April 2020 Persecution Magazine

ION 

WWW.PERSECUTION.ORG 

APRIL 2020 

PERSECU ION 

PERSECU ION 

In the 

Field 

ICC Donors Touch 

a Family Devastated 

by al-Shabaab in 

Kenya 

PERSECU ION.ORG 

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN 




INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CONCERN

In This Issue 

FEATURE 

14 | In the Wake of al-Shabaab 

ICC brings healing to a village devastated 

by deadly Islamist terror group 

al-Shabaab in Kenya. 

GUEST FEATURE 

16 | Students Take Up the Cross 

After an SEU student meets the persecuted 

in her home country of India, 

her perspective and faith are ultimately 

changed. She returns to the US with a 

new vision and connects with ICC. 

FEATURE 

18 | Escaping China 

The Chinese government targets a 

massive church, arresting 100 members. 

One family escapes to Taiwan to 

protect their child. 

FEATURE 

20 | Saying Goodbye—Forever 

An innocent Christian is imprisoned in 

Iran’s “torture factory” and exiled. His 

dying mother pleads for his return. 

14 

DEVOTION 

22 | A Rain of Miracles 

A Christian woman who lived during 

the Cuban Revolution recounts 

the amazing revival that swept across 

Cuba, despite the communist regime’s 

best efforts. 

Regular Features 

3 Letter from the President 

A few words from ICC’s president, 

Jeff King, about the faithfulness and 

worthiness of the persecuted. 

4 World News 

A snapshot of the persecution that 

impacts our brothers and sisters daily, in 

every corner of the world. 

8 Your Dollars at Work 

Learn how your gifts are providing 

comfort, relief, Bibles, education and 

vocational training to the persecuted. 

12 West Watch 

Issues involving Christianity in the West. 

16 

18 

20 22 

2 PERSECU ION.ORG 



Jeff King, President 

International Christian Concern 

“And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, 

I saw under the altar the souls of those 

who had been slain for the word of God 

and for the testimony they had upheld. And 

they cried out in a loud voice, ‘How long, 

O Lord, holy and true, until You judge 

those who live on the earth and avenge 

our blood?’ Then each of them was given 

a white robe and told to rest a little while 

longer, until the full number of their fellow 

servants, their brothers, were killed, just as 

they had been killed...” 

Revelation 6:9-11 

Ibrahim Firouzi’s (Page 20) blind and dying mother begged 

him to pretend to recant his testimony at his upcoming 

meeting with the secret police in Iran. 

It was on his way to his interrogation, though, sitting in the 

back of a police car, when it struck him. 

How could he save his own skin and put down his cross 

when before him were the faces of his brothers and sisters sitting 

in prison and being tortured? 

Behind them stretched an imaginary line of hundreds of 

Iranian believers who had been tortured and killed in Evin 

Prison over the past couple decades. Now living in the presence 

of the Lamb, they cried, “How long, Lord?” (Rev 6:10). 

Thinking of their faithfulness, and their example, he knew 

his fate was sealed. Not by the power of Satan, but rather 

because of the strength of his Savior and by the example of his 

brothers and sisters who had gone before him. 

Tears streamed down his face for the effect his decision 

would have on his mother. He would never see her again. 

Tears fell as he thought of the reality of what awaited him. 

Regardless, he decided then and there that upon his shoulders 

would sit the cross of Jesus. 

The Book of Acts seems like a historical record to most 



believers, but to the persecuted, it is the life they are living out 

as they are hunted and stoned for their love of the One sent to 

set us free. 

I’ve done this job for 17 years, but I write these words 

crushed and in tears as I think of this brother’s decision. 

Nowhere else in life do I get to sit at the feet of giants of the 

faith like these. They are worthy of our time, our treasure, and 

our talent. 

With all my heart, I say thank you if you have joined me in 

serving them. 

If you haven’t yet, I urge you to join us, for they are the hope 

of the Church. 

As always, your donations will be used efficiently, effectively, 

and ethically. 

Jeff King 

President 

International Christian Concern (Persecution.org) 

Author of Islam Uncensored (Available on Amazon) and 

The Last Words of the Martyrs (lastwordsofthemartyrs.org) 

Listen to Jeff King on ICC’s podcast, Into the Deep, available 

online at Persecution.org/icc-podcast. 

3

News 

2 

6 

1 

3 

5 

4 

Christians living in 

northeastern Nigeria 

live at risk from Boko 

Haram and Fulani 

Islamic militants. 

Christian Teenager Killed at 

Embroidery Factory in Pakistan 

1 | PAKISTAN On December 14, a Christian teenager 

named Daud Masih was killed after reportedly being sexually 

assaulted by two Muslim co-workers at their workplace, 

an embroidery factory. The attack took place in the 

Faisalabad area of Pakistan’s Punjab province. Following 

the murder, Masih’s family is calling for justice. 

A local human rights activist, Yasir Talib, told ICC, 

“Daud and his elder brother started working at the embroidery 

factory during the night shift about three months ago. 

They were additional breadwinners for the family as the 

mother is sick and their father is a day laborer.” 

