Hello and welcome to Elim church swanley, you're joining myself, Reverend Ben Cooper for today's podcast yeah Blessings to you from em Swan in here in good old sunny Swanley. May God bless you and strengthen you wherever you are today. We are joined in and we are gathering around a mics with Sandra Robson. Today we are looking at the persecuted church, the suffering church. Good morning world we hope you are well wherever you may be on planet Earth. And as we dive straight in to the Word of God, as we see what God has for us, we are looking at Transworld radio, just a tiny little recap to what we've been covering over the last few weeks. But obviously the suffering church, the persecuted church, what God is doing for those that are being persecuted, and we just say thank you so much for everybody. Listen on buzzsprout, Spotify, wherever you may be today, may God bless you and strengthen you. And may the hand of the Lord always be upon you, Sandra. Good morning. And welcome.
Sandra Robson:Good morning.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Thank you so much for coming back week after week after week after week bringing this ministry to the mics and bringing it to the westernized world and bringing it to us here in the UK so we can hear what God is doing through the persecuted church and how the suffering church and how they're moving in and how God is using and how God is is tearing down barriers and it's very interesting what's going on. But Sondra Good morning. Let's go straight into what we have today. And there is always so much together. But we do ask you that you share all these podcasts now. Wherever you are today. Just press the button share the link. And we will be very, very grateful. Sandra, let's go to Transworld radio.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, that was what we were looking at last time I was here. And we said that they'd done a particular publication. There's a little booklets if you're supporting them called listening world. And I found out that the one for the summer was actually focused on the needs of the persecuted Christians. And there were lots of prayer points. And we went through those. And so we prayed for the developments of the radio and multimedia outlets that they're using and Becca Stan and in China supporting in China and other parts of the world. We heard about the Berbers and different people groups that Transworld radio have been able to reach. And so that was very encouraging. And we praise God for all the things that they are doing. Yeah. And I said, at the end of that this, I had had the new magazine from Barnabas Fund. And so I wanted to share from that this is a special edition, the September October edition, because it's their suffering church action Awareness Week. And that happens on the third well, between Sunday the 31st of October and the seventh of November. And they publish this to enable people to actually, you know, do a lot of looking into that. And they also do an article showing the trends, the things that they've noticed from 2022 2021. So I did think that was really interesting and important, and to share. And so the title is God's faithfulness, in times of suffering. And the article that I've looked at as is detailed and I've been going through it and picking out main points is hard pressed on every side, the church under pressure, and that made me think of the verse we are hard pressed on every side but not crushed. And I'll read the whole thing at the end that two Corinthians four verses eight to nine. And they were saying that now there seem to be eight kinds of pressure on the church. And it's it is hard it is hard reading. But as we know there is a flip side to this. So we're looking at how we know this is spiritual warfare going on we know that the enemy very bothered that there are so many people coming to know about Jesus so he is trying every which way to prevent that from happening. And this is what you're going to see in in all these pressures that are coming on the church. And so I thought about the war on the saints, but we know so always in mind, you know because a lot of this is is very sad, very difficult to read sometimes. And that we know you know God's plan and he is in control and And these are the, these are the things that Barnabas are seeing happening. And they want us to know about. Because if we're aware of them, we can pray about them. And there are changes occurring because of prayer. In the darkest of situations, we know that God is at work and prayer is so powerful as what they know. And that's why they joined disrupt it all. Yeah. So
Reverend Ben Cooper:I think we've what you're saying, Sandra is so, so great and so powerful in this magazine that we're looking at the trends of, of what what is happening, but obviously, we know that if we replace that word, word trend with actually what the Word of God is telling us, it's going to happen in the end times, isn't it? Yes, we are seeing very clearly what the Word of God tells us to prepare for, to be alert for, to be watchman to be, as Christ says in the New Testament very, very clearly look out for the signals and the signs. And yeah, maybe they maybe the churches labeling it as the hashtags and, and the trends that are happening. But that word trends obviously is so heavily used on social media, I really believe that the greatest indicator that we can ever follow is the word of God. And through what we got this morning, we will see a very clear, clear line in the Word of God where we sit in n times because that's where we are very powerful place. And like Sandra has been saying so many people are coming over to salvation God is calling God is drawing them over God pulling them in the kingdom of heaven bringing them in, so this is good stuff. So Sander, what else we got there, right. So
