Hello and welcome to our podcast here at elim church in Swanley. You're joining myself, Reverend Benjamin Leonard Cooper and we are so glad that you are sharing and joining us wherever you are around the world. And this morning, as we look in to the suffering church and the persecuted church, we have Sondra with our weekly update, as Sandra explores, and she does a lot of dive in and delving into the world of the suffering church where she had been called and that's where her ministry is. So we, we thank you so much for sharing and listening to the suffering church. It's very, very important that in where we sit at this particular moment in time that the church in the UK and the westernized world starts to really dive a little bit more deeper into our brothers and sisters that are really being persecuted around the world. So we welcome Sandra this morning. Good morning, Sondra.
Sandra Robson:Good morning.
Reverend Ben Cooper:How are you on this wet? Cold? January day?
Sandra Robson:Oh, okay. Yeah. Just a little bit of a you know that. Yeah, that's
Reverend Ben Cooper:a bit clogged up in your air. But yeah. Oh, well, David. Good night.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. Yeah, he's busy working. He's got an important meeting today.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And in the world of zoom
Sandra Robson:in the world of Yeah,
Reverend Ben Cooper:it's always on teams. He's on team. Yeah. Which is amazing, isn't it? What's happening around the world, the lockdown has got tighter here in the UK, January. So we just pray for everybody listening today, wherever you are around the world. Thank you for sharing. As you know, we're on Spotify, and we are on buzzsprout and all the other platforms. So please share that out as we look at the persecuted church around the world. It's been a very interesting week in the UK, regarding the Houses of Parliament, is that correct?
Sandra Robson:Yes, yes, we did have the launch of the world watch list, and was launched yesterday afternoon. And we had the privilege of being able to watch it this time, because that's a positive of all this, that we now have the multimedia and support. So for the first time, not only were the MPs on zoom, and listening in to what open doors was saying, but all the supporters could as well. And when I looked at mark the YouTube at the bottom, where it says how many people were there, there was 2000. And so they were really, you know, pleased about that. And they said that is really good. Not only that the MPs were there, but the MPs could see, okay, how many people are supporting? Yes, and and how many, you know, because they said yet that they have had and the new envoy and who I'll tell you about? And she held up these, these were little cards we were given to send to our MP. Yeah, so everybody who's, who supports open doors was sent a couple of those. And the idea was that we would just write a little message and send it to our MP, it houses parliament and encourage them to be part of this launch, and find out more about what's going on the persecuted church, and how they can help. Excellent Bye. Yeah, what happens with government policy regarding overseas aid and other things?
Reverend Ben Cooper:That's, that's really good. So everyone that subscribes or gifts to the the open doors ministry was given the opportunity to have on these cards and respond, yeah, to send it back to the MP and it would have had to add some more weight to them actually coming along to them coming along. Yeah, brilliant. Yeah, pretty good.
Sandra Robson:And also, I mean, if you went online, just to look at open doors website, there was also, you know, a click button that you could just click, and again, invite your MP, and even the emails, and there was another opportunity there as well. Lots of opportunity, lots of opportunity, and in fact, so really,
Reverend Ben Cooper:we are seeing in quite quite a few other platforms as well, where they lock down as locked us down. The the technology is, is there for us. And so what we're saying as well, it's through Parliament, there was more people in attendance, probably because locked down. Yeah. And the public could come in and zoom and come into the room as well. So how many was in attendance was a Sandra. Well,
Sandra Robson:I'll let you know about the definites because obviously open doors will have because I was just seeing what I saw on the YouTube at that point. But they said that there had been about the week before 5000 emails have been sent to MPs to encourage them to And get involved with this. And 202,500 invitations. Excellent.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So we'll find out a little bit. Oh, yeah,
Sandra Robson:yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it looks really good.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Excellent. Really good. Yeah. So where are we today? Last week, we had a lovely recap. We went back over quite a bit of stuff. And that was really good. You pulled it together really well for a diary. So where are we today?
