A Message from the Chief Executive Officer

The Core Values of VOMC

Vitality in Prayer

"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your
Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
~ Matthew 6:6 ESV

Prayer serves as a bridge that connects our souls with our Creator, which is essential for living the Christian life. It is through prayer that the Holy Spirit helps us to express our deepest emotions and desires to God, while also guiding us to a better understanding of His will. This spiritual dialogue nurtures our relationship with our Heavenly Father by drawing us closer to His heart.

At VOMC, prayer is the foundational work of our mission. It not only shapes our strategic planning, which guides our actions, but prayer is also vital for achieving the missional and operational goals of the ministry:

1. First of all, prayer is our central ministry to the persecuted church. The Apostle Paul emphasizes this point in 2 Corinthians 1:11: “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” These words are part of Paul's opening greeting to the church in Corinth, which highlights his fruitful ministry for Christ and the Gospel, despite facing significant opposition. Yet, he further explains in this chapter that his suffering has served a greater purpose in the expansion of God’s Kingdom and, therefore, requests their continual support through prayer.
   
   Similarly, many of the persecuted Christians we encounter ask us to pray for them, expressing their desire for Spirit-empowered boldness, wisdom and strength so that they may remain faithful to Jesus. Aware of the need for prayer to advance the Gospel in hostile regions, they often ponder, “Without prayer, where would we be?” Ultimately, prayer is a crucial means of ministry for the “church persecuted.”
    
2. Secondly, we believe that prayer is essential for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. This is why Jesus taught His disciples – His witnesses – to pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:9-13).
   
   Jesus provided His followers what we call today “The Lord's Prayer” as a strategic petition of intercession, aimed at promoting the growth of God’s Kingdom through the mission of the local church. It reflects a deep dependence on Him for provision, forgiveness, protection and the advancement of His will on earth. Through dedicated prayer, all the resources necessary to carry out His Great Commission are made accessible.
    
3. Prayer can powerfully demonstrate God’s love to our persecutors. Many persecutors of faithful Christians will eventually approach them with personal requests, such as prayer for a loved one's healing. This is made possible by the remarkable love Christians often extend to their persecutors, demonstrating that these individuals are kept in their prayers. When believers facing persecution respond with genuine compassion, the Lord reveals His unwavering love to those in dire need of salvation through answered prayers. Luke 6:27-28 instructs us to “…love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, [and] pray for those who abuse you.” The power of Holy Spirit-inspired prayer enables devoted disciples of Christ to unconditionally extend His lovingkindness and compassion to the very people who vehemently oppose them. Such responses – when deeply rooted in fervent prayer – can soften even the hardest of hearts in unexpected ways.
    
4. Finally, effectual prayer consists of an eternal perspective, which must always take precedence over one’s own personal plans and agendas. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 states: “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

In our strategic planning processes, VOMC’s Executive Leadership Team endeavours to view the path of the mission with eyes of faith rather than relying solely on our own ideas or ambitions. As I lead, I depend on the Holy Spirit's wisdom and vision to help guide the team in seeking a greater understanding of God's eternal perspective – prioritizing prayer over our plans and actions. The late Tim Keller, a respected and well-known pastor and author, wrote, “To pray is to accept that we are, and always will be, wholly dependent on God for everything.”

We invite you to pray with us as we earnestly seek God’s guidance, along with the courage to follow it wholeheartedly.

Keep looking up!

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