This is release week for Forbidden Faith host Todd Nettleton’s new book: When Faith is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians, published by Moody Publishers.

In this special bonus episode, Forbidden Faith listeners can hear a preview of the audiobook version, which will be available soon wherever audiobooks are distributed. Today: Day 1: Beyond Our Control.

You can learn more about the book, and order your copy, at www.WhenFaithIsForbidden.com.

This is release week for Forbidden Faith host Todd Nettleton’s new book: When Faith is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians, published by Moody Publishers.

In this special bonus episode, Forbidden Faith listeners can hear a preview of the book: the first chapter of the audio book, available soon wherever audiobooks are distributed.

You can learn more about the book, and order your copy, at www.WhenFaithIsForbidden.com.

Helen Berhane was a well-known worship leader and gospel singer in the churches of Eritrea when the government outlawed evangelical churches. In one week churches went from meeting openly to underground, meeting in homes and hiding from police.

In the midst of that crackdown, Helen was arrested, beaten and put in prison. Listen as Helen shares how she prepared her heart, ahead of time, for the days she would face persecution.

She’ll talk about the Scriptures she drew strength from, and how she was able to keep singing praise to God, even as her suffering increased. Listen to how she experienced God’s amazing presence, even locked inside a metal shipping container.

For years, Helen had read Scriptures about forgiving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us. But during long months locked away a shipping container, Helen got to see those Scriptures come to life in her own spirit and her actions.

Listen to hear how she found that in the fires of intense persecution she was able to forgive and even love her persecutors. She’ll also share what it meant to know other Christians around the world were praying for her and writing letters on her behalf, and how God’s Word powerfully impacted her as she read it while in prison.

Finally, Helen will encourage us with ways we can pray for Eritrea—both for our brothers and sisters in prison there and for government leaders in the country who are persecuting our Christian family.

SPECIAL NOTE: Forbidden Faith podcast host, Todd Nettleton, has a new book releasing THIS WEEK. You can learn more about the book and find links to order your copy at www.WhenFaithIsForbidden.com.

As a young man, Dmitry “David” Shestakov was a criminal and a drug user. His mother—an atheist—tried everything to get her son’s attention and turn his life around. Finally, in desperation, she went to church and prayed, “God, if You exist, save my son!” God answered her prayer! And after Jesus saved him, David committed to tell others the Good News that had transformed his heart.

God showed David early on that his service would be costly—and it was. He was arrested for his Christian work and sentenced to long years in prison. “Why me?” he asked. But he saw God working even in prison.

One of the things God used to bless—and even protect—David was letters written by The Voice of the Martyrs readers through www.PrisonerAlert.com. Listen to how God used those letters to make David a respected figure in the prison, and help him avoid being beaten by the guards. You’ll also hear how the Uzbek government tried to add years to his sentence, but God miraculously moved and David was released, “like a Scripture came to life.”

Finally, David will share thoughts on how we can pray for Christians in prison right now, and for their family members, whose suffering is sometimes even greater than the prisoner’s.

You’ll have another opportunity to hear from former prisoners for Christ when you sign up to be a part of the free Imprisoned For Christ Virtual Event.

In this inaugural episode of Forbidden Faith: Inspiring Conversations with Persecuted Christians, “Sister Amber” shares her story of being arrested and persecuted at the hands of Chinese officials in Tibet, and the faithfulness of God she found even in the midst of intense persecution.

Sister Amber spent more than a decade in Tibet, providing vocational training to the people and sharing the gospel message of Christ’s love. She felt God's call especially to work among Tibet's nomadic tribal people, who jokingly call themselves "the roof on the roof of the world." Amber watched as God brought about a great ministry breakthrough: people who'd been totally closed to her message were now asking to learn more about Jesus.

But just days after that breakthrough, opposition arrived; police pounding on her door.

Listen as she tells the story. You'll hear how God ministered to her in the hardest moments of her suffering. You'll hear how she was eventually released, and the way God showed her that the persecution she endured was not the end of the story.

You'll also hear how God laid on the hearts of people around the world to pray for Amber, including one who drew a picture of Amber surrounded by policemen in the interrogation room. Months later, when Amber saw the picture, it matched exactly the setting of her interrogation, and also offered a ray of spiritual hope about one of her persecutors.

Your faith will be challenged as you hear Amber's thoughts on what the New Testament calls the "honor" of being persecuted, and she’ll give first-hand advice on how to pray for persecuted Christians who are in prison right now.

Stay up-to-date on the latest stories of persecuted Christians, as well as ways you can pray for and bless them, when you subscribe to the award-winning, free monthly magazine from The Voice of the Martyrs.

Inspire your faith! Hear directly from Christians who’ve endured persecution for the name of Christ—yet experienced God’s goodness and blessing in the midst of suffering.