Several weeks prior to the murder, Masih voiced 

concerns about unethical behavior from his Muslim colleagues. 

However, the owner of the factory did not take 

any action regarding his complaints. Therefore, Masih 

stopped working at the factory. 

On the day of the incident, Masih returned to the factory 

because the factory owner reportedly assured his protection. 

Yet, one of the men accused of assaulting and murdering 

Masih later that day is the factory owner’s brother. 

Local police have registered a First Information 

Report over the incident, but no arrests have been 

made at the time of 

writing. In the wake 

of this tragedy, the 

factory owner and his 

brother have reportedly 

tried to pressure 

Masih’s parents to 

withdraw the complaint 

about their 

son’s murder. 

“Although I am 

a poor Christian 

woman, I want justice 

for my son and punishment 

for those who 

killed Daud,” Masih’s 

mother, Safia, shared 

with ICC. “I will 

never go for compensation 

or reconciliation, 

as my son was 

killed brutally.” 

Boko Haram Executes Christian 

Student 

2 | NIGERIA On January 9, a young man named 

Ropvil Daciya Dalep was kidnapped while returning 

to school to study biology at Maiduguri University 

in Nigeria. Only a few weeks later, the Islamic 

State-affiliated Amaq News Agency released a video 

depicting his murder. 

In the video, a child soldier wearing a headscarf 

as a mask stands behind a kneeling Ropvil. The boy 

explains that the execution is retaliation for Christian 

atrocities against Muslims in Nigeria, but does not 

provide any further specificity. The child then shoots 

Ropvil several times in the back of the head and 

back. It is suspected that the ISIS-affiliated sect of 

Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, is 

responsible for this murder. 

Unfortunately, this execution took place in a string of 

similar attacks. In a span of two months, Boko Haram 

released at least four execution videos, each explaining 

that the group is specifically targeting Christians. 

Christians living in northeastern Nigeria continue to 

find themselves at risk from both Boko Haram and 

Fulani militants. The Nigerian government must take 

stronger action to curb the violence that is devastating 

the nation’s Christian community. 




Pastor in India Forced to Shut Down Ministry 

3 | INDIA On January 5, Hindu extremists broke into a house church in India’s Uttar Pradesh state, issuing death threats against the pastor. As a 

result, the church was shut down and the pastor has not returned to the village out of fear of attack or arrest. Police also visited the church multiple 

times, which many suspect was a repeated attempt to take the pastor into custody. 

Church Construction Rejected Due to Local 

Muslims’ Objection 

4 | INDONESIA Citizens from the United Muslim Community Forum 

recently rejected the construction of a Catholic church in Indonesia. 

The primary reason for the refusal is that the church is located in a 

primarily Muslim town. The group also complained about height 

restrictions on the building, but the church later noted that they complied 

with the necessary requirements. As a form of compromise, the 

congregation agreed not to display overtly religious symbols, such as 

crosses, outside of the building. 

Police Foiled Church Bombing Plot in the 

Southern Philippines 

5 | PHILIPPINES In the southern Philippines, security forces arrested 

two suspected Abu Sayyaf militants plotting to bomb a Catholic cathedral. 

The authorities discovered explosive materials, including nearly 

seven pounds of nails, blasting caps, batteries, and wires from their 

hideout. Both suspects confessed that they were instructed to carry 

out the bombing, but did not follow through due to tightened security. 

The police chief noted that the men were also being interrogated about 

another potential bomb plot. 

Three Churches Burned Down in Sudan Twice 

6 | SUDAN Last December, Islamic extremists burned down three churches in 

Bout, Sudan. The three buildings belonged to the Sudan Interior Church, the 

Roman Catholic Church, and the Orthodox Church. Each of the congregations 

constructed temporary structures where they could continue gathering for worship. 

However, on January 16, each of these structures was again burned down. 

A local pastor confirmed the attack, saying, “This incident is true; the three 

churches were set on fire twice in less than a month.” 

Sudan’s new Minister for Religious Affairs, Nasr al-Din Mufreh, has said 

that the government is dedicated to religious freedom and has been investigating 

this situation. While one suspect was arrested and interrogated, he was 

released shortly after due to an alleged lack of evidence. Sudan’s Christian 

community is eager to see the new government fulfil its newfound commitment 

to upholding religious freedom. 



5

1 2 6 5 

3 

News 

4 

“Ethnic Chin Christians 

and politicians often fall 

victim to abductions by 

the AA, which the group 

uses as bargaining chips 

with the government.” 

Priest’s Parents Vanish in Southeastern 

Turkey 

1 | TURKEY On January 11, the elderly parents of a 

Chaldean Catholic priest in Turkey disappeared. Hurmuz 

and Simoni Diril were abducted by members of the PKK, 

a Kurdish militant organization designated by the US 

State Department as a terrorist organization. 

Although an investigation is ongoing, the couple 

remains missing at the time of writing. The pair was 

abducted in the village of Mehr, in Şırnak Province, a 

rocky mountainous region in Turkey’s southeast, near the 

Iraqi border. Unfortunately, wintery weather conditions 

have provided additional challenges in the search. 

