Reverend Ben Cooper:

Yeah, amen. Yeah. Good morning. Good morning, everybody. Good morning, wherever you are today, may God bless you and strengthen you. Thank you so much for joining us today on this podcast on the underground church to persecute the church. I'm with Sandra. And it is Thursday morning, just quarter to nine. And you will be kept capturing this a week later. But just say thank you to everybody in the world of podcasting. Thank you so much for all the downloads and the shares and everything that goes along with these podcasts that go out. We thank God for your life. And wherever you are, please continue to pray for the persecuted church. But this is a good day because this is the day that the Lord has made. We shall rejoice and be glad and we are in open doors. We will probably peruse through some other areas that Sandra has for us today. So Sandra is with us. We are in the school holiday time. She's more relaxed. As a teacher, Sandra, good morning. Good morning. How are we today? Okay, you're right. You're you're surviving? Yeah, you're getting through, you're getting

Sandra Robson:

that temperature has gone down a bit now. And we've had some rain.

Reverend Ben Cooper:

Yes, we've had a bit of rain. The weather is changing slightly. Yeah. Excellent. Sandra, we're going to be going to my mother very, very soon. Yeah. And that's quite an interesting place at the moment number 12 on the on the World Watch list. But before that, you're going to give us an update, you're going to take us back through a little bit through to Laos, about Bibles and Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Sandra Robson:

Yeah. So just to remind people, we were talking about Laos and go cold. So she's a teenager, and she was put in prison at the age of 14. And that shouldn't have happened, you should, you know, they they do put people in prison, sadly, at 16. And if they feel that they are not following the rules of the community, and as we said that Laos, the actual communist leadership, and start, they have said that they will allow churches as long as they don't propagate, and they don't, you know, they can't have Bibles. They can't buy Bibles there. And so that's the situation. But on the ground, with the local authorities, it's been that they've been rounded up. So she got rounded up with some others. And then as a consequence of that she got very persecuted, because she wouldn't give up her belief. And because she said, she just had so much peace. And she just really, you know, she said, Well, Jesus is, you know, is my Lord. And I can't do that. And so she ended up in that in another place to finish her studies and in a town away from her family. And we found out that was the pastor, Pastor alone, I think is it's pronounced, and found out that he is connected with open doors, partners, and they support him, and to help young people like her. And I just thought I'd highlight that bit today, because we talked about the Bible's the fact that he was with a guy from open doors, who was taking Bibles there, and he was very worried about them getting there, but they did. And she was one of the recipients of getting a Bible. And then this pastor has has a Bible study for these young people and others, and he has nurtured her and, you know, discipled her, and as a consequence of that, she is now preaching the gospel and sharing her testimony. So I just thought how wonderful because she could have been so discouraged by what happened by put being put in prison and thinking, you know, why is this happened to me and all that, but no, she carried on because she was faithful. God honored her faithfulness. And you know, he, I don't know how this pastor got involved, but he did. And you know, she's living with him with some other church. Apparently some other youth he, he actually supports young people who've had to leave their families because they become Christians. or those who have had to leave their villages because of the pressure, and he looks after them. And so you know, when we give a little, these are things that we are part of enabling this pastor to make home for this young lady. And as a result of that, you have the gospel. And this is it, isn't it? When Jesus says about this, the fields arrive until the harvest and who will send out laborers, and we think, oh, there's nothing happening here, Lord, in Great Britain much there's not anything happening. But you know, we can, we can pray, we can. So those I know we're in everybody's keepsakes, that's financial crisis. But the thing is that God owns a cattle on 1000 hills in the world, some work. And so the fact is that everything we have is given by him. And he says, you know, look at how you use your resources. And if we can just have that little bit. So I'm just putting that out there as it's a challenge to me as well. And I think it's really important to get Bibles out. And we know the shortages of so many things. But you know, these people are hungry for the Word of God. And they are using it and they are preaching the Word, and more people are coming to know Jesus through that. So that's an uplifting start. And now we have another uplifting dream from Nepal. And so I talked about the Pell that's World Watch List. 48. It's dropped 14. But I did say that there are still issues about, you know, from families, being, you know, horrible to Christians in every way, making it very difficult for them to be Christians ostracizing them and everything. And, of course, lots of things happened during lockdown and COVID-19. And this is one of the things that happened. But it's also to remind you about sea change, which is the campaign that opened doors run, to help persecuted women and to empower them. And this is about a lady called Rita from the past, sadly, she lost her husband, and to COVID-19. And as a consequence of that, she lost her livelihood. And she had no means to look after her children. Because she was living with her husband's parents, okay, resented her, really, and saw her as enticing their son into Christianity. But he was a pastor. And this lady had become a Christian through her father, who was miraculous, he miraculously healed of leprosy. So, you know, if you know about leprosy, and your father had it, and you know, fingers and toes coming off, and suddenly he is healed. What what, what do you do?