Sandra Robson:the first kind of pressure that the church is facing is government policy. And this is a top down pressure. And sometimes it is less legislation brought by the authorities, but often it's unofficial. And it can be national or local. And it's often due to states or countries being committed to an official ideology, Eg communism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or something else. So it can either be they're particularly focusing on a religion or on communism, or on some other ideology. And we know that these are true in China and North Korea. And they've just highlighting again that 10s of 1000s of Christians, if you're new to this, I swear I'm going through this, you might not know this 10s of 1000s of Christians have been starved, tortured, and worked to death in political labor camps, or reeducation camps because of their faith. the harshest and most inhumane punishments in such camps are often reserved to Christians. But as we, if you've been listening before, you will know that they also did a report and saying, even in those circumstances, how people are coming to Christ, and how that lady wrote in toothpaste on the wall,
Reverend Ben Cooper:I remember that it's very interesting Jesus and
Sandra Robson:the other lady, she doesn't know what happened to her but that lady who brought that testimony, she escaped and she is you know, preaching the word and going in and out. To set to to help brothers and sisters as we as we speak.
Reverend Ben Cooper:What an amazing story
Sandra Robson:that something is
Reverend Ben Cooper:quite interesting Sandra that this this magazine, Barnabas that we're looking at, it's online, it's easy to get to. It's very, very simple. You can find it straight on Barnabas fund.org. Is there what Sandra is reading out? It's all online. Obviously, what we're looking at is the church under pressure that is the core of what we are looking at. But this is also being reflected now. In the UK very subtly. Yes. So you could take the elements that we are looking at we understand that this is abroad, this is about this place Christians war on conflict, but you're starting to see very small glimmers of this government policies, yes, community pressures, you know, things that are happening, you can see that you can see social exclusion. Things are starting to happen within the UK as well. Yeah. So what we see as Can we say, the pattern that has happened in the suffering church, what we have been looking at for a good number of months now and what we know as the persecuted church, we can see a very small fragment a very, the door is opening. The door is open in the UK the gender issue the government policies, yeah, the issues if you're a teacher the issues if you are in working in health care. issues that you have in your workplace. They're starting. They're labeled very different. Yeah. But we are seeing the pressure on the church, the church under pressure. Yeah. So this has started to spread. Globally, we know it has been global. But now through social media, through the power of media, and through the power of where we sit in in times, obviously, we are focused on the persecuted church, outside of the framework of the UK. But I would just like to encourage people be very strong in the Word of God, and understand what's happening. This is not coming directly from sight. And this is written in the scripture we are to expect we are to expect it But Satan is trying to divert deliver a different agenda. The church under pressure. Yeah.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. So
Reverend Ben Cooper:a lot happening is
Sandra Robson:happening. Because I mean, I do keep an eye on Christian concern. Yeah. And the Christian Institute. Yeah. And they're doing a lot more law having to they are really under pressure. They are really under pressure. Yeah. You know, like, you know, euthanasia,
Reverend Ben Cooper:yeah, and all this stuff
Sandra Robson:and, you know, fostering, you know, as big as they want to, Ofsted want to label what evangelical is, and again, that's this thing to do with the sexual issue. Yeah. So if you want to look into that, and you can look into that further. So I am aware, aware of these things. But and perhaps, you know, at some point, as the Lord leads, I might draw that together, because I do look at these do look at these issues. And there are a lot more court cases going on. I caught I mean with that, that girl who was down to brought that case, yeah, she's taking it, she's appealing. So yeah, please be aware of these things that are going on. And, you know, as you feel LED, you know, in your prayers that yes, we Yes, is now every is everyone. I don't think there's anywhere that is the church isn't under pressure.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So primarily we are across the shores, we are looking into different nations. You know, we've Barnabas and we've opened doors and through Transworld radio and through a different means that Sandra has, but we just want to make your web, if you are living within the UK, just be aware of the things that are coming out that are already come out that are already out there that the they've been signed, sealed and delivered. But they've been very kept very, very quiet. But just Just be aware that as this strap line, I don't like to you, I try to keep away from that. But as this line that we are looking at that is in this beautiful magazine, Barnabas the church under pressure, it's applying to the UK church very strongly. So just be aware. And all we're saying is just follow Jesus. Sandra, let's get back.
