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‘We Are The Outpost’ Make Music for the Persecuted Church
This post was written by Matt Sparks, Youth Pastor at MBM Rooty Hill.
Here at MBM Youth we love Thirteen Three. We’ve been working alongside these guys for a few years for the cause of the Gospel in local youth groups and overseas among the persecuted church.
Here’s the reason we love what they do… they share the same vision as we do! They want to see young people living wholeheartedly radical, Jesus-centred lives that have local and global impact.
We have been so encouraged and convicted by the stories 13:3 bring. We need the persecuted church more than they need us! We need their stories, their example of faith, their boldness. So we decided to be bound with them. They inspire us to radical discipleship and we want to pray for them and provide for their needs.
One way we thought we could be bound with 13:3 was to give a significant portion of the EP sales of our youth band (We Are The Outpost) to bless the persecuted church.
The vision for We Are The Outpost is that as a youth group we would be an outpost of God’s kingdom and glory on earth. We believe that the persecuted church is an outpost of God’s glory in the darkest of places.
We would love to give as much money as possible to 13:3 to support the distribution of Bibles in Colombia and the training of Bible college students in Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia.
Partnering with the persecuted couldn’t be easier – purchase a copy of We Are The Outpost’s latest EP Awaken for $10.
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November Prayer Alert: Yang Rongli
Yang Rongli is in prison for Christ.
Yang Rongli is the head pastor of the Linfen Church Network in Shanxi Province, China. She was arrested and sentenced to prison in 2009 after one of the Linfen churches was brutally attacked by local government officials.
In the early hours of 13 September 2009, a mob of 400 police officers, local government officials and hired thugs descended upon Fushan House Church, a member of the Linfen Network. They demolished the new church building and clashed with hundreds of the Linfen Church members who had rushed to defend their church. Many believers were beaten by the mob with bricks and clubs. More than 30 were seriously wounded and taken to hospital in critical condition.
Yang Rongli and four other church leaders were later arrested as they planned to file a complaint with the Central Government. They were accused of “gathering people to disturb the public order.”
In a farce trial outside the normal court system, Yang Rongli was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined 30,000 Yuan (AUD$4,700) on 25 November 2009. Nine other church leaders were sentenced to prison or labour camp terms ranging from two to seven years.
Since then, five of them have been released. Yang Rongli and four others remain in prison. Police continue to occupy the site where the church building once stood. The authorities believe that they have succeeded in scattering the sheep, but the believers continue to meet and worship in their homes.
Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid (one of Voice of the Martyrs key partners in China), stated,
The Linfen Church leaders and their families suffered cruel persecution of the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the church. We express our great respect for them, and continue to lift up prayers for them and their families. These loyal and devoted brothers and sisters are not only the hope of the church, but also the hope of Chinese society.
How You Can Help
1. PRAY for Yang Rongli and other Christians who are in prison for their faith.
- That God will encourage and strengthen Yang Rongli and the other prisoners, enabling them to endure the harsh conditions.
- That the authorities will release Yang Rongli and other Linfen Church leaders.
- That God will continue to grow and strengthen Linfen Church while Yang Rongli is in prison.
Use this PowerPoint to share Yang Rongli’s story and pray for her at church, youth group or school.
2. WRITE a special note of encouragement to your persecuted sister.
Your prayers are vital and your letters of encouragement speak loudly to the authorities in China that Yang Rongli is not alone and will not be forgotten!
Print 13:3 Advocacy Profile Yang Rongli and get your youth group to write to encourage Yang Rongli.
Youth Group Resources
Christmas Care Indonesia
Voice of the Martyrs Australia has just launched its annual Christmas Care appeal. This year, we are raising money to bring the joy of Christmas to Christian children in Indonesia.
Christian children are the most vulnerable victims of persecution, experiencing trauma, grief, hardship, bullying and beatings. Some are kidnapped, maimed or killed because they follow Jesus. Christmas Care is a wonderful way to share God’s love with Christian children “on the front lines.”
Your generous gift of $20 will bless a son or daughter of Christ with a Christmas present. For many of the children receiving Christmas Care, it will be one of the few presents they’ve ever received. Imagine their delight and surprise when they receive a present from an Australian!
“Christmas Care reminds us that we are loved by God’s family. We thank you for making our children smile.” Christian parent from Indonesia.
Will you bring joy to children of the persecuted church in Indonesia?
Please donate through Voice of the Martyrs today.
Persecution in Indonesia
Over the past few years many churches in West Java have been forced to close as a result of harassment and protesting from Muslim extremists pushing for a stricter Islamic state. Voice of the Martyrs Australia will deliver Christmas Care to Christian children in West Java through a Bible school and safe house we support.