Reverend Ben Cooper:

What would you do? You know, I didn't really healed.

Sandra Robson:

So she looked into it and, you know, believed Jesus had healed him, and never looked back. And consequently, she wouldn't give up her faith. And so what was she to do? She prayed. And she feared for her future. And she told God, she said, I prayed and prayed and put my questions to God. And she says that God's reassured me that He will never leave me through Isaiah 4915. He also told me to be strong and courageous. Through Joshua, one nine. After that, I found peace in my heart, I felt God's presence in my life. So remember, she's grieving, she's lost her husband, and she's been got by her in laws, terrible situation. But God answered her prayers. A local partner came to hear about her situation, and delivered her emergency aid, placed her on a tailoring project. So this is the thing. It's not just the food, they give them away, or making a living after that. And she said, I get to experience what it is to earn for myself. I also offer ties to the church. So that's another wonderful thing because as we said, churches were badly hit by COVID because they didn't have anything coming in and they were trying to support the the believers but they couldn't and pastors were very badly hit. And that's partly why some of them died because they didn't have you know, the food and medicine they needed. And so it's She was able to give ties. And we've heard I read another story from another country similar thing, where a woman had been able to set up a little business micro business. And as a result of that, I think she had a goat, didn't she? Yeah, sure. And then she got milk or something. And then she was able to give tithes to the church. So she's been given abundance. And she said, she said, that's the best thing in my life. And she said, also, I am learning the Bible, but in English, every night, I pray to God to give me the knowledge to improve my English. She said, After three months, I was able to speak and write in English. Today, Rita leads a Bible Fellowship and prayer group. So she's got another skill as well. And it just shows her dissertation and God's blessing on a major. And meanwhile, on top of this, some major thinking of a verse about, you know, overflowing something about your beliefs, your flowers, or living water, know about God's blessing. And anyway, the heart the overflow. So I've raised his father in law, whose hostility started to soften. And he's given a small piece of land for her to build a house brilliant. So she says, I give thanks to God for amazing answers. shaken together, running over and shaken together,

Reverend Ben Cooper:

fresh down, running, yeah, come together, on your

Sandra Robson:

on. And she said, I felt so good. When I first talked with you on the phone, and couldn't express my happiness when you came to meet me personally, your presence and prayers, I've encouraged me. So we want to thank the Lord for that, you know, this, this partner was able to get to her, that, you know, he that these people are available that the they were able to help this particular lady, I mean, you can see the ripple effect, can't you by giving that small age. Now, you know, she has gone on, to give to so many others. It is that multiplication that the you know, the loaves and fishes thing. It's just so she says that she thanks God for answering prayers, she thanks, Lord, that she the to her two children, you know, are well and that she prays that for them to follow Jesus, and that her in laws will have a relationship with God, and know that he loves them. So they go, so yeah, I wanted to share that. So there's a picture of her it's in the prayer for tonight. She is with her sewing machine, blessed and being able to earn a living. So and of course, you know, given the gospel because people say how come you got the sewing machine and what you know, and then she can speak about it. So on to a more difficult story. Now, after a very difficult news. We're going to Maya Ma, which is very a very difficult situation. I mean, there's been a lot of persecution there before the military coup. But now it's just intensified. And it's shocking what's going on there. And sadly, it's difficult, isn't it? There's because there's quite a few things going on. And this is sort of being forgotten, although though there was something in the news because three people to do with a government pass government were executed. So it came back into the news and people were talking about it a bit.

