1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,400 S1: Hi friends, this is Janet Parshall. Thanks so much for 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,160 S1: downloading this podcast, and I hope you hear something that 3 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,560 S1: will really encourage and edify you. But before you start 4 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:09,400 S1: to listen, let me take a moment of your time 5 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:11,399 S1: and tell you about this month's truth tool. It's called 6 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:14,640 S1: secure How to Have a Healthy Attachment to God. And 7 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,360 S1: it follows that very often, whatever our relationship is like 8 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:21,000 S1: with authority figures, predominantly our parents, we somehow transferred to 9 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,040 S1: how we see God. So if we have an angry parent, 10 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,319 S1: he's an angry God. If it's a distant parent, he's 11 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,520 S1: a God who's not there. I think it's important we 12 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,680 S1: understand who God really is. And in this wonderful book 13 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,760 S1: called secure, you're going to discover the character of God 14 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:37,120 S1: and how deeply in love God is with you. It's 15 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:38,839 S1: our truth tool. Our truth tools are my way of 16 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,680 S1: saying thank you because we are listener supported radio. So 17 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:45,600 S1: if you'd like a copy of secure, just call eight 7758. 18 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,760 S1: That's eight 7758. Give a gift of any amount. My 19 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:50,840 S1: way of saying thank you for supporting the program is 20 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,000 S1: I'll send you a copy of secure. You can also 21 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,480 S1: do this online at In the Market with Janet Parshall. 22 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:58,560 S1: Scroll to the bottom of the page. There's the cover 23 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,900 S1: of the book secure. Click on the photo. Go right 24 00:01:01,900 --> 00:01:03,940 S1: on through. Make your donation and we'll send you a 25 00:01:03,940 --> 00:01:06,740 S1: copy again of secure. If you want to consider becoming 26 00:01:06,740 --> 00:01:09,899 S1: a partial partner, that is the ever increasing circle of 27 00:01:09,900 --> 00:01:12,060 S1: friends who give every single month at a level of 28 00:01:12,060 --> 00:01:14,340 S1: their own choosing. And my way of saying thank you 29 00:01:14,340 --> 00:01:16,780 S1: is this you always get the truth tool for each 30 00:01:16,780 --> 00:01:18,900 S1: and every month. And in addition to that, you get 31 00:01:18,900 --> 00:01:21,860 S1: a weekly newsletter that includes some of my writing and 32 00:01:21,860 --> 00:01:24,420 S1: a little audio piece just for my partial partners. So 33 00:01:24,420 --> 00:01:27,380 S1: either way, thank you in advance for prayerfully considering the 34 00:01:27,380 --> 00:01:30,660 S1: opportunity to financially support in the market with Janet partial 35 00:01:30,660 --> 00:01:32,700 S1: and keeping it on the air now, I hope you 36 00:01:32,740 --> 00:01:34,860 S1: hear something that will encourage you to get out and 37 00:01:34,860 --> 00:01:37,819 S1: influence and occupy in the marketplace of ideas. 38 00:01:39,700 --> 00:01:41,220 S2: Here are some of the news headlines we're watching. 39 00:01:41,500 --> 00:01:43,779 S3: The conference was over. The president won a pledge. 40 00:01:43,940 --> 00:01:46,020 S4: Americans worshiping government over God. 41 00:01:46,100 --> 00:01:49,700 S5: Extremely rare safety move by a major 17 years. 42 00:01:49,700 --> 00:01:51,780 S6: The Palestinians and Israelis negotiated. 43 00:01:52,140 --> 00:02:07,400 S5: This is not. Hi friends. 44 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:09,919 S1: Welcome to In the Market with Janet Parshall. Thank you 45 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:11,919 S1: so much for choosing to spend the hour with me. 46 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:14,720 S1: Get your passports out because we're going global this hour. 47 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:16,480 S1: We're going to look at a lot of spots on 48 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,280 S1: planet Earth where you and I need to be interceding 49 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:22,959 S1: in prayer, and we work under the umbrella of the 50 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,120 S1: knowledge that the gospel changes everything. So no matter how 51 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,560 S1: many hot spots we talk about on planet Earth today 52 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,200 S1: and we will discuss a lot, just remember that the 53 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:33,880 S1: gospel doesn't just change a person, it can change a family. 54 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,840 S1: It can change a neighborhood, and it can change a country. 55 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,160 S1: And therein lies our hope. So let me focus in 56 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:41,239 S1: on Cuba, because I think so much is happening there 57 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,800 S1: that's being woefully ignored by the media and probably by 58 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,800 S1: most people who aren't following. There are so many hot 59 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:49,959 S1: spots right now, it's tough to say this is where 60 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:51,880 S1: my attention is riveted right now. But I do want 61 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:55,040 S1: to get Cuba on your radar screen. They are on 62 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:57,990 S1: the brink of one of the worst social and economic 63 00:02:57,990 --> 00:03:02,750 S1: catastrophes since the 1959 revolution. Energy sources are sparse. The 64 00:03:02,750 --> 00:03:06,350 S1: electrical grid is in tatters. Inflation is over 15%, with 65 00:03:06,350 --> 00:03:10,110 S1: the peso tumbling in value. Tropical diseases like dengue and 66 00:03:10,110 --> 00:03:13,870 S1: other viruses are surging, largely because the municipal waste system 67 00:03:13,870 --> 00:03:17,149 S1: in Havana ground to a halt last year. As many 68 00:03:17,150 --> 00:03:20,790 S1: as 2 million Cubans have left the country since 2021. 69 00:03:20,830 --> 00:03:24,350 S1: Infant mortality spiked from five per 1000 live births in 70 00:03:24,350 --> 00:03:28,549 S1: 2021 to 14 per 1000 in the late 2025, and 71 00:03:28,550 --> 00:03:33,070 S1: now revenue streams from tourism, international medical cooperation and pharmaceutical 72 00:03:33,070 --> 00:03:37,790 S1: production are all but dried up. Some 5000 Cubans volunteered 73 00:03:37,790 --> 00:03:43,470 S1: as mercenaries to fight alongside Russia against Ukraine since 2022. 74 00:03:43,510 --> 00:03:47,030 S1: In a word, Cuba is hurting. But there's always light 75 00:03:47,030 --> 00:03:50,830 S1: in the darkness. Haven today has a Spanish language daily 76 00:03:50,830 --> 00:03:54,410 S1: broadcast ministry into Cuba that's been going eight years strong. 77 00:03:54,410 --> 00:03:57,650 S1: Now it's called El Faro de Redenzione. It has become 78 00:03:57,650 --> 00:04:01,170 S1: a stronger presence in Cuba than anyone could have imagined. 79 00:04:01,170 --> 00:04:04,130 S1: And the man behind all of that is Pastor Danny Rojas, 80 00:04:04,370 --> 00:04:07,450 S1: who was born in Miami, two Cuban parents, and he 81 00:04:07,490 --> 00:04:10,170 S1: has been serving the Lord in pastoral and music ministry 82 00:04:10,170 --> 00:04:13,250 S1: for almost 30 years. Danny, thank you for taking time 83 00:04:13,290 --> 00:04:15,010 S1: out of your busy day to give us an update. 84 00:04:15,010 --> 00:04:17,050 S1: As I said before, I think so many believers aren't 85 00:04:17,050 --> 00:04:20,650 S1: even aware of what's happening in Cuba. From your pastor's heart. 86 00:04:20,690 --> 00:04:23,170 S1: Tell us what's going on and why we need to know. 87 00:04:24,850 --> 00:04:27,050 S7: Um. Hi, Janet, and thank you for having me on 88 00:04:27,050 --> 00:04:30,530 S7: the program. Um, what's going on in Cuba? Well, I mean, 89 00:04:30,570 --> 00:04:34,010 S7: I think you've you've described it pretty well, but, um, 90 00:04:34,210 --> 00:04:37,650 S7: you know, Cuba has has been going through a difficult 91 00:04:37,690 --> 00:04:43,410 S7: time for a long time since, um, Covid. Now they've 92 00:04:43,970 --> 00:04:46,409 S7: they've gotten to the point where they are repeating what 93 00:04:46,410 --> 00:04:50,930 S7: what they called before the periodo especial, the special period, 94 00:04:51,130 --> 00:04:54,710 S7: which was back when, the when the Soviet Union ceased 95 00:04:54,750 --> 00:04:57,550 S7: to be a, you know, partner, when they collapsed and, 96 00:04:57,550 --> 00:04:59,470 S7: and kind of left Cuba on their own. Cuba has 97 00:04:59,470 --> 00:05:03,790 S7: always depended on, on other countries because, you know, their 98 00:05:03,790 --> 00:05:07,789 S7: system really isn't geared for, uh, you know, for success. 