across the earth, or the afternoon or the evening, the midnight hour, wherever you are this morning, we thank you so much for joining us, for the persecuted church weekly, as often as we possibly can, when we say weekly, just gathering around the mics, just being and just listening to seeing what God is doing through the persecuted church. We thank God for signed with, its with us this morning. And it's just a continuation or continue. Look at the news around the world within the suffering Church and the persecuted church. You can find us on Buzzsprout I Heart Radio, and Alexa and Amazon music so many places, please just share this stuff out. And we thank you to everybody that listens to everything. But this morning, the title is the continuation and the of the news around the world of the persecuted church. Sondra Good morning.
Sandra Robson:Good morning.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I understand you're into your second or your third week of your schoolwork rest Yeah,
Sandra Robson:second week. Yeah. Don't want it to go to first
Reverend Ben Cooper:go too far.
Sandra Robson:It's good. It's a good time. Because I have time, I was just thinking. And looking at these stories, you know that I've had more time to actually read. I'm reading a book on Acer BB at the moment. And that's really interesting, find out the background, what really went on in Pakistan and all the different things, other things repercussions of of that. So I'm really, you know, getting into the reading of that. And I've been able to read some newspapers and Christian articles and things and, and get some more information about some of the topics we looked at last week. And I went home and I thought, I wonder, you know why that girl was treated the way she was in Laos. And so I've now found out a lot more about that. And, you know, look to open doors, look to Barnabas. So we're going to go back to that and get some more information. I also found some information on the freedom of religion and belief. That conference, there was a small piece in a Christian newspaper, heart newspaper. And so I thought I'd read that, and it's just saying, a bit of what was said by indoors, but got a little bit more information about what the next steps are. So I thought that was useful. So it says the conference hosted over 600 faith, belief government and civil society leaders from 100 countries. So I didn't realize it was that big, no man to promote action to protect religious freedom around the world. And the result of it was the foreign secretary Liz truss announced 500,000 of funding and focused in particularly on abuse in China, Nigeria and Afghanistan. And added that religious persecution is collateral damage in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well. And we know that some church leaders have been hearest. And some have disappeared, where the Russians are taken over and is. So she that also speaking at the conference, this trust said authoritarians, and oppressors feel threatened by the freedom of religion or belief, fearing it will encourage people to think freely and crushed in their authority. We cannot allow them to win. That is why we're deepening links with our allies and building a network of liberty around the world. And she said as simple told the Corinthians Be on guard stand firm, be courageous, be strong. So there we go. So here's a little bit more information about that. Yeah, yeah. And now to Laos. So in this praying for the persecuted church, which Barna was aid, bring out every year. There's a piece on each country and it gives you a bit more background. So I thought I would read that At. So it says Laos approximately 150,000 Christians are targeted by local authorities, even though central government is quite lenient. In its approach. It's more to do with the local authorities. And they're highly suspicious of Christians. And they perceive it. As problems with the West, they they see it as being subversive. And so they're subjected to harassment and violence. And Christians in royler, rural areas are often abused, evicted from their homes and even imprisoned and sometimes tortured. In December 2019, a law on the evangelical church came into force, and the government gave money for you know, for this to be made known to all of Laos. But still abuse continues. And in July 2024, Laos Christians were jailed for planning a Christian funeral, which was deemed to violate traditional customs by local authorities. And then two Christian families had their home demolished in October 2020. And they had to live in the forest with relatives and other villages forbidden to help them and three more families suffer the same in January 2021. So that's not that long ago. Eight months later, it was reported that these five families were still homeless. Religious organizations are required to register with the government, but some churches are unable to meet the onerous registration requirements. approval is required before importing printed or electronic literature, local authority sometimes ban house churches and confiscate Bibles, even from those belonging to register churches. So in 2017, there was a decree that Association's disturbing social order or national harmony. You know, they they could be find. And there's vey because of this vague wording. That's what the local authorities use to stop things happening. And in April 2021 Pastor symptom was convicted of causing disruption