Good afternoon. God bless wherever you are today. Thank you so much for gathering around this table with us. Even though you're not with us, you are gathered with us as you're listening may be driving, maybe walking, maybe at home, relaxing, wherever you may be across the world. And we thank God for your lives wherever you may be today. Today we are in the world of the persecuted church, the suffering church, the Body of Christ that is really being persecuted very scripture. And we are living in very significant times to persecution across the world. We are starting to see glimmers within the UK through policies and through things coming out of Parliament against believers, believers in Christ Jesus, but today we have our lovely sister with us. We got Sondra, and Sandra has been in this ministry. For a number of years, she has got a clear calling on her life. And we thank God for Sandra, Sandra, it's lovely to have you back with us again.
Sandra Robson:Hello. Yes, it's been a while hasn't it?
Reverend Ben Cooper:It has it has been a bit of a gap. But we are back
Sandra Robson:busy teaching some some children for a little while while the teacher is away
Reverend Ben Cooper:as you do for a living
Sandra Robson:Miss doing this
Reverend Ben Cooper:of course. It's good to have you back with us. Now, Sandra, we are coming up to the obviously the Christmas period. And it's the first time that we gathered around the mics together for a good few weeks. But you have a very interesting subject that's been put before you. And the title is sparkling hope for the persecuted children.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, that's right. So you know, last time we were talking about the church under pressure. And a lot of things were said about how they're trying to stop children from hearing the gospel. But there are children who are part of families that are being persecuted. And, you know, so at this time of Christmas, it can be a very difficult time. But as anything, we find that God is at work, and that the different organizations, God shows them how they can support and some great testimonies, and great feedback about things that we've prayed for last year. If you remember last year, we talks about the children and about the children's centers that are particularly in Latin America. And I was just looking in my prayer notes for open doors. And they said over 400 children have graduated from the Children's Center, which provides education and spiritual support for children affected by persecution, finding ways to empower students in their faith and witness is a challenge because of the risk it can entail. Pray for the teachers that they will be given wisdom in this area. But 400 children have been kept safe. Because as we said before, there's like these organizations, you know, drug related, and other and that like to try and draw them into these awful gangs. And particularly they look out for Christian children as particularly pastor's children they want because they want to disrupt things and cause mayhem. And, and so we, we had a story about a dad who was in that predicament, and how they centered come to his aid. And so unfortunately, he had to leave his family home, but he could be safe at the center. And he would then be you know, educated and also given the gospel and he wants to now be a pastor himself. That was one wasn't it. And then there was another two children, their father being killed. And they were looking forward to Christmas because they could go there and they can celebrate Christmas. And they did a big poster for them. I remember. And you know, and that was like their first Christmas without their dad and they made it really special. And of course last year, we had the problem that is COVID. So they weren't able to do the parties and things. But I think this year they have been able to do some of it. There was things in India they were doing and different different places. So anyway, that gives you a flavor. So how are children persecuted? Well, they're persecuted through their family, sometimes they are persecuted themselves. They experience, you know, sort of taunting ostracism at school, they're told no, you can't you're a Christian go over there, you don't belong with us, they're put at the back of the class, especially in Egypt. So the teachers, you know, they're made to, you know, the Muslim prayers and things, if they can't say them properly, then, you know, told they won't get their grades and all these things. And so different organizations provide in different ways, so that the children can have a Christian upbringing. So for example, Barnabas, they set up schools in certain areas so that the children can learn. And as we've heard about the brickhill and people, they were being pressured into, you know, having to work all the time. And the children just having no opportunities, no education, nothing. And so, again, we supported that, and lots of children are now receiving an education, a basic education and, and some of the ones to be nurses, doctors and other things. And that's gonna bless people, isn't it. And that's the shame that I think, you know, the religion and the spirit blinds them to the actual benefits that these, these young people want to help their communities, they want to be a blessing to their communities, they don't want to be a harm. But and but people get that idea that you know, because they're not like them, and they don't do what their village do, or whatever it is that, you know, they can't be good. And that that's such a sad thing. But another way is that their dads are in prison. Sometimes they have been murdered or martyred, as in Nigeria, that's a lot of that, you know, unfortunately, has happened. In Iran, Iraq, they're killed, they're kidnapped in Egypt, they're the same thing. And you know, in China, mostly prison or they disappear. So there are lots of children in this world who are without a dad this Christmas, for one reason or another. And sadly, some of them lost mums as well, through different attacks. And so why the while they do it to cause pain to cause her to shake the faith of believers, and to shape particularly the children, because they're the ones that, you know, they're just starting off, aren't they? And they're just sort of getting to know. And they think, Well, how can you know, believing in Jesus be a good thing? You know, my dad's just been taken away. And you know, he's been killed and things. So there's a lot of need for support and trauma counseling, which mentioned about and yeah, so it's the stop than believing is the stop the future church, basically. So, but our father is at work in the heart of these children. So we're going to see in some of the Yeah, things I'm going to bring the testimonies that that are in this open doors magazine.