VOM contacts will also distribute Christmas Care packs to children in Sulawesi, an island where Muslim extremists have systematically targeted Christian communities.
Each $20 Christmas Care pack includes:
- a school pack (12 notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, pencil case, ruler)
- toiletries (soap, toothpaste, toothbrush)
- snacks (Vitamin C, candy bars, biscuits, noodle soup)
- He Lived Among Us Gospel booklet
- a t-shirt
- a school backpack
Sample Christmas Care Pack.
Voice of the Martyrs hopes to raise $60,000 for Christmas Care; any funds received over this amount will be used for Help for the Persecuted (where most needed).
Thirteen Three is a youth initiative of Voice of the Martyrs Australia.
October Prayer Alert: Tohar Haydarov
Tohar Haydarov is serving a 10-year prison sentence because of his faith.
Tohar Haydarov (27), has been imprisoned since his arrest in March 2010. He is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for the “illegal sale of narcotic…substances in large quantities.”
Local Christians are outraged and maintain that the authorities fabricated the evidence and he is simply being punished because of his Christian faith. They insist that police planted drugs on Tohar at the time of his arrest. According to church members, Tohar is “a man with pure conscience and an honest Christian.”
At a court date three days after his arrest, Tohar told believers that police had beaten him and forced him to sign papers. His face was swollen and he could barely walk. When he refused to renounce his faith, police allegedly planted drugs on him. Other Christians were not permitted to testify on Tohar’s behalf and the lawyer they hired for him was not allowed into the courtroom.
Prison authorities recently showed Tohar some of the many letters sent to him but he is not allowed to read them because “there are too many citations from the Bible.”
How You Can Help
1. PRAY for Tohar and other Christians who are imprisoned for their faith.
- That God will comfort and encourage Tohar, enabling him to stand firm.
- That God will protect Tohar and give him opportunities to share his faith in Christ.
- That the charges against Tohar will be dropped and that he will be released.
Use this PowerPoint to share Tohar’s story and pray for him at church, youth group or school.
2. WRITE a special note of encouragement to your persecuted brother.
Your prayers are vital and your letters of encouragement speak loudly to the authorities in Uzbekistan that Tohar Haydarov is not alone and will not be forgotten!
Print this advocacy profile and get your youth group to write to encourage Tohar Haydarov.
Youth Group Resources
Share Your Prayers: International Day of Prayer
The International Day of Prayer (IDOP) is a global prayer movement for the persecuted church. Every year in the second week of November, thousands of Christians around the world commit to pray for persecuted Christians.
SAVE THIS DATE: 7-13 November 2011
We want to see youth across Australia praying for the persecuted church during IDOP. Make prayer for persecuted Christians a regular part of your personal devotions. Share your passion for the persecuted church at your school, church or youth group and encourage your friends to be BOUND WITH THEM in prayer.
Youth Leaders: whether it’s a 5 minute prayer spot or a night devoted to teaching about persecution and prayer, we want you to be a part of this! Book IDOP into your plan for Term 4. Get your youth community on its knees to be BOUND WITH THEM in prayer.
Use the prayer resources below to help you pray for our persecuted family.
Share Your Prayers
During the week of IDOP (7-13 November), we would love you to share your prayers for persecuted Christians on Facebook and Twitter. Our vision is to see youth all over Australia speaking up for persecuted Christians. Social media is a fantastic way to do this!
If you’re on Twitter, make sure you include the hashtag #shareyourprayers so you can track what others are praying.
Take a look at the examples below to get some ideas for how you can share your prayers.
Prayer Resources
Click on the banner to read each person’s story and access resources to help you pray.
Help us spread the word about IDOP and the persecuted church. Download one of these prayer banners and put it on your website or blog.
Share Your Prayers Examples
Use these updates or come up with your own to share your prayers on Facebook and Twitter between 7-13 November 2011. Remember, if you’re on Twitter use the hashtag #shareyourprayers so you can track what others are praying for.
Praying that God will comfort Christians who are being persecuted for their love of Christ #shareyourprayers
I’m praying for persecuted Christians during the International Day of Prayer. Will you pray too? #shareyourprayers http://bit.ly/p3iUEf
Praying that Asia Bibi will be released from prison #shareyourprayers http://bit.ly/o9728e
Praying that Youcef Nadarkhani will not be executed for his faith #shareyourprayers http://bit.ly/mUvZlw
Praying that Tohar Haydarov will be released from prison #shareyourprayers http://bit.ly/qtG9wT
Connect with @thirteen_three & pray for the persecuted church #shareyourprayers
Thank you for your commitment to pray for persecuted Christians!
September Prayer Alert: Youcef Nadarkhani
Youcef Nardarkhani has been sentenced to death for his faith.