for holding Christian Services. Thankfully, the pastor who refused to renounce his faith was released three days later, as he'd already been detained for a year prior to his conviction. So that's the background. So now you can really understand why there was such jubilation when open doors partner was able to get some Bibles through. So it says church leaders tend to be men, and they're vulnerable to imprisonment, and often pay considerable amounts of money to ensure their release if they are imprisoned, and that has a devastating impact on families and churches, and converts to Christianity are deemed guilty of for betraying the Buddhist Amethyst traditions of their community and they face pressure and violence from their families and local authorities. This can lead to converts being expelled from their villages we've just heard. Yeah. And sadly, this violence against women is widely widespread, and it's because it's accepted culturally in Laos. I notice so only one in five women who experienced abuse, report it to local authorities, and converts to Christianity and more prone to violence. And Christian women are also being caught up in the increase in human trafficking of brides to China.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Wow, that's still strong. Yeah. Human trafficking of bride to China.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. Wow. So humanity. This is a guy who was helping a pastor in Laos, and here this is what were his thoughts. If there is a checkpoint ahead, there will be trouble. What if the police stoppers and land that we will be distributing these Bibles? How long will they detain us in jail for how much are they going to find us? What else could possibly happen to us just by delivering these precious books? And the reason is that they're not allowed to and print Bibles or religious tracts or materials. It's prohibited that in Laos, and Bibles are not widely available in book shops in Laos. And even if they are stopped, they are very expensive. And as we've heard, the local authorities don't want them distributed, either. So there's lots of reasons. But this day, a little while ago, these Bibles did find their way to a remote village. And the when they arrived, the Christians that gathered, we're waiting for them, and their excitement and joy at receiving these Bibles was evident. And so just quite, quite something when you read this, and one of the recipients Kamla 42 spoke to the Open Doors team after he received his Bible, his eyes sparkled when he talked about God, His Church and the Bible in his hands. Thank you so much for the Bible. He said, I can tell you that this will be a light that will shine in my heart, and will guide me to have good relationships with God. The Bible is the Word of God. If there is no Bible, I will not know His will. The Bible is the most important book in the world. And I cannot live without it. I am so grateful to receive it today. I have been praying for this day to come for a long time. And another recipient, then echo 41, a church elder said, I am so thankful for Bibles that you provide for us I love reading and learning about Bibles because it about the Bible because it is like a mirror that reflects my life that corrects me, and helps me walk in the footsteps of God. Reading the Bible helps my faith grow stronger. The Bible is food for my soul. It is very important to me. And it turns out that this bit, actually was we spoke about that teenage girl soy, and she was part of this group who received the Bible. So that little snippets, and that came in the prayer news that I had on that email actually came from this bigger story about Bibles. And so as I read on, I thought, oh, that's, that's an hour about this girl. So now because I was wondering, it said that she's had to move from her family home, and now she's doing her study somewhere else. Well, it turns out that this pastor, who, you know, has helped with these different churches, Pastor alone, he takes in young people who've been abandoned by their families or communities because they become Christians. And that includes this girl soy, who's now 17. And she was one of 250 believers who receive Bibles. And so, yeah, I was just like, Oh, wow. And and then she says about how it felt, for her to receive this Bible. She says, I'm so grateful. I'm feel overwhelmed with joy. When I hold it. This Bible helps me to understand God's word. Because of it. I know more about God, who God is. I never had a chance to own a Bible. It was shared with everyone at church. Now I have my own Bible, and I can read, learn and see things I never experienced in the past. In the evening, we have a Bible study led by Pastor alone. So I learned God's word every day. Because I received God's word every day, I now release, realize that God's word can comfort and encourage anyone, I learn God's word more and more, and I can do things that I have never done before. I now share and preach His Word, which I had never done in the past. And I'm so thankful to God for this. And so I'm so grateful for, for continued prayers and support. I want to thank you for providing me with this Bible. May God give you good strength, good health, good strength, success and all you do. My God richly bless your family with prosperity, strength to follow Jesus Christ. May your hearts have peace and joy, 30 fold, 60 fold and 100 fold so that you may be successful in every aspect of your