Reverend Ben Cooper:so Sandra, when we look at the persecuted church, and we spent hours and months and podcast after podcast throughout the year, and just discussing, the persecutor, Christian is always been about or the majority has been about the adult, the parent, but we can almost not brushed aside but the children's lives are, are just destroyed, aren't they destroyed from such an early young age when, if they're, if their parent is a pastor, and the pastor is hunted down, and then the they're removed of planet Earth or they're imprisoned, the effect the effect rather this has on a young child is catastrophic, isn't it? The effect that they've lost mum, dad, brother, sister, or they've been ostracized they've they've they've been taken out of their school, as you said, in Egypt and certain other cultures where they are completely ostracized. Yeah, and they are. So a child. You know, we've done lots of podcasts on the persecutor, church, the the adult, I'll say the adult. But when we talk, when we talk about when you brought this about a child, I thought myself, Oh, my goodness. This is this is really brutal, isn't it? But there's hope. Yeah. But there's hope. Yeah. You know, sparkles of hope that the centers have been set up over there. We've looked at that before when we were the centers have been set up. And then I've got an image that has stuck in my mind that I see. Not long ago about that. Yeah, one of the youngest Children that jumped off of that dinghy that was on the shoreline of the UK. You know, these young children, what the trauma they go through the trauma that they experience that will hang and sit in their psychological will sit in their mind or sit in their heart, and it will affect them what they see at such an early age. Terrible thing. So prayer is key here, isn't it for anyone that's listening. And a lot of people do listen to these persecuted church podcast. We've always pushed the skin of the drum of the adult. But I do believe that we really need to, to bring the children before the Lord and just the you know that especially the asylum seekers and these refugees that you see coming across as well. Coming across to the nation across the channel, but when there is always hope, Sandra and yes, there's always hope and prayer is a key. So this is quite a quite a heavy. When I say heavy, it's not heavy. But soon as you start mentioning children, you think, Oh, hang on a moment. But there's hope. Yeah, Sandra's got some good stuff with us.
Sandra Robson:Jesus said, you know, that the children comes to me to not hinder them. And, you know, and yeah, they are, are precious. And as I say they are the in the future church, man. And, and so one thing we mentioned it last time was that millions of children around the world face violence, discrimination bereavement, because they are their parents are Christians. This has, as you were just saying they has a few huge impact on their faith and self esteem. And so we pray for open doors, partners, and others who are investing in these children through Christian education, trauma care, and schooling, to ensure a better future for them and long term survival of the church. So this is a little girl here that I'm going to talk about. And she's actually from Iraq. And we might forget a rack that, you know, terrible things when they're on there. And I think the have the Well, I'm not sure. But anyway, there are some bomb attacks and things, sporadic things. But this was a bomb attack a little while ago. And basically her dad, her mum was was expecting this little girl at the time, and her dad. And notice that there was something underneath a shoe a Christian students bus was full of Christian students. And he happened to be going down the road and he a Christian himself, he saw that that was sitting under the bus and immediately thought is a bomb. So he shouted to everybody to get off the bus. Yeah. And I don't anyway, but he was killed in the bomb under attack. And so he saved lots of lives, but was killed himself. And then a few months later, Rafi was born. She's now 11. And she never got to meet her dad. She's one of many, many Christian children across the world suffering the long term effects of persecution and these sorts of things. And because we know there was the bomb attack at Christmas of a church and an Easter and in other places, so this is an example so that we can think about other things. And she says, I miss my dad, especially when I hear my friends say my dad did this with me and my dad brought me that it's the hardest of all at Christmas, a time when I would like him to be there and there's an empty chair at the table. And she says Rafi does something special to help her remember him they create a Nativity scene out of paper mache complete with figures representing Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. And she says and then they light a candle in remembrance of Him.