99 00:05:07,790 --> 00:05:09,229 S7: As we know we don't we don't need to go 100 00:05:09,230 --> 00:05:11,590 S7: into the politics of that. But, you know, once they 101 00:05:11,589 --> 00:05:14,910 S7: were left alone, I mean, they've had partnerships with other 102 00:05:14,910 --> 00:05:19,869 S7: countries like Venezuela and Mexico has been supportive. But, um, 103 00:05:19,870 --> 00:05:21,830 S7: but they went through a really hard time in the 80s. 104 00:05:21,870 --> 00:05:25,070 S7: That's when the Mariel boatlift happened. If you guys remember that, 105 00:05:25,110 --> 00:05:29,390 S7: you know, Scarface was was kind of, uh, you know, made, 106 00:05:29,750 --> 00:05:31,470 S7: you know, to represent some of the things that happened 107 00:05:31,470 --> 00:05:34,590 S7: during that time and created an image of Cubans that 108 00:05:34,589 --> 00:05:39,510 S7: wasn't great. But anyway, um, this period that they're going 109 00:05:39,510 --> 00:05:43,229 S7: through now is as bad as or worse than that 110 00:05:43,230 --> 00:05:48,070 S7: special period in the 80s. Um, once especially once, um, 111 00:05:48,310 --> 00:05:55,089 S7: our government arrested, uh, President Maduro in Venezuela. And, and, 112 00:05:55,130 --> 00:05:58,529 S7: you know, took over the oil in, in Venezuela. They, 113 00:05:58,570 --> 00:06:02,330 S7: you know, President Trump decided to to really step things 114 00:06:02,330 --> 00:06:05,450 S7: up in terms of of, you know, our position as 115 00:06:05,450 --> 00:06:08,330 S7: a nation, you know, in regards to Cuba. You know, 116 00:06:08,370 --> 00:06:12,210 S7: Cuba was a partner with Venezuela, um, you know, Maduro. 117 00:06:12,210 --> 00:06:15,570 S7: And before him, Chavez was a big, you know, uh, 118 00:06:15,970 --> 00:06:18,930 S7: they were they were really tight with Castro and with 119 00:06:18,930 --> 00:06:21,610 S7: and then later, you know, the current government after Castro 120 00:06:21,610 --> 00:06:25,210 S7: passed away. And so Maduro's gone. The oil now is 121 00:06:25,210 --> 00:06:30,369 S7: drying up. Um, they've been having blackouts, regular blackouts for 122 00:06:30,370 --> 00:06:33,850 S7: a long time. You know, I've been with for two years. 123 00:06:33,850 --> 00:06:36,890 S7: And as long as I've been with Alfaro, um, this 124 00:06:36,890 --> 00:06:41,050 S7: has been happening. Long lines. Food that's hard to find. 125 00:06:41,290 --> 00:06:46,450 S7: Long blackouts. Um, hurricanes, earthquakes, I mean, you name it, it's. 126 00:06:46,450 --> 00:06:48,930 S7: You know, it seems like, you know, biblical judgment, even though, 127 00:06:48,970 --> 00:06:51,440 S7: you know, we're not going to we're not going to 128 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,520 S7: use that language. But that's what it feels like. And 129 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:59,440 S7: and the people in Cuba have been hurting. Um, massive, uh, 130 00:06:59,960 --> 00:07:04,560 S7: you know, numbers of people leaving the island, as you mentioned. Um, and, 131 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:08,440 S7: you know, in terms of, of the church, um, pastors 132 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:12,280 S7: leave Cuba, uh, and, and they, they can't tell anyone 133 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:14,560 S7: before they leave. So a church may, you know, get 134 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:16,480 S7: to church on a Sunday morning and find that their 135 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:19,239 S7: pastor and the family is gone, or the worship leader or, 136 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:22,640 S7: you know, or or three families, and it's just created 137 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,280 S7: such a crisis, you know, on the island for, for 138 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:28,320 S7: the church. And again, now with this, this new special 139 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:32,800 S7: period for everybody. And, you know, as you as some 140 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:34,600 S7: of some of the audience I'm sure has heard in 141 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:36,040 S7: the news, they're close to collapse. 142 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:38,000 S8: Mhm. Yeah. 143 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:42,120 S1: So Danny Sue, brothers and sisters here in the States, 144 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,760 S1: what do we do. What role can we play as 145 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:47,980 S1: we watch this. Because again this is history in the 146 00:07:48,020 --> 00:07:50,780 S1: making and it could be very catastrophic. I praise God 147 00:07:50,780 --> 00:07:53,500 S1: for the outreach of Alfaro, but what else can we 148 00:07:53,500 --> 00:07:56,580 S1: do aside from encouraging Haven today, which is what this is? 149 00:07:56,620 --> 00:07:58,940 S1: El Faro is an offshoot of that. How can we 150 00:07:58,940 --> 00:08:02,820 S1: encourage people to listen, to keep the broadcast just going 151 00:08:02,860 --> 00:08:06,260 S1: out all over Cuba? Because in darkness there's a great 152 00:08:06,260 --> 00:08:08,220 S1: light and his name is Jesus. So what role can 153 00:08:08,220 --> 00:08:08,500 S1: we play? 154 00:08:08,500 --> 00:08:09,060 S8: That's right. 155 00:08:09,660 --> 00:08:12,780 S7: That's right. Well, you know, I mean, the main the 156 00:08:12,780 --> 00:08:15,340 S7: main thing that we do that all of us can 157 00:08:15,340 --> 00:08:20,500 S7: do is pray and, um, you know, really, I was 158 00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:23,700 S7: so thankful that you invited me to come on the program, 159 00:08:23,700 --> 00:08:27,540 S7: because what I feel in my heart is this urgency 160 00:08:28,020 --> 00:08:31,580 S7: to to speak to American Christians and to say, church, 161 00:08:31,620 --> 00:08:36,140 S7: pray for Cuba. You know, pray pray for Cuba, not 162 00:08:36,140 --> 00:08:38,620 S7: just for the Cuban Christians. And and I'll give you 163 00:08:38,620 --> 00:08:41,220 S7: something to pray about in a minute. But pray for Cuba, 164 00:08:41,460 --> 00:08:45,620 S7: because this is this is something that is momentous, you know, 165 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,959 S7: if if the country does collapse or if there is 166 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:52,120 S7: a regime change, if, you know, even if even if 167 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:54,920 S7: the regime doesn't change, but there are substantial changes in 168 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:58,240 S7: the way that they they treat their people and, you know, 169 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:03,680 S7: their policies, you know, in terms of free elections and, and, um, and, 170 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,040 S7: you know, not not cracking down on dissidents the way 171 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,640 S7: that they have or protest. If even if those things 172 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:10,600 S7: change as a result of this, it's huge. But if 173 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,200 S7: it does collapse, we're talking something as momentous as the 174 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:15,000 S7: Berlin Wall. 175 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:19,080 S8: Yeah. Exactly right. Wow. That's huge. Danny, pray. 176 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:23,160 S1: Yes. Amen. And can I thank you, Danny, for coming on? Because, again, 177 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:25,720 S1: I just don't feel that Cuba is on our radar 178 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:29,079 S1: screens generally. And we understand that the gospel changes everything. 179 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,240 S1: And whenever there's tumult, there's an opportunity for change. And 180 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,600 S1: that means a greater opportunity for the spreading of the gospel. 181 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:37,440 S1: The Lord bless you and keep you, Danny, back after this, friends. 182 00:09:43,820 --> 00:09:46,540 S1: Are you constantly feeling like God is disappointed in you, 183 00:09:46,540 --> 00:09:49,300 S1: or do you feel like he's too busy for your problems? Well, 184 00:09:49,300 --> 00:09:51,740 S1: that's why I've chosen secure how to have a healthy 185 00:09:51,740 --> 00:09:54,620 S1: attachment to God as this month's truth tool. Learn to 186 00:09:54,660 --> 00:09:57,500 S1: grasp the depth of God's love for you. Ask for 187 00:09:57,500 --> 00:09:59,420 S1: your copy of secure. When you give a gift of 188 00:09:59,420 --> 00:10:03,020 S1: any amount to in the market, call 877. 58. That's 189 00:10:03,020 --> 00:10:06,100 S1: 877 Janet 58 or go to in the market with 190 00:10:06,100 --> 00:10:11,380 S1: Janet Parshall. If I neglected to tell you to pull 191 00:10:11,380 --> 00:10:13,699 S1: out your prayer list, please do it now because we 192 00:10:13,740 --> 00:10:15,940 S1: are going to lengthen it this hour. So you just 193 00:10:15,940 --> 00:10:18,660 S1: got an update on what's going on in Cuba. This 194 00:10:18,660 --> 00:10:23,180 S1: is seismic. It is an unbelievable history in the making. 195 00:10:23,179 --> 00:10:26,100 S1: And we don't know which way this will fall, if 196 00:10:26,100 --> 00:10:28,020 S1: it will fall for the betterment of the Cuban people, 197 00:10:28,020 --> 00:10:29,780 S1: or if it's going to make life more difficult. But 198 00:10:29,780 --> 00:10:32,740 S1: either way, the gospel is what sets people free. So 199 00:10:32,740 --> 00:10:35,740 S1: be praying for Cuba. Now, who among us has not 200 00:10:35,740 --> 00:10:37,980 S1: paid attention to what's going on in Iran? And I 201 00:10:37,980 --> 00:10:41,500 S1: hope you are praying daily for that situation. Our increased 202 00:10:41,500 --> 00:10:44,730 S1: military presence, says that the people in authority are definitely 203 00:10:44,730 --> 00:10:46,810 S1: talking about this. What they're not doing is talking to 204 00:10:46,850 --> 00:10:48,969 S1: the media, to which I say, thank you, Lord. You 205 00:10:49,010 --> 00:10:50,810 S1: don't check in with the media when you're going to 206 00:10:50,850 --> 00:10:55,089 S1: plan strategically to try to to tumble a regime. You 207 00:10:55,130 --> 00:10:57,250 S1: keep those kinds of details to yourself. But we know 208 00:10:57,250 --> 00:11:00,970 S1: that Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington, DC, my town right now. 209 00:11:01,090 --> 00:11:03,050 S1: And clearly this is one of the issues that's on 210 00:11:03,050 --> 00:11:06,330 S1: the table. So we have to be praying because so 211 00:11:06,330 --> 00:11:08,530 S1: many of us are saying, could you hurry? Could you hurry? 