Reverend Ben Cooper:

So normal subject is very big and very powerful. So

Sandra Robson:

the the start, this is from open doors, they say when will this war end was a comment from Tintin, a local partner we live as refugees in a foreign land resources are scarce and we never wanted to move but for our safety and for our families, we must so they've had to get out because of the bombardments and everything. So free Christians were recently killed an attack on four houses in a village or in slanging division. In the same region. A church used as a refugee camp was raided by military forces while another was bombed and money taken from Mission boxes and offerings and tithes. Please pray for safety of the believers in the sang gaming division. So that's s a Gai And g and the Chin State, Tintin continues, there are many Pedego that's and shrines but not a single bullet hit those Buddha's buildings and structures in our area. Whereas the Christian buildings and churches were destroyed. So they do fail. You know, this is evidence that they're particularly being targeted. They ravaged the cooking, C U K. I, Shin Christian villages, and they're killers like animals who said, that's very strong language

Reverend Ben Cooper:

very strong language. Like animals.

Sandra Robson:

Yeah. So when I look at the situation, we fled from our homes, because we are fearful in our land. This is another young refugee. We live in fear here, our country is going backwards, maybe 2030 years backwards. When we compare it to our neighboring countries, I worry for our children's future and ours. I think at this point, the military junta do not care about pressure from international organizations or countries. They are making people afraid so they will not dare to oppose them. However, this will have an opposite reaction as the people are becoming more furious towards the military. Forgiveness has become irrelevant. Even some Christians in this political situation, many people posted on social media platforms that we will never forgive, never forget, never forgive. So it's something to pray about that Christians will, you know, not get caught up in this. And we'll you know, turn to the Lord. And remember, you know that they are so forgive their enemies, however hard it is for the pastors, you know, to be able to give that message. And they've said that there is still a hunger for God. And one pastor says that there pote impose strong restrictions on gatherings. But despite this, Christians continue to find ways to gather for worship and fellowship such as the yearning for it. The believers from other two churches gather in their houses, and new believers start joining and we are increased, says another. And then, a moment in June when this lady sign in June, her church received a visit from the military and local authorities. They took pictures and called the church pastor and elders to their office and they said, we will. We do not allow worship at a church anymore. And we must prevent crowd, the crowd of people. It is a final warning. It is shot reminder of the risks facing believers as we seek to gather. So please pray for us that with God, that God will intervene and the war will end. He said tonight and says please pray that we can all go back home. So that's the people. And then in Barnabas. They had a thing about providing for deaths that for desperate displaced Christians in my Omar and you see this picture. And this is the rainy season and these are workers, Christian workers who are taking aid to these very remote places. So this is the encouraging bit the thing to pray about that. And then there's a lovely story coming up. So Lord listens and has answered prayers. One, one person said, when the people have got the rice, they are so happy with tears. And apparently this aid has been provided since 2005. And the workers go through Thailand, India, Bangladesh, where Christian refugees have been forced to flee for safety. So that's the main area but they are working on the border with of my Omar as well. 1000s of Christians have been driven from their homes. And in 12 months to the end of March 2022. They've been able to help 5204 Christian families, about 26,000 people and the supplies are rice cooking oil, tin fish, medicines, clothes, baby clothes, milk powder, blankets, mats, a tarpaulins. Wow. Yes, so they've managed to get those in. They've said that they've got several internationally displaced camps. With Karen Christians they've been able to get that aid through And there's a lot of information here I'm just looking for. So they're saying that returning home is not an option. What are some people did and they got shot. And then there's a widow who's who's saying, We are a family of four. My youngest daughter is four years old when the soldiers came the entire village needed to flee. It was not there was nowhere safe for us anymore in our village. And she said, this is typical of Christians being uprooted. And she said, Now, the young children are digging holes. We are teaching the little ones to hide in there when the war planes are flying and bombing us. Please keep us in your prayers. Thank you. And then there's this pastor made an urgent appeal to Barnabus. He reported about these attacks by the military called the TAT tatmadaw Think of school. And 30 minutes walk from his church and many displaced Korean people desperately needed help. He sent out to church members to look for the character and families hiding in the jungle. When the church members found them and brought them to his church, as the pastor had no money to buy relief aid, he asked for help. And families said we are severely traumatized. And we are so grateful to be able to help them and minister to them. So the pastor and the church members started preparing meals with the funding that arrived through Barnabas. And that's they're sharing it there. So look for this little picture is very small. Yeah. So yeah, so Lord, you know, alerted this pastor to the fact that these people were in the jungle, you know, and he could hear, you know, the attacks? And yes, and again, you know, is there those prayer, our prayers going up, and fortunately, they could get they could get aid there. So, you know, it's really heartening to hear. But there's some desperate situations, that's, you know, and they are they're trying to stop aid getting through, to do pray, we'd have, you know, they've they've, they've, they've hounded Christians into caves, and, you know, they've been injured and, you know, not being able to have medicine, and it's just awful what's been happening. And, but we thank the Lord for for those that, you know, a relief and deliverance. That's the word I was looking for deliverance. So we thank the Lord, for the deliverance of these people. And that, yes, the war will end and that the justice and the, you know, government will be brought back. You know, why, why there doesn't seem to be a way God makes away. So we need to remember that, but I just wanted people to be aware of what's going on there, and what the need for prayer is, and then just going back, we talked about India, not been any update on that high court. Petition, but there has been move on. There's no bill or committee going to be set up against churches, yet. organizations that support churches, they wanted to have minister, missionaries watched and things recorded. And that's what they were the the Hindu group wanting to happen. They wanted everything to be monitored, highly monitored, because they said it was all disrupting to India. But the court actually ruled the other way and said, No, you're disrupting things are peaceful. And this is democracy. And no, we're not we're not a