Reverend Ben Cooper:So a great story you know that we're looking on Open Doors I'm Sandra has the paperback version that still exists, paper does exist, but I'm online at this moment. And this is so easy to find, you know, just type in sparkle or spark of hope of sorry for the persecuted children this Christmas and you will find this story of Rafi and it's got a great picture. It's got a great picture there on this website of Open Doors fantastic picture of hope, you know a candle is so powerful. And then we have you know, and this full story is before you they've got a video there so you can link into this. It tells about missing my dad at Christmas and then it goes on with it a little bit more. So we would encourage anyone to always to go on to the sites or to put yourself on the mailing list and have a look and have a read of all this stuff that comes through is easy accessible, is easy access. So you can grab this wherever you may be Sondra, there's always hope. Yeah, lovely picture.
Sandra Robson:Yeah. So she says that in they are saying that she you know because of all the things that have gone on, there's not been long term education but open doors and sparkling hope lasts Open Doors believes that every child persecuted for their faith should be protected provided for and strengthened to ensure a better future for them and the long term survival of the church. Rafi loves the Christian education classes that she gets from Open Doors partners in Iraq. The thing I like most is that we learn about God. Amen. And she says the second thing I like is that we learn new stories. My favorite Bible story is the one with Noah and the rainbow with all the animals. And the thing I like most about it is the rainbow. Rafi is still young child, but she sees that the most beautiful thing about the story of Noah is God's powerful promise and the rainbow, the sign of the covenant God established in Genesis nine. And Rafi also loves hearing the Christmas story. And elsewhere she said sees how her dad is like a biblical hero of faith. She says she saw people in the Bible who gave their lives and that reminds her that her dad is like they've said like x the axe carries on and he is part of that part of that story. That story? Yeah. So I thought that was really lovely. And then we've got Sally in Nigeria. Yeah, he's 13 year old. So
Reverend Ben Cooper:look at that face. Look at that beautiful he's got. We're looking at this young guy this young young man wouldn't like put Oh, there he is. He says they're 13 years old, Sally of Nigeria. Again, online story is that good sandwich somebody's looking at but the online version tells us now this young man he's he's got a beaming face. And I've always said this The Sound on Sound. We've always discussed this, that in the in the world of the persecuted church, there is something so powerful about their smile, even though they're hard pressed, even though they got everything coming against against them, their eyes, display light that you can see their smile, and this young man has got a Christmas tree. In the backdrop. We've all utensil upon it and the lights and all that he smiling away that
Sandra Robson:Yeah. And that's a party that, you know, as I say it's been held by these partners. And he's got a little, the little thing that really touched me was this. He's holding up a piece of paper that says thank you for sending me to school. Wow, have a blessed Christmas. So basically supporters, you know, who have supported this project that open doors have been doing. And you've enabled him and others like him to be able to go to go to school and go to these special events to help him and encourage him and show him how much he's loved and how much he's special. And yeah, so I thought I was lovely that he's thanking people. Yeah, I've all the trauma and everything. Thank you for sending me school have a blessed Christmas, he says. So yeah, and you know, this is the thing, you know, the just such faith, and you know how much testimony that is, you know, and that's what I love about it. And he says, I love my school teachers teaching me very well. And they helped me to become what I want to be. And he would like to be a doctor.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, how lovely herring COURAGING you know, to hear such wise and such loving words from such a young man, but just back up backing up the track from sandwatch. He's reading that. He never knew his dad. He says they never knew his dad, his dad was murdered. His father was shot for being a Christian. In a region, they face kidnapping and murdering and everything that was happening by Islamic extremist, as we are very aware of what they do there. And it says they're in I never knew my dad. I never knew my dad. So there must be 1000s upon 1000s of young boys and girls that don't know their fathers and a sounder said don't even know their mothers have been taken off the earth by extremists and we pray that God will have mercy on your soul. But there's always hope.