The Front Line Report

Covid-19 has hit hard in Syria, yet many are unwilling to acknowledge the illness in their honor-shame culture where getting sick can bring shame on a family. Brother John will update listeners on how the virus is affecting Syria – and how God’s Kingdom is advancing even amidst the pandemic.

Learn what Christian persecution looks like today in Syria, and how Christians there respond. You’ll also hear specific ways to pray for Syrian Christians.

John will share the story of God’s work in one family. Their son was born with a birth defect, and his mom felt such shame she attempted suicide multiple times. Then she met Jesus – and the transformation was so dramatic it radically changed the outlook for her family and impacted people all over their city.

Brother John leads Ananias House, working to proclaim the light and hope of Jesus Christ in the Middle East and North Africa.

God is at work in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh! Even amidst the Covid pandemic, the Gospel message is advancing among Rohingya people. But it’s not without cost; Rohingya Christians risk intense persecution.

Dave and Pam lead Operation Mobilization’s work in western and central Asia, overseeing Gospel workers reaching Muslims in multiple countries. They will share first-hand accounts of the Gospel’s advance and the persecution Christ followers endure in their region of the world.

They will also offer advice to Western Christians who want to build a bridge to Muslims living in their countries. It starts, they say, with simple things like hospitality and friendship. Dave and Pam also give listeners encouragement for seasons of struggle and discouragement.

Finally, they will equip us to pray for God’s work in Muslim nations — including praying for our Christian brothers and sisters and praying for government leaders in those nations.

1 November is a strategic time to pray for persecuted Christians as churches around the world commemorate the International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians. Download resources to help you and your church pray at vom.com.au/idop

Dave and Pam lead Operation Mobilization’s work in western and central Asia, overseeing Gospel workers reaching Muslims in multiple countries.

Listen as they discuss their call to missions and how God led them to work among Muslims. They will also share how finishing the task of reaching the Muslim world for Christ will require a better understanding of risk — a theology of suffering that allows Christians to victoriously endure persecution.

Dave will challenge us to think Biblically about reaching Muslims, to intentionally see them as people God loves and that Jesus died for, rather than allowing our vision to be influenced by media portrayals or geopolitical animosities.

Fear is real, and Dave and Pam will talk about how it affects them, and practical ways to fight through fear and reach those around us for Christ.

Sean Paton leads VOM’s work on the continent of Africa, and he’ll share this week about significant changes in two African Countries: Sudan and Ethiopia.

In Sudan, there are reasons for optimism after the Sovereign Council leading the country revoked the apostasy law, which required the death penalty for anyone who left Islam to follow another faith. Sean will share how Christians in Sudan say, “no one is looking” at the church right now. While that window is open, bold believers are working diligently to advance Christ’s Kingdom.

The treatment of Christians is also changing in Ethiopia, but the trend is more persecution rather than less. Sean will help us understand some of the history of the church in Ethiopia, including how persecution is really a part of its DNA. He’ll also discuss different streams within the Christian community and how persecution is affecting each.

Sean will share the story of specific brothers and sisters who’ve faced attacks, and how they’ve responded with love and forgiveness to persecution. He’ll also talk about how VOM is helping — including letting Christian leaders know that VOM will stand with their families if God calls them to lay down their lives for His service. Finally, he’ll talk about specific ways to pray for both Ethiopia and Sudan.

What does your church do to help new believers grow in their faith? Imagine how much more difficult it would be to disciple new Christians if you couldn’t meet together in person, or if they couldn’t admit openly that they were now following Christ for fear of persecution?

“Brother Mark” works with Christians in 22 countries in North Africa and the Middle East, and he will tell us about the persecution faced by Christians in Muslim nations of that region.

We’ll talk about the new reality in Sudan after the overthrow of Omar al Bashir and his Islamist regime. There is more freedom for Christians—but still threats against the church.

What is the journey new Christians must make in order to be ready to face persecution and respond with forgiveness, love and hope? How is their identity, and their place in the culture, affected by their decision to follow Christ?

“Brother Mark” is active in Gospel work in North Africa and the Middle East. Listen as he shares how coronavirus impacted ministry work in those regions — actually increasing interest in the Gospel and online contact with curious Muslims.

Brother Mark will talk about his own testimony and share how God called him to reach Muslims for Jesus. He’ll advise listeners on how to respond — not react — to Muslim questions or arguments against the Gospel.

Brother Mark will describe the persecution against Christians in the North African nation of Mauritania, and the challenge of discipling new believers in a country where it is not safe for more than 15 people to meet together. He will also talk about two Christians who are currently in prison in Mauritania and invite listeners to pray for these men and their pregnant wives.

Al Shabaab is advancing in Northern Mozambique, attacking and killing Christians and others.

Will Hart leads Iris Global, which works to share the gospel in 34 nations around the world. We’ll focus this week on Africa, and especially Mozambique, where radical Islamist terrorists are taking territory and targeting churches and Christians.

Will also shares how God radically saved him and sent him to the nations. He’ll talk about overcoming fear as he and his wife went to minister in the Congo — at the time one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Listen to how God protected them, even providing elite military guards to watch over them in the country.

He’ll also advise those sensing a call to missions and equip us to pray for the nation of Mozambique.

Dr. Hormoz Shariat, the founder and president of Iran Alive Ministries, and his wife Donnell are back with us this week to finish our conversation about how God called them to share the gospel with 1,000,000 Iranians—a calling that grew out of a family tragedy and great loss.

Hormoz will tell us he’s not a “natural” evangelist—he calls himself a shy nerd—but says God has given him strength and boldness to share the gospel. Listen as he describes getting laid off from his job and voted out by his church as blessings that unlocked the doorway to greater seasons of ministry.

Hormoz will also share current needs of the church in Iran, equipping listeners to pray specifically for that country and for our brothers and sisters there.

Dr. Hormoz Shariat was among thousands of Iranian Muslims marching in the streets of Tehran during the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Today, he’s “The Billy Graham of Iran” with a vision to reach one million Iranians for Jesus Christ. He tried Islam, but says it didn’t work to meet the needs of his heart and life.

Hormoz’s wife, Donnell, was born in America, yet she too was marching in those streets after moving to Iran — and converting to Islam — to marry Hormoz.

Today Hormoz leads Iran Alive Ministries, one of VOM’s partners in spreading the gospel to the people of Iran. Listen as Hormoz and Donnell tell the story of how God changed their hearts—and saved their marriage—through the love of Jesus and the faithful witness of His followers.

Hormoz’s new book, Iran’s Great Awakening: How God is Using a Muslim Convert to Spark Revival, releases this week.

Joy Subasiguller has lived in Turkey for 10 years. She is a pastor’s wife and the mother of three small children. In the eyes of Turkey’s government, she is also a threat to national security! Her application for continued residency in Turkey has been denied, and Joy faces expulsion from the country.

Joy’s husband, today the pastor of a Turkish church, was born into a Muslim family. Joy will share how he decided to leave Islam and follow Jesus Christ — and the persecution he endured for that decision.

Listen to hear how God called Joy to missions, and to Turkey, and how He has given her and her husband complete peace, even as they face complete upheaval in their life and ministry.

Joy will update listeners on her court case as she seeks the overturn of the expulsion order and that she be allowed to remain in Turkey. She will suggest specific ways to pray for her and her family, and for the broader church in Turkey.