Between 1989 and 1992, Mehr was evacuated because 

of the conflict between the PKK and the Turkish army. 

However, 10 years ago, the Diril couple returned in an 

attempt to rebuild. Their son, Father Adday Ramzi Diril, is 

known internationally for his pastoral care of 7,000 Iraqi 

Christian refugees displaced in Turkey. 

Juliana Taimoorazy, president of the Iraqi Christian 

Relief Council, said, “The kidnapping of this innocent 

Assyrian Christian couple only plants new fears in 

our community’s hearts and it expedites the exodus of 

Christians from their ancestral lands. We appeal to the 

Turkish government to make all efforts to rescue the kidnapped 

couple, and to bring the perpetrators swiftly to justice. 

We appeal to the international community to break its 

silence on the persecution of Middle Eastern Christians.” 

Christian 

Aid Workers 

Kidnapped in 

Baghdad 

2 | IRAQ On January 

20, four humanitarian 

aid workers from 

the French organization 

SOS Christians 

of the Middle East 

went missing. Three 

of the individuals are 

French and one is 

Iraqi, but the charity 

has concealed further 

details about their 

identities for security 

reasons. There have 

not been any ransom 

demands regarding 

these disappearances. 

Growing militia 

activity in Iraq, commonly 

in the form 

of kidnappings, has 

posed a great threat 

to foreigners working 

in the nation. In the 

wake of ISIS, however, 

Iraq’s Christians 

and other minorities 

have become reliant 

on foreign aid. 

For those both providing 

and receiving 

aid, the environment 

is becoming increasingly 

dangerous. 

Abducted Christian Parliamentarian 

in Myanmar Released 

3 | MYANMAR On November 3, 2019, Christian 

parliamentarian U Hawi Tin was abducted by the 

Arakan Army (AA) in Myanmar. On January 21, 

nearly three months after he was seized by AA fighters 

from a passenger ferry, he was released. 

At the time of his release, his wife expressed, “We 

just talked with him on the phone. He didn’t tell me 

his location. A teacher was also released with him. I 

am happy. I think he might be home by this evening.” 

The Arakan Army, which is active in western 

Myanmar, seeks to establish an independent 

Buddhist Rakhine State and is currently at war with 

the Burmese Army. As a result of the conflict, ethnic 

Chin Christians and politicians often fall victim to 

abductions by the AA, which the group uses as bargaining 

chips with the government. 

Only 10 days prior to his release, the AA insisted 

that they would keep U Hawi Tin in detention, citing 

security concerns if he were to be released. The AA 

went on to question him regarding allegations that he 

was providing the Burmese Army with intelligence. 




Burkina Faso Suffers Another Large Massacre 

4 | BURKINA FASO In late January, Burkina Faso suffered another 

major attack. Islamic extremists raided a local market in Silgadji as 

people were shopping. While death tolls varied among local sources, 

at least 10 people were killed, while other reports recorded the death 

toll as high as fifty. Last year, this town suffered another attack when 

militants killed a pastor and four others outside of their church. 

Continued attacks of this nature have displaced more than 500,000 

people in Burkina Faso since the beginning of 2019. 

Pastor Faces 10 Years on Unprecedented Charges 

5 | CHINA Pastor Hao Zhiwei is facing fraud charges over church 

donations that carry a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. 

Because Hao refused the training and ordination required to lead a 

government-sanctioned Three-Self church, she was not recognized as 

an official pastor. Therefore, by collecting tithes, she was accused of 

fraud and her church was demolished. The notice sent to Hao claimed 

that the arrest was meant to “[ensure] the safety of the lives and property 

of religious people.” 

ID Card Changes in Iran Impact Religious Minorities 

6 | IRAN A legal revision in Iran removes the option to select “other” in the 

religious affiliation section of citizens’ identification card applications. These 

identification cards are required for many day-to-day tasks, such as obtaining 

a driver’s license or opening a bank account. 

Iranian Christians are only legally recognized if they belong to a historic 

Christian church that existed inside Iran prior to the 1979 revolution. As 

a result, Armenian and Assyrian Christians are recognized, but Persian 

Christians are not. Persians are born Muslim and Iran does not allow them to 

convert away from Islam. As a result, Persian Christians often still legally live 

as Muslims, even on their identification cards. 

Christianity has experienced significant growth among the Persian community 

in recent years as more and more people become disenchanted with the 

Islamic government and its human rights abuses. 



7

Your Dollars at Wo 

ICC’s Ongoing Initiatives 

Encourage a Persecuted Prisoner 

Christian prisoners around the world are often isolated from others. They must endure the 

darkest period of their life alone. In an effort to shine a light into the prisoner’s cell, we’ve 

started a letter-writing campaign for believers and churches to write letters to imprisoned 

Christians. These letters encourage Christian prisoners to know that they are not forgotten. 

They also bring about better treatment for the prisoners. Among the prisoners is an imprisoned 

Chinese church leader, Zhang Shaojie. In the midst of a 12-year prison sentence, Zhang’s family 

reports that his mental health has taken a turn for the worse. Join us in writing to Zhang and 

others, today! 