Sandra Robson:Well, we're looking sort of more detail of those things. And I thought we'd look at particular countries and give a bit of an update on what happened in the Christmas period. Yeah. And so, like, for China, you know, because we've talked about China, and the issues there. And just to let you know, what, what's happened since and update on some stories. So we've set they're saying that the organizations like open doors and CSW and release international are saying a big issue. Yeah. And that is partly being caused by the pandemic, although it was it started in China is that China produces so much stuff for us. A lot of, you know, a lot of the stuff that we need comes from China, you look at, you know, motors, you pick something up, and you think, ah, China, or it says, and he, what is it, there's another thing, and it is the Republic of China, isn't it the People's Republic of China, and people might not realize that it's still
Reverend Ben Cooper:still China. So
Sandra Robson:that might be coming from Hong Kong, because they've now become part of that. And so this is a big issue, and which is enabling some things to continue to happen. And for, you know, the China not to come up and so much scrutiny is because of the increasing interdependence on trade,
Reverend Ben Cooper:all to do with money.
Sandra Robson:And that was Yeah, and it was interesting that that came up yesterday about how the UK Government gonna deal with that, and are they gonna,
Reverend Ben Cooper:are they gonna do? We're gonna leave it?
Sandra Robson:Yeah. So it was put to the new envoy. And she's going to take that back to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, about that being a question in further trade negotiations. So the government under Jinping is trying to clean up anything that doesn't come into the communist agenda. And that's what it seems to be. That's what people are saying now it appears they believe they can achieve this by systematic opposition. Yeah. So on Christmas Day, and around Christmas. There was no Christmas celebrations allowed publicly. And there were marches by pro male citizens giving anti christmas messages. And on the campuses, for students. They were encouraged not to get involved in any Christmas celebrations.
Reverend Ben Cooper:That is very, very heavy. So
Sandra Robson:yeah, they were only allowed celebration. Yeah, they're only allowed to do something at home. Yeah, privately behind closed. Yeah. And the free self church was enabled to do something, but obviously that would be very low key.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I'm absolutely gobsmacked. I'm absolutely lost for words at the moment to think that this nation is canceling is removing Christmas completely has the power to do that.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. So some universities have pivoted prohibited students from celebrating Christmas, ban them from attending off campus events. They were raised on meetings by police over the Christmas period, including as you said early rain, and they were harassed and threatened by the police facing threats of eviction owing to police pressuring on landlords so those people are losing their homes
Reverend Ben Cooper:losing their homes
Sandra Robson:because of the pressure on the landlord the landlord has been pressured to stop them living there
Reverend Ben Cooper:yeah, that's pretty simple thing to say isn't a landlord is being squashed. So he will obviously pass that down the line to the believers and the Christians and when I gather for church so really in China Christianity is really coming under the the persecuted hammer and also very visual as well. They don't seem to be worried about letting the world know that they're canceling Christmas. is a raised from China. We are raising Christmas.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. And you know that they're the things you know, they're looking at with the opened doors is that it has gone up. It's now in the top 20. And that hasn't been climbing, you know, for some time. So, yeah, but it's still Christians are still there, and they are still worshiping God and they are still preaching the gospel. And we've got this again, just to make a point with a Uyghurs. On Christmas Day, this doctor a week a doctor learned that she is going to be in prison for 20 years for terrorism related offenses. A dating back to march 2019. And her sister Billy, she's been punished because she called for her release. And she said that that sister that her argument was about her sister being held was she had hadn't she was a prisoner without a crime. So now they've given her a crime to enable this, you know, well as speaking about, she was speaking about human rights violations currently taking place in the Uighur region.
Reverend Ben Cooper:20 years in prison. Yeah. For being a believer. Yeah. With a crime that's been fabricated. Yeah. has been brought out of nowhere. Yeah. Just had a label put across the back.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, there's terrorism.
