VOMRadio

This week and next on VOM Radio, we'll look back at some of the amazing stories God has allowed us to tell in 2019. This week we'll focus especially on stories of God's work in Muslim nations, places like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Afghanistan and other Islamic nations where Christians often face persecution. Hearing small pieces of these conversations will make you want the whole story from each...

VOM this week issued a Special Report about the church in Iran—a timely subject in light of current mass protests all over that nation. This special bonus episode of VOM Radio works hand-in-hand with that special report to help you understand current events in Iran and how they are affecting our Christian brothers and sisters there. Peter Smith has been praying for and watching events in Iran for...

"Sister Nilufar" (not her real name) is ministering in the name of Jesus and sharing the gospel inside the Islamic Republic of Iran—a nation riven by protests and upheaval in recent weeks. It's also a nation where Christians are persecuted by their government. Listen as Nilufar tells the story of a young woman, Eldora, who became a follower of Christ—leaving behind a difficult life and becoming a...

Javed and Lowen are working with Operation Mobilization to reach people in Afghanistan with the gospel and disciple new believers to follow Jesus in spite of persecution and violence. Listen as they share how God is working in Afghanistan, in spite of Taliban influence and Christian persecution that often starts with a new believer's own family. What are the challenges Afghan believers face? And w...

YouVersion's Bible App was one of the very first apps available to install on an iPhone. Since launch, the app has been installed on 400 million devices worldwide, giving people all over the world—including nations where Christians are persecuted—free access to God's Word. But Brian Russell, the man who leads the YouVersion team, doesn't have a background as a tech entrepreneur. Instead, his backg...

Thirty years ago this month the Berlin Wall came down. Within days, communism had fallen in Eastern Europe. This week we'll hear how these events affected Christians living behind what had been the Iron Curtain, from two eyewitnesses. Petr Jasek grew up behind the wall as the son of a pastor in Czechoslovakia, and saw the dramatic changes first-hand as fellow Christians celebrated opportunities th...

In 2016, missionaries Norine Brunson and her husband, Pastor Andrew Brunson, were arrested in Turkey. Norine was released 12 days later, but Andrew remained in prison for two years. Norine remained in Turkey throughout his imprisonment to support Andrew and fight for his freedom. Listen as Norine tells VOM Radio how she helped Andrew battle for his faith and freedom as she watched him suffer and a...

Dr. Mary Ho, executive leader of All Nations, is back to continue our discussion of the life and legacy of John Chau, killed one year ago this month attempting to take Jesus' love to the people of North Sentinel Island. John's sacrifice has drawn comparisons to Jim Elliott and Nate Saint, and Mary will talk about the qualities they shared, especially a sacrificial, deep love for Jesus. Mary will t...

One year ago this month, John Chau gave his life for Jesus Christ and the gospel on North Sentinel Island, and island in the Bay of Bengal governed by India. Dr. Mary Ho is the executive leader of All Nations , the mission organization that sent out John Chau and sends gospel workers all over the world, including countries where Christians are persecuted. Listen as she describes the John Chau she...

The world knew Pastor Han Chung-Ryeol as a persecuted Christian pastor and a man who served North Korean refugees crossing into China—in spite of threats and danger. Dr. Eric Foley, the leader of VOM-Korea , knew Han as coworker and friend. This week Dr. Foley shares personal stories of the courageous pastor murdered by North Korean agents inside China. Pastor Han's story is the subject of this ye...

Pastor Andrew Brunson, author of a new book called God's Hostage , was imprisoned in Turkey for two years, and he says every single day was a battle to overcome his fear and grief and anxiety. One of those who inspired him in these battles was Richard Wurmbrand, VOM's founder. In Part 2 of our interview with Brunson, he explains how Wurmbrand inspired him to dance inside his prison cell. He says h...

Pastor Andrew Brunson spent two years in Turkish prisons accused, among other "crimes," of helping plot a coup against President Erdogan's government there. There were very dark days for Brunson, isolated in prison and wondering why God seemed silent in his time of suffering. Listen as he shares how he poured out his frustrations to God, but ultimately chose to lean into God—even if God seemed to...