Youcef Nardarkhani is a 34-year-old pastor from Rasht, Iran, who has been sentenced to death for apostasy (turning away from Islam).
Youcef was arrested in October 2009 after he protested a government policy that required children, including his 8- and 9-year-old sons, to study the Koran in school. Youcef told school officials that Iran’s constitution allows for freedom of religious practice. He was arrested by the secret police and charged with apostasy and evangelism of Muslims. He was tried in September 2010 and sentenced to death on 13 November 2010 for apostasy.
Youcef has been held in prison where the authorities have used various methods, including medication, to convert Youcef back to Islam. But he has refused to deny his faith in Christ.
Because of his firm stand, the authorities also arrested wife, Fatemah, who was put on trial without an attorney and sentenced to life in prison. She was later released after an attorney appealed her sentence.
On 3 July 2011, following an international prayer campaign, Iran’s Supreme Court overturned Youcef’s death sentence, under the condition that he recants his Christian faith.
“The Supreme Court has annulled the death sentence and sent the case back to the court in Rasht, asking the accused to repent,” Youcef’s lawyer said.
It is not clear what will happen if he does not recant.
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remains in prison awaiting re-examination of his case. Voice of the Martyrs contacts report that he is standing firm and strong in his faith. He is even encouraging other prisoners, exhorting them to trust in the Lord.
How You Can Help
1. PRAY for Youcef and other Christians who are imprisoned for their faith.
- That Youcef will stand firm in his faith, full of joy and courage in the Lord.
- For Youcef’s case to be heard and that he will be released.
- That God will comfort, protect and encourage Youcef and his family.
- For Youcef’s attorney who is facing imprisonment for his work for religious freedom in Iran.
Use this PowerPoint to share Youcef’s story and pray for him at church, youth group or school.
2. WRITE a special note of encouragement to your persecuted brother.
Your prayers are vital and your letters of encouragement speak loudly to the authorities in Iran that Youcef Nardarkhani is not alone and will not be forgotten!
Print this advocacy profile and get your youth group to write to encourage Youcef Nardarkhani.
Youth Group Resources
Win a Free Book: Radical, by David Platt
The Thirteen Three Facebook Page hit 1,000 “likes” on Monday 29 August 2011. We’re so excited that youth around Australia are connecting with Thirteen Three to support persecuted Christians.
To celebrate, we’re giving away a free book – Radical by David Platt.
Dave Miers (Youth Pastor @ Soulies Youth) reviewed Radical for Sharing Your Faith in a Dangerous Place:
Sick of half-hearted Christianity? Read Radical by David Platt. No other book (outside of the Bible) has challenged me to take seriously the radical call to follow Jesus. His stories about persecuted Christians have encouraged me to be bolder, more hungry for the Word and prayerful for the world.
How To Enter
It’s easy to enter. Here’s how:
- Like the Thirteen Three Facebook page.
- Recommend Thirteen Three to your friends on Facebook and/or Twitter (see example below).
- Encourage your friends and family to enter as well.
Make sure you tag Thirteen Three on Facebook and @ mention Thirteen Three on Twitter (@thirteen_three) so we know you have entered. To tag Thirteen Three on Facebook, just put an “@” symbol before writing “Thirteen Three”.
Example:
“Show your support for persecuted Christians: like @Thirteen Three”
“Show your support for persecuted Christians: follow @thirteen_three”
We will randomly draw one winner on Friday 2 September 2011. The winner will be announced on Facebook and Twitter. If the winner does not claim their prize by Monday 5 September 2011, we will draw a reserve winner.
Thank You
Thanks for helping us spread the word about Thirteen Three! It’s awesome to have you along for the journey as we mobilise Australian youth to support persecuted Christians by being BOUND WITH THEM.
BOUND WITH THEM: Give
Soulies Youth in Narrabeen came up with a list of their ideas to support persecuted Christians. This inspired Thirteen Three to blog about ways for Aussie youth to be BOUND WITH THEM.
As young Australians, when a cause stirs our hearts and moves us deeply, we can’t just sit back and go on living as normal. We want to get involved. We want to get our hands dirty. We want to do something that will make a lasting impact.
When we connect with persecuted Christians who are living and dying for Christ, we are deeply changed. We see their passionate faith and joy in the midst of suffering and we can’t help but be inspired.
Once we have heard their stories, we can’t look back. We can’t ignore their pain. We must stand with them. We must speak up for them. We must support them.
This is David Low’s experience. He is a 15-year-old who did something crazy in July 2011 to support Thirteen Three. He walked over 400km from Taree to Sydney to raise money to help support underground Bible school students in Vietnam and Burma.