Reverend Ben Cooper:To put her away for 20 years for being a believer in Jesus Christ, because she was concerned about the way her brothers and sisters weaker brothers and sisters been treated. Yeah, absolutely. Unbelievably, they're saying
Sandra Robson:over 1 million Uyghurs a members of other ethnic groups are being detained in a network of political re education camps.
Reverend Ben Cooper:reiterate that. That statistic you got there that number?
Sandra Robson:over 1 million,
Reverend Ben Cooper:1 million? Yeah.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. 1 million. Uyghurs and members of other ethnic groups are being arbitrary, detained in a network of political re education camps.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Gosh, being a Christian, Christian, sorry, outside the UK, is European persecuted. Like at the height of the high level of what Scripture says imprisonment, death. Your life is on trial. You're getting sentences that have a terrific amount of years on them. We've been studying and looking at certain areas of other lands that we've been looking at, where you can't carry a Bible down the street, Iran. The terrible atrocities that are happening there. So what is going to come of the believer in the UK what I believe the persecution is going to be simply by a squeeze on the law. And what you can say, I think when you can gather, yeah, how you can gather. But that's a common pattern that we're seeing in China, though, isn't it? Really? Yeah. Moving Christmas? Yeah.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. So but there's there is good news on this front. It is a, you know, a small ray of hope. But when I look at the CSW things, I'll tell you about that, about a campaign they were running to do with a weakness. Yeah. And it has had some influence on some companies in this country. So that's, that's good, that that's happening
Reverend Ben Cooper:is very good.
Sandra Robson:And so we'll see where that goes. And so the next thing is about Hong Kong, that there were concerns when Hong Kong came under the authority of, of China. And then, of course, they introduced that this law that I told you about the the National Security Law was introduced. And so now on the 30th. There have been arrests in December 12, Hong Kong activist tried to flee to Taiwan initially. And then after that on the 27th What day was it? Yeah, they've those have been sentenced on the 30th of December. for crimes of, you know, against the government, they feel that that's that's
Reverend Ben Cooper:the nature, isn't it? It's the crime against the government, the law of the land. Yeah. And then it's easy to be put on a label of almost a fake terrorist. You know, your your terrorist because you are a Christian. You're you're believing in the God of Israel. So we are going to persecute you, you are you're doing a crime against us as the government as the leadership of the land. And we will do whatever we want to do to you. And there is no and when you look at how, how would a solicitor How would a lawyer deal with a situation like that? I know we have them through open doors and Barnabas and CSW, we see that, but it must be very frightening as well for a lawyer to be able to represent a Christian when you've got the state government coming at them, because it will put the lawyer and the solicitor in the firing line of the situation as well.
Sandra Robson:Oh, yeah. Is it must be happening? Yes. They're going after the lawyers and they're saying they revoke their licenses. That's, that's it? Yes. That headline, their lawyer for imprisoned citizen journalist, and Hong Kong activists may have license revoked.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So what we're going to what we have is, the law is coming against professional people, by saying, we will remove your license, if your license is removed, you will lose your home, your family will be threatened without putting any means of weaponry in front of them. They are using material things, they are using the pressure of their career, they're using the pressure of their home and their family and just frets and that's just has just as jezza Bell operated in the Old Testament messages. If you continue to do what you do, this is the consequence of following the actions that you do.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So yes, you know, it's very, very difficult. And, yeah, it's a case of like, you know, trusting in God, isn't it that they say, okay, Lord, I believe I'm to do this like this, this woman, who is a journalist, she was one of the ones who posted lots of the videos on YouTube about what was going on with the virus. And she is now being imprisoned and is being badly treated. And she's been on hunger strike. And that's that has finished now. And she had an opportunity to appeal on the 11th of January. But we don't know if she decided to do that or not. We're not sure the outcome. No. So yeah. But she she, she did it because she believed God called her to go and tell the truth about Sarris. Yes. And so that's what she did. And there were a couple of others as well, who've also been imprisoned or disappeared. And so yeah, so we do pray for them.