To write a letter yourself, visit: 

persecution.kindful.com/register/letter-writing-request 

Bibles & Bikes 

Gospel: Bibles & Broadcast 

ICC equips church planters throughout rural India to double and even triple their effectiveness. 

We take already effective church planters and simply equip them with transportation (their 

own bicycle) and 100 Bibles. These simple gifts allow them to double and even triple those they 

can touch and bring into the Kingdom. One of our church planters said, “I was overwhelmed 

with joy and thanked God for your wonderful gift. Now I can do much more work for the Lord... 

In the coming days, I will be going out to [new] places with the Gospel.” The simple gift of one 

bike and 100 Bibles will lead to the establishment of 12 churches in the next two years. 

Learn more at: 

www.persecution.org/bibles-bikes 

Communal Farms in Nigeria 

Restore: Lives and Communities 

1,137 Church 

Planters Funded 

In Nigeria, Islamists have driven two to three million Christian farmers off their lands, leaving 

them destitute. ICC acquires land, plows it, and provides seed and fertilizer for 120 farming 

families (per communal farm) to get them back to work. Incredibly, this only costs us about 

$35 per victim per year to provide them with a livelihood to support and feed themselves. Get 

involved now to rescue and restore a Christian family in Nigeria! 

Learn more at: www.persecution.org/nigeria-crisis 

Over 45% 

Phase II Goal: $150,000 

10 More Communal Farms 

To learn more about how you can support these initiatives, visit www.persecution.org or give us a call at 800-422-5441. 




k 

Business 

Assistance in 

Kenya 

Rescue: Wives and Kids 

On July 14, 2015, John Muriuki narrowly 

escaped an al-Shabaab attack in 

Mandera, Kenya. The militants ambushed the 

quarry workers’ compound in the middle of 

the night, shooting at them from all directions. 

“Four of my roommates managed to 

climb up in the ceiling before the assailants 

reached our door,” John recalled. “My 

other roommate and I tried to dive under 

the bed because the ceiling was already 

full, but unfortunately my friend was shot 

in the head and chest.” 

The attack continued for an hour. After 

shooting John several times, the militants 

left the room, assuming he was dead. 

Thankfully, the bullet barely missed his 

chest, and John survived with gunshot 

wounds to the hand and forearm. 

In the year following the attack, ICC 

ensured that John received the immediate 

medical care he needed to recover. A 

year later, he underwent another surgery to 

remove scar tissue that restricted the use of 

his hand. Yet, the injuries that he sustained 

continued to make it difficult for John to 



work to provide for his family. 

ICC stepped in to give John a small business 

where he can thrive without the physical 

limitations of a manual labor job. He now 

operates a posho mill to produce various grain 

products. As pictured, John has always given 

glory to God amidst these obstacles, and is 

now able to point his new customers toward 

Christ on a daily basis. 

He expressed, “First of all, I am thankful to 

God for giving me life and a family that has 

been so understanding from the time I was 

hurt in Mandera. I was used to working and 

providing for my family until my hands were 

shot and my life took a sudden turn into a path 

of pain and hopelessness.” 

John continued, “From the time ICC 

learned of our predicament, they took me to 

the hospital, bought me food packages two 

times, and now I own maize milling equipment. 

Once again, I am able to put food on 

the table and buy my wife and children new 

clothes and shoes.” 

Thank you for helping us stand by John’s 

side to help alleviate his immediate needs as 

well as support his family’s long-term recovery. 

9

Your Dollars at Wo 

Car Mechanic 

Shop in Iraq 

Restore: Lives and 

Communities 

When ISIS swept into Qeraqosh in 2014, 

countless Christians were forced to flee, 

leaving their homes and livelihoods behind. 

Now that the threat of ISIS has diminished, 

Farah and his young family recently returned 

to Qeraqosh, hoping to rebuild. 

However, as a laborer in his current position, 

his employer takes 50% of the income 

Farah earns. With another baby on the way, 

Farah hoped to establish his own car mechanic 

shop to support his growing family. Although 

he secured a location, he struggled to purchase 

the tools necessary to get his car mechanic 

business off the ground. 

In order to support Farah’s new business, 

ICC purchased the tools necessary to get 

the shop up and running. Not only will this 

business support Farah and his family, but 

it will also continue to spark life back into 

Qeraqosh’s growing economy. 

Widow 

Assistance in 

Nigeria 


For years, Fulani militants have targeted 

Christian villages throughout Nigeria’s 

“Middle Belt” region. Sweeping into the communities, 

they violently attack Christian villagers 

and destroy farmland, leaving the survivors 

with few options to recover financially. 

A single attack can leave an entire community 

devastated for years to come. 

Last May, Fulani militants ambushed a 

predominantly Christian village in Nigeria’s 

Kwall District. The attackers fired off gunshots 

indiscriminantly and swung at villagers 

with machetes. When the dust settled, 

two men were killed and another 10 were 

injured. One of those killed in the attack 

was Jummai’s husband, Ezekiel. 

As the primary breadwinner for his family, 

Ezekiel provided his family with housing, 

food, clothing, and more. Following his 

death, Jummai and her children were left to 

fend for themselves. 