212 00:11:08,570 --> 00:11:10,890 S1: Could you hurry? You cannot have that kind of a 213 00:11:10,890 --> 00:11:14,770 S1: military presence and just say, just kidding. You have to 214 00:11:14,809 --> 00:11:18,250 S1: do something because the people are paying a price. Is 215 00:11:18,250 --> 00:11:20,490 S1: it time to get rid of the Ayatollah and the mullahs? 216 00:11:20,690 --> 00:11:23,969 S1: Iran's president said he is ashamed before the people, as 217 00:11:23,970 --> 00:11:27,490 S1: he issued a sweeping apology for the country's brutal crackdown 218 00:11:27,490 --> 00:11:31,010 S1: on protests, which have resulted in the deaths of thousands. 219 00:11:31,210 --> 00:11:34,210 S1: The president said he knew the great sorrow his words 220 00:11:34,210 --> 00:11:37,050 S1: felt by people in the protest last month, but failed 221 00:11:37,050 --> 00:11:40,090 S1: to acknowledge the hand Iranian security forces have had in 222 00:11:40,090 --> 00:11:44,830 S1: the bloodshed. Activists estimated that over 6000 people more. Than more. 223 00:11:44,870 --> 00:11:47,710 S1: Mostly protesters. I would say the number is markedly higher 224 00:11:47,710 --> 00:11:51,470 S1: than that were killed in the crackdown on dissidents through 225 00:11:51,710 --> 00:11:55,150 S1: those numbers are really very hard to verify independently. They 226 00:11:55,150 --> 00:12:00,030 S1: just had the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Republic's birth, 227 00:12:00,030 --> 00:12:02,830 S1: and the president said, we are ashamed before the people, 228 00:12:02,830 --> 00:12:05,190 S1: and we are obligated to assist all those who were 229 00:12:05,190 --> 00:12:08,910 S1: harmed in these incidents. We are not seeking confrontation with 230 00:12:08,910 --> 00:12:11,390 S1: the people. Well, it certainly looks that way. I want 231 00:12:11,429 --> 00:12:14,350 S1: to get an update. I want you to be praying diligently, 232 00:12:14,350 --> 00:12:16,750 S1: and I want you to be praying specifically, which is 233 00:12:16,750 --> 00:12:20,270 S1: why I'm thrilled that Doctor Shariah is back with us again. Well, 234 00:12:20,270 --> 00:12:22,230 S1: you talk about a man who's been called for a 235 00:12:22,230 --> 00:12:24,829 S1: time and a place in history. It is this dear man. 236 00:12:25,030 --> 00:12:28,150 S1: He is the founder of Iran Alive Ministries. He leaves 237 00:12:28,150 --> 00:12:31,630 S1: Iran when the Islamic Revolution takes place in 79. He 238 00:12:31,630 --> 00:12:34,510 S1: is a devout Muslim, comes to Christ while he's in 239 00:12:34,510 --> 00:12:38,590 S1: California working on getting a PhD in computer engineering. He 240 00:12:38,730 --> 00:12:41,650 S1: eventually leaves. That starts a church in San Jose that's 241 00:12:41,650 --> 00:12:44,610 S1: made up of hundreds of Muslim converts. Very unique. Still 242 00:12:44,610 --> 00:12:46,770 S1: one of the largest churches of its kind in the U.S. 243 00:12:46,929 --> 00:12:49,610 S1: in 2001, the Lord says, I want you to pack 244 00:12:49,610 --> 00:12:51,410 S1: up and I want you to move to Texas, and 245 00:12:51,410 --> 00:12:54,250 S1: you're going to start Iran Alive Ministries. We're using the 246 00:12:54,250 --> 00:12:58,250 S1: modern day technology of the 21st century 24 over seven. 247 00:12:58,250 --> 00:13:00,730 S1: Just let that sink in. 24 over seven. The good 248 00:13:00,730 --> 00:13:03,570 S1: News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is broadcast daily 249 00:13:03,570 --> 00:13:06,490 S1: from the United States into Iran. And as a result 250 00:13:06,490 --> 00:13:10,010 S1: of that, we are seeing that country change one soul 251 00:13:10,010 --> 00:13:12,010 S1: at a time. And when you go to their website, 252 00:13:12,010 --> 00:13:14,170 S1: one of the things I love about the website is 253 00:13:14,210 --> 00:13:16,570 S1: they have a ticker tape, and they roll every time 254 00:13:16,570 --> 00:13:18,650 S1: a decision is made, and that number now is over 255 00:13:18,650 --> 00:13:21,130 S1: six figures. We want to see a million people or 256 00:13:21,130 --> 00:13:23,970 S1: more come to faith in Jesus Christ and all of 257 00:13:23,970 --> 00:13:27,010 S1: the upheaval. Right now. It's an opportunity to do some deep, 258 00:13:27,010 --> 00:13:30,370 S1: soul searching hormones. The the warmest of welcomes. Many blessings 259 00:13:30,370 --> 00:13:32,810 S1: to you my friend. So give me. I always love 260 00:13:32,809 --> 00:13:35,010 S1: to start because you're a brilliant man. I want to 261 00:13:35,010 --> 00:13:38,270 S1: start first with what you're hearing on boots on the ground. 262 00:13:38,270 --> 00:13:41,190 S1: What's happening with the stories? Oh, the stories of what 263 00:13:41,190 --> 00:13:45,350 S1: they're doing to the protesters. Killing people in their hospital beds, 264 00:13:45,350 --> 00:13:49,910 S1: killing people, shooting specifically for the eyes with scattershot, um, 265 00:13:50,230 --> 00:13:52,830 S1: killing children. I mean, it's just awful. And of course, 266 00:13:52,830 --> 00:13:56,110 S1: trying to get substantiated numbers and facts is very difficult 267 00:13:56,110 --> 00:13:58,550 S1: because it's a closed regime. So tell me what you're hearing. 268 00:13:59,550 --> 00:14:04,190 S9: I appreciate that, Janet, and you're very gracious. We are 269 00:14:04,190 --> 00:14:07,830 S9: in touch with people of Iran daily, and we have 270 00:14:07,870 --> 00:14:12,230 S9: a daily broadcast into people's homes, talking to them and 271 00:14:12,230 --> 00:14:16,030 S9: encouraging them, giving them hope. And, you know, with the 272 00:14:16,030 --> 00:14:19,870 S9: internet off and on, we have more viewers now. So 273 00:14:20,230 --> 00:14:23,310 S9: when I look at the people of Iran after that massacre, 274 00:14:23,590 --> 00:14:29,230 S9: there is a fear, hopelessness at the same time, hope. 275 00:14:29,270 --> 00:14:32,790 S9: That's strange. One day they're very hopeful. One day they're 276 00:14:32,790 --> 00:14:37,180 S9: very hopeless. It's like a mood swing among people of Iran. 277 00:14:37,380 --> 00:14:40,820 S9: And you know what that depends on? That all depends 278 00:14:40,820 --> 00:14:44,620 S9: on Trump. What he says that day. One day he says, okay, 279 00:14:44,660 --> 00:14:48,500 S9: I'm sending the Armada. You know, I'm we're not, you know, 280 00:14:48,540 --> 00:14:53,020 S9: attack is on the table. People of Iran get hopeful. Yes. 281 00:14:53,020 --> 00:14:56,540 S9: Somebody Trump, you could do something for us. And then 282 00:14:56,540 --> 00:14:59,260 S9: the next day he says, we're going to negotiate and 283 00:14:59,260 --> 00:15:02,700 S9: brings back depression and hopelessness to the people of Iran. 284 00:15:02,940 --> 00:15:05,900 S9: Right now there are that mood swing. The streets are 285 00:15:05,900 --> 00:15:09,740 S9: not busy like before because people come on the streets, 286 00:15:10,060 --> 00:15:14,260 S9: they get killed. Just one of our members with her son. 287 00:15:14,300 --> 00:15:17,900 S9: They said she said I was going. I cleaned houses 288 00:15:17,900 --> 00:15:21,140 S9: and my son with a degree. Graduate degree. She. He 289 00:15:21,180 --> 00:15:24,340 S9: comes and cleans houses with me because there's no job. 290 00:15:24,580 --> 00:15:27,820 S9: And she said we were coming back from cleaning a 291 00:15:27,820 --> 00:15:31,740 S9: house and the police started us swearing in the streets, 292 00:15:31,740 --> 00:15:34,200 S9: and we were just cleaning and we were going back home. 293 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:38,320 S9: They beat both of us up really badly. Had a 294 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:42,480 S9: cut in my my son's head. We went home, and 295 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:46,640 S9: then the person who we cleaned house was a Christian lady. 296 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:49,560 S9: She came and visited us. She cried for us, and 297 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,680 S9: she introduced us to you. Now we are, uh. We 298 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:55,360 S9: are received a help from you. And we are Christians, 299 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:59,080 S9: so things are bad and good happening at the same time. 300 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:03,160 S9: People of Iran are just waiting to see what Trump does. 301 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:04,560 S9: That's basically it. 302 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:07,680 S1: Yeah, I think you are so spot on in your assessment. 303 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:10,240 S1: I know that the president is trying to exhaust all 304 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:14,280 S1: diplomatic means possible before him, but he also understands that 305 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:16,600 S1: this is a moment in history. We don't get these 306 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:19,880 S1: kinds of moments very often. And I think he needs 307 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,240 S1: to take advantage of this opportunity. How he does that, 308 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,280 S1: I don't know. As Shakespeare said, heavy is the head 309 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:26,720 S1: that wears the crown. I wouldn't want to be president 310 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,920 S1: for $1 million. These are very hard, difficult decisions. But 311 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:31,720 S1: I'm also cognizant of the fact that we have the 312 00:16:31,860 --> 00:16:35,500 S1: USS Abraham Lincoln in that area. That's not by accident. 313 00:16:35,500 --> 00:16:37,660 S1: I believe what he's doing is it's the carrot and 314 00:16:37,660 --> 00:16:40,940 S1: stick approach where let's exhaust all diplomatic means. But you 315 00:16:40,940 --> 00:16:43,460 S1: see those ships over there? We're on the ready, but 316 00:16:43,460 --> 00:16:45,180 S1: they can't go it alone. And that's why I think 317 00:16:45,180 --> 00:16:48,020 S1: there's part of this conversation with Israel that's happening right now. 318 00:16:48,180 --> 00:16:50,100 S1: Let me take a break. When we come back, I 319 00:16:50,100 --> 00:16:52,780 S1: would love for you to give us very, very specific 320 00:16:52,780 --> 00:16:54,940 S1: ways that we can pray. You know, when we watch 321 00:16:54,940 --> 00:16:57,420 S1: the news, if we bother to watch the news, stories 322 00:16:57,420 --> 00:17:00,060 S1: like this generally fall in what we call three minute packages. 