Reverend Ben Cooper:

massive turnaround, isn't it? Yes. For government to say that.

Sandra Robson:

So yeah, so it's working. I did have the actual thing that oh, here we go over. Yes. So this is in Barnabas, but it is elsewhere. And this is in their prayer journal for July, August. And Thursday, the 28th of July. It says praise God that the Supreme Court of India emphatically rejected a petition by an extremist group for the creation of a committee to monitor Indian Christian missionaries and local evangelists. The petition was based on the allegation that Christian missionaries and evangelists are seeking converts through force fraud, or aloo illuminant. In a declaration published on the 25th of March, the bench of two Supreme Court justices told the extremists, you are actually disturbing the harmony with these kinds of petitions. Give thanks. So that's what they said, You are actually disturbing the harbor harmony with these kinds of petitions, so as to give thanks for the Supreme Court's decision and pray that it will serve as the president predestined to deter any further extremist attempts to oppose Christians in India. And as yet, there's been no word on whether that hearing has been adjourned again, I don't know it was meant to be heard. When did we I can't remember now. Anyway, it was meant to be heard a little while ago was the second of August, they were meant to hear about the violence against Christians. And the day we're asking for redress from that. So there's still no word on that one. But I keep looking to see if there is any further update, but there hasn't been. And finally, I did have seen it just kept coming in again and again, is this sky Zafir batty whose life sentence but blasphemy was changed to a death sentence last year, and so far has been in ill health. And there's been an email to say that he, you know, his, they were really concerned about his health is due to his deteriorated. He's got diabetes, and he's had a heart attack in prison. And so they were asking for prayers for him. This is him here in this picture

Reverend Ben Cooper:

in has been transferred to the Deaf sentence. Yes.

Sandra Robson:

So concerns are growing for the health czar for Batty, a Pakistani Christian who has spent nearly 10 years in prison after being accused of blasphemy. The physical well being is alpha, who is diabetic and suffered a heart attack in September 2020, is said to be deteriorating further, his lawyers are applying for his release on medical grounds. And so he was convicted on blasphemy charges by sending insulting texts about Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam on a phone that was not even registered in his name. So he's been put away. And he was handed a death sentence in January 2022. So but it as I was just saying to you before, I've been reading this book free at last Acer baby. And it just gives a real insight into what was going on, and how difficult this is. So we really do need to pray. But there needs to be great wisdom, because if they release dates of appeals and things, then the people who it would be best for them not to know, get to know about it, and then put pressure on the judges. So this is what she says. So she's now being, excuse me have now been able to, we know that she was acquitted. And there was a lady of was a lady of a French journalist who helped her and she's told a seer what was going on. Once she had been.