In order support this grieving family, ICC 

stepped in to provide food assistance and 

five goats, which Jummai can raise to provide 

extra income. This gift will support the 




k 

Medical Care in Myanmar 

Messengers: Underground Workers 

Ever since converting to Christianity, Pastor 

Tin Shwe has faced hostility for his faith. 

In 2018, the threats became a reality when he 

was beaten up by Buddhist extremists while 

visiting his congregation. He suffered a serious 

head injury which required medical attention 

in Yangon. 

ICC came alongside this pastor in his time 

of need to help pay off the medical bills he 

incurred. Upon receiving the assistance, Pastor 

Tin Shwe expressed, “I am so grateful to ICC 

for reaching out to us in the remote country and 

in this kind of remote area. We are very encouraged 

because we have been reporting about our 

situation to [other] organizations…but no one 

pays any attention. Thank you so much ICC.” 

family for three months as they adjust to life 

without Ezekiel. This relief will also alleviate 

some of the burden on the community in their 

efforts to provide for the family. 

Jummai expressed, “I’m so grateful to 

God for the support from ICC. God will 

bless you as you continue with the good 

works. This chance of living that you’ve 

given me and my children will forever be 

remembered. I promise to work hard and get 

back on my feet.” 

One of her children shared, “Thank you so 

much ICC! God will bless you, strengthen 

you, and see you through in all that you’re 

doing in Jesus name. Amen.” Please continue 

praying for Jummai and her children 

in the midst of their grief. 



Food Aid in India 


When Samson’s daughter fell ill, he 

turned to animal sacrifices in a desperate 

attempt to heal her. When this failed, 

a local Christian prayed over the young girl 

and she was miraculously healed. After this 

healing, Samson has been following Christ 

ever since. 

However, his newfound faith has not come 

without challenges. Hindu extremists issued 

Samson and other local Christians a onemonth 

ultimatum: leave Christianity or leave 

the village. The extremists then implemented 

a social boycott, preventing the believers from 

working or accessing the village well. 

In response, ICC provided several displaced 

families with two months of emergency 

food aid. This will help address 

their day-to-day needs while also sending 

encouragement for these believers to stand 

strong in their faith. 

11

West Watch 

Supreme Court to Hear Case on Faith-Based Adoption Agencies 

The United States Supreme Court recently 

announced that it would decide whether 

the city of Philadelphia may exclude a 

Catholic adoption agency from the city’s 

foster care program. The city stopped placements 

with the Catholic agency after discovering 

its policy against placing children in 

homes with same-sex couples on the basis of 

religious grounds. 

The adoption agency and several foster 

parents then sued the city, claiming that the 

decision violated their constitutional rights 

of religious freedom and free speech. An 

appeals court ruled against the agency, noting 

that the city was entitled to enforce compliance 

with its non-discrimination policies. 

Many have cited similarities between this 

case and Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado 

Civil Rights Commission, which revolved 

around a Christian baker who declined to 

make wedding cakes for same-sex couples. 

The court will likely proceed with arguments 

this upcoming fall. 

Finnish Politician Investigated for Bible Verse Tweet 

Finnish politician, Päivi Räsänen, is facing 

A a police investigation for speaking openly 

about her biblical views on marriage. Last 

June, she voiced her concerns on Twitter that 

the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland 

was participating in a local LGBT pride event. 

In the tweet, she cited Romans 1:24-27. She 

later commented, “I am concerned if quoting 

the Bible is considered even ‘slightly’ illegal. I 

hope this won’t lead to self-censorship among 

Christians.” 

The case continued to escalate when the 

State General Prosecutor announced that the 

authorities would begin a pretrial investigation 

into a booklet written by Räsänen, titled, “Male 

and female He created them.” Although the 

booklet was written in 2004, it will be included 

in the case against Räsänen because it is still 

available online. 

Reflecting on the situation, Räsänen said, “It 

is difficult to understand what is now happening 

in my home country… But I am grateful 

that so many Christians have been woken to 

pray for our nation.” 




President Trump Declares Support for Prayer in Public Schools 

P 

resident Trump made a public stand in 

support of prayer in public schools earlier 

this year. While personal prayer in public 

schools has never been officially banned, 

some have faced pressure to abandon the 

practice. Mr. Trump’s declaration, made in 

the Oval Office surrounded by students who 

have faced pressure in school for their religious 

beliefs, simply underscores the personal 

First Amendment right to pray as one 

wishes, even while school-sponsored prayer 

is banned under the Supreme Court’s 1962 

ruling in Engel v. Vitale. 

White House Domestic Policy Council 

Director Joe Grogan said that he hoped 

the declaration would empower students 

and others “to confidently know and exercise 

their rights.” This move comes as a 

US Navy Chaplain Accused of Violating Constitution for 

Leading Voluntary Christian Leadership Program 

US Navy chaplain, Richard Smothers, 

A has been accused of violating the constitution 

for leading a voluntary program 

for soldiers titled, “Lead Like Jesus.” The 

Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an 

organization that promotes strict secularism 

within the military, demanded that the 

commander of the Naval base investigate 

Smothers and all others who promoted the 

seminar. 

number of federal agencies, including the 

Department of Education, are releasing proposed 

rules designed to loosen up federal 

funding for religious organizations. 