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, so one thing they're saying is about these Bible classes, that keeps keeps coming up. And this was like a prayer for North Africa as well. And they had the Ephesians six four, which is fathers do not provoke your Children's anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. And they're saying, you know, we should pray that they will be quick parents to bring up their children in training and instruction of the Lord.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen. Yeah, Scripture all the way through the foundation of our life, scripture, scripture, scripture. But as someone here in the West, and wherever you may be in your life, and you may feel that God is calling you to, to support the world, or the persecuted church and prayer it prayer is number one. But if you go on to open doors, or any of those sites, it tells you how to get involved. It tells you all their social feeds, it shows, it shows you links, it shows you ways to get in, very easy to find a sponsor a family, you can get resources for your church online, you can start you got stuff there to share with children, support and encouragement for Christians. And you've got a look, take a look at the daily prayer diary. There's so much on open doors. Yeah, very easy site. It's just opened doors.org. Sorry, open doors uk.org. So there's a lot in there, and great stories.
Sandra Robson:And there's a lovely thing at the moment, be an angel this Christmas. So this is a current thing. So you can get involved still get involved with this for Christmas, you can send a message of encouragement to children, like who we just talked about, as part of the Do not be afraid of Open Doors resources. And they're encouraging families and children, children's groups to decorate an angel with a message of hope or a picture. Send your angels and they will be made into bunting to decorate places where children's groups meet. Yeah. So yeah, there's lots of ways to get involved. Doesn't have to be financial. That's right. It's sending messages cards. It's just you know, there's just such an encouragement.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, card sending, that's a great thing to do and encouraging the families. And also on the site. It gives you some real, real, clear pictures of what's happening. And it says there are over 330 million Christians suffering persecution and discrimination. They follow Jesus no matter what the cost, with your help, we can bring them resources. And hope tells you how to get involved. And you've got the stories that we're talking about. And also invite your MP there's Yeah, to get into that thing. Yeah, very important.
Sandra Robson:That's the New World Watch List is being launched in January. And yeah, so they're encouraging us to email our MPs to get them to come along. They've got 96 down so far that say they will, they will go.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Oh, good. Yeah. So just not just on that solid, just before we carry on with what you got there. Sandra mentioned the World Watch list. And I'm just looking at the top five, the top five, ranking North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, and Pakistan. So five areas of prayer, you can get all this information, you can choose a country, a nation that you want to support or whoever that may be. And it's it's got it's real easy information to find about this persecution, what's happening across the globe, very clear map of everything, it's well laid out, you can see it, it's it's good, clean, clear information. So if you feel God is calling to you to support, as Sandra said, it's not it's not just always finances, you know, it's prayer, it's given out the literature it's speaking about, it's making people in your church aware, aware of what's happening, you know, because the UK church is very, very thin. In this subject, I know there are a few, but I've got to say it's very, very thin. Maybe it's a subject that we don't want to face. Maybe Maybe we don't actually know what the true meaning why the why the church within the year case is not pressing this persecution, like we should do, maybe it's because we're comfortable. And we don't want to look into that, whatever. Whatever your reason that may be, but I pray that God will guide you to that. But also, we can find out so much about children because we know that they're the next generation. They are the church, they're, they're the next pastors. They're the next leaders. In these nations that are being they're having insane discrimination and fear and everything that's coming against them. So brothers and sisters, the world wherever you are listening to this, we got to get on board. You know, it's important that we get on board pray for Afghanistan as well.