His initial goal was to raise $10,000 for persecuted Christians – he thought this was crazy and didn’t think he’d reach his target. But God blessed his efforts and he raised over $20,000!!
At the end of his walk, David said:
I don’t want it to end! This has been a life-changing experience for me. I can’t imagine the impact this has had.
Thirteen Three is investing in the next generation of Christian leaders in restricted nations by providing ministry training and tools. The Bible students will face persecution for their ministry, but they are willing to serve on the frontlines, trusting God to grow His Kingdom through them.
Check out David’s Walk With Them campaign and be inspired to do something to raise money for the persecuted church.
Ideas to be BOUND WITH THEM by fundraising for persecuted Christians
- Walk/Run for persecuted church
- Take up an offering
- Take a tin home (individually collect money and bring in at the end of term)
- Bake sale
- Make a song/video
- Buy wristbands and other merchandise
- Secret Church (see Soulies Underground)
- Cafe with live music
- Donate
- Thirteen Three’s Fundraising Tips
How has your youth group/school/church supported the persecuted church through fundraising? Share your experiences and ideas by leaving a comment below.
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BOUND WITH THEM: Prayer
Soulies Youth in Narrabeen came up with a list of their ideas to support persecuted Christians. This inspired Thirteen Three to blog about ways for Aussie youth to be BOUND WITH THEM.
Prayer is an essential part of the ministry of Thirteen Three and an important way for us to be BOUND WITH THEM.
God works powerfully through our prayers to protect, strengthen and encourage persecuted Christians. They don’t ask us to pray that persecution will stop, but that they will endure and continue to faithfully serve Jesus. Our prayers for their perseverance are so important and of eternal significance. Persecuted Christians teach us to depend on God in prayer every day.
So let’s lift up our prayers together, depending on God to sustain and work through our persecuted family for His glory.
Will you lift up your prayers with us?
Want to see an example where God answered our prayers for the persecuted church? Check out Said Musa’s story.
Ideas to be BOUND WITH THEM by praying for persecuted Christians
- Remind your small group via email/text
- Have sticky note reminders
- Phone reminders
- Desktop backgrounds
- iPhone Prayer App
- Facebook reminders
- Twitter – tweet your prayers
- Martyrs Wall
- Run an Event for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
- 24 hour prayer vigil
- Wear the BOUND WITH THEM wristband to remember to pray for them
- Put ‘good spam’ on facebook to keep people aware and praying
- Write something in the front of your Bible to remind you of them
- Prayer diary
- In groups: ISCF, Bible study, uni, school prayer groups
- Personal prayer – set aside time in your day
This term, Thirteen Three is starting a monthly Prayer Alert to help you pray for a particular need in the persecuted church at youth group, church or school. We’ve made it easy for you. We’ll put resources on the Thirteen Three blog (a testimony, prayer points, PPT and an advocacy template for you to write a message of encouragement). All you need to do is share the story and pray .
Would you like to be reminded about the Prayer Alert by email? Sign up to our monthly e-news and we’ll let you know when the prayer resources are up each month and you can find out about other ways that you can be BOUND WITH THEM.
We’ll also remind you about it via Facebook and twitter.
Prayer Alert for August: Asia Bibi (Pakistan), falsely imprisoned on charges of blasphemy
How has your youth group/school/church supported the persecuted church through prayer? Share your experiences and ideas by leaving a comment below.
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BOUND WITH THEM: Speak Up
Soulies Youth in Narrabeen came up with a list of their ideas to support persecuted Christians. This inspired Thirteen Three to blog about ways for Aussie youth to be BOUND WITH THEM.
One of the most important ways that we can support persecuted Christians is by sharing their stories and raising awareness about persecution.
Persecution is a reality today, but not many people are talking about it. Most people are not aware of the severity or scale of persecution against Christians.
Over 200 million Christians face persecution around the world today. Christians are discriminated against, beaten, imprisoned, and even killed in over 50 countries simply because of their faith in Christ and bold witness.
We need to know the truth about persecution, and then we need to speak about it. We need to raise our voices to speak up for Christians who are silenced in restricted nations.
Ideas to be BOUND WITH THEM by raising awareness for persecuted Christians
- Give regular persecution updates and testimonies at youth group and church
- Read newspapers/watch the news
- Keep updated
- Subscribe to Thirteen Three’s monthly E-news
- Connect with Thirteen Three on Facebook
- Follow Thirteen Three on Twitter
- Wear the BOUND WITH THEM wristband. When people ask about it, share about the persecuted church.
- Wear a t-shirt
- Spread the word at ISCF, your uni Christian group and Bible study
- Watch and share Thirteen Three videos
How has your youth group/school/church supported the persecuted church through raising awareness? Share your experiences and ideas by leaving a comment below.
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