For over 50 years, the Voice of the Martyrs Canada has been serving the persecuted church worldwide. In this episode of the Closer to the Fire podcast, host Greg Musselman is joined by Floyd Brobbel, the Chief Executive Officer for VOM Canada. We invite you to tune in as they look back at what the ministry has accomplished throughout 2024, and then look ahead to some of the opportunities that will be available in 2025 to encourage and embolden Christ's followers in the world’s hostile and restricted countries. Floyd will also talk about the motivation for writing his most recently published book, United in Prayer.

Length 46:00

Episode Notes

To watch the interview with Floyd Brobbel https://vomcanada.com/fromvomc/video/vomc-2025-01-02.htm

For more information on Floyd’s books:

United In Prayer: store.vomcanada.org/category/new/united-in-prayer

Trouble on the Way store.vomcanada.org/category/all/books/trouble-on-the-way

Trouble on the Way Study Guide: store.vomcanada.org/category/all/books/trouble-on-the-way-study-guide

During recent years, the international community has witnessed the scope of the Taliban’s brutal rule in Afghanistan since the militant group regained power over the nation in August 2021. Amid the Taliban’s draconian restrictions on the rights of women and girls – together with the use of arbitrary arrest and detention, plus enforced disappearance and torture – the militants insist that there are now no Christians residing in the country. Most house churches that existed before the Taliban’s takeover have since been closed, forcing many believers to either flee the country or go even further underground.

In this edition of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman is joined by Brother Adib, an Afghan Christian leader who currently resides in Canada. Adib shares how he came into a relationship with Jesus in 2006, the opposition he faced for his decision to leave Islam, and how he escaped Afghanistan with his family. Adib also explains why he is so passionate about reaching Afghans with the Gospel message here in Canada – as well as in Afghanistan and other nations around the world – through his ministry work with the Jesus Network and Afghan Church of Toronto.

Length: 50 minutes

To view the interview with Adib Maxwell https://vomcanada.com/af-videos/video/af-opportunities-gospel.htm

Episode Notes

Jesus Network: www.jesusnetwork.ca

Afghan Church of Toronto: www.afghanchurch.ca

Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

The church in Pakistan faces opposition and persecution in numerous ways. Not only are the country’s notorious blasphemy laws being used to target the Christian minority, each year thereare hundreds of cases in which individual Christian girls have been abducted, abused, forcefully married, and/or converted to Islam against their wills. Additionally, churches that engage in outreach activities are prone to opposition.

In November, Greg Musselman and his ministry colleague Stephen Wesley travelled to Lahore to teach VOMC’s Theology of Persecution and Discipleship course to over 30 local pastors. During their trip, Greg and Stephen also visited a brickyard where they met and interviewed modern-day Christian slaves. They then travelled to Jaranwala, a city in Punjab province, where 26 churches and more than 100 buildings and homes belonging to Christians were destroyed due to blasphemy allegations in August 2023.

During this episode of the Closer to the Fire podcast, Greg and Stephen discuss their recent experiences in Pakistan and how – despite the many challenges facing the church in this primarily Islamic country – God’s Kingdom is continually moving forward.

Length: 37 minutes

To View the interview with Stephen Wesley https://www.vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/ctff-pk-strengthening-embattled.htm

Episode Notes

Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

While the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to one of Africa's largest Christian-majority populations, militant Muslim groups severely persecute believers along the nation's eastern border with Uganda. When rebels capture groups of people, they often release the Muslims while killing any Christians who refuse to convert to the Islamic faith. Amid the ongoing violence, the church in this war-torn country is under immense pressure.

Dr. David Kasali serves as the founder of the Congo Initiative, a Christ-centred educational institution that seeks to bring spiritual transformation to the country. He joins Closer to the Fire host Greg Musselman to discuss the violent attacks on followers of Jesus in the DRC, the many other challenges facing the nation’s believers, and the reasons why he chose to return to such a dangerous place despite the risks.

Length: 40 minutes

Episode Notes

To view the interview with Dr. Kasali https://www.vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-cd-ten-years.htm

Congo Initiative: https://congoinitiative.org

Pray for the Democratic Republic of the Congo: https://www.vomcanada.com/drc.htm

On February 13th, 2017, a Malaysian pastor named Raymond Koh was kidnapped in broad daylight by a group of men in the greater Kaula Lumpur area while on his way to a friend's house. The incident was captured on CCTV cameras, providing evidence that least 15 men in three black SUVs were part of the abduction. More than seven years later, his wife Susanna continues to search tirelessly for answers regarding her husband's disappearance.

Todd Nettleton, host of VOM Radio for the Voice of the Martyrs USA, has reported on the pastor’s mysterious disappearance ever since the incident took place, and then later interviewed Susanna Koh to hear her story. During this episode of Closer to the Fire, Todd joins podcast host Greg Musselman to address recent developments in the case and discuss whether Pastor Raymond may still be alive after all these years. During the interview, Todd also provides insight into the various challenges presently facing other followers of Jesus in Malaysia.

Length: 27 minutes

Episode Notes

To watch the interview with Todd Nettleton https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-my-wheres-koh.htm

To purchase your copy of Todd’s book, When Faith is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontline with Persecuted Christians, go to: https://store.vomcanada.org/purchase/when-faith-is-forbidden

Listen to VOM Radio at: https://www.vomradio.net

Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

In 2022, Christian activities across Russia – including gathering for worship, distributing Bibles and Christian literature, as well as personal evangelism – were investigated by Russian police and punished as crimes by Russian courts of law. Believers were forced to pay fines and, in most cases, those who challenged the court’s decisions lost their appeals. This trend of mounting opposition against the country’s Christian population is being closely monitored by The Voice of the Martyrs Korea.

