The Five Purposes of VOMC
Purpose Two: Providing Practical
Relief and Spiritual Support
“I was naked, and you clothed Me, I was sick, and you
visited Me, I was in prison, and you came to Me.”
Matthew 25:36 ESV
In the previous month’s message, I expounded on the first purpose of VOMC which encompasses The Advancement of the Great Commission.1 The mission’s second purpose is to provide practical relief and spiritual support to the families of Christian martyrs, with Matthew 25:34-40 serving as the foundation of this calling. Taking a look at these verses within the broader context of Matthew 25, this passage draws us into a powerful scene at the end of time: Jesus, appearing in all His glory, takes His appointed seat on heaven’s throne. As all the nations gather before Him, He separates the people from one another as a shepherd distinguishes His sheep from the goats. The sheep, symbolizing the righteous, are placed on Jesus’ right; while the goats, representing the unrighteous, are placed on His left (vv. 31-33).
In verses 34-36, Jesus speaks to the righteous, warmly inviting them into His Kingdom. Their inheritance is based on the services they rendered to Him during their earthly lives. The invitation appears to confuse the righteous, who wonder when they ever saw the Lord in need and served Him. Jesus answers this question by stating, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me: (v. 40).
The key term in this passage is “brothers,” which prompts us to ask ourselves another significant question: “Whom does Jesus identify as His brothers?” In this context, the Lord is addressing the sheep on His right side, a metaphorical representation of righteous individuals. However, together, these sheep symbolize a community of spiritual brothers and sisters – those who have dedicated their lives to fulfilling the will of the Father through their obedience to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Thus, the concept of “brotherhood,” as articulated by Jesus, underscores the importance of unity among believers who strive to embody the example and teachings of Christ throughout their earthly lives.
At VOMC, we view the members our persecuted family as “one of the least of these My brothers.” In serving them, we serve Christ Himself. Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, founder of the Voice of the Martyrs internationally, expressed this truth powerfully in his book, If That Were Christ, Would You Give Him Your Blanket? – a sequel to his well-known autobiography, Tortured for Christ. The latter book was inspired by the testimony of two Chinese Christians who suffered together in a freezing prison cell.
“Two Chinese Christians huddled together against the biting cold that seeped through the stone walls of their prison cell. Each prisoner had only a thin, tattered blanket, which provided little warmth. One of the men glanced across the small space at his companion, noticing how his friend's body shook with shivers. A poignant thought flickered in his mind: ‘If that were Christ, would you give Him your blanket?’ The answer was clear in his heart – he would do anything to care for the Saviour. Without hesitation, he took the meagre blanket that offered him scant comfort and gently spread it over his brother, sharing what little warmth he had in an act of love and sacrifice.”
The goal of VOMC is to ensure that every persecuted believer within our sphere of influence receives practical help and spiritual encouragement during their most critical moments. Practical help includes job and skills training, microfinancing, relocation and rebuilding assistance, refugee support, plus various other ways of providing tangible aid to a persecuted individual or group of believers – before, during and after persecution. Spiritual encouragement focusses on evangelism and discipleship training, safehouses, Bible distributions, Christian radio and satellite TV broadcasts, trauma counselling, as well as specialized ministry programs aimed at the spiritual development of new converts.
In short, we provide tools to our persecuted brothers and sisters who will, in turn, use them to bless others, all for God’s glory. In doing so, we strive to adhere to the teaching of Galatians 6:10:
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone,
and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (ESV).
Expressing Christian love to one another is a core aspect of discipleship that demonstrates God’s love for humanity. When we support fellow believers, the impact extends far beyond the church community, producing positive missional effects that touch the lives of those outside its walls as well. In this way, caring for the household of faith is essential to Christian ministry and mission.
At VOMC, we acknowledge that it is only through God’s grace and empowerment that we can fulfill this important purpose. As persecution intensifies globally, the work is both urgent and challenging. Yet, through faithful partnerships and collaborative ministry efforts with other mission organizations, I believe we are making meaningful progress in strengthening and blessing the “church persecuted.”
If you would like to learn more about how VOMC supports persecuted Christians – and how you can participate in this vital ministry work – visit our donations page to explore the various fund allocations that are serving to meet the spiritual and practical needs of our suffering family in Christ.
Grace and peace,
Floyd A. Brobbel
Chief Executive Officer
Voice of the Martyrs Canada Inc.
Endnote: 1 This message is part of an ongoing series exploring VOMC’s five ministry purposes. To read the first installment, please visit: VOMCanada.com/ceo-2026-02-20.htm.
