I will be traveling to a restricted access country next week. I recently got the following email from "Pastor B," a pastor I work with when I visit this country:
"I went to (unnamed city) to share the Gospel with the local church. During the morning service the secret police came, they stopped the service, they asked the members for their ID papers and for the registration papers of their motorbikes. They took the song books, and every Christian had to go to the police station for interrogation. Each Christian was fined.
They interrogated me from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. The police tried to arrest me and take my ID, but I defied them and their ungodly laws. Praise the Lord I was not arrested.
I would like to let you know about our churches in my country. Every time we worship the Lord, we pay the price and willingly face persecution. You know, outside they show that my country is free about religion but inside they tell and allow the local police to stop, harass, and interrogate Christians.
Please let your family, your friends and your churches know and do intercessions for us."
From February 26th to March 3rd I will be in (unnamed country) working with Pastor B, teaching in the Underground Church. Please pray for me on this trip, and most of all pray for our persecuted brethren.
"I went to (unnamed city) to share the Gospel with the local church. During the morning service the secret police came, they stopped the service, they asked the members for their ID papers and for the registration papers of their motorbikes. They took the song books, and every Christian had to go to the police station for interrogation. Each Christian was fined.
They interrogated me from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. The police tried to arrest me and take my ID, but I defied them and their ungodly laws. Praise the Lord I was not arrested.
I would like to let you know about our churches in my country. Every time we worship the Lord, we pay the price and willingly face persecution. You know, outside they show that my country is free about religion but inside they tell and allow the local police to stop, harass, and interrogate Christians.
Please let your family, your friends and your churches know and do intercessions for us."
From February 26th to March 3rd I will be in (unnamed country) working with Pastor B, teaching in the Underground Church. Please pray for me on this trip, and most of all pray for our persecuted brethren.
Wow. I have heard time and time again of how hard it is to worship God in other countries or even speak His word. People have said that Christians were being killed, threatened, etc. just because they believe in something that "the world" don't approve of or feel threatened by. I feel saddened because of how much suffering they are going through. Yet, as the Bible says, those who suffer in God's name will be rewarded in Heaven. The other feeling I have is "amazement." I live in a world where I can worship God on a street corner and there is nothing anyone can do about it. I have freedom, but for those who don't, they still worship; that alone amazes me. They have faith and trust in God so strong I can't even imagine it.
ReplyDeleteI will pray for you and those in the underground church. May God be with you, be by your side, and may you continue to trust in Him. God knows what’s best for each one of us. You are answering God’s call and for that, you will be rewarded.
Mindie,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, that is why I conisder the Christians in this unnamed country to be the strongest Christians I have ever met, and they are an example to all believers.
Thanks for your prayers.
Hey! It is Jen from ORU mexico trip 93 and also Camp Sonshine fun...gosh I don't know what year. Anyway, Mr. Abeyta...another old time ORU guy and I were talking about you today and decided to find you and let you know we are thinking about you. From reading your blog I can see why Mr. Abeyta picked you up on prayer sonar.
ReplyDeleteJen, I would love to reconnect with you and also with James. Go to our web page anascomissions.org and there you will see my email address. Drop me an line with yours and James' email address. I hope to hear from you soon. Dave
ReplyDelete