Sandra Robson:So yes, China, we talked about this, but just a few updates of what what's happening. And you know, that they've been particularly noticed. So China provinces or cities of applying the pressure, and the reason they're doing that is because they want to gain approval from the National Party. And so they want to gain approval from the Communist Party. And so and they're saying that China and North Korea, yes, we have known this but apparently it is increasing now that China and North Korea are colluding together in the persecution of Christians and believers who have escaped over the border or tortured abused in China before being sent back into the death camps. So you're aware of this, but there's there's an increase and disturbing trends in recent times are the digital technologies, which we've talked about the facial recognition software. And there are surveillance cameras being installed in churches in GJIANG x i Jing, Jin gi, and Han provinces and they are all connected up to the main wow surveillance
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, so there's there's a fight with a technical there's the gospel is going out and also the devil is using it to to capture people to see people it's just like when you walk in a supermarket basically when you if you walk into one of our local supermarkets, facial recognition, it knows you straight away identifies you. It's here within the UK. It's very strong. It's used as surveillances as for looking out to see how, even when you're at the tills,
Sandra Robson:yes, the shop Yeah, if you do the Self Service,
Reverend Ben Cooper:your watch. So as you walk in a certain store and one day, it takes it follows you. So it follows you all around. So facial recognition is in the mainstream supermarket. So what we hear and see here is, is is everywhere. Yeah, so it recognizes you. So as this as this progresses abroad, and as they use that
Sandra Robson:focus on particular people of beliefs, it will,
Reverend Ben Cooper:it will, it's easy to use, it's so easy, it can pick you out, so it can, you know, just from a control room so we can see which way it's going Conway.
Sandra Robson:So St. Pastors must now follow strict government guidelines on sermon content, and all pastors and other religious leaders are added to a database of religious personnel. Church leaders not registered in a database will not be permitted to undertake ministry. There we go. And also this is affecting the three self church. You know, they're now coming under, under very big pressure. Also, they're teaching colleges Yes, well, so.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So this is written in the Word of God, the pressure that will be the end times on the church. And everything that's going on this is this is not foreign. This is, this has been predestined. This has been prophesied about this is written in the Word of God. And we urge anyone that is a Bible believing believer to study and times and to see what is happening for the signs of what was going on facial recognition, you can imagine that these countries will have cameras at the ends of the street. So you've got different shops and different worship places you can be seen to be going into the buildings. So there's no getting away from it. They they are tracking, you know, we got the track and trace and all that. But it's just an another turn of the fun farms grew from the government's but cameras are watching us, you know, and you got cameras all on the streets. So it's here with us. They see us coming into church. Yeah, they see the pattern that we follow. And if so, what we are seeing here is just just what's to be expected. So so the pastors have to sign up, they have to come in line with government guidelines. So there we have another tightening of the thumbscrew coming under control, trying to change the religion, trying to change, harmonize, harmonize bring it under strict leadership, that God is making away. This, this has been written about 1000s of years ago, this this is happening before our very eyes, we are a privileged people to see this.
Sandra Robson:Yes. And we know how many Christians there are. Yeah, yeah. So I mean, it's a mammoth task. So to do this, and we know that others are coming to faith because of doing it and seeing what, just realizing what Christianity actually is, which they didn't know,
Reverend Ben Cooper:increase it. So even though the government tightenin,
Sandra Robson:terrible pressure, and also outside and my concern is, it's not in here, but about Hong Kong and what's going on in Hong Kong?
Reverend Ben Cooper:Sure. That's kept very quiet, isn't it?
