MY TURN: Persecution of Christians and Martyrs around the world

The media has largely ignored the millions of Christians who have been persecuted, tortured and even killed for their faith.

The most recent highly publicized account was the 21 Coptic Christians kidnapped and beheaded on the beach in Libya in 2015 by Islamic State soldiers (jihadists). A main reason for the exposure was that it was filmed and released.

I am a volunteer for the Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) with offices around the world and its U.S. headquarters in Bartlesville, Okla. VOM is a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian mission organization dedicated to serving our persecuted family in over 70 countries through practical and spiritual assistance.

It was founded in 1967 by Lutheran Pastor Richard Wurmbrand who was kidnapped off the streets of Bucharest in Communist Romania and imprisoned and tortured for 14 years for his faith in Christ — including four years in solitary confinement 30 feet underground and the guards wore slippers so he wouldn’t hear another human being. They told his wife Sabina, who was in prison for three years that he was dead. 

So, why is it that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world? Why do dictatorial regimes fear Christianity so much and try to destroy the church? 

We see this reaction in North Korea known for its hatred of all things Christian where even being found with a Bible, the whole family is imprisoned leading to starvation and death. 

But unreported is the fact that Afghanistan has moved into the number one position partly due to America’s sudden exit. To the dictator or the radical elements of the Islam or Hindu religions Christianity has a different source of authority — even though Christians are good citizens their ultimate allegiance is to God.

It is also an organization that rises up against injustice. Look at the solidarity movement in Poland, the civil rights movement in our own country, and there are many other examples. The third reason I would give is that it is a different value system. It is a system that puts others first and rejects selfishness and it also recognizes that rights come from God, not the state. All these factors place Christians on a collision course with dictatorships across the world and other religions which are man-made. 

There are over 70 countries where there is frequent or intense persecution of Christians, the number growing by more than 15 in the last decade. For example, just to the south in Mexico, it used to be the southern-most state of Chiapas and now it’s at least four more. While sharing with college students and young professionals in Mexico City, about VOM, I remember the shock on their faces while hearing the accounts in their own country!  

One writer describes the current growth of worldwide persecution as a “surge.” In fact, there were more Christians killed (martyred) for their faith in the 20th century than in all the previous centuries combined! Estimates range from 28 (documented) to 45 million.  

Radical Muslims are on the march in Africa, Nigeria accounting for more deaths than the rest of the world. And Southeast Asia, Indonesia with its largest number of Muslims in the world. And in Asia, China with its facial recognition technology so they can track Christians going to their “illegal” underground churches and where churches are being destroyed by the thousands. And yet, we trade with them like they’re our very best friends.  

Let’s face it, Communists are Communists and always will be and why should they ever change? They benefit by trading with the richest nation on earth. Slave labor has produced a U.S. trade deficit with China of hundreds of billions of dollars annually (Note: It’s been said that you can’t count to 1 billion in your lifetime). Nearly everything my wife buys at Costco is from China, and I get shirts from a tiny Communist nation which defeated American forces, called Vietnam. 

May I share a true, typical event from China?

Just as Pastor Li Dexian began his sermon the doors of the house church burst open. Armed officers of the Chinese Public Security Bureau poured into the room, threatening everyone present and grabbing Li to arrest him.   

“Wait, please allow me to grab my bag.” As always, the pastor’s tone with the officers was polite but firm.

The officers were surprised by the request. “What’s in there?” they demanded, grabbing the black zippered bag Li held and ripping it open. The bag contained a blanket and a spare change of clothes, Li told them, because he was expecting to be arrested that day.  

Pastor Li had been arrested many times. Twice, police had beaten him to the point that he vomited blood, and one time Li’s face was beaten with his own Bible. Li was warned that police were watching the village where he held his Tuesday meetings. He knew if he showed up to preach, he would be imprisoned. Today Chinese citizens can be sent to labor camps for up to three years without a formal trial. 

The risks were great, but Li’s bag was packed. More than having a bag packed, though, he had his mind and heart prepared. He was willing to pay any cost to preach the Gospel. He was convinced God would care for him — even in prison. (Source: “Extreme Devotion,” by the Voice of the Martyrs, available on VOM mobile app)

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Jim Korver is an 85-year-old resident of Coronado whose wife, Angela, is a lead nurse at Sharp Coronado Hospital. Jim has had careers in aerospace, human resources, and teaching plus the administrative leader/director in Christian schools in California, Idaho and Washington — and international Christian schools in Korea, Austria, Bolivia, Venezuela, Mexico City, Ghana, Kenya, Indonesia, Malaysia and China.