life. Thank you again, to those who donated the Bible to me. God bless you, and you can just hear that excitement. And I was just so glad to actually put this story together. I just felt Lord, like when I went away that Luke was saying there's more to this, you know, there's more to this. So, so I thought Right, okay, I'll go dig in I'll, you know, go back to open doors and, and sort of look for what they've got on the World Watch list and see if it comes up on there. And, and it did the whole thing came up, I think and then said, you know, click for. So story and that and so we've got the whole thing. And it's just about this pastor as well as just thinking about this pastor who has such a heart to see people reach for Jesus and supported and supports all these young people that have been abandoned by their families and their community. And so I did think particularly that she would pray for pastors, because, you know, there's pastors here in Laos, and then the Powell, SriLanka. And my Amar as well. And so many of them have such a heart and ended up like, with big extended families, because, you know, there's like, nowhere else for these people to go. And, yeah, and again, just about the Bible, and how, you know, we, we forget that in many places, there's just one copy of the Bible, and so many people are just crowding around it, and then, you know, these Bibles arrive, and then they can read it from themselves. So, so that really, you know, yeah, made me like rejoicing and saying, Thank You, Lord, you know, for for this and just appreciating, you know, what we have, every day that we can look out on my phone, I just looked at a verse for the day, you know, and these people, yeah, so. So that's, that's, that's Laos, and things that are going on there. But again, you know, very different, very difficult situations, but still, still, people are coming to Jesus, still people are, you know, being discipled. And the church is growing and thinking about these young people, and, you know, the effect on them, and the fact that she's preaching the word of God. You know, it's just wonderful, just wonderful to hear that. So the things that they need help with are strengthening and bright, providing Christian materials pray that those Christian materials get through despite all that the authorities are doing, that they will have the materials for teaching, and Bibles and leadership and disciple training can go on, and developments of the socio economic programs to help those Christians who've been forced out of their villages that they'll have ways of providing for their families, and the advocacy support and religious I mean, emergency relief. So those are the things to think about there. And so then we go on to Nepal. And again, there was a piece in the recent Open Doors magazine, July to August. And I thought I looked at it and I thought, well, this is a really good testimony. But maybe we need to have a look a bit more about what's going on in the pile. And why this lady was in the situation she was. So the Powell is on the World Watch list at 48. It's dropped 14 places it was at 34. But it's dropped 14 Because of a decrease in violence. But otherwise, it's still a difficult place to be a follower of Jesus. So says persecution in the power comes from radical Hindu groups. And that's what they want them to return to Hinduism. If you're discovered you can be expelled from your family home or even violently attacked. And members of indigenous groups might also be subjected to violent forms of persecution. And there is an anti conversion. Anti conversion laws are enforced. And the destruction and false closures of churches contributes to limited religious freedom. So there's false closures of churches as well. And women who convert to Christianity may be locked up by their immediate family members, and are then deprived of basic needs educational support, family possessions and basic legal rights such as citizenship and they were very concerned about this happening during the pandemic, apparently that was more likely. And because couldn't really, you know, because everybody was being locked down. So they use that as an excuse to lock Christians down. Christian men and boys who are recent converts are vulnerable to physical and mental torture from the family and society. And they can face harrassment in public places such as the market and the workplace. So then I've got a test dummy from a Hindu background believer capacitor, now she came to faith through Jesus healing her have an ongoing illness. And she said, When my husband found out about my new faith, he came called me constantly and threatened me, telling me to renounce my faith, he also gave me a choice either to leave Jesus or him, but I was firm in my faith. So he left me and married another woman. So of course, that left her and a real problem as far as being able to support herself. So she's got no man to look after her. And of course, you know, the way society looks to her so she was in a very difficult situation. And she says, When, uh, so she was really, really struggling with this. But she says, when I was persecuted or despise God, talk to me through Hebrews 13 Five, which says, Never will I leave you never will I forsake you. So I always feel that God is with me even when no one stood by my side. God is everything to me. And she says, I struggled to support myself and my my son, but God heard my prayers and sent his