Reverend Ben Cooper:And there's almost a stillness with us today. Because sometimes we, we look at things and we we open the pages of what we have in front of us, and sometimes you, you can almost get lost for words that the government that is supposed to be for the people helping the people looking after the people managing the money of the people looking after their health care, looking after their well being is coming against the people have the land. For religious? Yeah. They don't, because they don't say anything, because they don't believe
Sandra Robson:I come under control, as far as they're concerned. If you believe something else, and you don't believe communism, fully, and you're not completely following everything in the government. Yeah. Then you know, the authorities then you are a terrorist, you are
Reverend Ben Cooper:a terrorist. What the What was the basically you are your
Sandra Robson:Well, sometimes they say they
Reverend Ben Cooper:put that label over them. Yeah. So, um, so the government that he's supposed to be? Yes. Yes. Correct. So the, so the government is, is being sometimes it's just, it just goes beyond what I can think of sometimes when I listen. And I see in front of us on this table on this morning, I've persecuted church staff, the suffering church, how these these governments are squashing and removing Christmas and putting pressure on believers because they won't come under. So we hear a lot about these governments talk about freedom and we want to work for the people. But it's all under their terms. It's under their terms and not under the individual rights of the person of the human being in that land to to be free to believe in whatever their their faith is, whatever their persuasion may be. So it's this is heavy. This is very heavy this morning.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. So just to get this light what what's happened so people know that they know the sort of sequence of events in February 2020, sang a Christian human rights defender and former lawyer traveled to the epicenter of COVID-19 breakout in Wu Han. So she's putting herself at risk with virus as well, that she knows me to go and do this, because she loves people cares for people wanting to tell the truth from when, where she posted videos and articles about the virus outbreak on social media. She was detained in May 2020, and subsequently spent over seven months in detention, during which time her health has deteriorated. And then her trial on the 28th of December last only a few hours. And, and so they have a lawyer has managed to visit her, and she has partially ended a strike. And at that time, as I say, she was what they were deciding whether she was going to appeal. And that was it on the 11th of January, but we don't know. In response to that. The United Nations Office High Commissioner for Human Rights, said we are deeply concerned by the four year prison sentence imposed on citizen journalist Shan Shan, we raise her case with the authorities throughout 2020 as an example of excessive clamp down a freedom of expression linked to COVID and continue to call for her release. Yeah. And they say the British embassy in Beijing has also said it raises serious concerns about media freedom in China, noting that the British diplomat tried to attend the trial but was denied access. And the US Department also condemned the Sham prosecution and conviction of Shannon, and called for immediate and unconditional release. And CSW have also spoken out about it and have said immediate and conditional release her case is and ballot of many lawyers, activists and journalists in China who continue to be targeted with spurious charges as a result of their work defending human rights. And they're calling on the authorities to protect the rights of all those working. Yeah. So there has been pressure, and we pray that that pressure will come to bear but God will do his work that he intends to do sometimes, yeah, we don't quite understand. We can't, and we don't want to see our sister suffering like that at all. But, you know, and God sent her on a mission. And, you know, we don't understand all of that, we don't do it. And we're, you know, and we just pray for her. And we pray for her in that prison situation. And, you know, those that she's with, and as they've said, in many of these things, how God sends these people into like lions, dens, and they speak to, you know, prison guards, and they speak to officials, and they speak to all these people. And if they, you know, it's hard, I
Reverend Ben Cooper:feel that you know, that I can hear
Sandra Robson:the suffering they go through, but just like Paul, you know, when we think of, of how he spoke to all those people, all those, you know, who would never have had that opportunity to think about the gospel, to see that person to see Christ in that person. And that's what they're going through that that suffering, because they are living for Jesus, and she was obedient. And she did what she believed to do.