Sandra Robson:Yes, I'm just looking at that. Yes. Because those a real personal plea from a secret believer that's come through through it somehow through open doors, partnerships and things. And it just says, you know, and this person is related is related, you know, we talked about the baby girl who was born and how that was a thing of hope. That was hope. And the the it's the it's the husband's saying that. He said it is still a nightmare. The night the Taliban took control, I felt someone stepped into my memories and tried to snuff them out. And he says this, the less been circulated people have been killed, kidnapped, disappeared. It's like they said, just like a massive, passive cosmic explosion has occurred. And he says, we need you to ask God on our behalf, we need to know you. That you are strong for us. Everyone seems to have forgotten God. This is very frightening. We feel disorientated, we feel alone. We cannot speak to our God but you can speak to him and ask him to empower you and us to fight this era of destructiveness and bring his kingdom by being like him. If you love us, please pray for us. That's the bit you know, if you love us, if you love the lovers, please pray for us.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Yeah, that's a choker. Yeah, that really grabs you that really, around the vocal cords that one that can bring a tear, tear to your eye, if you love us, please. How easy? How easy is it just to say, Father, in the name of Jesus, we bring all these nations we bring everybody before you that are in the world of the persecuted church and Lord, just bless them. You know, it doesn't need to be ours. It doesn't need doesn't need to be a hard press like the Christ says in the scripture. Don't be like the pagans. Don't be like those that Babylon waffle on don't be like the Pharisees and the Sadducees on the street corners. You know, when you pray, when you pray, just say Our Father in heaven. So it can be so simple. You know, Father in heaven, we asked you now that you bless the children, in Afghanistan, bless the children in South Korea, bless the children within the world of the persecuted church. Father, we believe that they you are setting those young children free that you are on their walk, you are their refuge. You know, prayer doesn't need to be this elongated hour upon hour. You know, God knows our heart. And as that testimony that word has come from Sandra that she read out if you love us, please pray. Prayer is power. Prayer is needed. And we are seeing prayer is changing people very, very quickly and very, very easily. In the world of the persecuted church.
Sandra Robson:Yeah, this is a testimony from Central Asia. In some Central Asian countries, it is illegal to share the gospel with children under 18. And NIA has been secretly going to a house church for two years recently. This is her speaking now. Recently, my mother found out about the church that I sing, read the Bible pray and meet other young believers. She her fate forbade me to, to leave on Sundays, and Saturday, Saturdays and Sundays. Could you please pray for me that my mother will give me permission to attend the church again. Thank you. Thank you for your prayers. So she must be under 18. Yeah, she's come to find out about this house church. And she's been going there for two years. And now her mum's found out about it. But here's not exciting that, you know, I know. It's tricky for her. I appreciate that. But like we're saying, God is calling the children. God is calling the young people God is speaking to them. Irrespective of all these things. It's like listening to this thing about China. You know, again, China, they're trying to ban under 18 attending church meetings, yet, they are meeting in different ways.
Reverend Ben Cooper:That's right, and you can't take them of God. That's right. That's what we've experienced.