people to help me. And now she is goat farming. Open Doors are given us some money so that she can farm goats. And she says that's really increased their confidence. And she knows she can provide better things for her sons. And she also ties to the church. So a double blessing because as we know, many churches really suffered and struggled through the pandemic, because their congregations couldn't give them anything. But now she has goats, and now she can give income to the church. So God has really blessed her. So Jesus is everything to me, so I will never leave him. I will live and die for Jesus. So another lady. She was also born in a Hindu community, she's 26. And as a Christian, she came, she came to faith when her dad came to faith. But then she chose to marry a Hindu man who seemed tolerant of our Christian beliefs. But then she stopped attending church and she started doing the Hindu rituals with him. And marriage them because very unhappy husband had affairs with other women. And she suffered several miscarriages. And she said, all these things made me reckless, and my heart was not at peace. But God had not forgotten her. And she said, One day a mum phoned her up and said, a pastor had had a dream, and that she needed to come back to the Christian faith. And she said, I was fed up with my current life, and I decided to repent and return to my faith. So she did it in secret. But then her husband and her in laws found out and they started to abuse her physically and mentally. And she asked for a divorce, and she went to her parents home to escape the abuse, but her husband found her and beat her. And even her brothers began to mistreat her. And so then open doors, partners found out about it, and they've helped her and they've helped her set up a tailoring business. And now she is financially independent. Good. It's
Reverend Ben Cooper:really good news. There's some good stories. So Solid stories coming out this morning. Yeah, so
Sandra Robson:she says, she says prayer is powerful. And she said Life Without prayer is meaningless. I feel easy and light in my heart after sharing everything with God in my prayers. I have also received answers to my prayers, and have increased my faith and trust in Him. The best part of her is it makes me feel that we are never alone. When I left my family, my parents my church members did not hate did not hate me. Instead, they kept praying for me, which was which has made me feel that God is with me. I feel loved from God and His people. So although she walked away from, you know, believing in Jesus for a while and went off with her husband, she, you know, she's saying that they didn't give up on her. And they still loved her. And now she's coming back. And yeah. And so the two things I felt like you know about the Bibles and prayer that's so important. And so it says, praying for these converts from Hindu backgrounds. In pray that, you know, that local governments and officials, you know, we'll just leave them to be able to worship and show more understanding. Heavenly Father, thank you. That's more and more people in Apollo encountering you help them to stand strong in their faith and embolden them to share the hope they have in you and others. And then the anti conversion laws, and the destruction and forced closures of churches and limited religious freedom. Lord Jesus, strengthen our sisters and brothers facing daily discrimination and rejection, give wisdom and strength to open doors partners as they serve the Nepalese church. And finally, there's no legal recognition of churches in Nepal, and the surveillance is increased on Christians. So we pray Holy Spirit helped believers to find safe places where they can meet and worship, comfort and encourage isolated Christians. May they know that they are not alone. So those are the things they asked for.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Very interesting, you know, I just noticed that he's dropped down the list. 14 prices dropped down from a price down at 48. Now in on the World Watch List. Excuse me. So it's dropped considerably over the last year. So there is a bit there is a bit of light, there is a bit of movement. As you could imagine, the poll dropped 14 places this year. 34 last year. Wow.
Sandra Robson:So that's a deduction for redaction decrease in violence. But they said on all the scales, unfortunately, that hadn't changed. Oh, Lord.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Wow. So the stories, when we hear these stories, and Sandra reads these stories, and we see what what is going on we, we can see across the persecuted platform, that it's the same stories, but just different people, obviously. And we can get an understanding of how they are from China to Nepal, to to Hong Kong, to wherever it may be the ones that are on this list, you know that the stories are the same, the stories are the same. The situations are the same, the governments are the same. Wherever persecution is, you know, you can find the word of God right, that right at the center, obviously, and interesting to know about the Bible's the shortage of Bibles. We just pray, we just pray that God will continue to move really powerfully, God will lift them and carry them God will be with him and and just open the doors, you know, and make a way where there seems to be no way. But you brought some interesting stuff. So I wonder where we move in into now we got a few minutes left.