Reverend Ben Cooper:

You said a knowledge stories and yes,

Sandra Robson:

so according to her, this is what I see as saying, According to her my case was a political bombshell in Pakistan. On the one hand, it seemed impossible that the politician political authorities would execute me given the international press. But on the other hand, there was a worry that all the media attention could also negatively affect my release by provoking the Islamists who would intensely pressure the court to hang me. She explained that that was probably why my trials were continually delayed. The International mobilization, which was roused, had been counterproductive because it reinforces the prejudices of the Islam, isn't this, that Christians are agents of the West, who are waging a war with Islam, which is obviously not true. Oh, no, no, no, I totally feared they would let me die slowly, if too much time passed, so they had to be very wise. But when there was a, if the case seemed to go cold for a while, then she would tell the newspapers remind to keep it hot,

Reverend Ben Cooper:

keep it at the front keep,

Sandra Robson:

keep it like about me regularly. So, and she says, I love my country and Muslims who inhabit it. I do not have anything against them. But now you can see why it is so difficult for this extremely cuz she was she in prison? Eight years,

Reverend Ben Cooper:

I think it was seven or eight years. It seemed like

Sandra Robson:

a long time. Yeah. And he's been there 10 years. And he's and this guy's been under the radar as well. Yeah. And so he, but initially, he wasn't a death sentence where she went straight, virtually straight to a death sentence. This

Reverend Ben Cooper:

is only two that we know of how many? How many are there really,

Sandra Robson:

there are more. And so this is the great dilemma. They are in such danger. And as I said, you know, they're the families, they are hunted down. And, you know, you just pray for their safety and pray for wisdom. I mean, anybody who gets involved with them is in danger.

Reverend Ben Cooper:

Yeah, their lives are in danger.

Sandra Robson:

And they are badly treated in prison. But thank God, he does put people to help them. But they they just I mean, going by what I've read, you know, if you want to know more, this free at last rate, insight into what was going on, and helps us to understand why it took so long. And about the great wisdom needed and the and the courage of the the lawyers and everybody involved in these cases. And, and the just the rule is like that, you know, when people say, people have this red they see in front of them. So raged. They can't think I can't. Logic logically. Yeah, that seems to be the thing. There's nothing you can do. And if it's seen that, you know, people are coming against Islam and the you know, and Pakistan, and the two is so much linked. And yeah, it's just they are seen as a Western disruptive influence. Yeah. So yes, we do really need to pray for our brother, and pray by a miracle so

Reverend Ben Cooper:

long. Just sitting there thinking about that was released

Sandra Robson:

from prison is not impossible.

Reverend Ben Cooper:

No. Miracles happen, you know, a really difficult

Sandra Robson:

situation really difficult. So I do bring that before you and his family, and you know, and his wife and you know, that God will sustain him. And yeah, he

Reverend Ben Cooper:

said under the radar for all them years. Yeah. And you think what we have been doing for eight or 10 years, we've our life, or what horrific, horrendous things. Thinking about what it

Sandra Robson:

goes first, it makes me you know,

Reverend Ben Cooper:

to work well, they go for it. Yeah, prison abroad.

Sandra Robson:

Yeah. So it's, it's, it's really, really, really tough. But to finish on a on a on a yes, you know, to be balanced. I was looking through here, and this is the July August, open doors magazine. And it's just a little thing. You know, that just on the other side, how cold can work? You know, no heart is too hard, as we know, for him to soften. And this was a pastor, which we had spoken about some time ago. Pastor Selmy, and he's from East Africa. And he was passionate about reaching out to his Muslim majority community with the love of Jesus. And it's a ministry that brings ridicule, mocking, and even death threats. But he's seen enormous fruit as one recent encounter demonstrates. So the pastor was praying for family when a man overhead them. So this guy, so this is what happens, you know, and then they get accused of converting the person it isn't. It's overheard conversations. It's seeing things happen, seeing Jesus at work. And so what happened was, the man overheard them and decided he wanted to become a Christian. And, and is actually the pastor is actually praying for this guy and at the top, but you can't obviously see them for security reasons. So it's just like a picture showing you. So he said, I've lived a bad life, all while condemning myself, the man said, praise God for the freedom he now has in Jesus, please pray that he will grow in faith and have the strength to withstand any potential opposition. And there was a writing campaign for this pastor. And he says, Thank you, it was so encouraging to hear from fellow brothers and sisters, because it's hard, hard to keep going, can you can imagine so much pressure. So he said, thank you very much. And yeah, so again, if you, you know, this campaign is closed, but there are others, and I know, I have a leaflet at home that is sitting on my table, saying, Sandra, you need to write some messages to people, some cards, you know, while you've got time and this holiday, you need to do that. And it's sitting on my table. So you know, it's something we can do, you know, send them to open doors, it's just the cost of a stamp, and they send them on and

