Hello and welcome to our podcasts here, Elim church. You're joining myself, Reverend Ben Cooper. And we are so glad to have Sondra with us this morning, our weekly look and just dive in into the world of the suffering church. As we are coming up to Christmas, we're a week away from Christmas. We're just gonna backpedal a bit into Iran, and then we're going to come and just chat around children at Christmas time. So Sandra, good morning. How are you? I'm alright. Thank you always good.
Sandra Robson:Yes, yes, most in the last few Christmas cards and, you know, starting to think what we're doing ourselves. So yeah,
Reverend Ben Cooper:you're getting there.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. And enjoyed the things that our children are doing at school as well. Some of the Christmas things they're doing are some lovely things going on.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Excellent. So you've had a little bit of work lately, but work in the teaching area, in that environment. But Sandra, it's so good to have you with us today. Come on, where are we? We're in Iran. And last week, we covered so much in Iran. And we're just going to backpedal a moment. Can you give us a bit more of a rundown where he was and what we were saying? And then we're going to look into the world of children across the globe, yet persecuted church?
Sandra Robson:Yeah. And give some examples about that. Okay, Sandra, how they're affected at Christmas, and how we can support them at Christmas to
Reverend Ben Cooper:excellent, over to you. So what should we have? Come on? Let's go well,
Sandra Robson:recap on Iran, just to remind people we were talking about, there's been an increase in the number of people coming to Jesus, which is wonderful. But at the same time, the authorities have clamped down on on the, you know, the gatherings and trying to reduce people getting involved in Christianity. And they see a Christianity as a Western influence because they're in Islamic, and community, and government. And so, particularly those that convert from Islam are being persecuted. And we said that Bibles are illegal there, you can't get your Bible that way. And that there are fines, and then prison and then exile, and now they're also getting internally exiled after prison. So in all ways, they're being pressured to give up their face.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So Sandra, can I just hold him over? So we're saying as we as I know, this is right, but just wanted to just check a couple of things. So it's illegal to carry a Bible on your possession? Yes. and have it in your home? Yes, such a nation is not allowed to have the word of God the Bible. That's right. Or the God of Israel. You're not allowed to have this book on you. You're not allowed to walk down a street without I remember you saying that last week? Yeah. So it's banned. It's banned. And we looked at a gentleman that was what did not renounce his faith last week. Was it seven years he spent roughly in prison?
Sandra Robson:And yes, that's right. Seven years plus two now. In external exile,
Reverend Ben Cooper:Nerys hidden in there is in the nation. Sorry, but he's in exile. And he's hidden and tucked away. Yes. Okay. I do. We're not allowed to carry a Bible in around. Wow. Oh, load? Well, well, Sandra, we got there.
Sandra Robson:Okay, so now we're looking at children. There's been quite a lot of information I've received and, you know, things to talk about children at Christmas. So I thought that was where I was to focus on today. And, as open doors say in their little leaflet their prayer leaflet, they say children are often the Forgotten victims of persecution. Yet without them, the persecuted church has no future. Church leaders, tellers, we are not afraid for ourselves, but for the young ones, as the Lord to bless those investing in the lives of children, and help them to build a strong, resilient church for the future. And so I'm going to show how and organizations are helping those in these different countries to do that. And so give you some background on some issues that they face. And then how the children have responded is really amazing. And, you know, touches my heart, their testimonies, yes. And also, then the ways that we can support through the different organizations and what those different organizations feel God is calling them to do to encourage and support the church and their children. So and how we can follow the commandment that Jesus said, let the children come to me Do not hinder them. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. And that's really, really important. This is very, and the children are really a big part of the church. And I was reading in one of these magazines from open doors. Barnabas release international secret believers. Yeah, they reckon there's over 100 million under the age of 18 that fall into that bracket that big with families, because their families are Christian, that they reckon there's about 100 million, you know, so that's just yeah, that is an amazing statistic to think that that many children are experiencing some form of persecution, because of Christianity because of Christianity.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So whether through obviously, for their parents, for maybe as a copy out of 15 16 17 18 out what's where they're where they're a bit more vocal about their faith, maybe but isn't it good? Good to know that there's 100 million? Yeah. Under 18? Yeah, serving Christ in persecution?