Sandra Robson:I could do an update on bring that track. So we know that recent months have seen mass protests. And we know that you know, the government. The the people wanted them out, and the President and that's happened and now they've got this interim person. And so how has it affected people, the Christians, many believes and pastors in rural areas are struggling to provide for their families, some families have had to cut down to one meal per day. In extreme cases, this only consists of a cup of tea. Good, so yeah, so that's how bad so you can appreciate why people went on the streets because there's a lack of food high prices, and you know, lack of lack of fuel. So open open doors and others, such as Barnabas aid have been providing emergency relief to many families who have reached out to to them for help. Issues such as fuel shortages, road closures, and transport strikes are posing severe challenges as they seek to reach those in need. So even though we they have the aid, there's difficulty in actually getting it to where it needs to be. So we pray that those things will be overcome. And the same that the news they've had is that They have been able to lead discipleship programs amid the crisis. But some have had to be counseled to ensure the safety of those involved. In many of the cases where programs have been held leaders have overcome transport problems to attend, such as their determination to gather with others, and Pastor hash Kia. She meets with 20 other Christians to disciple them. And she said that her husband had been so exhausted from just queuing up for petrol. Sometimes he goes to petrol queues at 6am and returns late in the evening with an empty can because they ran out of fuel. Oh, my goodness. So you think about what we went through. And we were just in petrol queues for a couple of hours, if we had to wait into the next day, but they are there from 6am to the evening, goodness. And there were instances where my husband was stay in the petrol queue on Saturday so that we could attend church on Sunday. So that's all they did all day. We can do anything else. Oh, God,
Reverend Ben Cooper:just like gobsmacked what happens? What really happens? The fuel shortage just ruin about the 6am in the morning leaves early, an empty can and they just run out.
Sandra Robson:Lord, so she's saying it's extremely difficult for me to visit the homes and you believe. And with the ongoing fuel crisis and shortage of public transport, traveling has become a major issue. There were instances where I had to walk nearly 10 kilometers to visit a certain family, but still doing it
Reverend Ben Cooper:still doing it. Number 51. On the list number just just outside the top 50. Yes. Many Christians it says they can exercise their faith with some freedom. Yeah. But you can see there's still restrictions on there.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. And there's been some sad things you know about the bombing in 2019. And then this thing about Pastor Charles, I mean, he was having a wedding ceremony in his house, some of the, you know, a villager told him to stop. And he refused. The pastor refused. And the man got aggressive and started damaging the place. And then he came back later on with a mob and really beat these, these two men, him and his brother. To the extent that his brother, they had to find another hospital because there were shortages of medicine due to the economic crisis. And he's ended up with screws and plates to hold his legs and arms goes terrible. And you know, and obviously that's left this pastor deeply traumatized. And he finds it difficult to leave his home. So they're helping him with the partners are helping him with trauma care and support. So is the good news. The churches have been reaching out to others with vital aid, even in this crisis, and they've been providing in Colombo, dry rations and other essential groceries to community workers and policemen. The local police department were moved by this generosity and express their gratitude to towards local churches. Elsewhere, a local church in key gal, which is north east of Colombo, offered much needed refreshment to local residents. Most are non Christians. And in one suburb, a local church distributed cooked meals to more than 50 non Christians, the majority of the recipients are low income earners and Buddhists. And they were so touched that they've made connections with that church. Yes, has had a knock on effect. Yes. And he said he's adamant about doing God's work. He said, It is hard to come to church in the midst of this crisis. But I sense that the Lord is doing a new thing amongst this. There is sacrifice to make and I am willing to pay the price. It is really tough time for all the people. It's one thing to watch on the news. But true weight of the crisis sinks in only one start to stand in those lines for hours. It is tough time, but I will continue this ministry. That's his his words.