323 00:17:00,060 --> 00:17:02,340 S1: If you're lucky, you get an eight minute expansive package, 324 00:17:02,340 --> 00:17:04,940 S1: but that's sort of a focus on a story. Iran's 325 00:17:04,940 --> 00:17:06,820 S1: on the front page. It's off the front page. It's 326 00:17:06,859 --> 00:17:08,780 S1: on the front page. It's off the front page. Then 327 00:17:08,780 --> 00:17:10,780 S1: it's closer to home. And whether or not the government 328 00:17:10,780 --> 00:17:13,740 S1: will shut down and Ice agents, etc.. But the situation 329 00:17:13,740 --> 00:17:16,659 S1: for our Iranian brothers and sisters does not follow the 330 00:17:16,660 --> 00:17:20,420 S1: news cycle. This is 24 over seven of them wondering 331 00:17:20,420 --> 00:17:23,380 S1: whether or not the regime will topple. They'll get out 332 00:17:23,420 --> 00:17:26,020 S1: under the heavy boot of a theocracy and be able 333 00:17:26,020 --> 00:17:29,419 S1: to live free in a self-governing democracy. More with the 334 00:17:29,420 --> 00:17:30,419 S1: movie right after this. 335 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:42,639 S5: Just for the record, the. 336 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:45,720 S1: US has continued to try to have talks talks with 337 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:49,280 S1: the Iranian regime and their pushback. As always, we'll talk, 338 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:51,520 S1: but we're not going to talk about nuclear power. Well, 339 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:54,120 S1: that's the sticky wicket, isn't it? That's the spinal column 340 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:56,560 S1: in all of this. In fact, a senior Revolutionary Guard 341 00:17:56,560 --> 00:18:00,520 S1: says that Iran will abandon ceasefire talks if attacked. Well, 342 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:02,600 S1: they pretty much abandon them now because they don't want 343 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,880 S1: to get into the issue of nuclear power. Doctor, Shahriyar 344 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:07,920 S1: is with us. Of course they'll tell you. It's about power. 345 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:11,119 S1: It's really about defense, which means nuclear warheads, which means 346 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:14,640 S1: that entire part of the world is unstable. Doctor, Shahriyar 347 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,280 S1: is with us. He is the founder of Iran Alive Ministries, 348 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:21,040 S1: a prescient ministry so crucially important for the days in 349 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:23,560 S1: which we live. Don't take your eyes off the Middle East. 350 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:25,520 S1: Keep your eyes on Israel. Keep your eyes on Iran, 351 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,920 S1: and keep the Bible in your other hand so that 352 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,110 S1: you can begin to see how history is being made 353 00:18:30,109 --> 00:18:33,629 S1: before our eyes. So I want very practical ways. I 354 00:18:33,630 --> 00:18:36,510 S1: think God loves specific and practical prayers. And for a 355 00:18:36,510 --> 00:18:38,869 S1: lot of people, you know, they have this majority spy 356 00:18:38,910 --> 00:18:41,830 S1: report attitude. They're giants in the land. I'm just a grasshopper. 357 00:18:41,830 --> 00:18:43,470 S1: How am I supposed to pray about these things? Well, 358 00:18:43,470 --> 00:18:45,950 S1: let's make them part of the minority spy report and 359 00:18:45,950 --> 00:18:48,470 S1: understand that with God, all things are possible. How do 360 00:18:48,470 --> 00:18:51,630 S1: we pray now in the West for what's happening in Iran? 361 00:18:53,230 --> 00:18:58,190 S9: Good question. You have to first understand the power of prayer, 362 00:18:58,230 --> 00:19:01,990 S9: the authority we have in prayer. And God has given 363 00:19:01,990 --> 00:19:05,909 S9: us that the authority to use his name. And we 364 00:19:05,950 --> 00:19:08,989 S9: have seen that those who have been praying for the 365 00:19:08,990 --> 00:19:12,710 S9: Middle East, for the 1040 window, the last 40, 50 years, 366 00:19:12,910 --> 00:19:15,590 S9: they should be encouraged, because when you look at the 367 00:19:15,590 --> 00:19:19,110 S9: 1040 window and you cross to make the crosses, you 368 00:19:19,109 --> 00:19:22,709 S9: go to the center. That's Iran. Because of those 40, 369 00:19:22,750 --> 00:19:26,830 S9: 50 years, Iran is open to the gospel. And sometimes 370 00:19:26,830 --> 00:19:28,730 S9: we you feel the old prayer is the last thing 371 00:19:28,730 --> 00:19:31,129 S9: I will do. No, it's the first thing you do. 372 00:19:31,330 --> 00:19:34,090 S9: It's the Air Force. You have to win in the 373 00:19:34,130 --> 00:19:37,250 S9: power of the air before you move on the ground. 374 00:19:37,410 --> 00:19:41,410 S9: So I encourage you to pray against the the Prince 375 00:19:41,410 --> 00:19:44,090 S9: of Persia, number one, and the spirit of Islam, which 376 00:19:44,090 --> 00:19:49,490 S9: is spirit of murder, spirit of deception, and the spirit 377 00:19:49,490 --> 00:19:53,530 S9: of death. Just opposite of what Jesus is. So with 378 00:19:53,570 --> 00:19:57,970 S9: his authority, we pray and know that your prayers is working. 379 00:19:58,010 --> 00:20:01,010 S9: That's why Iran is becoming a Christian nation and will 380 00:20:01,010 --> 00:20:05,290 S9: be because of that. So don't give up. Let's pray. 381 00:20:05,530 --> 00:20:09,210 S9: We are sharing the gospel. You pray and we will 382 00:20:09,250 --> 00:20:13,730 S9: win the game because it's a Jeremiah 4938 God has 383 00:20:13,730 --> 00:20:18,250 S9: promised that we will win Iran for Christ. Let's join 384 00:20:18,250 --> 00:20:22,370 S9: together and make history in Iran. Iranians are open. Many 385 00:20:22,369 --> 00:20:26,550 S9: are coming to Christ. Janet, just just last yesterday, somebody 386 00:20:26,550 --> 00:20:30,190 S9: was telling me, hey, my my friend or my relative 387 00:20:30,230 --> 00:20:33,429 S9: who was so against me was a devout Muslim. Six 388 00:20:33,430 --> 00:20:35,350 S9: months ago he said, I'm going to turn you in. 389 00:20:35,350 --> 00:20:40,030 S9: I'm going to turn you in. Yesterday, after this massacre, 390 00:20:40,310 --> 00:20:43,870 S9: he called me. He said, tell me about Jesus. So 391 00:20:43,910 --> 00:20:47,710 S9: through all this suffering, people are opening up to Christ 392 00:20:47,710 --> 00:20:48,470 S9: even more. 393 00:20:48,710 --> 00:20:48,990 S8: Wow. 394 00:20:49,030 --> 00:20:49,990 S9: Praise the Lord. 395 00:20:50,350 --> 00:20:52,510 S1: That's so interesting. You should bring that point up. Because 396 00:20:52,510 --> 00:20:54,310 S1: I was going to say the last time we were together, 397 00:20:54,790 --> 00:20:57,470 S1: you said that this really is an opportunity when there's 398 00:20:57,470 --> 00:21:00,830 S1: such instability and such unrest, where do you put your hope? 399 00:21:00,830 --> 00:21:02,669 S1: What do you hang on to in the midst of 400 00:21:02,670 --> 00:21:05,750 S1: this unknown from day to day, almost hour by hour. 401 00:21:05,990 --> 00:21:08,270 S1: So in many respects, in the midst of this darkness, 402 00:21:08,270 --> 00:21:13,190 S1: this is an unbelievably rich opportunity to talk about Jesus. 403 00:21:13,190 --> 00:21:15,590 S1: You've talked about walking away from Islam for so many 404 00:21:15,630 --> 00:21:17,630 S1: Iranians because they're tired of it. They've had the heavy 405 00:21:17,630 --> 00:21:19,830 S1: boot on their neck. They don't want it anymore. They 406 00:21:19,830 --> 00:21:22,350 S1: then stepped into atheism. Atheism left with a hole in 407 00:21:22,390 --> 00:21:24,930 S1: their heart. And then the next question was, well, there 408 00:21:24,930 --> 00:21:27,170 S1: has to be something that gives me hope. And they're 409 00:21:27,170 --> 00:21:30,129 S1: beginning to turn in record numbers to Christ, which I 410 00:21:30,130 --> 00:21:33,770 S1: think is it's a it's a heavenly paradox because you've 411 00:21:33,770 --> 00:21:37,010 S1: got the theocracy, you've got the mullahs, you've got the ayatollah, 412 00:21:37,290 --> 00:21:39,929 S1: all of them bearing down again, all the reason they're 413 00:21:39,930 --> 00:21:41,970 S1: hanging on to their nuclear weapons is because if it's 414 00:21:41,970 --> 00:21:44,690 S1: part of their eschatology, it's the only way the Mahdi, 415 00:21:44,730 --> 00:21:47,810 S1: their Messiah, will come into being, they think, is by 416 00:21:47,850 --> 00:21:50,450 S1: total eradication of the little and the great Satan, Israel 417 00:21:50,450 --> 00:21:54,210 S1: and the United States, respectively. So this is a theological war, 418 00:21:54,210 --> 00:21:55,850 S1: is it not? Do we have to understand this in 419 00:21:55,890 --> 00:21:57,409 S1: terms of spiritual warfare? 420 00:22:00,090 --> 00:22:05,290 S9: It is. They believe killing is for the sake of 421 00:22:05,330 --> 00:22:09,370 S9: the glory of Allah. Just that the last few weeks 422 00:22:09,369 --> 00:22:12,450 S9: I never I didn't realize this verse is in Qur'an. 423 00:22:12,770 --> 00:22:17,250 S9: The Iranian government is using a verse that says that 424 00:22:17,609 --> 00:22:22,790 S9: killing is better than dissident, which means if you talk 425 00:22:22,830 --> 00:22:27,149 S9: against the government, you're doing the worst thing. Worse than killing. 