Sandra Robson:Yeah.
Reverend Ben Cooper:100 million, and how many people we got in this nation? 67 million, I believe. Right? When you think about that, when you think about that 100 million children in the persecuted church, Christ God.
Sandra Robson:So the things that they experience, gun, they experience ostracism, and hostility from their peers when they when they go to school, and going to look at some examples of that. And then we're going to particularly look at Columbia and Bangladesh. So this is information first from Barnabas Fund. And they say, many other Christian children come many, sorry, many Christian children come from families who are poor, and are too unable to afford to go to school at all, often because parents are trapped in poverty due to anti christian discrimination, while those who are refugees fleeing persecution, famine, or conflict simply have no school to go to at all. So that's true of a lot of this number, because a lot of school Yeah, a lot of the marine camps, you know, due to what happened in Syria or Iraq, they're still in camps. They haven't gone back, some of them have. But Sam, there's still a lot of refugees that are Christian across, and particularly, you know, Nigeria, think about those have all had to flee. They are in internal world camp, some somewhere else. Yeah. You know, they fled from their towns. So they've been affected also, and you know, by persecution. And so that's one thing that happens and the wars deprived the children. And yet, so we've moved to counseling that there needs to go
Reverend Ben Cooper:beyond doesn't it because when you talk about the refugee camps, when you talk about the children that are not unscored, so here we have, if the parents are not picking up any educational, drama and helping them and to beat that drum of education, you're going to have a generation as well, one year that's been affected not just because of the persecution, but for educational reasons, as well. So it affects the economy affects them. So persecution has a big effect on everything.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, yeah. Effects and like that
Reverend Ben Cooper:affects
Sandra Robson:children being able to play feeling they can't they, you know, as I said, with the brickcom work, because they have to work and work, they work. Because they're the families, the parents may be sick or something. So the children have to work so then they lose their education. But I'm going to tell you some good news story went in that direction. But also Barnabas Fund has helped with the dis, those in war situations, and providing trauma counseling, and they all say say in China, and now say yes, takistan TAJIKISTAN
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, fish, Pakistan.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. Authorities have banned children from attending Sunday school. Right. So that's another thing.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Another bit.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, yeah. And the laws apply even to children if they are accompanied by their parents. Such restrictions make it harder for children to grow up in the Christian faith. So that's, that's another area that is issue for a lot of children. And then we took about this in Pakistan and Egypt about Christian girls being abducted and raped, compelled to convert to Islam and forced into marriage with Muslims all that. Yeah. So that's another issue. And and then sadly, some children are injured in attacks. So there's been attacks in Nigeria, in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in car, the Central African Republic, and children have been injured in those attacks. And so yes, there's a there's a lot going on, which maybe we forget. And on top of that we have with Nigeria, the abductions from the schools. Yeah. And, and we're going to look a bit at that, just to give the update of how Christians and how God is working in nice situations. So it's a lot a lot there, we can
Reverend Ben Cooper:set and forget, the children can't wait. Because when we talk about the persecuted church, very often, we go to the adult side of the persecuted church. But there as we've just have, you just said that over 100 million around the globe are in the suffering church. 100 million children under eight under 18, are affected by persecution for being a believer. And we have approximately 67 million people in the UK. So there's 23 million more children than we have in the UK. This is amazing, that are suffering because of being a believer for Jesus. So yeah, 23 million people more than we have in the UK, children under the age of 18. Living in harsh conditions, camps, almost pretty running for their life lost parents. 23 million more than we have people in the UK, that is phenomenal. But that is the church. That church is growing. God has his hand on that church, God will protect them children, he will, he will open doors, literally. open doors for them to Yeah, to get life to get freedom to get exile to to get out of the to get freedom to to get free of all this stuff that's going on we we praise God for the for these children. We must thank God for these, these young children that God will strengthen them and bless them. guide them 100 million. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. Yeah. Okay, Sandra. Yeah. Next,