Sandra Robson:The Chinese pastors grasp the enormity of the threat as well as the opportunity to soak into the next generation of Chinese believers. Yeah, yeah. They're just again, it's in pockets. You know, some places I've you know, they haven't managed to infiltrate but lots of churches have been, you know, they've been shut down or they've got the cameras or they're, you know, doing different things and, obviously, taking pastors away if they've got a big
Reverend Ben Cooper:following. I think what's important to understand that the kingdom of God cannot and will never ever be stopped by human hands, by any government by any persecuting government by any leader by anybody. Even when Boris turned the key on the shirt within the UK, that kingdom God was still active and moving. We don't need the building. We don't need the structure, because that is an A very dangerous area of religion, but God is God. And the kingdom of God is so far and greater from any religious organization. So, when we hear that churches are being flattened or in sight, let's say in Iran that we know they've been flattened, they're being bulldoze, the kingdom of God is still growing, China does that is saying the kingdom of God is growing. You can drop the structure, you can smash the signs up, you can do whatever you're gonna do, you can burn the churches, but the kingdom of God is moving. That is so rich in soul. When you think about that, yeah, brothers and sisters, you know, don't worry about what governments are doing to the buildings. They can do what they want to the buildings, but they can't there's nothing the scripture says nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. You know, nothing, you know, nothing in this is a no buildings are important. But and I do believe within the UK, we put too much weight within a building or on the building for tradition. And buildings are important. But what we've got to just remember in this subject that we are looking at, when we're talking about buildings, the majority of the Christian church is in someone's front room, is the underground church is sitting around a tree is gathering in the place of safety. They're their churches, as we know them in the West. These churches are flattened, they are gone. But they are still meeting with God. Yeah.
Sandra Robson:And I think people have been surprised how many Christians there are in Afghanistan, because there wasn't meant to be anything that was never meant to be anything any because of what's happened suddenly, yeah, more apparent. Yeah, you know, what, what is there? But I mean, there are so many, you know, prayer points here, I'm just looking. I mean, because this whole thing was sort of dedicated to the children. But like, this week, there are prayer points, and some very difficult some, you know, encouraging, you know, just testimonies of children what they're going through nine years old, Central Asia, Ivan was severely bullied as a sports camp where he was the only Christian. He was beaten every day by other boys, but did not deny his faith. Since returning home. He's had headaches and dizziness every day. And so you might not be able to play sports scan and just to pray for him for his physical and emotional recovery. But the thing about it is he didn't deny his faith. No, nine years old,
Reverend Ben Cooper:he did not deny he did not reject Jesus
Sandra Robson:and okay, it's again, it's terrible, but you know, it's because of what they've been told by their parents that they behaved in this way and treated him this way. But God can still work in that because of the persecutors you think about Paul again, use a little Paul's doing little polls, because they think it's the right thing to do. But wow, you know, doesn't that speak something this massive? Did not? This Jesus must be somebody special? Because they did. This got people Oh, fellow, you know, child or I don't know Anyway, person on the in the sports camp didn't behave the same way. And he he's, you know, Jesus so special to him. Yeah. That he was prepared to go through that
Reverend Ben Cooper:kind of personal relationship. See, that's what Christ does, doesn't he? He strengthens you. He He gives you insurance. He gives you the, the capabilities through his supernatural presence, to be able to stand and be still know that he's gonna be able to speak up.
Sandra Robson:Yes. But also, like, it says, like, Timothy, that I'm thinking of his age nine as around the time that you know, there is that spiritual awareness. And I'm just thinking, Wow, all those like that age or younger, all those young, you know, they, yeah, young Christians, who, in themselves are being attesting in themselves, as standing for Jesus and themselves are given the gospel,
Reverend Ben Cooper:Joshua shine. We don't really think I belong to Jesus Christ belongs to me, but
Sandra Robson:it's their own. It's not like they are children who are born or brought across this. They're not children who've been brought up in a Christian home. No, they have the faith in themselves. But there are many children in this country whose parents are Christian. That's right. Ah, they have like a relationship themselves at that age in such a way that they could do that,