Reverend Ben Cooper:That was her. That's her poem, that's her,
Sandra Robson:yes, we pray that we will hear more, and we will, there will be she, you know, he will be free. Yeah, she will be free. And we pray for all the others who are there too, and God will have his way in this situation.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I think Sandra, you know, in a situation like that, we need to really think about some 23 even I go through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, the journey and the pathway that they are on you can only survive that when you've been called to that and God has called her to that destiny it we can't understand it. Yeah, we think why God why why a lot
Sandra Robson:dangerous. She knew what she
Reverend Ben Cooper:was, you know what she knew what she was because
Sandra Robson:others have been
Reverend Ben Cooper:other has been taken beforehand. And and all sorts of things
Sandra Robson:that she believed and she did have that window. And we saw it and that helped us to
Reverend Ben Cooper:understand what where it's come from and what's going on,
Sandra Robson:you know, so thank you. We thought with God's with her. Yeah,
Reverend Ben Cooper:he's straight. Though she walked through the darkest Valley and a lonely time and whatever the the conditions may be, God will strengthen her. But as you so rightly said, How often do we hear that when the suffering church are behind bars that they talk to the guards and the guards get saved? And they, they change? Yeah. So how? How can the gospel reach them people? If no one is sent?
Sandra Robson:Yeah, so it's like in Iran, you know, I don't know who's in that prison with our army. Maybe she's in solitary confinement, but there'll be times there'll be times of yes or no. And you don't have to say anything.
Reverend Ben Cooper:You just your actions, the way you react the way you all
Sandra Robson:know there's, there's a shopping Oh, isn't a fragrance,
Reverend Ben Cooper:there's something different about you.
Sandra Robson:And I believe that for my sister,
Reverend Ben Cooper:a Jesus follower. So
Sandra Robson:we thank you for that. And then the other thing that has happened, that is very difficult, but we just thank the Lord for Bob foo. I mean, I have actually seen him in the flesh. You know, I was at a Yeah, I was at a meeting for release International. He actually came to Orpington two years ago. On a speaking tour. Yes. And it was again, you know, to see, you know,
Reverend Ben Cooper:get an eyewitness account. Yes.
Sandra Robson:And so I know that this guy's heart I know that. Yeah. He is really for for
Reverend Ben Cooper:Jesus.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. And and for the some of the people for Yeah. For the gospel for his, you know, brothers and sisters in China, for all of China. Yes. You know, and he says he's not against the government. None of these people are against no one against you. They want to support they want to, you know, they love China, and they, they want to be part of China, and they want to see China blast and everything. But he's being attacked in a very well, a shocking, a shocking way. He's had death threats. Yeah. So people now who are in different countries. You know, the Chinese government is sending out messages to these people, like you said about this thing of just about Yes, yes. So what's happened is release partners and the, you know, have said that Bob foo and his family have been traumatized by bomb threats and process that continued for weeks outside his home, but he insists his work will continue the threats are part of a bizarre campaign to target Chinese exiles in certain countries. Supporters of this campaign themselves, mainly Chinese have been filmed attacking and beating victims on the streets. The mayor of Bob's hometown in Texas told reporters These are people who want Bob foo eliminated, who would like to see his life ended, Bob fu said, I have no doubt that this is directly from Beijing. The goal is clear. It's to silence my voice for freedom in China and to destroy the Ministry of China trade, but he insists We cannot let them stop us. Freedom has a price. And this is the price we are proud to pay for our faith and for our freedom. And so they are now under police guard that the children and had to be taken from school by police. And they're under police protection. Can't just backpedal
Reverend Ben Cooper:a minute, Sandra. So Bob pho is living in America, America, in Texas. So we have Bob foo living in Texas coming under threat. Uh huh. miles and miles are miles away from his homeland, his roots. Yeah. And there are people outside his front door. Yeah. And they look at the picture.
Sandra Robson:It says fake priest, and real spy. That's what they're saying. That's what they want people now to think of him.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So his, they say you'd come in on the fret,
Sandra Robson:not male. all his stuff is fabricated. And, you know,
Reverend Ben Cooper:we need to pray for Bob for his 15 year old daughter. I'm just reading the article here on page four of the release international voice for the persecuted Christian the January in the March edition. 2021. Very interesting article there about Bob furthers being threatened miles and miles and miles away. Yeah. In Texas. Yeah, it's 15 year old daughter is being threatened and she's being escorted. There'll be been sculpted. Yeah. Yeah, there we go.