426 00:22:27,150 --> 00:22:30,710 S9: So we're killing you is is better than what you 427 00:22:30,710 --> 00:22:33,310 S9: do to us, which is, you know, coming on the 428 00:22:33,310 --> 00:22:37,230 S9: streets and protest. They're using that verse in Quran to 429 00:22:37,270 --> 00:22:41,990 S9: kill these people and telling their own police. And those guards, 430 00:22:42,030 --> 00:22:44,710 S9: telling them what you're doing is better than what they do. 431 00:22:44,990 --> 00:22:48,430 S9: You're killing, according to Quran, is better than what they 432 00:22:48,430 --> 00:22:51,669 S9: do coming on the streets and protests. So they're using 433 00:22:51,670 --> 00:22:57,109 S9: Quranic verses to justify their killing. And they believe, uh, 434 00:22:57,150 --> 00:23:01,989 S9: that Mahdi will come back, uh, when they try to 435 00:23:02,030 --> 00:23:03,990 S9: take over the world. And they cannot there is a 436 00:23:03,990 --> 00:23:09,550 S9: war there. So the theology encourages them to use violence. 437 00:23:09,590 --> 00:23:13,670 S9: Let me share this with you. What Trump is doing 438 00:23:13,670 --> 00:23:15,790 S9: or will do or will not do. But if he 439 00:23:15,830 --> 00:23:18,750 S9: helps Iran, he's not going to just help Iran. He's 440 00:23:18,750 --> 00:23:22,140 S9: helping Israel and not Israel. He's helping the whole world 441 00:23:22,180 --> 00:23:26,060 S9: because this regime. Just think about it. The theology they have, 442 00:23:26,060 --> 00:23:29,580 S9: once they have the atomic bomb, they're going to use 443 00:23:29,580 --> 00:23:32,940 S9: it against other countries. They will if they did this 444 00:23:32,940 --> 00:23:36,780 S9: to their own people. Massacre. They have no problem using 445 00:23:37,140 --> 00:23:41,020 S9: the atomic bomb to against any, any country in the world. 446 00:23:41,020 --> 00:23:43,980 S9: So what Trump is doing is not just doing probably 447 00:23:43,980 --> 00:23:46,540 S9: a favor to Iranians. He is doing a favor to 448 00:23:46,580 --> 00:23:47,420 S9: the whole world. 449 00:23:47,460 --> 00:23:50,100 S1: Oh, couldn't agree more. And in fact, it's interesting. We 450 00:23:50,100 --> 00:23:54,460 S1: were just talking about the crisis that's percolating in Cuba 451 00:23:54,460 --> 00:23:57,659 S1: right now. Their connection with Venezuela. Folks, you got to 452 00:23:57,660 --> 00:24:00,500 S1: learn to think globally on this. So you've got Cuba 453 00:24:00,540 --> 00:24:04,500 S1: being influenced by Venezuela. Venezuela is inexorably connected to Iran. 454 00:24:04,500 --> 00:24:07,659 S1: Iran is inexorably connected to Russia. You see all of 455 00:24:07,660 --> 00:24:11,260 S1: this movement. I loved what you said about praying against 456 00:24:11,260 --> 00:24:14,620 S1: the Prince of Persia and praying against the principalities that 457 00:24:14,619 --> 00:24:17,060 S1: are rampant right now. Listen, greater is he that is 458 00:24:17,060 --> 00:24:18,800 S1: in us than he that is in the world. So 459 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:22,320 S1: we need to be praying specifically for courage, for steadfastness, 460 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:24,879 S1: for our brothers and sisters in Iran, for open hearts, 461 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:27,719 S1: for those who don't yet know, for wisdom, for those 462 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:31,639 S1: in authority, because they understand this is a big stakes game. 463 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:35,360 S1: And pray for Doctor Herman in Iran alive and support them. 464 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:37,960 S1: I've got a link to their website on mine. God's 465 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:48,879 S1: blessings to you back after this. Ministry is never a 466 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,080 S1: solo effort. You know my voice because I'm on the 467 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:53,600 S1: radio every day. Look a little further and you'd see 468 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,560 S1: right into the homes of listeners just like you. Partial 469 00:24:56,560 --> 00:25:00,000 S1: partners who give a monthly gift and make this ministry available. 470 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:02,360 S1: Become a member of the team today by becoming a 471 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:07,439 S1: partial partner. Call eight 7758 or go online to in 472 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:14,960 S1: the market with Janet parshall.org. Well, are you ready for 473 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,619 S1: some more? Okay. We've talked about Cuba. We've talked about Iran. 474 00:25:17,619 --> 00:25:20,060 S1: Now we're going to fly over. Generally, the state of 475 00:25:20,060 --> 00:25:22,260 S1: some of the churches that are being persecuted right now. 476 00:25:22,260 --> 00:25:25,020 S1: And as we speak, they are. And nobody knows this 477 00:25:25,020 --> 00:25:27,420 S1: better than Todd Nettleton, who's been traveling the globe for 478 00:25:27,420 --> 00:25:29,820 S1: the cause of the cross for decades. I am so 479 00:25:29,820 --> 00:25:32,260 S1: grateful for the work he does at voice of the martyrs. 480 00:25:32,260 --> 00:25:36,940 S1: Love that ministry. He's vice president of message for vom USA. 481 00:25:36,980 --> 00:25:40,100 S1: He's the host of their Absolutely Fabulous radio program, and 482 00:25:40,100 --> 00:25:42,540 S1: he's a wonderful author. I've put it on my website 483 00:25:42,540 --> 00:25:45,700 S1: for your perusal. When faith is forbidden 40 days on 484 00:25:45,700 --> 00:25:48,659 S1: the front lines with persecuted Christians. It's like riding in 485 00:25:48,660 --> 00:25:51,300 S1: the passenger seat with Todd as he travels through the 486 00:25:51,300 --> 00:25:53,859 S1: globe with the persecuted church is an absolutely fascinating read. 487 00:25:53,900 --> 00:25:56,939 S1: Don't forget persecution. Com uh, one of the things I 488 00:25:56,940 --> 00:25:59,540 S1: love about Vom is the myriad of resources they have. 489 00:25:59,540 --> 00:26:03,699 S1: They're just fabulous. But the free monthly magazine is superb. 490 00:26:03,700 --> 00:26:05,580 S1: It's a great way to get to know the ministry, 491 00:26:05,820 --> 00:26:07,699 S1: and to open your eyes to what's happening to the 492 00:26:07,700 --> 00:26:10,340 S1: persecuted church. I'll say it again. It's the mom and me. 493 00:26:10,619 --> 00:26:13,139 S1: You can use this for your family devotions together. You 494 00:26:13,140 --> 00:26:14,859 S1: can use it in your private prayer time to be 495 00:26:14,859 --> 00:26:16,960 S1: praying for the persecuted church. You could use it in 496 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:19,120 S1: your small group and pastors, if you were to mention 497 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:21,760 S1: it from the front, you'd notch up the importance for 498 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:26,520 S1: your sheep to start praying for the persecuted church. Persecution. Persecution. 499 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:29,520 S1: Com to sign up for their free monthly newsletter, there's 500 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:31,640 S1: just something about looking into the faces of those who 501 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:34,359 S1: said yes, Lord, and are paying a price that serves 502 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:36,800 S1: to really wake you up from your sleepy state. That's 503 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:39,160 S1: why Paul goes wake up O sleeper. More than once 504 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:42,760 S1: in the book, we're going to start with Ethiopia. Todd. Uh, boy, 505 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:44,680 S1: this is fresh off the presses, if you can put 506 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:46,119 S1: it that way. What happened on Monday? 507 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:49,679 S10: It is very fresh. It just happened on Monday. There 508 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,760 S10: were a group of Christians in a in a market 509 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:56,400 S10: like an open outdoor market, using the opportunity to share 510 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:59,760 S10: the gospel. Uh, this was in a city, a little 511 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:03,720 S10: small village, about two hours from Addis Ababa, the capital city, 512 00:27:04,040 --> 00:27:07,160 S10: when they were in the middle of sharing the gospel, 513 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:11,440 S10: talking to people, some angry Muslims arrived at the market 514 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:14,750 S10: and began to beat them. Two of them were injured 515 00:27:14,750 --> 00:27:16,429 S10: to the point they had to go to the hospital 516 00:27:16,470 --> 00:27:20,230 S10: with head injuries. And I saw one sent a picture 517 00:27:20,230 --> 00:27:24,109 S10: of blood running down his head. And it was very, uh, 518 00:27:24,109 --> 00:27:26,990 S10: kind of graphic of of what they had gone through. 519 00:27:27,230 --> 00:27:29,470 S10: I have not heard since Monday, so I don't know 520 00:27:29,470 --> 00:27:32,150 S10: if they're hospitalized or if it was one of those 521 00:27:32,150 --> 00:27:36,190 S10: treat and release situations. Uh, but this is just another 522 00:27:36,190 --> 00:27:39,710 S10: example of what it looks like when you say, I'm 523 00:27:39,750 --> 00:27:41,670 S10: going to do what Jesus told me to do. I'm 524 00:27:41,670 --> 00:27:44,350 S10: going to go and talk to other people about him 525 00:27:44,710 --> 00:27:47,070 S10: in a place where there are enemies of the gospel 526 00:27:47,070 --> 00:27:49,590 S10: who are active and who want to stop the spread 527 00:27:49,590 --> 00:27:53,429 S10: of the gospel. And certainly in parts of Ethiopia, especially 528 00:27:53,430 --> 00:27:57,270 S10: parts that are heavily Islamic. Uh, there are many times 529 00:27:57,270 --> 00:27:59,670 S10: where this happens, where there is that push back. If 530 00:27:59,670 --> 00:28:02,389 S10: you're going to share the gospel, we're going to push back. 531 00:28:02,670 --> 00:28:06,110 S10: And on Monday, that resulted in two evangelists being hospitalized. 532 00:28:06,150 --> 00:28:06,510 S8: Wow. 533 00:28:06,550 --> 00:28:10,629 S1: Well, I am fascinated by Ethiopia because of acts eight. 