Sandra Robson:sorry. Yeah. So the obviously the reason for this is that they want to stop it going through to the next generation. So they want the, you know, the may allow the parents to go to church, but they won't let the children because they don't want it to be carried on.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah. And that's why they're trying to stop it out. Children having any influence from Christianity,
Sandra Robson:yes. So that, yes, they're trying to do it. So that it will just stop at that generation and won't continue. But we know that God has.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yes. And stop the seed.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. Well, I mean, I'll tell you the stories that I've, you know, been reading, I mean, is amazing. I mean, you know, a lot of children get access to the internet and have access. And they find out about Jesus that way. And, you know, there's a story about a girl who was on a trip with her father, from a country where Christianity isn't allowed. Yeah. And she was watching some different things and came across a children's Christian program, and started watching it. And she became a believer, wow. So you know, there are amazing things happening and the seed is there. And know those children. And, you know, that God sends those those, you know, those special things to those special how
Reverend Ben Cooper:gets them nuggets,
Sandra Robson:and turns, and they unmade, and they hold on and they know and they and they've given us such amazing testimonies. And you know, for example, I've got from Colombia, I've got a couple of things from Colombia. And give thanks for to Matteo, he went to live at the open doors Children's Center. I'm going to speak about that a bit more. When he was 11, after being targeted by a guerrilla group. And he has now graduated and wants to return to his community to help other struggling kids. I am not afraid of the guerrillas, because I know that God is with me. He gives me the strength to carry his gospel and will always protect me. So that's, you know, and this is what's going on in Colombia. And you know, people are so rich Yes, yes.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So he was chased out by a gorilla group under come for you. We can't even imagine what that must be like. Yeah, he was Amanda, that sort of oppression and heaviness and an evil from a gorilla group as a young young person. Yeah,
Sandra Robson:they kept following him and asking him and give his saying, you know, they give him you know, money a status all these things because
Reverend Ben Cooper:he you come away from Jesus
Sandra Robson:because he was from a Christian family and he was so is continually being harassed. And so open doors, thankfully. And God has opened up there's some amazing and Children's Center.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And that exists in Colombia in Colombia.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. And so when they heard about this from the parents, yeah. And and the the people on the ground there the open doors. Yeah, yes. Workers, and they put them in touch with this Children's Center and he was then able to go and be cared for to be cared for. Yeah. Safe warm. Yeah. I did a safe God, Jesus,
Reverend Ben Cooper:this is good.
Sandra Robson:And other children go there for a short time or a long time. And to keep them safe and support them.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So this is still inside Colombia.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, this is still inside Colombia. Safe Haven. Yeah.
Reverend Ben Cooper:open doors.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. Come on. We take your bone is for open doors.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Listen, you know, this is really, really important that we support these these ministries, because you can hear what they're doing. Yeah, you can see what they're doing. We've got the literature in front of us that they got camps. They're looking after children as they come for and they've lost their dad.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, they lost their father. He
Reverend Ben Cooper:smiles. Look at their beautiful smile
Sandra Robson:as the result of that center who
Reverend Ben Cooper:was shot? Yeah. Oh, Lord place. Yeah, if you could see what I'm looking at Sandra's holding up this little booklet, the great bit of booklet bit of information. And it's got the gift of comfort and joy this Christmas. Now, these two little children I'm looking at have lost their dad. Yeah, they lost. They look so joyous, because God did with them. Yeah, yeah. It's powerful.
Sandra Robson:And they saw the reality of that, you know, and so it says in Colombia, and that there are a lot of Christians, but there are violent, powerful criminal groups and drug cartels. And these gangs often recruit, recruit young Colombians to work for them by dazzling them with promises of a better life. If that doesn't work, they take children by force. And they don't like it when Christians tried to stop them. And their father was a pastor. And he spoke out about this, because he realized that many in his community were being affected by this
Reverend Ben Cooper:took his life.
Sandra Robson:And they they threatened him and warned him and told him no, he carried on. And so yeah, he came home from church sat down to watch the the the news on Saturday. And then the family heard two gunshots. And that was that he was he was murdered at home, murdered at home murder home murder.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yet at home.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, got August 2019
Reverend Ben Cooper:to 2019.