Sandra Robson:And there are others that they're not naming but there are others who have also experienced in other countries, though. Who are again, promoting human rights issues? So yeah, so that's China. But Praise God. Good news at work. We saw that in the open doors, if anybody's interested, they can go online. And there is an excellent report about China from one of their people who's an expert on what's going on there. And how they're having opportunities to speak to officials and how God is still growing the church. And, yeah, yeah, great, great, amazing things that that are going on. And that he's enabling to happen with all ages. Yeah. And, you know, because the gospel can't be can't be stopped.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It can't,
Sandra Robson:you know, it can't be stopped. And the gods bring a dream. You know, he doesn't even need a man to say he
Reverend Ben Cooper:doesn't need it. He doesn't need an instrument God will get through.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, so if it.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Could I just mentioned Luke chapter 22? Yeah, in Luke chapter 22. It's, it's about Judas when he has a conversation with the high priests. And the Scripture and the nrv is very clear. And it says the high priests wanted to read Jesus away. And it's been happening since his birth. Yeah, yeah. And we're saying this. So the high priests were the authority, they had a lot of weight, we understand that without going into that too much. So that as we are listening that this, this is nothing new. But what we are finding is that social media and technology is springing this to life. In our in our eyesight? Yeah, it's happened since there's no room at the end. That's where it start first started. There's no obviously the Old Testament as well for the Israelites. But when we look at persecution on an individual Christ, and that's Christ as they have persecuted me, so will they persecute you? So we, we sit here week after week, and we only go to some real depth, and we can see expressions on each other's faces of almost gasps have? Is this really happening? And we see this and it touches our hearts as it does to the listeners. So could I could I say that? I think the best thing that we could ever pray is Lord strengthen that one that's being persecuted strengthen them. Yeah. Because it's concerning, isn't it? That you hear that stuff? Yeah. And if you're not careful, it can affect you, in the way that the enemy will want it to affect you where you're thinking, Oh, my goodness, this is, this is not right. But we have to rejoice.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. And there's a perspective as well, because you think of the millions. I mean, the million I just told you didn't know, about this year is 100. You know, I didn't expect to really focus on trying but a Okay, Lord, if that's what was 100 years of communism? Yeah. And so it's a very special year. So obviously, this is going to be you know, more.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, it'd be lifted.
Sandra Robson:more pressure, more pressure on the on the Christians. Yes. But on the other side, is that the what the we're concerned about is that this year, 100 years, Christians are now level pegging. Wow. The Communist Party,
Reverend Ben Cooper:so the system can remove the Christians. We are seeing growth. Yes. I'm the strict persecution. Yes. under strict military
Sandra Robson:press. And this is growing. So this is like I said about the Pharaoh. You learn about the Israelites. Yes. Starting to outnumber pray numbering man system. Yeah. And so man has now I have to say, Okay, we've got to put a lid on this. We can't let them become more than us.
