Upcoming events in May!

We invite you to join us at one of the VOM events coming up in Ontario

Wednesday, May 1, 2013 9:30 p.m.

Windmill Point Church of Christ

560 Stonemill Road

Ridgeway, ON L0S 1N0

Speaker: Kathi Williams

Contact: 905-894-4948 (Jayne); kate57@live.ca (Kate Clements)

CLICK HERE to download the poster (PDF)

Saturday, May 25, 2013 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kingdom Roots Women's Conference

Churchill Meadows Christian Church

7755 Tenth Line West

Mississauga, ON L5N 0C4

Main speakers: Wendy Farha & Takoosh Hovsepian

Contact: 1-888-298-6423

CLICK HERE to register
Join and share the Facebook event!

To view other upcoming VOM events or to request a speaker, please visit our events page or contact our office.

Country Profile: North Korea

North Korea is arguably the most isolated country in the world. On Russian insistence, Korea was partitioned after World War II, and a Communist regime took power in 1948. North Korea invaded the South in 1950, and civil war dragged on until 1953. Today, the fortified border between the Koreas is one of the most impenetrable in the world, watched by a huge military force.

The country’s dictator, “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-Il, had presided over one of the most repressive regimes in the world until his death in December 2011, passing down his mantle of leadership to son Kim Jong-Un. The country is completely dedicated to the ideology of Juche, which means “self-reliance.”

The only acceptable religion is Juche, or “Kim Il-Sung-ism,” the cult of the deceased leader. All other religions are harshly repressed. Hundreds of thousands of Christians have died because of persecution, and up to 35,000 are currently in prisons or work camps. The true number of Christians is unknown, though estimated by most reliable sources to be around 100,000.

After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, North Korea has relied heavily on international aid to feed its population since the mid-1990s. Chronic food shortages and widespread malnutrition are rampant. North Korea's history of regional military provocations, proliferation of military-related items, long-range missile development, “weapons of mass destruction” programs and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community.

As Juche becomes increasingly weak and deluded, North Korea and its regime appear ever more vulnerable. According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. intelligence depicts Jong-Un as "a volatile youth with a sadistic streak who may be even more unpredictable than his late father."

Prayer Requests

• Pray North Korean believers will persevere in what is probably the most difficult country to be a Christian.
• Pray for the leader and his cadre that the Holy Spirit will bring them to repentance and belief.
• Pray for a watershed moment in God’s timing that will bring thorough change, freedom and complete transformation to this land.
• Pray for safety for North Korean refugees in China who live in hiding and are hunted by Chinese and North Korean agents.

For reports and accompanying prayer requests on other countries hostile to the gospel, visit our Restricted Nations site.

Kingdom Roots Women's Conference

The Voice of the Martyrs and Churchill Meadows Christian Church presents

Saturday, May 25, 2013
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Churchill Meadows Christian Church
7755 Tenth Line W.
Mississauga, ON L5N 0C4

The purpose of the Kingdom Roots Women's Conference is two-fold: to bless the persecuted Church, and to mentor women in growing through adversity. For many of the women attending this conference, the idea of persecution will be new. For some of our long-time supporters, persecution is the reason your knees have been well worn in prayer. No matter where your familiarity lies, this conference promises to meet you where you’re at, and provide an opportunity to bless women both locally and worldwide.

The proceeds will be divided between The Interim Place, a local shelter for abused women and children; and The Underground Church Fund, providing assistance and encouragement to believers in severely restricted areas. Jesus announced these timely words in Matthew 13:21:

“...but since they have no root, they last only a short time. 

When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”  

The conference name, "Kingdom Roots," is born out of this passage. The Lord is directing us to create a conference where women of all levels of Christian maturity can grow.

One thing that becomes obvious in the presence of the persecuted is their remarkable joy. There is an unearthly joy that fills those who have experienced God’s nearness in the furnace of great trials. Many have remarked that it is through moments of laughter they are able to cope with the pain and struggle. With this in mind, we are blessed to have Wendy Farha with us. Wendy is a Montreal-based comedian who has learned the joy of walking through the fire with our Saviour. Wendy will begin our day with laughter as she leads us into more intimate moments and prepares our hearts to receive the message of the persecuted.

The testimony of Haik Hovsepian speaks profoundly on the DVD, A Cry from Iran. Haik was martyred for his faith in Christ. His wife, Takoosh Hovsepian, carries on the ministry of spreading the Good News by sharing how the Lord has brought her through the violent loss of her husband.

Takoosh will be candidly sharing in one of our featured workshops and also in the main auditorium during the afternoon session.

Daphne BevAqua, whose voice is presently featured on many Canadian Christian radio stations, will lead us in worship. Julie Bonany, a home-schooling mother of three and women’s ministry leader of 10 years, will bless us with her delightful balance of wisdom and humour. And, of course, VOM’s very own Ingrid Hajen will present two workshops, taking us through a special time of prayer for the persecuted.

Ladies, please invite your friends and family for a day you won’t soon forget: May 25th at the Churchill Meadows Christian Church in Mississauga.

Faithfully in Christ,

Vanessa Brobbel
Kingdom Roots Women’s Conference Coordinator
The Voice of the Martyrs Canada

For more information, download the event poster 
or join the Facebook event!

To register, click here.

Words from our founder: Enlarging our hearts

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” – 1 Peter 2:21

Flickr / Rachel James

As for us, our hearts go out to the martyrs. Not that we pity them. Their chains are of pure gold. Their cross is perfumed. All those whose spiritual senses are alive know it. To Christians, prison has always been a delectable orchard where the sweetest nectar flows. Neither do we give to the sufferings of the martyrs in honour due only to the cross of Christ. Only to this cross apply the words of John Chrysostom, “The cross is the will of the Father, the honour of the Son, the joy of the Spirit, the jewel of angels, the assurance of the faithful, the glory of Paul. By the cross we know the gravity of sin and the greatness of God’s love towards men.” But the true knowledge of the state of persecuted Christians will enlarge our minds and hearts and will help us to follow in the footsteps of Christ.

The Psalmist loved the house of God. So does every Christian. Next Sunday when you sit comfortably in your pew, remember Russia’s churches that were changed into warehouses, museums, factories and dancing clubs. Out of 50,000 Orthodox church before the Revolution (1917), only 7,000 remained. Remember the churches who have to bear the mockeries.

But the temple of the Holy Spirit is the Christian himself. Against him the great fight is fought.

Excerpted and edited by VOM staff from Richard Wurmbrand’s If that were Christ, would you give him your blanket? (Not in print).

The Voice of the Martyrs was founded in the mid-1960s by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who was imprisoned and tortured by Communist authorities in his native Romania for 14 years. While still in prison, Pastor Wurmbrand envisioned a ministry that would focus on the plight of the persecuted Church, raise a voice on their behalf, and provide encouragement and assistance to them.