First Liberty Institute, a legal organization 

that advocates for religious freedom, 

pointed out that encouraging troops through 

a faith-based perspective is a key responsibility 

of a military chaplain. The group noted, 

“That’s why it’s so absurd when chaplains 

are attacked for sharing certain aspects of 

their faith — like a Christian chaplain giving 

a seminar about Jesus. It goes against their 

very job description.” 

Australia Considers Creating 

Global Magnitsky-type 

Sanctioning Authority 

P 

atterned 

after the robust set of sanctioning 

tools used by the United 

States government, Australia is considering 

a law that would streamline the process 

of sanctioning human rights violators. 

The US’s Global Magnitsky Act allows 

the State Department and other agencies 

to impose sanctions on serious offenders 

of human rights. The violations covered 

by the Global Magnitsky Act vary, but 

they include religious freedom issues and 

have allowed the United States to pursue 

those persecuting Christians all around the 

world. This initiative is undertaken with 

significant assistance from the private sector, 

with organizations like International 

Christian Concern submitting evidence 

packets against individuals and making the 

case for their sanctioning. 

Australia is one of several countries 

around the world currently considering 

Global Magnitsky-type legislation. Broad 

recognition from the international community 

of the need for this type of legislation 

is a necessary step forward and an important 

part of the United States’ strategy on 

the issue of religious freedom. 



13

Feature Article 

IN THE WAKE OF 

AL-SHABAAB 

ICC brings healing to a village devastated by 

deadly Islamist terror group 

al-Shabaab in Kenya. 

By Nathan Johnson 

Elizabeth lost her eldest 

son, Charo Karisa, 

when al-Shabaab executed 

him and three others 

on August 17, 2017. 

What made the attack 

even more devastating 

was that he wasn’t just 

her son–he was also 

her provider. Elizabeth, 

who was in her seventies, was too old to do 

the manual labor that is normal for work in the 

area. Charo took care of the family of seven 

by providing food, clothing, and school fees 

for the rest of the family. 

“When my son, whom I depended on, 

was killed and the whole village displaced, 

I knew that we would never own anything. 

Poverty had knocked at the door,” Elizabeth 

said, relating the loss of hope she felt at first. 

Al-Shabaab’s attacks have devastated 

many communities throughout eastern 

Kenya. Attacks spread from the northern 

county of Mandera all the way to the coastal 

county of Lamu in the South, leaving many 

families without breadwinners or homes. 

When families lose their loved ones, they 

often lose more than just a person. They lose 

hope, security, and dignity. They have no 

way to care for themselves and must rely 

on the help of others, whether that be their 

extended families, their communities, or the 

global body of Christ. Often, all it takes to 

restore hope, security, and dignity to a persecuted 

individual is a job. 

Jobs bring hope and dignity by allowing 

the victims of persecution to feed and clothe 

themselves and help others as well. 

I was able to witness this again firsthand 

during a recent visit to a village called 

Katsaka Kairo in Kenya. The village is made 

up of families with two things in common: 

they are Christians, and they have been victimized 

by al-Shabaab. 

The trauma they all have gone through has 

left them destitute and in great need of help. 

Despite this devastation, we were able to 

come alongside several of the families in the 

village and help them. 

Transforming Lives 

ICC originally helped Elizabeth in April 

2019 by providing her with 10 goats. 

I stopped by her home to visit with her in 

December and was amazed to see how she 

had fared. 

When we stepped in to restore dignity to 

Elizabeth and her family, she told us, “Today 

I have 16 goats and a modern shelter where 

they sleep. I have enough milk for our morning 

tea, for my grandchildren, and I sell the 

extra liters to the neighbors.” 

The simple gift of 10 goats from ICC gave 

Elizabeth and her family a future. 

Widowed with 11 Children 

Kahonzi and her son Kadenge have also 

turned from despair to hope. Kahonzi lost 

her husband, Stephen Hinzano, during the 

same attack on Maleli village that killed 

Charo. She was left to provide for her family 

of 11, as Stephen was the sole breadwinner 

of the family. Since losing access to 

their land, they have also lost access to food 

and income. 

After meeting with the family in April, ICC 

provided Kadenge with a motorcycle to be 

used as a taxi. This is a simple business model 

that works very effectively in Kenya. 

When I checked back in with them in 

December, Kadenge proudly told me, 

“Since I have started driving, I have been 

able to pay for all my mother’s medical 

care, buy a small plot of land for farming, 

and I’m helping the whole village by providing 

rides to town.” ICC also gave grants 

to another five families in the village. We 

provided families with goats, motorcycles, 

and school fees for several children. 

All of the families we touched have been 

given a new lease on life and are blessing 

those around them in the village who are 

still struggling. Please pray for our brothers 

and sisters around the world who wish to 

worship, but often must pay a heavy price. 

We will continue to encourage and restore 

their hope, security, and dignity. 





Top: Former al- 

Shabaab terrorists. 