Reverend Ben Cooper:They can't become more,
Sandra Robson:because that means we've our system has failed. So, you know, but, uh, so this is, you know, a thing where they want Yes, exactly. The opposite. Got to see. You know, the perspective. There are Yes, with these individuals matter. I do, you know, my heart, you know, when I pray and that's what is good. And God shows us these individuals so that we can really identify and see what's going on. But there are lots and lots of Christians there are millions,
Reverend Ben Cooper:millions there,
Sandra Robson:you know, and that, you know, you're sort of squashing here as well. But they're still they're still growing, they're still they're still there. They're still there. The church is still there, it's developing, it's changing it, creativity is amazing. You only have to look at North Korea, the church is still there. And it's even hard. You know, that's the worst world, it's to be a Christian, it's the most persecuted place to be a Christian. And so, you know, that's, that's what we have to say, you know, that, yes, the pressure is great. But God is greater. And he will build his church. Yeah, the gates will continue to build his church, but we need to keep praying, we need to, with these things. So they don't, don't increase so that we do, you know, see that, you know, there are these in justices and continuation, but we know that the enemy is coming to steal, kill and destroy exactly, that's what he wants to do. And but it's so wonderful that we have this information, that we can share this information that we pray about these things, and that we can lift up our brothers and sisters, and you know, and more people will know about it. And then that embarrasses the authorities.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So this so what we are doing and others are doing on what release international are doing is highlighting and speaking about Yes. So the audience can pray. I'm gonna pray for Iran. I'm going to pray for Korea, North Korea, I'm going to pray. So then I'm gonna pray for the UK. in prayer.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, yeah, maybe that's what you want to do. Or perhaps follow
Reverend Ben Cooper:a person or follow a person. Pray for both for free.
Sandra Robson:You know, mentioned Malaysia, and maybe we'll we'll finish on on North Korea and the lovely letter, because those are all things tie together. So very quickly, Malaysia there was the release International, and had the petition to release Raymond Coe. Yeah, he is still in captivity. We don't know. Okay, what's that, you know, there's, and they're still praying about that. And, you know, keep on praying about this, the uniform government is using outbreak of COVID. Unfortunately, for their purposes, so things in Malaysia are still still not good. And North Korea, as we said, you know, as is the place where number one, yeah. And but this is, it's just amazing, you know, amazing to me, as I say, you know, God makes a way where there seems to be no way. And there's, you know, this is information that has come out from North Korea. There's been a most creative year we have witnessed in the underground church to date. God is faithful to North Korean believers. That was the New Year's message from brother Simon. We're calling brother Sam. And he's led a ministry for over 25 years
Reverend Ben Cooper:in the nation. That is number one. Yeah. The Chinese border. Chinese border church is growing. Yeah.
Sandra Robson:And it's been an extraordinary year for him and his team, he said, and it would have been impossible without your support. If we go yes. And this is his. His letter, he sent a letter. He says we are grateful for your prayers and gifts your prayers and supportive sustain North Korean believers through you know, we've been able to help them through the safe houses we have. We have given them food, medicines and other daily necessities. Thanks to God for His providence. We have given 84% of what we had planned for this year. The North Korean underground church wrote us a letter to thank supporters and this is what they say. We have been through many challenges this year. None of the challenges stopped Our solemn march to spiritual mountain top, we remember the Great's consideration that all the brothers and sisters are have around the world to us. We have dedicated our lives again to the Ministry of the underground church and to the succession of precious Faith of our ancestors. We would like to express our great gratitude towards all of you who care for us, and we pray that God's grace and blessing will be poured out upon you
Reverend Ben Cooper:praise God.
Sandra Robson:So none of our co workers and family workers were infected by COVID-19. Praise God, that's a miracle
Reverend Ben Cooper:is a miracle.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. So that's what he says. And he said that, that what kept him going when he when he joined. He said he was given this scripture And in 1975, I can do all this through Him who strengthens me. And he said God was faithful during SARS and mass epidemics, we were able to continue to support North Korean believers. Then in 2020, we had the pandemic, we shut down China, and then the rest of the world, including North Korea, and border traffic was particularly impossible. Yeah, God showed himself as King of kings and Lord of lords. The Mission failed, even in these increasingly difficult circumstances. Our Almighty God has guided us. And even though it was difficult, we had to adjust many times we have been able to show our care to the North Korean Christians. As in the early days of my ministry, I just needed to rely on the Bible verse Philippians, 413 I had to believe that God would do his work, and he did. And all I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. How beautiful so that is his letter.