Gary Lane has been telling the stories of persecuted Christians for decades. As International News Director and Senior Correspondent for CBN News, he's gone to meet them—he's traveled to more than 100 countries—and been drawn not only to tell their stories, but also actively serve and stand with bold believers enduring persecution. A month after 21 Christians were martyred by ISIS on the beach in...

Brother Rachid is the host of an Arabic-language television program, answering on-air questions that Muslims have about faith and about Jesus Christ. The first day his program went on the air, Rachid was hoping 10 or 20 Muslims might call in with questions. They received 800 calls in the first half hour! He knows first-hand the persecution that comes when a Muslim rejects Islam: Rachid's own famil...

This week we'll meet the pastor of an unregistered church congregation in China. Because of the danger to him for sharing his story, we aren't sharing his name and you'll only hear the voice of his translator during the interview. He's been detained by police more than 20 times, and he says of course there is fear when police raid his church or come to arrest him. But he's seen God work through hi...

Brother Semeone is a church leader from Ethiopia—a country with a long Christian history, but where persecution can come from different directions, often beginning with members of a new convert's own family. Learn some of the history of the church in Ethiopia—including how persecution and hardship have helped the gospel spread. "Persecution," he says, "has its own way of purifying the church." Sem...

Early in 2017, Pastor Raymond Koh was abducted off the streets of Malaysia— a military-style operation that took less than 40 seconds . He hasn't been seen or heard from since. Since our first VOM Radio conversation with Raymond's wife, Susanna ( listen here ), the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia issued a formal report on Pastor Raymond's disappearance. Susanna will give us an update on what t...

"Brother Enfu" is the pastor of an unregistered (illegal) church in China. Every time his church meets, members know police could raid the service and close down their meeting. Other churches in the area have already been closed. Church members have been told to stop attending services, or risk losing their jobs. How do Christians deal with the constant, oppressive surveillance state that is moder...

Pastor Pierre serves the Lord in Lebanon, including reaching out to refugees who have fled violence and war in Syria to find a safer place to live and raise their families. Listen as Pierre shares how Muslims have become more open to the gospel in the midst of suffering, and how Christians have sacrificially helped meet needs and share Christ among refugees. He'll also talk about the persecution C...

Most Americans look at the world through a lens of right vs. wrong; a person is either guilty or innocent. But in the Muslim world, most people see the world in terms of honor and shame. Audrey Frank is the author of a new book, Covered Glory: The Face of Honor and Shame in the Muslim World (affiliate link), which explores honor/shame cultures and specific ways Christ speaks to people with that cu...

"I really shouldn't be alive," says Brent Teague. He's one of a small number of Americans who have survived an Al Qaeda attack. While serving in Niger, he was shot multiple times and left for dead. But as he prepared to say goodbye to life on earth and enter heaven, Brent sensed God telling him that his earthly ministry wasn't finished yet. Later, he discovered that God had worked a miracle—before...

Dr. Mike Ansari leads Heart4Iran , working with different ministries to reach Muslims in Iran with the gospel message, and to strengthen Iranian believers to withstand persecution and continue boldly serving Christ. Dr. Mike will tell us the story of an Iranian Christian woman currently in prison for distributing Bibles inside Iran—a project supported by VOM—and how she is responding to persecutio...

Merv Knight has served persecuted Christians for more than 50 years, including co-founding The Voice of the Martyrs Australia and serving for decades as a member of the board of directors for VOM-USA. He worked side-by-side with Pastor Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, VOM's founders and former prisoners for Christ in Romania. Recently Merv spoke to the staff at VOM headquarters on the occasion of his...

Ron Morse was a teenager when his missionary family was told to leave Burma. But before the family could get out of the country, the borders were closed—for six years! Listen as Ron describes living in the jungle, making everything the family needed—including cooking pots and blackboards for school—and how God used those difficult years to plant seeds in his life that are still bearing fruit today...

God called John Weaver to Afghanistan as a single man, and he stayed in the country even after 9/11 when the U.S. government encouraged all Americans to leave. John committed his singleness to God, making peace with the fact that he might never get married while living and working in an isolated village in Afghanistan. It was only weeks after making that commitment that John met Jeanne—an American...