Left: A smile lights up 

Kadenge’s face as he 

shares his gratitude for 

the gift of a motorcycle 

taxi from ICC donors. 

Bottom Left: Elizabeth 

stands near her goat 

pen. Her goats supply 

food and extra income 

for her family. 

Bottom Right: 

Kadenge transporting 

passengers on his 

motorcycle from ICC. 



15

Students 

Take Up 

the Cross 

After an SEU student meets the persecuted 

in her home country of India, her perspective 

and faith are ultimately changed. 

By Akshaya James 

My passion for persecuted 

Christians was 

first ignited when I 

led a mission trip to 

India in the summer 

of 2019. Growing 

up in an Indian 

household, I thought 

that I knew everything about my people and 

culture. In a sense, I did; but in many ways, 

the lives of my people were radically different 

than I ever could have imagined–particularly 

in the realm of Christianity. 

Before this trip, I was well aware of the 

Gospel call to take up our cross and follow 

God, but to see it lived out in such a real and 

honest way was eye-opening and convicting. 

While there, my team and I were able to 

speak with and witness Indian pastors taking 

on Matthew 16:24 as a radical call to die to 

themselves and live for Jesus. However, this 

was not radical at all to them–it was normal. 

Jabez Christie, the pastor who accompanied 

us throughout the trip, did not only live this 

call, but embodied it. He told us stories of how 

he would purposely go to villages to share the 

Gospel and hand out Bibles, knowing that the 

Hindu nationalists in the village could beat 

him for doing so. One of my team members 

asked him, “Why do you go by yourself? 

Why don’t you take people with you to defend 

yourself?” 

He responded: “Why do I need protection 

when my God protects me? Even if I am 

beaten, I will rest on 2 Corinthians 12:10, ‘I 

delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, 

in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am 

weak, then I am strong.’” 

This statement broke me. The hard truth was 

right in front of my eyes: the Christian walk 

that I was living was not the same as that of 

Pastor Jabez. One of us was wrong…and it 

was me. At that moment, the Lord revealed 

to me that the Gospel from my perspective 

was more a gospel of convenience rather than 

that of sacrifice. It was true that I loved Jesus, 

but why? Honestly, it was because of the preeminence, 

the titles, the roles, and the prosperity 

that came with it–not because of the true 

beauty of the cross. 

A Gospel of Sacrifice 

As the trip continued, my spirit became 

conflicted and disturbed as I encountered 

the realities of other Christ-followers whose 

lives were in every way more complicated 

than my own privileged life. Frankly, what 

I began to feel was disgust. I was disgusted 

with both myself and the American Church 

for preaching a gospel of complacency and 

comfort rather than conviction. 

When I returned to the States from India, 

I wanted to share my experience with others 

and find a way to help more people 

like Pastor Jabez. For several months, I 

prayed for the Lord to reveal to me the right 

way to pursue this mission. My prayers 

were answered when I ran into Matias, 

the Advocacy Director at International 

Christian Concern. He shared with me his 

heart behind what he does and the need to 

spread awareness for the persecuted Church. 

When he asked me to start a club on my college 

campus at Southeastern University, I 

knew this was the answer I was looking for. 

ICC Comes to SEU 

Southeastern does a phenomenal job 

bringing its students closer to the Lord. 

Nevertheless, the persecuted Church is a 

strange topic in American Church culture 

because we are not conscientious of what 

happens beyond our own small church 

homes. Even for those who do know about 

the persecuted, it’s difficult to know how 

to get involved in their lives. Going a step 




Top Left: ICC’s campus club 

president at SEU, Akshaya, 

and friends share ICC’s 

mission with other students at 

the university’s Club Rush. 

Top Right: ICC President 

Jeff King meets with ICC’s 

campus club at SEU to speak 

with them about religious 

persecution and inspire them 

with the amazing example 

that persecuted Christians 

can be for us. 

Bottom Left: Students 

at SEU engage in a letterwriting 

campaign, sending 

letters to encourage 

persecuted Christians in 

prison. 

Bottom Right: Students 

at SEU share International 

Christian Concern’s mission 

to serve the persecuted with 

other students. 

further, some may not feel the urgency in the 

matter because the issue seems too distant 

from the life they currently lead. 

My club’s main goal is to break down all of 

these misconceptions. We want the students 

at SEU to know the reality of the persecuted 

Church by building a bridge that connects 

them to persecuted believers. Since the start 

of the club last August, we have gained fantastic 

recognition. More students are becoming 

aware of what is taking place in other 

areas of the world. Our club meets bi-weekly 

to address these issues, pray together, and 

read stories of persecuted Christians. 

Together, we have sent over 100 letters to 

the persecuted Church in places like Iran and 

India. Our goal is to send over 200 before 

this semester is complete. Currently, we are 



preparing for our main event with speakers 

including ICC President Jeff King and 

Julianna Taimoorazy, founder of the Iraqi 

Christian Relief Council. Through this event, 

we hope to reach more students and spread 

even more awareness. 