Sandra Robson:And there's been some recent ones. There's been a couple of others this year. So So it says Daniela and her five year old brother Sebastian are among this is it 100 million plus persecuted Christians worldwide who are under the age of 18. And you know,
Reverend Ben Cooper:as I said, 67 million of us live in the UK. So we have a difference of 23 million plus amount of children under the age of 18. They're in being persecuted for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yeah. 23 million more than every person. In the UK. There is a church growing, there is a church exploding with Jesus Christ, there is a church in the underground church in the there is a glorious, glorious move of God moving
Sandra Robson:Yeah,
Reverend Ben Cooper:under the age of 18 100 million listeners. Wherever you are around the world. We've got to pray into this. We you know, it's so easy to forget the children to a degree of this side of what happens to the atrocities that go on in the suffering church. So it's really important that we lift this up because this is a powerful movement. There is 100 million children for the next generations to carry the gospel through. Yeah. Bigger than the UK? Yeah, a church bigger than the UK. Come on Jesus, this is good news.
Sandra Robson:So she said, Well, though she's sad when she thinks about her dad, that she, she says that I, I, I believe that celebrating the birth of Jesus is a moment of joy. And it says in 2019, they took her to this Children's Center. So they could have a break and be safe from the danger and away from the sadness and isolation they were feeling and have the joy of celebrating Christmas with other believers. And it says they had a big welcome banner, and they've actually got a picture here of it. And they did it says, Welcome home, your presence, and riches are joy. And so that was specially put there for them at the center to welcome them. And they were, they were blown away. And they said by the love and the and the generosity and these children that are there, they've all experienced different different amounts of persecution as well so they know how it feels. And so they really embrace these children. And again, it's really heartwarming and it does make a very emotional, very emotional, you know, to see that but thank God that this has been enabled. Thank God that this place is
Reverend Ben Cooper:on these two static children like they're probably Yeah, the young adult smiling happy. Yeah, swinging on a on like a trapeze bar. They're just enjoying Yeah, being children. Yeah.
Sandra Robson:Seeing children, able 3d children and do the things that children want to do. Yeah, without looking over their shoulder wondering if somebody can snatch
Reverend Ben Cooper:me shoot me shoot my mom. That to my family. Yeah. So they have complete safety away from the drug cartels away from the atrocities that are happening. They've got freedom, they've got safety, they got water, you know, they're safer the pandemic This is now this is where this is we are speaking now. This is real. This is happening now. We thank God for these camps and praise God, we pray, Lord, that You will protect these these these people that we're looking at men Sandro's, we're just looking at a great banner there. Now, this is an interesting magazine, this is really important. It's called comfort and joy. It's a magazine from open doors November and December 2020. And that is on page nine, you will be able to find that online. Yeah. Excellent. Yeah, so thank God for open doors. So
Sandra Robson:as I say, there's quite a few. And they're saying during the pandemic, the children's centers adopted and to make adapted rather to make a make cam sure activities are safe and open doors, I hired a private medical service for everyone there. And because it's difficult to get to hospital, that center is still hoping to hold a safe and socially distant Christmas celebration this year. So pray that that can go ahead. And I was sent for the youth and a card and a cutout star for them to write little messages on Yeah, and to send to this center to put up as a decoration. So we are going to do that. And so you know, there is contact you you can do things and people can send cards to this place to the children as well, to encourage them. And it's a really good thing.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's really good. It's really good to hear this, you know, all the podcasts we've done. We've done so many Sonra the last number of months, that they are all great. Of course, they're all good. It's very it's so refreshing to hear what we hear and discuss and sometimes it can be very heavy. You come out of this studio BIT bit bad sometimes and yeah, you do question things, but to hear this that this has given me this is really refueled me this morning tonight is 100 100 million. Sorry. 100 million,
Sandra Robson:100 million under the age of 18. More than that, that's the nice they sent this to me. Yes. Yeah. So that's
