A Message from the Chief Executive Officer

The Five Purposes of VOMC
People are praying in small groups with their arms around each other.


The Five Purposes of VOMC
 

Stronger Together: Deepening
the Bonds of Fellowship
 

"Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep
 Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he
delights in. He attaches far more importance to Godly intercourse than
we do. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation."
~ Charles Spurgeon
 

In recent blog posts, I reflected on the first four purposes of VOMC. Now we come to the fifth and final purpose. However, before doing so, it is worth pausing to remember what the Lord placed on the hearts of those who founded this ministry.

From the very beginning, VOMC’s founders believed we were called to (1) help persecuted Christians carry the Great Commission forward, and (2) provide practical support and spiritual encouragement. They also recognized the deep importance of (3) equipping suffering believers to love and reach those who oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and (4) helping those who have endured persecution rebuild their lives and renew their witness.

This brings us to VOMC’s fifth purpose: to promote the fellowship of all believers by telling the world about the faith and courage of persecuted Christians, inspiring believers to deeper devotion to Christ and greater involvement in His Great Commission.

Sabina Wurmbrand, co-founder of VOMC, called us to cultivate true fellowship within the body of Christ, urging those who worship in freedom to stand in unity with believers who suffer for their faith. We should not view Sabina’s appeal as something small or easily contained. I have come to believe that, under God, she was calling us to lift our eyes higher and embrace a fellowship that is deeper, costlier and more profoundly centred on Christ.

This truth is beautifully grounded in Scripture. The New Testament word most often translated as “fellowship” is the Greek term “koinonia” – a rich word that speaks of sharing, companionship, generosity and communion. Having lived under both the constraints of a closed Communist society and the freedoms of the Western world, Sabina and her husband, Richard, came to see with unusual clarity that this essential dimension of Christian life was tragically thin or even absent across much of the global body of Christ.

As we seek to fulfill VOMC’s fifth purpose, we are encouraged by the following Scriptural truths about fellowship – truths that call us into deeper relationship with our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ:

  1. Biblical fellowship begins with a relationship with God. He is its source, thus fellowship must first be formed vertically – between God and us – before it can grow horizontally in our relationships with others (1 Corinthians 1:9).
  2. Being a Christian involves embracing a shared life with fellow believers. Unity, encouragement and support require commitment to a fellowship that is both communal and covenantal (Acts 2:42, 1 John 1:7).
  3. Acts of forgiveness, humility and service reflect the heart of sacrificial love. Such love inspires believers to view their shared suffering as a meaningful expression of worship and unity (John 13:35, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
  4. True fellowship includes sharing in both joy and suffering. Followers of Jesus not only rejoice together but also stand with one another in hardship. This is a costly yet deeply strengthening partnership in Gospel proclamation (2 Timothy 3:12, 1 Peter 4:13).

Biblical fellowship means sharing in the very life of Christ Himself. As He unites believers in one faith, He empowers us to love one another sacrificially and calls us to bear each other’s burdens so that, together, we might display His glory to the world.

VOMC’s leadership team seeks to thoughtfully shape our communication strategies in ways that foster unity within the global Christian community. For instance, our monthly publication, One Voice, aims to motivate believers across Canada to extend steadfast love to others – including those who persecute us – and to strengthen our fellowship with the suffering body of Christ worldwide. In addition to One Voice, we offer various other resources designed to promote fellowship:

  1. Persecution & Prayer Alert: A weekly email report detailing persecution incidents around the world.
  2. CEO Blog: A monthly message of encouragement and challenge from VOMC’s CEO.
  3. Closer to the Fire: A unique video podcast that raises awareness of global persecution through informative interviews, current reports and inspiring testimonies, while also offering opportunities to pray for persecuted believers and their families.
  4. Speaking Engagements & Events: A vital part of VOMC's ministry that involves sharing testimonies from today's persecuted church through speakers, conferences, webinars and other special events. You can help raise awareness by promoting these opportunities in your church, youth group, small group, Bible study, Sunday school class, Christian school or other settings.

As members of one body, we have the privilege of sharing in fellowship with Christians who are suffering – a fellowship that deepens our faith and strengthens our unity in Christ. Richard Wurmbrand reminds us:

“Just as God gives each country a different climate, so He gives each man a certain ‘climate’ in his own life. Some enjoy their lot, whereas others suffer. Some freeze in Arctic regions, while others bask in the tropical sun.

“To some, the grace has been given to show courage before their persecutors. Others have broken down under torture and drugs. Some Christians have confessed their faith in Christ and defied atheist judges. Others have acknowledged crimes they never committed.

“It is not our role to judge anyone. Christians bear no guilt for having lived comfortable, joyful lives. They may have had their days of testing. God may have assigned them only ‘small rain.’ Those who suffer can ‘rejoice with them that do rejoice.’

“Talk is cheap; action is what counts. Those of us who experience only the difficulties of ‘small rain’ in our lives must help those who battle through deep snow.”1

The fellowship of suffering is a profound spiritual act of worship. When believers courageously follow Christ, accepting the suffering that comes with faithful witness, God can use persecution as a potent tool for evangelism, whether in seasons of “small rain” or “deep snow.”

May the Lord find us faithful – faithful in prayer for our persecuted brothers and sisters, faithful in standing with them in their suffering, faithful in proclaiming the Gospel with courage in our own Canadian context, and faithful in loving even those who oppose us. May He find in us hearts that are tender to His Spirit, steadfast in trial, generous in fellowship, and willing to bear one another’s burdens, so that together we might reflect the beauty of Christ and advance His Great Commission until He returns.

Grace and peace,


Floyd A. Brobbel
Chief Executive Officer
Voice of the Martyrs Canada Inc.






Endnote: 1 Excerpt from Give Thanks Unto the Lord, a collection of Richard Wurmbrand’s letters published by VOM Australia in 1990.