Reverend Ben Cooper:

encouragement, what an encouraging, so needed to be able to write to someone and to share an encouragement from obviously from here where we are in the west, to our brothers and sisters that are just so so pressed under the gospel. And but God makes a way so an encouraging card will really, really give someone an uplift in in their spirit. So that's really needed, isn't it? Yeah, simple thing. Just very powerful.

Sandra Robson:

The truth about Jesus and that's it, they see it in action, the reality the truth. Yeah. And love in action. Yeah. And, and all that misconceptions are dealt with. And do they? And they, yeah, they come to know Jesus. And that's so wonderful. And that's what we want to say. So we praise God, and good thing. Yeah, for these things. And as I say, I had down particularly pray for wisdom. And I had Isaiah 43, go you go, fear not, you'll go through the waters in the fire. But I'm with you, with you and just pray for a hedge of protection around, you know, believers in Nigeria, in India,

Reverend Ben Cooper:

in my list, the list list, you know,

Sandra Robson:

and not to grow weary in doing good, no, no, no, no, Galatians, six, nine, very important, and there is a harvest, there certainly

Reverend Ben Cooper:

is a harvest. There certainly is. And we are seeing one massive harvest within the persecuted church, what amazing God we serve, the way he's working the way he's moving the way people's lives have been transformed. And also, it's important with this digital age that we've got that we actually use this technology that we have before us and not shun it away. But embrace it, sir, when you look at open doors, the effort and the financial cost, it must be and for Barnabas, and release International and Trans World Radio and all these great ministries that put so much time and effort, labor finances into the technology so that we can sit here and have this information. And it's there, it's free, it's free. But there is a donate button at the top of open doors. So we would urge you to, to click that and just pop a couple of quid over helps everything moving, obviously. But what a fantastic site is open doors is, you know, and it's got the World Watch list on it and goes all the way through it. And it's a beautiful amount of information, very relevant. And it gives you prayer points, and it gives you hope as well, because I would I would honestly put everything on the line and say that's where revival is, in the person that's been God is moving powerfully. Yes. And and there's videos to watch on there as well. So wherever you are, we thank God for your life. Thank God that you've listened, which Sandra's had to share today another, a captured moment in time, as we've gone through updates. We've looked at Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and that see a BB here very interesting, but what a great book free at last, we really would urge you to, to get that and to read that and to navigate your mind around that and obviously my MA, Pakistan and all the other places that Sandra has mentioned, but may God bless you and strengthen you Sandra, is there anything you want to finish on before we say God bless?

Sandra Robson:

Well, I think it's you know that thing about the harvest because we are coming into harvest and the Farmers are trying to bring in a harvest. But as we know, the land is quite scorched at the moment. Yeah, but to remember, you know, God's harvest, and he brings the rains. And you know, he's, he's at work. So again, it's not what we see, with our natural eyes, but it's what we see with our spiritual eyes. And you know, that he Yeah, he provides in due season and we just trust Him for what He will do. And you just put, put your, what you have in his hands and, you know, just say, Lord, you know, I give you my time, or, you know, I today I just give myself to You for Your glory for your benefit, you know what you want to do. And I just thank you for my brothers and sisters who are standing strong across the world, and the encouragement to me, you know, to see how God is moving in their lives. Amen. Amen.

Reverend Ben Cooper:

Thank you. Thank you, Father, you can capture this a week down the line. And we thank God for your lives for everybody in the world of podcast and the shares everything that comes out of this podcasting studio, May God strengthen you. And he has equipped you to do great things with him and for him, and just allow the Holy Spirit's move in your life but you can go on to open doors you can go on to release International, listen to Trans World Radio and to and Barnabas and so many other ministries that have so much resource out there for each and every one of us to listen to, to read, and obviously on YouTube as well. God bless Have a wonderful day. May God bless you. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Close:

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