Reverend Ben Cooper:I could do all things through him. Yeah, nothing can separate us from the love of God. Sandra has been really interesting this morning. You know, going a little bit deeper. We thank God for everything and we got anything to finish on there this morning. Are we are we there? You know, it's just it just continually very organic, very fluid, the Holy Spirit. Yeah, it's and we got so well with the table is awash with inflammation. And we've got literature here, it's really important to all those listening that we support our sisters and brothers out of the suffering church is really important for the power of prayer, targeting prayers, you know, praying for the nation may be or if you just pulled out the hat, the name there Bob foo. In Texas just target the prayers for Bob foo, we pray that the garden we know God will open the door and protect him and his family as they're traveling and as they're going to school and all the threats and everything we pray for Bob foo that God will just release them and give them freedom. Isn't it interesting when America court is called the land of the free that he's ease is under threat in a nation that he's supposed to be free of? of all that sort of stuff. So it's just a simple example Bob foo. Pray for Bob food, pray for open doors ministry, just pray prayer over that ministry. Just pray for release international pray for CSW trends World Radio, for these ones that are getting the message out,
Sandra Robson:they are Pray,
Reverend Ben Cooper:pray, pray,
Sandra Robson:yeah, every opportunity we can use for good. Yeah, yeah. So that those those things because yeah, there are a lot of thank yous, and, you know, I've got a lot of information to continue to give about all the, you know, we were saying about COVID, and how aid wasn't getting through. And there's some wonderful letters about how God enabled a to get through to different people in Asia, in India, you know, the effect that the campaign's had that, you know, to end on, you know, these are answers to prayer, you know, 5000 emails went out to MPs will last in line. So, they are well aware of how, you know, people in India and different places who were Christians were being discriminated against for aid. So, you know, that that's been wonderful that, you know, the internet has been used in that way to bring that message across in it. And, and I brought this poster in denied to show you what 1261 families look like that every brick on this poster is a family and it makes up the faces of two children.
Reverend Ben Cooper:The artists
Sandra Robson:as Yeah, as we were saying, you know, the children are the church and and, you know, we, you know, when I was giving that number, and yesterday, they were saying about 3 million 300 million sorry, people that are being persecuted. So 100 million, it's a third of children, when I was working it out from what they were saying, I think, okay, Lord. So, you know, but they are growing, and our prayers are being answered. And so the scriptures to end on where Galatians and it says,
Reverend Ben Cooper:as Sandra's finding that scripture, I think it's very important to what she she spoke about statistics, the figures 300 million when we only have 67 million people in the UK? When you equate that, to that, of the persecuted church? Yeah, the amount of suffering, the amount of people sorry, that are going through suffering is phenomenal.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, it's a, it's a very big number. As I say, all these statistics will come out with the world watch list, and as it's published, and then I'll be able to give you no clear information about it. Okay, so just to finish, yes, we've got this scripture. So it says, In Galatians, six, verse nine, and let us not grow weary, while doing good for in due season we shall reap. If we do not lose heart, therefore, as we have opportunity, that is do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. And that's what we're doing. We are seeking to do good to our brothers and sisters, through prayer, through encouragement, through strengthening through what we can do with MPs through what we can do with, you know, if we have finances, we are giving that to encourage and that they want you to know the answers to prayer so that we will not grow weary, as well as good. So together, we will continue, and we will do what he calls us to do. And remember, we're doing it all in the name of Jesus, as it says, Assuredly, I say to you, and as much as you did it to the least of these, you did it for me. And that's in Matthew 2540.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Thank you Sondra, we thank Sandra this morning for coming and sharing our hearts and doing all the research and the study and everything that goes on behind the scenes that none of us see and the hours that go into that and God has called it to that ministry. So we thank Sandra this morning and we thank all the listeners for listening and sharing. As we are looking at the world or the persecuted church. You've been listening to myself, Reverend Ben Cooper, and Sandra this morning in Elim church in Swanley. Please share everything that we do here. We thank you so much. May God bless you and strengthen you. And once again, we cannot thank you enough for listening and sharing these podcasts. May God bless you in all you say and all you do.