Sandra Robson:Right. So the next thing is about my Mr. And the military. Yeah. And so military oppression, and maybe aware that the documents was uncovered a few weeks after the coup that happened in February this year. And it said to punish and break down any dissent from civilians, which would be deemed to include ethnic minorities such as Christians. Okay, so and since then 1000s of acts of flee airstrikes in Karen state on that day of the coup. And, and since then, there's been mid March, there were more eight 8000 Korean people, including Christians were displaced. And then, yeah, so that's an ongoing situation. And we pray for those who are trying to bring, you know, help, politically there are things going on, to bring stability. And, you know, again, we just look to the Lord. They, the military are committed to the Buddhist national ideology. And so that's why they're attacking the chin, the cat chin and the Karen Christians as well as other religious minorities. So there are many displaced And inside the jungle, and what was really I was praying about was, I was looking into Barnabas, and it was saying how somebody got fled to the jungle. But then the military was stopping humanitarian aid getting through. And I was really praying about that. Because, yeah, you know, because some of them were injured. And, you know, in Mount new malnutrition, we're starting to have, okay, so I'm really praying that those be the people could get that God would make a way for a to get through to these people. God will God. That was so that was my prayer for that. And then we've got the pressure on India. And that's because of regional and legislation because there are different states in India. And as we've talked about, a lot of them have adopted this anti conversion laws. And so they have noticed with that there's been an increase in violence. And as we know, open doors have been ticularly been running a campaign to show how that is working out. And what exactly is going on there. So nine states have now got these laws, and they used to Yes, Hindu Christian worship, ministry, and particularly prayer. Many prayer meetings have been disrupted. And Uttar Pradesh and November last year. They were instructed to keep a watch on Christian prayer meetings to see if any were unlawful and where they converting people and the March this year, hardline group, the HP Vishwa Hindu parishad pledged to identify missionaries carrying out illegal allegedly illegal conversions. And the head of that Milind. Mullins parodying apologies if I hadn't pronounced that correctly. And such laws he says for the for the benefit of Hindus are very important. religious conversion is a type of violence that needs to be stopped. So I've been praying for him. Yeah, that yes, the Lord will open his eyes to you know, see what, what he's doing and why he's so scared and, you know, how is it violent? I don't understand.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's very difficult, isn't it?
Sandra Robson:Um, you know, I don't know how he, how he sees things, how he understands, you know, what isn't meeting the juicers, and he needs to meet Jesus. And then in June 2021, and amendments to the anti conversion law of Gujarat, made it illegal to pursue anybody to convert by promising them divine blessings. Really, yes. So that means that if you tell somebody that if you repent, and believe in Christ that will bring forgive forgiveness for sins and everlasting life, that could be seen as you know, yeah, offering somebody divine blessings, and blessings. The bill also places the burden of proof on the accused, making conversion, the conviction more likely.
Reverend Ben Cooper:It's getting tighter. Yeah, it's getting very tight, that tightening up on the word on, on the vocabulary on the language on the way that we present the gospel. So the more we speak the word the more the persecution will come on to that person. When you're speaking God's word be persecuted. You think of john chapter nine. Very clearly john chapter nine, where it talks about where he's on the island of Patmos. He was on the island of Patmos because of the change of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Chains, it's not from it's not unfamiliar, sorry. It is what is to be expected. We say in the Word of God and I pray that the westernized church will have his eyes opened to what is going on, Lord, remove the spiritual blindfold, Lord that were blinded. Let us let us see father, let us see what the Word of God Lord is, is predicting and it is prophesied and it has already told us so Lord, I ask you that we will be watchful, that will be very watchful in the signs and the times in which we live.