Reverend Ben Cooper:a young child and plus growing, growing, growing out of pain. Yeah. Growing soft. Yeah. growing at a loss. Yeah. growing out of losing your family growing out of or being chased down the street. There is a church growing.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. And I you know, you think about parents keeping a Bible hidden in their home. We talked about that one in North Korea. She came to Christ. Even though the authorities tried, remember which way
Reverend Ben Cooper:I remember
Sandra Robson:every you know, and, you know, I don't get that children know. They see a difference in in, you know, and Jesus does lead the little children. He reads He does he does. And, and yes, so there's a there's so then there's another story here. And about when I say story, it's, it's real, but it's about a particular, you know, child and, and thinking about something else that's been done to help. And another thing that is done around the world, in different places is these camps that enable children from persecuted families to go somewhere, again, where it's safe, where they can celebrate Christmas, because they can't celebrate Christmas where they live, but they can in other places. And so again, open doors, and Barnabas put on the special and activities so that children can come together, possibly not actually at Christmas, but around that time, and they can then celebrate and see other children. And so we need to really pray for that. Obviously, with COVID. It's all been a bit more difficult. Yeah. But outside that, you know, that as I'm praying for protection for the staff, and everybody that you know, they get there. And last year for Pakistan, not Pakistan, sorry, Bangladesh, and Indian children. And there was one of these camps. And this is about belges story. He's 10.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Hang on. This is a 10 year old young lad.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. And there's Daniela who is a little girl as well. Okay. Okay. So I'll by No, okay. And right. So they're in an isolated village. In Bangladesh, there are only 50 houses, and villages, and it's face extreme opposition. And this little girl was told at school, and that they didn't want to play with her. My friends don't want to play with me, they push me. And she tells her mum with sadness. And often she comes home and says, mother, they have beaten me. They don't want me to join in with them. And they said that this is a common story, sadly across. Yeah, yeah, you know, this area. And so what they do is they said last Christmas, they were able to go to this special center for several hours. And it's a long way from their village. But it's she says, we come to celebrate Jesus's birthday. And I can't wait for the singing and dancing
Reverend Ben Cooper:her great. And
Sandra Robson:not sure what his name is. But he's another one who went
Reverend Ben Cooper:a little face. Look at look at the White House holding a star. how glorious. So that's very touching. Sorry, yeah.
Sandra Robson:So that's another another one about you know, happening
Reverend Ben Cooper:we really praise God we thank God for the great things that happen in you, listeners, you We must get hold of these open doors literature, we must really press open doors, whether we subscribe or however we gift it and whatever we do find it online. These are great stories. These are great stories, you know, persecuted the suffering church isn't is needing our prayers, our support here in the UK and wherever you might be listening around the world, we must we must we have to support our fellow adults and our little children around the world. Come on, we can do this. We gotta support these these groups.
Sandra Robson:So this is a little rundown. Some Yeah, just to give you a taster of things that you know, around the world to do with children to to pray, pray for and and to thank God for as well. So we've had thank God for these children's centers. Thank God for the trauma centers. And for Barnabas, I had thing for recently saying about we talked about the brickcom people.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yes, we did. And
Sandra Robson:while so many 1000s have been released from that album did Yes. Yes. From that because of the you know, the public relations and yeah, the prayer everything. And they said freedom. Yes. for lots of children and they've been able to set up a school another another school and It says, our cash is delighted he can now attend a Christian school. At his old school. He was very frightened. The Muslim children would not even eat or drink with him. Barnabas supports 124 Christian Schools in Pakistan, educating over 11,000 Christian children. And that's growing
Reverend Ben Cooper:as another area of support. That's what Barnabas is Alexandra. Yeah. So you heard that, you know, please, we're asking please, we're asking not not to support us here at Ealing church in Swanley. But these are this younger generation under the age of 18. They need schools, they need food, they need educating. They need protection. We can do this through prayer for coming together, standing, subscribing, following being with these these great ministries, open doors, Barnabas release international that are doing these great works. We, we salute you, we really do these ministries.
