The Five Purposes of VOMC
Love That Conquers Injustice and Fear
“Bless those who persecute you;
bless and do not curse them.”
~ Romans 12:14 ESV
In my previous two blog posts, I explored the first and second purposes of VOMC. The first encompasses helping persecuted Christians with the Advancement of the Great Commission, while the second purpose involves Providing Practical Relief and Spiritual Support. VOMC’s third purpose centres on our commitment to equip persecuted Christians to love and win those who oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This kind of love has the power to create opportunities for spiritual transformation – even in the hearts of persecutors.
VOMC aims to provide persecuted Christians with the critical resources necessary for healing and recovery from the afflictions of persecution. This support empowers those we serve to confidently extend love toward their adversaries. As our fellow believers in Christ engage with the complexities of cultures that often challenge their faith and values, they exemplify a thoughtful, countercultural response to injustice. Their compassion not only addresses these pressing concerns but also opens valuable avenues for dialogue and evangelism.
In contexts where the Gospel is met with skepticism and strong resistance, it is crucial to acknowledge that the work of the Holy Spirit is central to “winning” others to Christ. In simple terms, it's not a Christian's primary role to convert others to the faith. Greg Koukl, founder and president of Stand to Reason, explains this point in his book Tactics:
“Since I know I play only one part in a larger process of bringing anyone to the Lord, I'm comfortable taking smaller steps toward that end. It may surprise you to hear this, but I never set out to convert anyone. My aim is never to win someone to Christ. I have a more modest goal, one you might consider adopting as your own. All I want to do is put a stone in someone's shoe. I want to give that person something worth thinking about, something he can't ignore because it continues to poke at him in a good way.”1
While we, as members of the universal church, are called to fulfill the Great Commission, we must understand that it is ultimately the Holy Spirit who transforms hearts and minds. He is the One who convicts people of their sinful state and awakens their need for a Saviour. However, God uses the lives of believers as compelling testimonies of His goodness and grace, building bridges of hope for those who are spiritually lost. As 1 Peter 3:15 instructs, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (NIVUK).
The following empowering story from VOM’s devotional book, Extreme Devotion, beautifully illustrates this truth:
“‘What is it?’ Soviet captain Marco snarled at the young boy. ‘What do you want?’
‘Captain, you are the man who put my parents in prison. Today is my mother's birthday, and I always buy her a flower for her birthday.
‘Since my mother taught me to love my enemies and to reward evil with good, I have brought the flower instead for the mother of your children. Please take it home to your wife tonight, and tell her about my love and the love of Christ.’
Captain Marco, who had watched unmoved as Christians had been unmercifully beaten and tortured, was stunned at the act of love of this boy. His tears fell as he slowly walked around the desk and grabbed the boy in a fatherly embrace. Marco's heart was changed by the gift of Christ's love. He could no longer arrest and torture Christians, and soon he himself was arrested.
Only months after the boy’s visit to his office, Marco slumped in a filthy prison cell surrounded by the same Christians he had previously arrested and tortured. He tearfully told his cellmates of the young boy and the simple gift of a flower. He considered it an honour to share a cell with those he had previously hunted and attacked.”2
When I think about VOMC’s mission of equipping persecuted Christians to love and reach those who oppose the Gospel, I see this story as a shining example of that calling. Our ministry – whether through providing Bibles and Christian resources, offering practical aid, extending legal support, or caring for the families of martyrs – is all about standing with the persecuted church in Christlike love, assuring our brothers and sisters that they are not alone in their struggles. Galatians 6:10 captures this vision well: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (ESV).
Acts of kindness toward fellow believers are a powerful means of overcoming the injustice of persecution and the fear it produces. Such support within the family of God not only uplifts suffering believers but also reaches the spiritually blind, fostering an environment in which love triumphs through the ministry of the Holy Spirit – bringing healing, freedom and hope. When our actions are in harmony with the Spirit’s leading, we can find peace in surrendering every outcome to God.
To Him be the glory, both now and forever.
Grace and peace,
Floyd A. Brobbel
Chief Executive Officer
Voice of the Martyrs Canada Inc.
Endnotes: 1 Koukl, Greg, Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009, 2019), p. 46. 2 The Voice of the Martyrs, Extreme Devotion (Thomas Nelson Inc., 2002), p. 11, Store.VOMCanada.org/category/all/books/reference/extreme-devotion.