Reverend Ben Cooper:to actually do that. And then that comes on to adults as well. But when you look The power of salvation is a gift from God. And, you know, such such early ages that we are looking at such young children are warriors, the warriors in the wasteland, they're, they're beacons of light, they are, they are power they are. They are the authority, they God is giving them strength, he endures. And he is enabling them to endure. He has given them the gift of salvation, the seed of faith has been given. So they are able to stand there not because because they've been brought up in that Christian household completely the opposite in a world religion in an extremist family in a in a crazy set up, but they are warriors in the wilderness stand in for Christ faith themselves
Sandra Robson:for themselves
Reverend Ben Cooper:and their believing. Yeah,
Sandra Robson:yeah, that's, that's excellent. You know, amazing,
Reverend Ben Cooper:amazing. I'm looking at a picture of Afghanistan. And it looks like a wilderness. It looks barren. You got a few tufts of bushes and grass and you got some, you got some things going on in the background there. But you know, we got to pray for those in Afghanistan, there's a lot happening there. There's a lot happening. It's really needed a prayer chain, we need to get involved. And it tells us how we can do that. There's, there's so much we can do as a believer within the West without actually going over there. Because automatically, we think when I can't get out over there, I'm not a missionary. I haven't got the funds. I'm too worried about traveling, I can't do this, I can't do that. But the power of prayer transcends the physical movement of anybody, you can be on the other side of the planet, and you can pray for someone on the other side. And you know what? God answers prayer. So we don't need to put them the missionary clothes on and to jump on the plane and to go out there. It's just being in your home, being wherever you are insane. Father, we bring Afghanistan before you now. The children, the refugees, the parents, whatever, however you feel led to pray, and say thank you, Jesus. So you can be that mission. You can be that missionary you can be that that that warrior in prayer for our brothers and sisters that we won't never see on planet Earth. But the power of prayer, you know, they need your prayers. They need our prayers is really important, because we are in the last days, and this is really critical. We must pray for the children. We must pray for the church, we must pray for the persecuted church sander. We've only got four minutes. Can you believe it? Yeah,
Sandra Robson:I mean, I was just looking at pastor Lorenzo. I've been following him in Cuba. I mean, he was involved in the peaceful demonstration, and ended up being put in jail. And now he's on charges. And he's looking at 10 years. And his trial is this week. And they were asking us to pray for him and to write to the to the consulate. And I was thinking about his children and what they've seen and how you know, and just how it's affected, affected them. So yeah, things like that. But I had a list of like prayer points here, praying for comfort for strength, strong faith and hope for widows, mums, to raise their children to know Jesus and to have that support from the community because sometimes they can be shunned. And particularly for Bibles, thank the Lord for all the Bibles that have gotten into the hands of children. And so many Bibles have reached different places and Bible resources and what a difference they make. And thank God for all those who are teaching young people encouraging, strengthening, being given wisdom in the different ways remember, just thinking about Iraq again, and where that lady came to faith. And God said, I want you to work with the children, and and how many children she is nurturing in a difficult situation where and the thing about refugee camps and all these things, but we just thank the Lord. Thank You, Lord. And as Jesus came as a little child who was vulnerable, and you know, and just thinking of all these children at Christmas and, Lord, that we would do play our part, and to encourage and strengthen this generation, Lord, and thank you for their faith and thank you for the stand that they are taking. And just thank You that we could bring all this today. And yeah, we just pray that those who who are discouraged as time will being Courage, Lord, they will know your arms, the love around them in prayer, they will just feel that whatever they need the comfort, the strength, that support and huge, great things through them in these days, Lord, and you know, and we are one family, the family of Christ, and you just thank You, Lord for that. And, yeah, so Jesus name, amen.
Reverend Ben Cooper:Amen. Sandra, the time has just gone so fast. But we thank you so much, you know, so simple. So simple. Prayer is powerful. Prayer changes live, you know, you've been listening to Sandra Robson and myself, Reverend Ben Cooper, as we've just explored, you know, the child at Christmas, in the persecuted church, there is so much you can do. There is so much you can do. So I would applaud you and I would eagerly ask you to get on on to these web sites, you know, open doors, simple to find open doors uk.org and just have a look at that site. Very powerful. You know, there's hope. May God bless you at this Christmas time, wherever you are across the world. We thank you so much for joining us over these weeks over these months through lockdown. And as things are changing here within the UK, we need your prayers to we need your prayers, you know, may God bless you and strengthen you. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ. We will catch you soon. Thank you to everybody on Buzzsprout, Spotify. I Heart Radio and all the places you catch these podcast. Have a great evening. Good morning, good afternoon, wherever you are. Stay blessed in Jesus name, Amen.