534 00:28:10,670 --> 00:28:13,650 S1: You know, there's Philip, who meets the Ethiopian eunuch, and boom, 535 00:28:13,650 --> 00:28:16,410 S1: the gospel gets taken down to Ethiopia. That's just part 536 00:28:16,410 --> 00:28:19,250 S1: of our church history. You've taught us over the years, Todd, 537 00:28:19,250 --> 00:28:22,290 S1: that there's a distinction between the official governmental position and 538 00:28:22,290 --> 00:28:24,730 S1: what the Marauders do on their own, with or without 539 00:28:24,730 --> 00:28:28,689 S1: government sanction. So where is the government in terms of 540 00:28:28,690 --> 00:28:31,290 S1: religious liberty if there is such a thing in Ethiopia? 541 00:28:31,770 --> 00:28:36,129 S10: Uh. Great question. Typically, persecution is not coming from the 542 00:28:36,130 --> 00:28:39,690 S10: government in Ethiopia. Typically it is coming either from Muslims 543 00:28:39,690 --> 00:28:44,250 S10: and oftentimes, honestly, that's Muslim family members. I remember meeting 544 00:28:44,290 --> 00:28:48,810 S10: being there and meeting some really young kids, 18, 19 545 00:28:48,810 --> 00:28:50,730 S10: years old, who had been kicked out of their own 546 00:28:50,730 --> 00:28:54,770 S10: homes by their families because they were followers of Jesus Christ. 547 00:28:54,770 --> 00:28:58,050 S10: They were not Muslims anymore. So oftentimes it is that 548 00:28:58,090 --> 00:29:00,610 S10: sort of at the village level, at the family level, 549 00:29:00,610 --> 00:29:04,330 S10: that that persecution happens. But typically it is not the 550 00:29:04,330 --> 00:29:07,330 S10: Ethiopian government that is that is driving any of this. 551 00:29:07,370 --> 00:29:08,170 S8: Wow. Well. 552 00:29:08,450 --> 00:29:10,550 S1: You know, isn't it interesting? And you want to be careful. 553 00:29:10,550 --> 00:29:12,390 S1: And I don't want to make a broad brush statement, 554 00:29:12,390 --> 00:29:15,950 S1: but time after time after time and history underscores this. 555 00:29:16,310 --> 00:29:20,110 S1: Islam is advanced by the sword. It isn't advanced by 556 00:29:20,110 --> 00:29:23,790 S1: winsome persuasion. And that's imperative. So you have to go 557 00:29:23,790 --> 00:29:27,990 S1: after pastors and club them because they they represent a 558 00:29:27,990 --> 00:29:30,630 S1: threat to your worldview. And it isn't just Ethiopia. This 559 00:29:30,630 --> 00:29:32,190 S1: is what you see globally, do we not? 560 00:29:32,630 --> 00:29:35,990 S10: We see it. And especially on the continent of Africa, 561 00:29:36,030 --> 00:29:39,950 S10: it seems like that line of radical Islam moves further 562 00:29:39,950 --> 00:29:44,230 S10: and further south every single year. And when when that 563 00:29:44,230 --> 00:29:47,510 S10: line meets sort of the press of radical Islam moving 564 00:29:47,510 --> 00:29:50,190 S10: further south, as you say it is, it is not 565 00:29:50,190 --> 00:29:55,390 S10: through winsome conversation and and logical explanations of what Islam teaches. 566 00:29:55,550 --> 00:29:58,430 S10: It is you will become a muslim or else. And 567 00:29:58,430 --> 00:30:01,950 S10: you certainly won't talk to Muslims about becoming anything else, 568 00:30:01,950 --> 00:30:06,030 S10: or else we will respond to that. And as you 569 00:30:06,030 --> 00:30:08,690 S10: say it, it spreads at the tip of a sword. 570 00:30:08,730 --> 00:30:11,130 S1: Yeah, exactly. Well. Can I get up on my soapbox 571 00:30:11,130 --> 00:30:13,650 S1: here in Washington, D.C., for a minute? Let's talk about 572 00:30:13,650 --> 00:30:16,490 S1: the State Department. Now, the State Department is filled with 573 00:30:16,490 --> 00:30:18,930 S1: all kinds of employees. The people at the top are 574 00:30:18,930 --> 00:30:20,770 S1: the ones that are picked by the president. But you 575 00:30:20,770 --> 00:30:24,690 S1: have lifers that have served in government in the State Department. Um, 576 00:30:24,690 --> 00:30:26,850 S1: I know because it was through the State Department that 577 00:30:26,850 --> 00:30:29,890 S1: I served a previous administration to represent the U.S. at 578 00:30:29,890 --> 00:30:32,890 S1: the United Nations when they were having a conference on 579 00:30:32,890 --> 00:30:36,330 S1: women for a few weeks. And I learned firsthand how 580 00:30:36,370 --> 00:30:40,370 S1: deeply entrenched worldviews are, and not all of them are 581 00:30:40,410 --> 00:30:43,770 S1: necessarily like minded. With the current administration, very often they're 582 00:30:43,770 --> 00:30:46,930 S1: at odds with the current administration. What they didn't do 583 00:30:46,930 --> 00:30:51,650 S1: is release an annual report on international religious freedom in 2025. 584 00:30:51,850 --> 00:30:53,850 S1: I do not know for the life of me why 585 00:30:53,850 --> 00:30:56,570 S1: that did not happen now. To his credit, the president 586 00:30:56,570 --> 00:30:59,130 S1: did point out that Nigeria is now a country of 587 00:30:59,410 --> 00:31:01,770 S1: particular concern. You. And I've been talking about this for years. 588 00:31:01,970 --> 00:31:05,290 S1: And anybody who's on any social platforms, if you're following this, 589 00:31:05,290 --> 00:31:07,000 S1: there are a lot of people who post on X 590 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:09,680 S1: about this and they should be. It is genocide. It 591 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:12,720 S1: is barbaric. It is demonic. But putting it on truth 592 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:15,520 S1: social does not make it an official position of the administration. 593 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:16,280 S1: What gives? 594 00:31:17,880 --> 00:31:21,440 S10: Great question and I wish I knew the answer this. 595 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:25,480 S10: This report was mandated by the International Religious Freedom Act. 596 00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:27,680 S10: So Congress passed a law that said every year the 597 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:30,440 S10: State Department is going to issue a report. This is 598 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:33,840 S10: when they designate, okay, these are the countries of particular concern. 599 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:36,920 S10: These are the special watch list countries. These are the 600 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:40,400 S10: entities of particular concern. And you know, here's the thing 601 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:43,840 S10: that struck me is this didn't happen in 2024 either. 602 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:46,160 S10: And and I just kind of assumed I think everyone 603 00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:48,479 S10: kind of assumed, well, you know, the Biden administration is 604 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:50,840 S10: coming to an end. The Trump administration is coming in. 605 00:31:50,840 --> 00:31:52,960 S10: So they just didn't do this because it was going 606 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:55,360 S10: to hand it off to a new administration. Well, then 607 00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:57,680 S10: it didn't happen in 2025 either. And you're like, wait 608 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:00,200 S10: a minute. Okay, so now we're two years in a 609 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:03,520 S10: row that the State Department hasn't issued this report, which again, 610 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:06,340 S10: is mandated by law that they're going to do this. 611 00:32:07,020 --> 00:32:10,420 S10: And you start to wonder, like, is this a priority 612 00:32:10,460 --> 00:32:13,740 S10: for the administration? Is this a priority for the State Department, 613 00:32:13,740 --> 00:32:16,100 S10: for the leadership at the State Department? Why aren't they 614 00:32:16,140 --> 00:32:19,260 S10: talking about religious freedom? Why aren't they issuing this report? 615 00:32:19,580 --> 00:32:22,140 S10: I saw a news release last week that the US 616 00:32:22,140 --> 00:32:26,140 S10: Commission on International Religious Freedom, which makes recommendations to the 617 00:32:26,140 --> 00:32:29,860 S10: State Department, they're getting ready to issue their annual report now. 618 00:32:29,900 --> 00:32:31,940 S10: They did that last year, and then the State Department 619 00:32:31,940 --> 00:32:35,060 S10: didn't do anything. So I'm interested to see this year 620 00:32:35,060 --> 00:32:37,140 S10: if that sort of leads into, okay, now the State 621 00:32:37,140 --> 00:32:40,060 S10: Department's going to do something, or if this is sort 622 00:32:40,100 --> 00:32:42,580 S10: of fallen off of the sort of on the back 623 00:32:42,620 --> 00:32:45,460 S10: burner as far as. And again, the thing that I 624 00:32:45,460 --> 00:32:47,940 S10: don't understand is that the law says the State Department 625 00:32:47,940 --> 00:32:50,060 S10: has to do this. It's not an optional thing. It's 626 00:32:50,060 --> 00:32:53,100 S10: a you will. And yet it hasn't happened for the 627 00:32:53,100 --> 00:32:55,780 S10: last two years under two different administrations. 628 00:32:55,820 --> 00:32:56,540 S8: Yeah. Wow. 629 00:32:56,700 --> 00:32:58,980 S1: And not to muddy the waters, but we also have 630 00:32:58,980 --> 00:33:02,540 S1: the Religious liberty commission that deals with religious liberty in 631 00:33:02,540 --> 00:33:05,960 S1: our country. They had a meeting on Monday. It devolved 632 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:10,080 S1: into a screed with one member going postal, for lack 633 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:13,240 S1: of a better word, against the nation of Israel, and 634 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:16,840 S1: spouting that her particular theology and worldview doesn't believe that 635 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:20,360 S1: Israel is the fulfillment of prophecy. She has since been 636 00:33:20,400 --> 00:33:23,560 S1: asked to leave the commission because she was so disruptive. 637 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:27,120 S1: So when it comes to these religious liberty commissions, you know, 638 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:31,200 S1: there's there's nothing more important and nothing more pointed than 639 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:33,880 S1: a biblical worldview. And I'm not surprised that some of 640 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:35,920 S1: this happens, but we can use our voices on this, 641 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:38,640 S1: by the way, we can tell our members of Congress, listen, 642 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:40,720 S1: ask the State Department to issue this. Now, it's been 643 00:33:40,720 --> 00:33:42,520 S1: two years in a row that they haven't done it. 644 00:33:42,560 --> 00:33:46,760 S1: 2022213121I say that a thousand times. Put it as sticky 645 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:49,200 S1: on your desktop. Put it on your refrigerator. Put it 646 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:51,840 S1: in your rapid dial on your phone. That's your hotline 647 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:54,520 S1: to Washington, D.C. and you can if you don't know 648 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:56,880 S1: who your representative or senator is, don't worry about it. 649 00:33:56,880 --> 00:33:59,440 S1: They do. They get calls like this a thousand plus 650 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:01,980 S1: times a day. Tell them what state you're from. Ask 651 00:34:01,980 --> 00:34:04,620 S1: to be directed to the right offices. And remember, first 652 00:34:04,660 --> 00:34:07,660 S1: you represent a king, not just your opinion. And then, 653 00:34:07,660 --> 00:34:10,460 S1: in a winsome way, register your concern and say, listen, 654 00:34:10,460 --> 00:34:14,300 S1: I feel that that international religious freedom report is extremely important. 655 00:34:14,300 --> 00:34:16,500 S1: You have not released it in two years. What could 656 00:34:16,500 --> 00:34:20,060 S1: you do to mandate? Because, as Todd said, rightfully, this 657 00:34:20,060 --> 00:34:22,259 S1: is a directive. This is a legal directive. They have 658 00:34:22,260 --> 00:34:25,660 S1: to release this report. Could you please release that report? 659 00:34:25,660 --> 00:34:28,060 S1: It is important. So for people who don't know Todd 660 00:34:28,060 --> 00:34:31,580 S1: or just think of we're loving bureaucrats in Washington and anything, 661 00:34:31,580 --> 00:34:34,060 S1: but why is this report important? 662 00:34:35,100 --> 00:34:37,259 S10: One of the things that this report does and I 663 00:34:37,260 --> 00:34:41,100 S10: mentioned this, it identifies the country of particular concern that 664 00:34:41,100 --> 00:34:44,660 S10: opens up a whole toolbox for the administration to use 665 00:34:44,860 --> 00:34:49,020 S10: to then sort of nudge that country toward more religious freedom. And, 666 00:34:49,060 --> 00:34:52,299 S10: and the toolbox includes some carrots and some sticks that 667 00:34:52,300 --> 00:34:55,219 S10: the administration can bring to bear to say, hey, we 668 00:34:55,260 --> 00:34:58,259 S10: want to see improvement on this. We want to see 669 00:34:58,260 --> 00:35:01,890 S10: these Christian pastors in prison released. We want to see 670 00:35:01,930 --> 00:35:05,210 S10: churches not burned down in your country. So it it 671 00:35:05,250 --> 00:35:08,050 S10: really does make a difference when the State Department says 672 00:35:08,050 --> 00:35:11,890 S10: this is a country of particular concern. It also establishes 673 00:35:11,890 --> 00:35:15,490 S10: that religious freedom is something we pay attention to in 674 00:35:15,489 --> 00:35:18,090 S10: our relationships with other countries. We're not just going to 675 00:35:18,130 --> 00:35:20,450 S10: sit down at the table and talk about money, or 676 00:35:20,489 --> 00:35:22,930 S10: talk about arms deals, or talk about whatever we're going 677 00:35:22,969 --> 00:35:25,649 S10: to talk about. How are you treating religious minorities in 678 00:35:25,650 --> 00:35:28,609 S10: your country? Exactly. Part of that is this report that 679 00:35:28,610 --> 00:35:31,090 S10: comes out every year, and it makes it a topic 680 00:35:31,090 --> 00:35:32,410 S10: of those conversations. 681 00:35:32,450 --> 00:35:34,489 S1: Boy, did you say that. Well, Todd, it really it's 682 00:35:34,489 --> 00:35:37,529 S1: a trigger mechanism. And once it's officially categorized and it 683 00:35:37,530 --> 00:35:39,730 S1: opens the floodgates to do a myriad of things. But 684 00:35:39,730 --> 00:35:42,049 S1: here's the part behind the curtain. And it's why so 685 00:35:42,050 --> 00:35:44,609 S1: many people hold their nose. Whenever you talk about politics. 686 00:35:44,850 --> 00:35:48,130 S1: It's never just from line A to line B, it's 687 00:35:48,130 --> 00:35:51,450 S1: always playing 4D chest. So do you not talk about 688 00:35:51,489 --> 00:35:54,649 S1: India and the atrocities they're committing there against Christians, because 689 00:35:54,650 --> 00:35:56,730 S1: you want to have a better trade deal? Do you 690 00:35:56,730 --> 00:35:59,790 S1: not talk about the CCP, Communist China, because you want 691 00:35:59,830 --> 00:36:02,549 S1: to keep the economic ebb and flow there. So it 692 00:36:02,550 --> 00:36:06,510 S1: isn't just recognizing objective facts about here's what you're doing. 693 00:36:06,750 --> 00:36:09,630 S1: This is a denigration of religious freedom. You must stop. 694 00:36:09,750 --> 00:36:11,549 S1: And then thinking, oh, but wait a minute, it might 695 00:36:11,550 --> 00:36:14,910 S1: impact my cell phone contracts. So pray for those in 696 00:36:14,910 --> 00:36:17,390 S1: authority and pray that the State Department releases this. And 697 00:36:17,390 --> 00:36:19,430 S1: then after you're done praying, use the voice of the 698 00:36:19,430 --> 00:36:22,190 S1: Lord gave you. Call your representatives and say, we'd love that. 699 00:36:22,190 --> 00:36:26,350 S1: International Religious Freedom Report released in 2026. More with Todd 700 00:36:26,350 --> 00:36:27,550 S1: Nettleton right after this. 701 00:36:31,030 --> 00:36:32,630 S11: I will be faithful. 702 00:36:48,710 --> 00:36:51,469 S1: We're visiting with Todd Nettleton from voice of the martyrs. 703 00:36:51,469 --> 00:36:53,950 S1: So very grateful. He joins us monthly to give us 704 00:36:53,950 --> 00:36:57,009 S1: an update on the persecuted church. So don't lose track 705 00:36:57,010 --> 00:36:58,850 S1: of where you put that prayer list, because we are 706 00:36:58,850 --> 00:37:00,969 S1: going to continue to lengthen as the prayers of a 707 00:37:00,969 --> 00:37:04,130 S1: righteous man availeth much. Todd is reminding us on a 708 00:37:04,130 --> 00:37:06,410 S1: regular basis that when one part of the body hurts, 709 00:37:06,410 --> 00:37:09,130 S1: we all hurt. We are to bear one another's burdens. 710 00:37:09,130 --> 00:37:10,609 S1: We're to pray for those who are being led away 711 00:37:10,610 --> 00:37:13,170 S1: in chains. Want me to continue? That's why this ministry 712 00:37:13,170 --> 00:37:15,930 S1: is so important. I talked about India. I talked about 713 00:37:16,250 --> 00:37:17,690 S1: whether or not it's going to show up on a 714 00:37:17,690 --> 00:37:19,650 S1: list of countries that cause concern when it comes to 715 00:37:19,690 --> 00:37:22,290 S1: religious liberty, but you don't want to hit the button 716 00:37:22,330 --> 00:37:25,770 S1: of good trade. But things are unsettling in India. Talk 717 00:37:25,770 --> 00:37:28,450 S1: to me about this and what happened to another pastor 718 00:37:28,489 --> 00:37:29,250 S1: last month. 719 00:37:29,730 --> 00:37:33,969 S10: Last month, another pastor dragged out of a house, beaten 720 00:37:33,969 --> 00:37:36,810 S10: by a mob, and then taken to the police station 721 00:37:36,810 --> 00:37:41,930 S10: for the alleged crime of forcibly converting a Hindu to Christianity. 722 00:37:41,969 --> 00:37:45,330 S10: Now there's lots of questions about this case. But here's 723 00:37:45,330 --> 00:37:48,850 S10: the big thing he was in a private home talking 724 00:37:48,890 --> 00:37:51,730 S10: to people who had invited him into their home to 725 00:37:51,770 --> 00:37:54,290 S10: talk to them. This was not like he went in 726 00:37:54,290 --> 00:37:56,190 S10: with a gun and pointed and said, hey, you have 727 00:37:56,190 --> 00:37:59,029 S10: to become a Christian. They asked him to come in. 728 00:37:59,070 --> 00:38:02,190 S10: He was in there sharing with them at their request. 729 00:38:02,390 --> 00:38:05,430 S10: But again, that charge and so many of the Indian states, 730 00:38:05,430 --> 00:38:07,790 S10: I think we're up to 13 now, have passed what 731 00:38:07,790 --> 00:38:11,470 S10: they call anti conversion laws. Some of them actually have 732 00:38:11,469 --> 00:38:15,910 S10: the temerity to call them religious freedom laws. But he's 733 00:38:15,910 --> 00:38:19,870 S10: accused of forcing this family to convert to Christianity after 734 00:38:19,870 --> 00:38:23,870 S10: they invited him into their home to share the gospel. Uh, 735 00:38:23,870 --> 00:38:26,550 S10: but he again was beaten by a mob for about 736 00:38:26,550 --> 00:38:30,470 S10: 45 minutes. There are reports that the police came and 737 00:38:30,469 --> 00:38:33,190 S10: and basically stood at the perimeter and let the beating 738 00:38:33,190 --> 00:38:37,149 S10: go on, rather than intervening and trying to protect this pastor. 739 00:38:37,390 --> 00:38:40,910 S10: And thankfully, the good news in this case is there 740 00:38:40,910 --> 00:38:44,189 S10: were some charges put against the mob, but there were 741 00:38:44,190 --> 00:38:48,629 S10: also charges against this pastor for forcible conversion. So it's 742 00:38:48,630 --> 00:38:51,469 S10: like they are charging the mob for beating him, but 743 00:38:51,469 --> 00:38:55,260 S10: they're also charging him with being a criminal. And it's 744 00:38:55,260 --> 00:38:58,300 S10: just another example of what it. What it means, really, 745 00:38:58,300 --> 00:39:01,220 S10: to be a pastor in India right now is you understand. 746 00:39:01,420 --> 00:39:04,900 S10: Every single day you're in ministry, you are taking a risk. 747 00:39:04,940 --> 00:39:07,339 S10: And I want to encourage people, if you'll let me 748 00:39:07,380 --> 00:39:10,340 S10: do a little commercial. We have an Indian pastor this 749 00:39:10,340 --> 00:39:15,580 S10: weekend on voice of the Martyrs Radio. Also arrested, also beaten. 750 00:39:15,860 --> 00:39:19,219 S10: And he shares an incredible story. And it's actually one 751 00:39:19,219 --> 00:39:21,460 S10: of the conversations I had. I was in South Asia 752 00:39:21,460 --> 00:39:24,339 S10: last fall. Uh, you talked about my book, which is 753 00:39:24,340 --> 00:39:27,060 S10: an invitation to go on a trip with me. This 754 00:39:27,060 --> 00:39:29,460 S10: episode of, um, radio is an invitation to sit down 755 00:39:29,460 --> 00:39:32,180 S10: with this Indian pastor and hear his story. And it 756 00:39:32,180 --> 00:39:37,140 S10: is a phenomenal story of God's faithfulness, but also his 757 00:39:37,140 --> 00:39:40,620 S10: incredible courage. He said even as he was being beaten, 758 00:39:40,620 --> 00:39:43,940 S10: he was praying, Lord, don't help me to forgive these 759 00:39:43,940 --> 00:39:46,420 S10: men who are beating me. Don't let bitterness grow up 760 00:39:46,420 --> 00:39:48,820 S10: in my spirit. Help me to have a forgiving spirit 761 00:39:48,820 --> 00:39:52,120 S10: for them. That was his prayer in the midst of 762 00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:55,560 S10: being humiliated and beaten by this mob. 763 00:39:56,440 --> 00:39:56,800 S8: Wow. 764 00:39:57,280 --> 00:39:59,560 S1: Would I be praying that when I was being beaten? 765 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:02,000 S1: I mean, that's why I love these stories. It makes 766 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:04,160 S1: us say, okay, it's not the pastor now, it's you 767 00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:06,680 S1: being beaten. Would you be praying, Lord, don't let bitterness 768 00:40:06,680 --> 00:40:09,719 S1: grow up in my heart. That's absolutely amazing. So that's 769 00:40:09,719 --> 00:40:12,319 S1: going to be this weekend. And then talk about something else. 770 00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:13,839 S1: There's a way that there's going to be some really 771 00:40:13,840 --> 00:40:16,920 S1: expansive hearing over this weekend to what's happening Saturday morning. 772 00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:20,759 S10: Uh, Saturday morning is when that will go live in 773 00:40:20,760 --> 00:40:22,719 S10: the podcast stream so you can listen to voice of 774 00:40:22,719 --> 00:40:25,640 S10: the Martyrs Radio as a podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. 775 00:40:25,640 --> 00:40:29,280 S10: Our radio website is v o m radio Dot net. 776 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:32,400 S10: It will also be on more than 1100 Christian radio 777 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:36,640 S10: stations this weekend. Not all Saturday morning, some into Sunday. Uh, 778 00:40:36,640 --> 00:40:39,320 S10: but I just want people to meet this pastor. He 779 00:40:39,360 --> 00:40:41,799 S10: he so encouraged me. I was I was listening to 780 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:43,879 S10: the episode this morning, and I'm kind of pumping my 781 00:40:43,880 --> 00:40:46,960 S10: fist like, I can't wait for thousands of Americans to 782 00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:51,060 S10: meet this pastor this weekend. It's going to be incredible. So, um, 783 00:40:51,380 --> 00:40:53,299 S10: that's the best part of my job, is when I 784 00:40:53,300 --> 00:40:55,580 S10: get to go and sit down and hear somebody's story 785 00:40:55,580 --> 00:40:59,820 S10: like that. And sometimes it's difficult. Sometimes we we cry 786 00:40:59,820 --> 00:41:02,500 S10: with them as they talk about, you know, the suffering 787 00:41:02,500 --> 00:41:05,339 S10: was so hard. It was so he talks about in 788 00:41:05,340 --> 00:41:08,140 S10: this conversation when his wife came to visit him, and 789 00:41:08,140 --> 00:41:11,219 S10: he was in such rough shape that he assumed it 790 00:41:11,219 --> 00:41:13,300 S10: was the last time he would see his wife until 791 00:41:13,300 --> 00:41:15,540 S10: they got to heaven. He and he said, I told her, 792 00:41:15,540 --> 00:41:18,060 S10: stand strong in the faith. I'll see you in heaven 793 00:41:18,060 --> 00:41:22,540 S10: when I get there. And. And so that kind of faithfulness, 794 00:41:22,540 --> 00:41:24,460 S10: I don't I don't think you can hear that. I 795 00:41:24,460 --> 00:41:27,140 S10: don't think you can sit with somebody like that for 796 00:41:27,140 --> 00:41:29,939 S10: a 25 minute broadcast, and then just walk away and 797 00:41:29,940 --> 00:41:33,340 S10: go on into your regular life. I think it changes you. 798 00:41:33,380 --> 00:41:36,500 S1: Yes, absolutely. So don't listen. It just might change you 799 00:41:37,260 --> 00:41:40,819 S1: or listen and be changed. Okay. That's the importance of 800 00:41:40,820 --> 00:41:43,819 S1: this kind of communication. February is Bible Month and Voice 801 00:41:43,820 --> 00:41:45,380 S1: of the martyrs talking to me about this. 802 00:41:45,739 --> 00:41:49,520 S10: Yeah. Our website is persecution. Com and we know of 803 00:41:49,520 --> 00:41:54,879 S10: 850,000 Christians living in restricted nations and hostile areas who 804 00:41:54,880 --> 00:41:57,919 S10: have asked for a Bible. They don't have the ability 805 00:41:58,080 --> 00:42:01,920 S10: either because of government restrictions, because of their own situation. 806 00:42:01,920 --> 00:42:04,760 S10: They don't have the ability to get a Bible themselves. 807 00:42:05,040 --> 00:42:08,759 S10: We believe every Christian needs their own copy of God's Word, 808 00:42:08,760 --> 00:42:11,560 S10: and that includes our brothers and sisters who live in 809 00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:15,040 S10: restricted nations where they are prevented by their government from 810 00:42:15,040 --> 00:42:17,480 S10: having it. And so we want to encourage you to 811 00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:21,279 S10: come to persecution. You can sponsor a Bible for $10. 812 00:42:21,280 --> 00:42:23,960 S10: I think if everyone listening to Janet Parshall this afternoon 813 00:42:23,960 --> 00:42:27,359 S10: sponsored one Bible, imagine how much of a difference we 814 00:42:27,360 --> 00:42:29,600 S10: could make for brothers and sisters. And you know, one 815 00:42:29,600 --> 00:42:32,239 S10: of the parts of this is and I was talking 816 00:42:32,239 --> 00:42:34,600 S10: to one of my coworkers this week, how do you 817 00:42:34,600 --> 00:42:37,759 S10: prepare for persecution? Well, you need the scripture. Well, how 818 00:42:37,760 --> 00:42:39,840 S10: do you prepare if you don't have the Scripture? Well, 819 00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:42,040 S10: that's what we're trying to solve here. We want to 820 00:42:42,040 --> 00:42:44,440 S10: get Bibles in the hands of persecuted Christians. 821 00:42:44,719 --> 00:42:45,520 S8: Wow. Well. 822 00:42:45,800 --> 00:42:47,710 S1: You know, let me do a quick segue here, and 823 00:42:47,710 --> 00:42:49,230 S1: I'm going to encourage people. I'm going to go back 824 00:42:49,230 --> 00:42:51,109 S1: to the Bibles in a minute. But you were talking 825 00:42:51,110 --> 00:42:53,430 S1: about even in those dark countries, and the minute you 826 00:42:53,430 --> 00:42:56,350 S1: said that, I started thinking about North Korea. If you've 827 00:42:56,350 --> 00:42:58,469 S1: got one of those streaming platforms out there, I want 828 00:42:58,510 --> 00:43:01,750 S1: to challenge you to watch a documentary called Beyond Utopia. 829 00:43:02,030 --> 00:43:04,989 S1: It is a 2023 documentary, and it follows families that 830 00:43:04,989 --> 00:43:08,670 S1: are trying to escape North Korea. It is. Well, you 831 00:43:08,670 --> 00:43:10,230 S1: couldn't turn it into a movie. Most people would say, 832 00:43:10,230 --> 00:43:12,469 S1: that's ridiculous. I can't believe people would go through that. 833 00:43:12,469 --> 00:43:14,910 S1: And yet they do. And guess who's at the front 834 00:43:14,910 --> 00:43:17,350 S1: and center of this? The church. The church in South 835 00:43:17,350 --> 00:43:19,310 S1: Korea is the one that's trying to help people get 836 00:43:19,310 --> 00:43:21,710 S1: out of North Korea. And yet I can tell you 837 00:43:21,710 --> 00:43:23,830 S1: that I know that places like North Korea get the 838 00:43:23,830 --> 00:43:26,270 S1: Bible on a regular basis, do they not? Don't give 839 00:43:26,270 --> 00:43:28,430 S1: away any state secrets, but just tell me yes or no. 840 00:43:29,150 --> 00:43:32,710 S10: They do. Including in the last few years we have used, actually, 841 00:43:32,710 --> 00:43:35,950 S10: balloons to float Bibles up over that border and land 842 00:43:35,950 --> 00:43:38,750 S10: them in North Korea. So there's there's lots of fun 843 00:43:38,750 --> 00:43:41,190 S10: ways you can get a Bible into a restricted nation. 844 00:43:41,190 --> 00:43:44,390 S10: And we know that it makes a difference. You know, 845 00:43:44,450 --> 00:43:47,690 S10: the the Bible says my word does not return void. 846 00:43:47,770 --> 00:43:50,210 S10: We know that's happening in North Korea today. And one 847 00:43:50,210 --> 00:43:52,049 S10: of the ways we know about North Korea is they 848 00:43:52,050 --> 00:43:55,009 S10: actually sent a threat to our sister office in South 849 00:43:55,010 --> 00:43:57,689 S10: Korea and said, hey, you better stop the balloons or 850 00:43:57,690 --> 00:44:01,049 S10: we're going to turn South Korea into a sea of fire. 851 00:44:01,770 --> 00:44:05,730 S1: And of course, wait, I'm waiting, I'm waiting. It hasn't 852 00:44:05,730 --> 00:44:07,930 S1: happened yet. Thanks be to God. All right. So that 853 00:44:07,930 --> 00:44:09,890 S1: goes back to the fact that this is Bible Month 854 00:44:09,890 --> 00:44:12,370 S1: at Vom. So again, you want to do what you 855 00:44:12,370 --> 00:44:14,410 S1: can to get the Bible in the hands of people. Why? 856 00:44:14,450 --> 00:44:17,210 S1: Because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word 857 00:44:17,210 --> 00:44:20,529 S1: of God, even when you're in prison. I've got about 858 00:44:20,530 --> 00:44:24,250 S1: 60s low. I got 30s left when somebody's sitting in prison. 859 00:44:24,250 --> 00:44:26,129 S1: Tell me how important the Bible is to them, either 860 00:44:26,130 --> 00:44:28,290 S1: by memorization or by having it in their hands. 861 00:44:28,690 --> 00:44:31,850 S10: Well, I think of my coworker Peter, who was in 862 00:44:31,850 --> 00:44:35,009 S10: prison in Sudan, and he got a Bible after four months, 863 00:44:35,250 --> 00:44:37,890 S10: and he said he stood all day long for three 864 00:44:37,890 --> 00:44:40,810 S10: weeks by the window because that was the only light. 865 00:44:40,810 --> 00:44:43,370 S10: And he read the Bible all day long for three weeks.