Sandra Robson:And so an update on Leah. Yeah, people might know about her. She was one of the school girls abducted in Nigeria, by Boko Haram and from the Chibok. Group. And she is still there. And they said, Thank God for the incredible faith of this young girl. And that she wouldn't renounce Christ, and that she remained strong in her faith and keep asking the Lord to make a way for her to return home. Then, as you might remember, suddenly, in Sri Lanka, there was that bomb attack at Easter. In 2019, and one little girl, seven, lost her eyesight. And she says, Debbie has great faith that God will restore her sight, she does not place her hope this is her and speaking, and does not place a hope in doctors, but only holds on to the hope that God himself will heal her. So pray for this little girl that the Lord in His grace will heal him. And that will be a great testimony to many people, Yes, Lord, and then in Iraq, and pray for the children who have been displaced there. We want to live in peace and security said and with other children in the world, says Lydia 10 asked the Lord to fulfill her desire and pray, especially for God's peace and protection this Christmas. A lot of you know, families are very vulnerable at Christmas because of celebrating Christmas. And we do pray that, that you know that, and the Lord, you know, the any attacks will be foiled. They you know, and because
Reverend Ben Cooper:often center, mind you, Lord,
Sandra Robson:yeah, that, you know, authorities will become aware of anything that's going on, we do pray for those places. And you know, those have suffered attacks at Christmas time. And then we've got in Buddhist countries, they have only access to British education, often struggle with their identity, as they may be pressured into participating in Buddhist rituals. So pray that they will know their true identity as beloved children of God. And maybe some ministries will be raised up there. And the Lord will enable that. And yeah, and just pray for those involved in children's ministry. And ask God to protect open door staff and partners. Yeah, and you're involved in supporting these children.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So, Sandra, that has been really good this morning. 100 I can't get this out my mind. 100 million. Plus, under the age of 18. There is a church that is emerging. Yeah, in the suffer. And we focus so much on the adults. On the older generation, which is great and powerful. We need to do that. We must do that. But also, it's good to listen and to hear our fact in front of us that this young church, this powerful church is growing, is moving. They're being educated. There's being camps raised up they're being taken out of gangs, they're, they're being protected. They're being looked after they've been removed away from the guerrillas that they're getting a life. Yeah. And they're standing up for Jesus. Yeah, at such a young
Sandra Robson:age. Yeah. And as we support them, and as they see the love of Jesus, they do pass it on and and you hear their testimonies and that affects other people. So nicely
Reverend Ben Cooper:grow. Yeah.
Sandra Robson:It's real and nice. The songs they sing. They're just amazing. So beautiful. Yeah, that, you know. Yeah. And I think that that also inspires the adults in them
Reverend Ben Cooper:this morning. I didn't really I gotta be honest, I did not really, I didn't really think I didn't think too much about the, the children in the persecuted. And the suffering just didn't really give it too much room in my head to be honest with you, but, but when you bring it to the table like this, and you think it's 100 million plus. And then if you just take a small percentage of them, just very quickly just took a quarter of that, and said that there's going to be a quarter without foul will bring others to Christ. So all of a sudden, the 100 million plus is growing to is another 250 is pressing his 1000 1000s this, this is unstoppable. The kingdom of God is unstoppable. No matter what comes up and the westernize church needs to hear so much more about the children that are pressing for Christ. They will not renounce they will not give in they will continue even though they got cartels after them we've gone even though their lives have been friend even though those two beautiful little children lost their dad shot in our own home. They continue for Jesus, the westernized church is asleep.
Sandra Robson:And the and the fate of this little girl you know in Sri Lanka they're just yeah, just say it's unstoppable.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's unstoppable.
Sandra Robson:That's the children comes to me. Yeah, you know, hidden to them. The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Praise God, thank God, this has given me so much spiritual energy, if you can, what is it give me it's just give me like, I feel like the fire has been clicked again, the light as this is so encouraging. I've got to say again over 100 million. And they're gonna they're gonna, they're gonna just touch other other lives. They're going to people with children and go, what have you got that I haven't got in this time of suffering. I've got Jesus multiply will multiply
Sandra Robson:Yeah, it will
Reverend Ben Cooper:grow it will double will expand, nothing can stop this, this young church emerging, what's emerging out of suffering? What's emerging out of pain?
Sandra Robson:And that this reality that Jesus loved for them in that suffering? And why Yeah, watch.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, wow, way we sound right be great. We can continue this on and look more into this. This this suffering Church of 18 below 18 plus below, to see to bring us to the table because it gives us encouragement to understand that that is that is enormous judge, a huge church, a young church, without no influence from the westernized culture of church without none of the latest music and sitting in a big auditorium and coming under all that. But literally the church is growing. Have 18 years old and younger. 100 million plus Yeah, they are not growing. Because they are sitting in a comfortable building now growing because of the love of God.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. Yeah.
