Sister Sahar was born into a Muslim family in Saudi Arabia. When she came to the U.S. to attend university, a Christian friend shared the love of Christ and a Bible with her, and Sahar came to realize that Jesus was more than a prophet—He is the Son of God. But choosing to follow Christ came with a price.
Brother Hamid from Iran is back on VOM Radio to finish telling the story of his conversion to Christ, and the persecution he faced in Iran after choosing to leave Islam.
Hamid was born into a Muslim family in Iran. As a computer science student, he regularly visited different online chat rooms. One day he saw a chat room called “God is Love.” Hamid was intrigued, because the god he knew in Islam was not love. Christians in the chat room encouraged Hamid to read the Bible, and he began to do so. Soon he was convinced that the God of the Bible is the true God, and that Jesus was the Son of God.
Manfred Mueller leads Hilfsaktion Martyrerkirche (HMK), The Voice of the Martyrs’ sister mission in Germany. Listen as he shares about the early days of HMK’s work in Germany, including the rejection of the message of Richard Wurmbrand when he first came out from behind the Iron Curtain.
God is alive in Syria! This week we talk with "John," a Christian worker from Syria who shares that in spite of the civil war and advances by radical Muslims, God is still at work in Syria. You’ll hear how Christians are responding in the midst of the strife there, how VOM is assisting Syrian Christians and you’ll learn specific ways you can pray for God’s people in Syria.
"Are you willing to go to jail for three years in order to keep working with us on this project?" It is an intimidating question, but those who secretly deliver Bibles to China's Christians know that it is a very real risk. "Brother Joel" is one of VOM's Bible distribution partners, helping deliver Bibles into every province of China. Every single year he asks each one of his workers that question: are you ready to go to jail to keep giving away Bibles? Listen in this week to learn about Joel's work and how his workers answer that question.
Tens of thousands of Christians have been displaced by the advance of the Islamic State in Iraq. Many families were forced out of their homes with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. This week Todd and Adam discuss traveling to Iraq to deliver aid from VOM to those displaced Christians, hearing their stories of suffering and seeing first-hand how God is working even during this time of upheaval and suffering in Iraq.
Whenever I read the Scripture, it's full of persecution. For Dr. Berhane, a Christian from Eritrea, persecution is not only in Scripture, it's also a part of his personal story. He spent 11 months in prison for his faith in Christ. But even in prison he saw God's hand at work and found opportunities to witness to others. Listen as he shares about how prison guards would come and read the names of prisoners to be executed that day, with each prisoner wondering if that day was the day their name would be on the list. Yet in the midst of suffering and executions, Dr. Berhane says he experienced an inner peace through the presence of Jesus Christ.
Brother John first heard about VOM's ministry when he was given a copy of Richard Wurmbrand's book, Tortured for Christ. After reading the book, his heart was touched and he told the Lord that he would be honored to receive the gift of persecution. Today he helps to support and encourage the church in Myanmar in spite of the persecution and challenges there.
Aaron Miller, Vice President of International Ministry at The Voice of the Martyrs, looks back to recount changes and transitions he saw during 2025 in places like Syria, Turkmenistan, Tanzania, and Saudi Arabia. He also shares stories of sitting down with fellow believers in hostile areas and restricted nations and how VOM's work expanded in countries such as Benin, Indonesia, Morocco, and western Nepal. "In times of transition," Aaron says, "our staff sees opportunities." VOM's field staff is excited by the chance to reach new places, which allows them to learn the needs of our persecuted brothers and sisters, pray for them specifically and find the best ways VOM can serve.
Last week, we began a look back on some of the most moving moments on The Voice of the Martyrs Radio in 2025. This week, we continue to remember:
- Brother Nathan, gospel worker with YWAM in the Middle East
- Miguel Angel Angeles, Executive Director of Bethel Radio & TV in Peru
- Michael & Mona, Christian leaders from Egypt working across North Africa
- Brother Kevin serves as a gospel worker and church planter in Asia
- Hana Menghisteab, the daughter of imprisoned Eritrean pastor, Dr. Tecleab Menghisteab, who has been in prison for over twenty years.
- Dr. Yousaf Sadiq grew up in Pakistan and is now a professor at Wheaton College and co-leader of the Lausanne Persecuted Church Initiative.
- Brother Samuel grew up Muslim and now faces persecution in Malaysia for his faith in Christ.
- Susanna Koh, Pastor Raymond Koh's wife, continues to go to court for his release
- Sister Neda, serves persecuted Christians in Iran through Iran Alive Ministries
We thank the Lord for allowing VOM Radio to encourage and challenge listeners all over the world this year. Thank you for listening and praying for our persecuted family in restricted nations and hostile areas around the world during 2025!
We'd love to hear from you! Let us know what conversation in 2025 most inspired your faith or equipped you to pray. You can also give online to support persecuted Christians through the work of The Voice of the Martyrs.
Join us in 2026 for another year of testimonies about what God is doing in and through our persecuted brothers and sisters and hear how you can pray specifically for them throughout the year!
This week, we begin looking back on some of the most moving moments shared on The Voice of the Martyrs Radio in 2025:
- Hope & Nagy, gospel workers to Libya and the Middle East
- Jerry Mattix, long-time aid ministry worker and pastor in Türkiye
- Nathan & Kari, gospel workers in South Asia with the International Mission Board (IMB)
- John Samara, Founder and Executive Director of Ananias House
- Eric Mock, the Senior Vice President of the Slavic Gospel Association
- Dr. Michael Reeves, President of Union School of Theology in the United Kingdom
- Ty Scott, VOM's Regional Leader for East and Southern Africa
- John Weaver, long-time gospel worker in Afghanistan
- Abraham & Sara serve refugees at a church in a Middle Eastern country
We thank the Lord for allowing VOM Radio to encourage and challenge listeners all over the world this year. Thank you for faithfully listening and praying for our persecuted family in restricted nations and hostile areas around the world!
We'd love to hear from you! Let us know what conversation in 2025 most inspired your faith or equipped you to pray. You can also give online to support persecuted Christians through the work of The Voice of the Martyrs.
In Part 2 of our interview with Pastor Hassan Abduraheem Taour, he shares how his heart remained upbeat, even as the judge pronounced him guilty and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. He'll talk about how reading the Bible is different inside prison than when you're free. Hassan says he experienced persecution as a blessing from God—a blessing that brought him tears of joy. "It is really a privilege to be persecuted," he says.
This week, Marcus Fernandez, VOM's Regional Leader for Central Asia, joins VOM Radio for the first time. He'll share about the fast-growing church in Iran, the North Caucasus—an area never before discussed on VOM Radio—and how persecution is escalating in Pakistan. Listen as Todd Nettleton interviews Marcus on this episode of VOM Radio.