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, so obviously this has been misused this version though. And, as we said, there's an increase in violence and an Indian Christian. They do explain that accusations are often created to threaten and stop regular worship activity by intimidation. And, again, he noticed about Christian prayer meetings being targeted. And on the 31st of January this year, a mob of 30 Hindu extremists surrounded a pastor, and it's church in a village, and that was Harrow Harley. And they demanded the worshippers repeat the Hindu chant, and Joshua ram victory to Lord Ram, a Hindu god, also known as Rama. When the Christians refused, they were brutally assaulted. And the police did not take the Christians complaint seriously. And they made no charges. In fact, afterwards, they actually charged the pastor with offensive conveyed accommodations. And they also pressurize the landlord where the of the house where the church was meeting to evict the congregation. And so this is happening more often. So obviously the police are coming under pressure. They're fearful of the mobs. Yeah, yeah. And so they, you know, so yeah, that's, so that's what's going on in India. And, and then we've got state sancte. State state sanctioned and persecution, which is to do with if you're in a particular country where you know, as a particular main faith being followed. Yeah. So, yes, such as Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Afghanistan, and melodies. We talked about all these I'm just going through briefly, Somalia, sorry, Somaliland. marisha, Morocco, Algeria, Iran, Kurdistan, Korea carrier, Stan, and turn it to take this Stan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So it is a trend is rolling out everywhere. It's a pattern that we've seen time and time and time again, I know I might be repeating myself, but it's this pattern that just flows. It's a pattern from the Scripture. There's no other way we understand what persecution is, but it is the same pattern. It is the same violence, it is the same process. It is the same satanic press. But it has been written about it has been spoken about. We see the disciples going through this, we it is not unfamiliar to the believer, but the believer needs to bring oneself up to speed of what's happening in the world in which we live, that Christians are being persecuted at such a rate in so many nations in so many countries, in which it is global. It is global. Now, even within the West, the westernized church is being pressured, you know, the church under pressure, what a great title or the things that are happening. The list Indonesia, Philippines, Samoa, you got all these in these places, Ethiopia, you know, Africa, Central Africa, you're going to the Congo. You've got Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Syria, the list is just long and long things are happening in Nigeria. You know, when you look at this list, you know, these islands Bangladesh, you pull these names up, but India, Egypt, their Somalia, Sandra has been saying there is a pattern that flows. It is a scripture pattern. It is a flow that we should expect. It is it is violent, it is beating, it is stoning, it is weapon. It is all the atrocities that you can imagine for being a believer of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And that is what happened to john. In the book of Revelation. He was put on the island of Patmos, with criminals with violent people, no food, no water, fending for yourself for the gospel of Jesus Christ. He actually says, For the word, I mean chains because of the word. It's it's interesting that it has been all the way through Scripture. And the western liars Christian needs to bring itself up to what is really happening in the word. This is not new, that this has been kept under the radar, but through the great power of media. And we thank God for Transworld radio open doors, Barnabas, and the list goes on, release international for their insight for their Godly wisdom to bring this out. So we can have it before our very eyes, but it is written first in the Word of God, persecution. Sandra where we go and we've got like, 10 minutes. The time is just escaping.
Sandra Robson:Yeah.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Um, when you look at these pictures, I'm just, I'm just online. If anybody wants to jump online, have a look. barnabas.org It's a simple, easy way to find it. And the magazine that Sandra has in front of her I have the online one. And it is loaded. Absolutely. Yeah, I can see where sound has been highlighted. It's got pictures of churches here. Islamic destruction that has been done through church building on Christian sites in northern Iraq. Look at that, that picture is very prominent. That's a very strong picture. We've got picture of the children you know, the children that have been starved magga in starving children. That's very sad. But this is a great magazine and look at that picture there the aftermath of the Easter 2019 bombing in Sri Lanka is got very clear pictures. Yeah, sand has moved on to that but but jump jump online, just just put in the, in the internet, you know, bomb. banners. file.org. There's a lot of info. It's a great website is a great website. It's mirror image in this magazine that Sandra Sandra has in front of her. It's got absolutely everything that we need in it Bible studies. It's got activities for children, you know, getting involved.