Reverend Ben Cooper:They're losing everything. Yeah. But they're gaining peace, joy, understanding the smiles on their face. You know what son has brought a lot to the table for this lockdown. Since we've been starting to do this. And you know, every time I see a picture from a young person through to the always person, you know what I'm going to say? Yes. Smile. Now, this smile. Is something Yeah. So powerful.
Sandra Robson:They've been through suffering. But then for
Reverend Ben Cooper:gruesome things, then but look at the joy. Yeah, look at their little faces that don't chase them. Oh, look at that. Oh, Lord, the dancing down there. You've got to get this everyone listening. You've got you've got to share this podcast out. You've got to push this out. You've the children in the suffering church. They are radiant, they are radiant, they are glowing. They are. They are they are instruments. They are real instruments. They are real. Soldiers are real warriors for God. They will not give up. They're not manipulated by the gun. They're not manipulated by the authority. They're not manipulated by the cartels. God has got them look at their little faces and it makes you want to cry.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, but my friends and yeah, and thank God that the community, you know, Christian community, including us. Yeah. I've been able to To make this this happened that God has given us that privilege of helping to do to make this
Reverend Ben Cooper:and then people might say, Well, how do we do that? We do that through prayer. do that through through being very diligent in reading and studying and praying over the PowerPoints and giving and supporting ministries. Yeah, when we support the ministry financially through prayer, they're able to build these centers. They're able to better put teachers in place, they're able to get the children to look off into the club them to give them a venture playground. Yeah, for a safe haven. Yeah, this is great. Yeah. And we must, we must, we must say thank you so much, to Barnabas to open doors to release International. And we've mentioned over the last number of months CSW
Sandra Robson:CSW Yeah.
Reverend Ben Cooper:The Christian Institute. Yeah, we've mentioned lots lots of, of, you know, and Transworld radio, yeah, we need to pray into these ministries and any others that we may have missed off, we just want to say thank you, from the very depth of our heart. Sandra, we thank you for what you brought us over the last number of months and, and we will continue to press these podcasts out. But everyone that is listening, please, I ask you to share this out, to go online to find these great and powerful stories of these children that are radiant, for Jesus radiant, for Jesus, absolutely radiant for God, Sandra, we got anything to close on, are we there?
Sandra Robson:Well just say I'm a bush people a joyous and a blessed Christmas time that they can think about Jesus, who came as a baby. And you know that this is a time of, you know, to think about our Savior. And it's in that just that gift, remembering about the gift of Christ, and the gift that these children have. And that and you know, Jesus is building his church, and I was thinking about the fields are right into harvest. And sometimes we're looking in the wrong place. And they're there. And they're, you know, and we just thank you, Lord, for these children. And we pray that they would know your love and your joy and your peace this Christmas. And that, that thank you that they know the true meaning of Christmas. They know that Jesus is their friend, their Lord and their Savior. And we just thank you, Lord, for what you are doing through the different organizations. And we thank you for the privilege of being able to be part of this and to partner with you though, thank you, and for all the good words all the wonderful things that you are doing, and across the world, Lord and help us to have eyes to see and ears to hear the wonderful things that we will continue to be Joyce glad God. You know, this is your Christmas letters.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah,
Sandra Robson:sing praises at this time.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Hallelujah. Yes, Lord. Yeah, Sandra. Thank you so much. Oh God, we serve the God of Israel, the line of Judah, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. You've been listening to myself, Reverend Benjamin Lepnard Cooper here in Elim church and we've bee listening to Sandra for thes number of months. And we than God for her ministry. She wil continue to press on that sh has always done over the year we will be back to you in th new year. We may be able t squeeze one in next week bu you've been listening to us her in elim church if you nee Sandra. If you would like t email her please just connec with us here at elim church i Swanley, all the usual socia media feeds and through th world of Spotify, all th podcasting platforms please Yo know, Apple play all the usua stuff Google whatever it may be we are on them platform. S please, we asked you to suppor the suffering church. And ma God bless you and strengthe you. Have a great day whereve you are around the world. And w are we are so blessed to hav you listening with us thi morning. Have a great Christmas Stay under the blood of Jesu and keep praying. Keep prayin in Jesus name. Amen