This is an absolutely heartbreaking story coming from Compass Direct.  Click here to read the full article. 

Muslim Fulani herdsmen strike two more villages, slaughtering women and children.

LAGOS, Nigeria, March 17 (CDN) — Less than two weeks after a massive attack in Nigeria that killed 500 Christians, Muslim Fulani herdsmen today unleashed more horrific violence on two Christian villages in Plateau state, killing 13 persons, including a pregnant woman and children.

In attacks presumably over disputed property but with a level of violence characteristic of jihadist method and motive, men in military camouflage and others in customary clothing also burned 20 houses in Byei and Baten villages, in the Riyom Local Government Area of the state, about 45 kilometers (29 miles) from the state capital, Jos. 

Christians in neighboring villages are living in fear of possible attacks by the herdsmen, who have not been deterred by the joint military and police security team enforcing curfew in the state. The ethnic Berom Christians, who live as farmers, have long faced off with Fulani nomads who graze their cattle on the Beroms’ land. 

In light of yesterdays story about the city of Rancho Cucamonga needing a permit to hold a bible study in a home, I found this story very interesting because this is about a student complaining that a school opened the day with prayer in school.  And the school didn't just do this, but they announced it on the schools intercom.  Naturally, the student who complained wanted to remain anonymous and not let anyone know who he is because he's afraid of what his friends would think.

Click here to read this amazing story and weigh in by commenting.

Last night I was at my midweek bible study and I was so excited because as we were going through our lesson the cool topic of how we as a group can minister to others came up.  As the discussion progressed I was so happy to bring up The Voice of the Martyrs and how all of us as a group can minister along side VOM.

The two ways I shared with my friends were about the Action Packs program and the Prisoner Alert program.

Today what I want to highly encourage you to do is consider doing a special project with our Voice of the Martyrs Action Pack program.  It's easy and it's fun.  Here's the gist of what the action packs do. (In case you've never heard of the program.)

First, check out our special page for Action Packs.  On this page you'll find all the information you need and  you'll be able to pick the country you want to send your action pack to.

Second, pick your country.  Right now we have Pakistan, Iraq and the Sudan.

Third, consider the items VOM asks you to put together and if you don't have everything, this is where you can ask your friends or coworkers to help you.

Fourth, order your action pack package from VOM so you can gather all of the items you've collected and then ship them back to VOM so they can send it to the country you've chosen.

It's really that simple and it's really that easy and it's really FUN.  So what are you waiting for...put your faith into action today!

God was glorified when a building for believers to meet in was dedicated last week.

As many as three new NTM mission news articles are written each and every weekday. Go to the web site to see those you may have missed.

Months of teaching key stories from God's Word are helping people identify and confess their wrongdoing.

As many as three new NTM mission news articles are written each and every weekday. Go to the web site to see those you may have missed.

Yanomamis are taking more responsibility for the school but it's also adding to the workload for missionaries.

Earlier this week we told you about the problem with having a home bible study in Gilbert, Arizona.  Today, we have yet another situation that is brewing here in Southern California in Rancho Cucamonga.  Fox News is reporting on this situation.  Read the full story here.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. -- For the second time in six months, the city has ordered a group of Christian worshippers who meet inside homes to get a permit or shut down.

It's the latest incident in which religious groups in Southern California have been targeted by cities for home gatherings, though many of those groups were eventually allowed to meet without obtaining permits.

Rancho Cucamonga is trying to halt Friday night meetings at a home after receiving a complaint in February from a neighbor that 40 to 60 people were gathering weekly in the San Bernardino County location.

Officials said the homeowner needs a conditional use permit by Good Friday, April 2, to operate a church in a residential area.

Pacific Justice Institute, a nonprofit legal defense group that specializes in conservative Christian issues, said the meetings were actually a Bible study group that usually draws about 15 people.

RELATED ARTICLES

So. Calif. City to Home Bible Study: Shut Down by Good Friday

Rancho Cucamonga in controversy again over religious gatherings

Is your name on a "most wanted" list because of your faith and work for Jesus Christ?   Most of us don't have to worry about being on the most wanted list, but for our dear brother Mr. Choi (pictured), who is a Korean Christian, his name is.

As you read this wonderful faith inspiring testimony that is on the Voice of the Martyrs Kids of Courage website, join me in praying for the highlighted family and also ask the Lord to make you a bold witness for Christ.

Here's part of the article to whet your appetite.  Enjoy.

Telling the Story of Jesus

“I am a Christian,” Mr. Choi told an officer who questioned him after he was arrested. “I believe in only one God. As his servant, I serve him alone. According to his word, I have done a righteous work [by helping the North Koreans].”

 

In prison, Mr. Choi shared the gospel with many prisoners. The guards told him he would not get out of prison for five years if he kept telling people about Jesus. Mr. Choi answered, “The responsibility of a Christian is not only to believe in Jesus but also to tell the story of Christ to other people. … I am willing to spend the full five-year sentence in prison.”

 

The Letter

Mr. Choi’s family did not know what was happening to him. Mr. Choi wanted to send them a letter, but prisoners were not allowed to write letters. Using a piece of wire, he cut words and letters out of his Bible. Then he used glue made out of rice to form the words into sentences in a message. He secretly worked eight hours a day for 17 days to finish the letter. A Korean official then helped him get the letter to his family.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., March 17 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Sunday, May 16th a Prayer Vigil is scheduled to honor the lives of Steven Ocean and Tite Sufra, two courageous young black men shot to death while sharing the Gospel on the streets of Boynton Beach, Florida on January 30th. 

The event is sponsored by Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, and Dr. Gary Cass of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, and leaders in South Florida. The vigil will take place from 3-5 PM in the parking lot in front of the Boynton Beach City Library, 208 South Seacrest Boulevard, near where Ocean and Sufra were murdered. 

"Just as we honor those who die while serving our country and communities, we must to honor Steven Ocean and Tite Sufra, two fine young men who were killed in the line of Christian duty," said Dr. Gary Cass. "We will pray for their families, the community and for justice. This tragic event was largely ignored and under reported. This vigil is our effort to pay these two men the respect they deserve. All Christians, especially those who minister on the streets, are urged to come and take back the streets of Boynton Beach for Christ."

"Our hearts are broken for the families of Steven Ocean and Tite Sufra. It would be unconscionable not to honor these brave young men," said Rev. Patrick Mahoney. "The best way to honor their memory is to return to the very place where they died, pray for the community they loved and then share God's love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. We will not concede even one street in America, but will assert our right and duty to proclaim Jesus is Lord."

Simba believers from many communities in Bolivia are expected to attend a four-day conference.

As many as three new NTM mission news articles are written each and every weekday. Go to the web site to see those you may have missed.

Every follower of Christ has a testimony, and sometimes I know I am amazed at how the Lord draws people into His fold.  Today's great news from Compass Direct is one such story. 

As you will see when you read the full article of this brave couple's quest for freedom, their story is harrowing.  Sadly, Gelanie was raped by police while in jail, and has suffered greatly because of her faith.  Their son, Reza has had to deal with problems and the story of how Mohammad Azbari came to faith in Christ and left Islam and then had to flee country after country until he could live in freedom as a Christian.

I could easily see this families story being made into a film, and the underlying message would be that prayer and the movement of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians would be the victor.  This is a powerful story.  Please click here to read the full article and then say a prayer of thanks for what the Lord has done and brought them through.

The gospel of Matthew says in chapter ten verse 33, "But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."  Sobering words.  Powerful words.  True words that have consequences that are not empty.  God means what He says and sometimes I think that we don't really believe that.  However, I also believe there are times when we do believe that and today I have a story from Compass Direct where some Christians are being faced with this choice - recant their faith in Christ and save their temporary shelters or stand firm and lose their shelters.  What would you do if those shelters were your safe dwelling place?  Could you trust the Lord or would you walk in fear and recant?

Tough questions, and not just a question to these Christians, but really it's a matter of faith.  Here's more of the story from Compass Direct.

Village heads tell church members they must recant faith within 48 hours.

DUBLIN, March 16 (CDN) — Officials in southern Laos in the next 48 hours plan to burn temporary shelters built by expelled Christians unless they recant their faith, according to advocacy group Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF).
 
Authorities including a religious affairs official, the district head, district police and the chief of Katin village in Ta-Oyl district, Saravan province, expelled the 48 Christians at gunpoint on Jan. 18.

Prior to the expulsion, officials raided a worship service, destroyed homes and belongings and demanded that the Christians renounce their faith. (See www.compassdirect.org, “Lao Officials Force Christians from Worship at Gunpoint,” Feb. 8.)

Left to survive in the open, the Christians began to build temporary shelters, and then more permanent homes, on the edge of the jungle, according to HRWLRF. They continued to do so even after deputy district head Khammun, identified only by his surname, arrived at the site on Feb. 9 and ordered them to cease construction.