Sandra Robson:Yes, if your church can do service, I mean, a sermon outline and you know, things you can do. You know, you can have your own prayer meeting, there's a whole Bible study to do. And yeah, nice Isaiah 40,
Reverend Ben Cooper:there's so much stuff, really keeping in touch resources for
Sandra Robson:you to,
Reverend Ben Cooper:you know, and it's actually changing where very, very bring a difference. And it says last year, you're given funding, it gives you statistics, it gives you the stats, it shows you exactly where your money is going. It is very transparent. It is very open, very fluid. And it's a great read. It's a great read. So Barnabas fund.org, clicking share help, and it's just a hub is a hub sound right? Let's get back to
Sandra Robson:where we were okay. Well, I mean, the the things, maybe we'll just go for the eight. Yeah, that so we we've only gone through government policy. But these interact. So we've we've, you know, looked at that there's also how the community can bring pressure on Christians or those who convert to Christianity, and terrorism is on the increase? Or do you want to have a look at next time look at Africa, because it's shifted from the Middle East to Africa. So we need to be aware of that. And just to be aware of the groups that are operating, and to give you more of an overview of of what's going on. So we'll touch on that natural disasters, they've increased. And yes, they affect everybody. But because Christians are disadvantaged, they affect the more government sanctions. Yes, we can see why they're applied in Iran and other places. But they again affect the poorest the poorest tend to be the Christians. Yeah, but again, we know that many are supporting and making a change in those areas. And then social exclusion. And then of course, we talked about displacement. We talked about all the refugees there are so many displaced people in their countries out of their countries. And then number eight was war and conflict. So those are the pressures on the church and we can have a little look more at those in the next you know, time we're together for the podcast. As Ben says, i mean, you know, the, the other side of it is that at the beginning of this magazine, and I was thinking that this how Barnabas is helping and Christian School for refugees in in Sudan So Christian School for Sudanese refugees has opened. And it's located in Egypt. Yeah. And yes, and there are openings in Egypt, although there's still the pressure from the isthmus, the, you know, the leader, and people in the government are sympathetic to all minorities, and they people are being charged now with crimes against Christians and committed so much that was such a great thing to talk about, you know, and joy and relief. In Ethiopia. We know there's been issues there. And again, Egypt, jobs help with jobs. And in Pakistan, we know there's a great work going on in Pakistan, with the backdrop of, you know, the, the killed workers, the workers, and you know, also with the blasphemy laws. And we've also, you know, had had, there's been help, food aid for the many calls up in that in India. And also, translation of New Testament enables Christians in Central Asia to grow in the Lord. So, yes, things looked up on this, we've got those eight pressures, yet we know the darker it gets, the brighter the light will shine. And the more I think the body of Christ comes together and encourage one another. And so again, I'll bring that that scripture that we have, and two Corinthians 424, verses eight and nine, we are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed. Paul says, always carrying about in the body, the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifest in our body. And that's what Christians say, despite all this, they want to bring the gospel, they want their lives to show Jesus they asked for help to stand and be faithful and give testimony of the of the the changing life of Jesus and for people to see that in wherever they are, whatever circumstance that they will shine their their light for Jesus. And so that's what they asked they asked for prayers to stand with them to be faithful in all of this as God is faithful.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen Sandra. Well there we go. A whistle stop you know as always loaded information. I've got in front of us we got magazines, we got scriptures in front of us we got a table full of of good stuff here. There is so much out there. There's so much good resource about so much stuff. Sandra has taken us to a good place today, as she always does. We've looked at the church under pressure we've, we haven't really moved because there's always so much that naturally comes out of conversations. So we might have some notes that we're referring to. But the scripture reference has been to Corinthians chapter four verses eight through to nine. And Sanders have a quick recap. And we must, must also push for our brothers and sisters to subscribe to all this stuff that goes on to support it through prayer finances, however it may be. And also Transworld radio, have a look online. They've got so much going on fantastic work that they're doing. They're spreading the hope of Jesus Christ through the power of media and radio. They're making a difference worldwide. They're in 160 countries, they're reaching for the global message for the power of the spoken word, you know, speaking hope that's what they're doing Transworld radio is speaking hope to the world. And it's in 230 languages 160 nations spreading the hope of gospel of Jesus Christ. Sandra we thank you for this morning. We pray that God will guide you and strengthen you in your work and your home life and, and in everything you do. Thank you for bringing this truth to the table today. May God bless you wherever you are. May the hand of the Lord be upon you in Jesus mighty name, Amen.
Close:Thank you for listening to Elim church swanleys latest podcast. You can find us on buzzsprout Spotify Apple Music iHeartRadio Google Play Alexa mixcloud Facebook Instagram and YouTube.