Closer to the Fire host Greg Musselman is joined by Dr. Eric Foley, who serves as the CEO and Co-Founder of VOM Korea, to discuss the heightened persecution of evangelical Christians in Russia. Dr. Foley offers insight into how the invasion of Ukraine is affecting Russian believers and addresses how the church is navigating increased challenges amid the ongoing war. Additionally, he provides an update on the growing underground church in North Korea.

Length: 52 minutes

Episode Notes

To watch the interview with Dr. Foley

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada | Closer to the Fire - Russia: Evangelical Believers 'Fined for Faithfulness (vomcanada.com)

The Voice of the Martyrs Korea: www.vomkorea.com

Read VOMC’s latest Persecution & Prayer Alert report on Russia:     https://www.vomcanada.com/ru-2023-02-02.htm

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

The latest crackdown against followers of Jesus in the East African nation of Eritrea has led to the arrest of more than 200 Christians – including children – within a span of 12 months. According to Dr. Berhane Asmelash, who serves as the Director of Release Eritrea (a ministry based in the United Kingdom), most of the recently arrested believers were taken from their homes without any warning, and some were even apprehended during the middle of the night. In multiple cases, entire families were taken into custody and remain in prison today.

Dr. Berhane joins Closer to the Fire host Greg Musselman to discuss these latest arrests and provide insight into why, after more than 20 years, persecution against the country’s evangelical Christians remains ongoing. Dr. Berhane also shares about his own experiences as a believer who formerly lived in Eritrea, where he was arrested, imprisoned and tortured for his faith in Jesus. Dr. Berhane’s moving story of faith is recounted in his recently published biography, Brother, I Have Come to Arrest You.

Length: 42 minutes

To view the full interview with Dr. Berhane Asmelash https://vomcanada.com/er-videos/video/er-government-crackdown.htm

To order your copy of Dr. Berhane’s newly published biography, visit: https://releaseinternational.org/product/brother-i-have-come-to-arrest-you/

Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

Christians in India are finding themselves increasingly under the threat of violent persecution. The growing hostility is often driven by an ongoing belief among Hindu extremists that all Indians ought to be Hindu – and that the practise of any faith outside of Hinduism is not welcome in India. This mindset has led to numerous violent attacks across the country; crimes perpetrators of the violence are permitted to continue with impunity.

In this episode of Closer to the Fire, podcast host Greg Musselman speaks with Manorama Mallick, a believer from Odisha State who has suffered greatly for her faith. The Christian woman’s husband was tragically poisoned to death for being a follower of Christ, and Manorama herself was physically attacked for refusing to renounce her faith in Jesus. Even though the beating left her with significant hearing loss, this faithful Christian widow continues to serve the Lord today by providing greatly needed ministry to impoverished people living within the slums of Odisha State.

During the episode, Greg is also joined by Rev. John Sankara Rao of Divine Ministries India to discuss a recent incident in which 120 Christians were forced to “reconvert” to Hinduism in Odisha State. In addition, Rev. Rao shares an update on Dr. K.A. Swamy, an evangelist who was left in a nearly vegetative state after suffering a brutal attack by Hindu radicals during the year of 2017 for handing out Bibles on the streets of Hyderabad. To support Dr. Swamy’s journey to recovery, Voice of the Martyrs Canada has provided financial assistance for the injured Christian man’s medical expenses.

Length: 37 minutes

Episode Notes

Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

Following Ayatollah Khomeini’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran became the world's only country to be governed by an Islamic theocracy. Today, many of those living under the Islamic regime are filled with despair. Yet, their disillusionment has opened new doors for the Gospel, which is sweeping across the nation via satellite TV, the Internet, as well as a growing number of house church movements.

Even so, the government continues its attempts to thwart the spread of Christianity by persecuting the nation’s followers of Jesus. Many Iranians are also coming into a relationship with Christ after leaving the country and moving abroad, where they are passionate about seeing fellow Iranians – both inside and outside of the nation – come to faith in Jesus. One such person is Shah Ahmadi of Iran Alive Ministries, a U.S.-based organization and trusted ministry partner of Voice of the Martyrs Canada. In this episode of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman sits down with Shah at the Iran Alive headquarters in Texas.

Length: 42 minutes

Episode Notes

To watch the interview with Shah Ahmadi https://vomcanada.com/ir-videos/video/ir-hopelessness-opens-door.htm

Iran Alive Ministries: www.iranalive.org

Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com

A religious freedom advocate recently warned that a proposed Canadian law could imperil citizens’ freedom of speech and religious liberty, raising concerns for Christians across Canada.

Jeff King, who serves as the president of International Christian Concern (a religious watchdog group based in the U.S.), says the proposed law, Bill C-367, would amend the Criminal Code by removing religious exemptions from Canada’s hate speech laws. If enacted, he warns that the new measures could impact public expressions of Biblical truth.

In this episode of Closer to the Fire, host Greg Musselman is joined by VOMC’s CEO, Floyd Brobbel, to talk about what it could mean for Canadian Christians if the bill or one like it is passed into law. Floyd also discusses the various degrees of persecution, and where the church in Canada is currently positioned on the persecution scale.

Length: 46 minutes

Episode Notes

To watch the interview with Floyd Brobbel

https://vomcanada.com/cttf-videos/video/cttf-vomc-bible-prison.htm

To purchase a copy of Trouble on the Way by Floyd Brobbel, go to: https://store.vomcanada.org/purchase/trouble-on-the-way

View Jeff King’s interview with CBN News: https://www2.cbn.com/news/us/persecution-watchdogs-warning-canadian-bill-could-send-christians-jail-quoting-bible

Sign up to receive VOMC’s Persecution & Prayer Alert emails and free monthly magazine: https://store.vomcanada.org/subscribe

The Voice of the Martyrs Canada: www.vomcanada.com