Reverend Ben Cooper:soundly boy a lot of information this morning. There's lots to listen to. There's lots to digest. So much going on in the world of the persecuted church, you know, and how do we how do we connect? How do we connect with all This information I'm just on open doors, it's so easy to read, it's a smooth site, you can just type in their open doors. And straight away it comes up with all the information. There's other sites isn't there there are other other lipsticks other literature's are out there that different bits and pieces. Prayer I assuming I'm assuming Prayer is the key, isn't it?
Sandra Robson:Absolutely. Yes. You know, and, yeah, it's just so encouraging when you hear what believers are saying, isn't it? You know? Yeah, and we are one body and not, although we don't see our brothers and sisters, we hear these stories. And, you know, it's just wonderful, isn't it? Because we're gathering together where we're all come in, and where we're, we're seeking the Lord, and for His kingdom to come and to be done. And, and, and so we connect together, and it's an amazing thing to be part of the body of Christ. And, yeah, so you know, that they're praying for us, we're praying for them. And we see things change. Yes, there's, there's difficulties and as we've said, you know, but that's again, the thing of the body isn't it says, when one part hurts, we all hurt. And we need to, then look and see what we can do about that, such as, like Barnabas aid have got this food program going on. And that's very needed. There are so many places now, you know, experiencing drought and, and the harvest aren't happening. And as we know, aid is often restricted. And I was reading again, another newspaper that they've sent out, and it was saying about how Christians are being given contaminated aid. So they've been given food, but it's contaminated with rat droppings and things like this. And in another case, a pastor queued up for aid in another country. And he was told to pray to his God, that there was not nothing for him that if he believed in Jesus, then he should ask Jesus for some food. So
Reverend Ben Cooper:the pressure of food, famine, and droughts and everything like that, to put pressure on the believer to bow down to a foreign god, it sounds a bit like Kingdom beaconit, isn't it? And, and the three MASHIAC shamrock and Bendigo. You know, if you don't do this, there will be restrictions, and there'll be this and there'll be that upon you. But it's yeah, how do you how do you stand that, that you really need to strengthen in a Holy Spirit, you really, really need the power or God to really give you the strength to be able to withstand that. So there's lots of areas of prayer isn't there? There's lots to pray for. Yeah. So we've, we've had a bit of news, we've had a bit of a continuation of around the world news, Sandra, what would you like to finish on?
Sandra Robson:Um, well, as I say, coming back to pastors and young people, I think, and yeah, I just pray for them, and the Lord will just lift them up. And you know, as it says, about when they grow weary, that you know, they will have be able to run and they're sort of fine. Yes. And people will come alongside them when they need that support. And, and thank God for the young people and, and their aspirations and just enthusiasm and desire for God's word and developing that and just pray, you know, for what they want is going to be for their future. And, you know, that's yes. And just pray, Lord, how we can be part of that and thanking God, for all the wonderful things that he is doing in in these places.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen. Santa, we thank you so much for what you brought for us today. You know, there's always Thank you for listening to Elim church Swanleys latest podcast, something refreshing something that will restore our faith that will encourage us to keep believing and we just pray for the persecuted church, the church that is under serious attack, but that churches is growing seriously as well. And as they the partners do, what they do and how they help and how they move in a time of economic trials and testings for our brothers and sisters with a political agendas as well, that are coming against the persecuted church. We just lift them up so you can find us very simply on Amazon music and iHeartRadio and Buzzsprout, Spotify, and so many other podcasting platforms but if you want to find tomorrow information regarding open doors. It's so easy just to go online, just type in, type in the search engine open doors.uk Or sorry, open doors uk.uk.org I've changed that around a little bit there on different parts so you can you can capture that and it's easy to find lots of information. Never give up. Keep praying for the pastors and the congregations and those that are in trauma and stress that we thank you Sondra so much for sharing and bringing everything today to the table. God bless everybody in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen. you can find us on Buzzsprout Spotify, Apple Music on iHeart Radio, Google Play, Alexa Mixcloud, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube