The Voice of the Martyrs Radio

MISSIONARY: Obeying the Great Commission

“I have claimed this land for God. ” The words were written by John G. Paton and adorn the grave of his wife and child. It was a declaration of faith that God would bring the people of the New Hebrides, now Vanuatu, to Himself. The islanders were thought of as savages; in fact Paton slept on the grave to prevent the bodies of his wife and child from being eaten by cannibals. Paton famously said, “If I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms. ” Today the islands are full of churches—even some very close to the site of Mrs. Paton’s grave. Stephen McKaskel is the producer and director of a six-part video series called Missionary, which includes an episode about Paton, as well as others which tell the stories of famous missionaries. Listen as he tells why the church today needs the example of men and women sent by God and obedient to the Great Commission. Watch this behind-the-scenes video of Stephen and the team tracking down Paton’s legacy in Vanuatu. He'll also share about filming in England on the path of William Tyndale, as well as stories of David Livingston, Amy Carmichael, Hudson Taylor and William Carey. Stephen also shares what he wants viewers and churches to take away after viewing the Missionary film series. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians throughout the year, as well as providing free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

Christian Girl Escapes Secret Society

A Christian woman was forced to flee after her family threatened to kill her. The young woman became a follower of Christ as a young girl after meeting Christians when she had left her village to attend school. When she returned home, her family was going to initiate her into a secret society, but she told them, "My faith doesn't permit me. I am a daughter of Christ."

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Youth Trained for Ministry in Volatile Area

Young Christians from isolated people groups are being equipped to reach their communities with the gospel. In a volatile area of southern Bangladesh called the Hill Tracts, tribal groups that culturally identify as Christians have faced a triple threat: Government forces, anti-government paramilitary groups and Islamist groups all regard them as enemies. The threats have driven these people groups out of their homes and deep into the jungle, making access to them nearly impossible.

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New Law Restricts Discipling Children

Uzbek lawmakers are cracking down on religious instruction of children. On February 21, 2025, the President of Uzbekistan signed a new law penalizing parents or anyone who teaches children about religion, including Christianity, without official authorization. Violating the law could lead to fines equivalent to more than a month's wages and up to 15 days in jail. Among Uzbekistan's population of around 35 million people, only 2% are Christians. Uzbekistan has historically restricted Christian activity, and the new law will make it more difficult for parents to disciple their children in the Christian faith.

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AFRICA: Walking the Path With Our Persecuted Christian Family

After working in South Asia and living in Nepal for 18 years, Matthew Hanson has taken on leadership of The Voice of the Martyrs international ministry efforts on a new region: West and Central Africa (WACA). Listen as he tells how the persecution of Christians looks different in Africa from South Asia. The church in Africa is large; attacks on Christians there often affect a larger scale. Radical Islamist groups are the main persecutors in his region, and Matthew will share how it’s affecting believers in his region, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burkina Faso, Benin, Nigeria and Togo. Just in the DRC, there are 100+ active rebel groups. Church attacks and the displacement of followers of Christ has become sadly common. How does The Voice of the Martyrs respond to the intense persecution Christians in his region are facing? Listen as Matthew explains how he and his team evaluate needs and work through partnerships and local believers to help meet those needs and encourage believers. Matthew will share about the ministry of presence and how it plays such a key part of helping with trauma recovery for persecuted Christians. As Islamist groups move into places like northern Togo, a new addition to VOM’s Global Prayer Map, Matthew and his team are hearing new reports of persecution and needs that VOM can help to meet. “The church does an incredible job of serving one another,” Matthew says, “it’s a community of believers coming together, and it’s really exciting.” Hear stories from Matthew about a woman’s joy when she received a Bible provided by VOM, the holy moment when eight new believers from Muslim backgrounds took the step of baptism, and the story of a kidnapped Christian miraculously saved from a jihadist group.