Despite my personal convictions, I understand 

how difficult it can be to set aside additional 

time to serve the persecuted. However, as 

believers, we have a responsibility to God and 

to those who are persecuted to be aware of the 

lives of our brothers and sisters in other parts 

of the world. Being a part of such a powerful 

and necessary movement is worth the small 

moments of my time. Here in America, we may 

never experience real persecution for our faith. 

Still, it is imperative that we encourage and 

love those who do in every way that we can. 

Are you ready to 

become an advocate 

for the persecuted? 

Do you want to share 

the inspiring lives of 

the persecuted with 

your campus as an ICC 

campus leader? If so, 

visit our sign up page at 

www.persecution.org/ 

take-action/volunteer. 

17


ESCAPING CHINA 

The Chinese 

government arrests 

100 members of 

one church. One 

family escapes to 

Taiwan to protect 

their child. 

By Gina Goh 

Seven months 

after they fled 

to Taiwan to 

dodge the endless 

oppression 

against themselves 

and 

their church, 

Liao Qiang 

and his family seem to be adapting 

well to their new lives on 

the democratic island. But even 

though they are safe in Taiwan for 

the time being, memories from 

the traumatic experience in China 

still overshadow their lives. 

They were members of the 

heavily targeted church, Early 

Rain Covenant Church (ERCC), 

in Chengdu, China. On December 

9, 2018, the police raided the wellknown 

Sichuan house church and 

arrested more than 100 members 

before criminally charging many 

with multiple crimes. While most 

of them have been released on 

bail, Pastor Wang Yi and elder 

Qin Derfu are still incarcerated 

on trumped-up charges. 

“The main reason for us to 

come to Taiwan is our adopted 

child. We are worried that he 

might be taken away by the government,” 

Liao said, referring to 

his adopted son–a toddler who 

was abandoned by his parents 

due to a sarcoma on his arm. 

Because the government 

labeled ERCC as a “cult,” the 

police could easily claim their 

son. They would say that he was 

growing up in a “cultish family” 





Opposite: The members of 

ERCC are no longer able to 

meet at their church after the 

raid. However, some of them 

continue to meet in secret. 

Top and Middle Right: 

Before the church shutdown, 

ERCC pastor Wang Yi 

baptized Liao Qiang’s 

adopted son. 

Bottom Right: Liao’s 

family met with ICC to share 

more details about China’s 

crackdown on ERCC. 

and needed to be “saved” from 

this environment. In December 

2018, Pei Wenju’s family from 

ERCC lost their four adopted 

children. The children were 

forcibly taken and distributed 

to four different families; their 

adoption papers were abruptly 

nullified by the police. 

Liao feels that he can withstand 

the persecution against 

himself, but a forced separation 

from his adopted son is something 

he cannot bear. 

Ever since the 1209 crackdown 

on ERCC, Liao’s family has been 

placed under immense pressure. 

The authorities asked them to 

stop attending ERCC, distance 

themselves from Pastor Wang Yi, 

and send their older son to public 

school. Even though Liao sent his 

son to public school, the threats 

against them did not stop. 

The government even staged 

a 24/7 surveillance team outside 

of their residence. Each member 

of Liao’s family would have a 

designated team to follow them 

around wherever they went. If 

they were out of sight, the police 

would use GPS tracking on their 

cell phones to monitor them. The 

police would follow them and 

appear suddenly to instill fear. 



“The main reason for us to come 

to Taiwan is our adopted child. 

We are worried that he might be 

taken away by the government.” 

– LIAO QIANG 

At one point, seven people were 

tasked with following one family 

member. Twenty people watched 

them inside their own home. 

They were everywhere. 

Rui-ting, Liao’s daughter, told 

ICC, “When we first saw police 

cars in Taiwan, we were frightened 

and wanted to hide. The 

two-year-old [toddler brother] 

still would say, ‘I want to beat the 

bad guys and kick them out’ even 

after we arrived in Taiwan. It only 

got better with time.” 

Last July, Liao decided to bring 

his family to Taiwan and intentionally 

overstay their tourist visa 

for an opportunity to leave his 

repressive country for good. 

“Thank God that because we 

are Christians, [so we are able to 

deal with this situation] or else we 

would be enraged to have experienced 

all this,” shared Rui-ting. 

Looking ahead, Liao and his 

family would like to ask for 

prayers for the following: 

1. Members of the ERCC who 

are still incarcerated and their 

family members, especially 

their children. 

2. For the ability to start their 

new life in the US soon, where 

they will need to readjust to the 

climate, language, and culture. 

19


SAYING GOODBYE—FOREVER 

An innocent Christian is imprisoned in Iran’s “torture 

factory” and exiled. His dying mother pleads for his 

return. 

By Meg Midwood 

It was the last time that Ibrahim 

Firouzi would see his mother in a 

long time. Like so many before him, 

Firouzi, a Christian and devoted 

son, found himself entangled in a 

web of lies at the heart of Iran’s 

criminal justice system. 

He was first arrested in 2013 

for “launching and administering a 

Christian missionary website, distributing 

Bibles, cooperating with student 

activists, and involvement in actions against 

national security.” The charges were significant 

enough to earn him a year in prison and 

two years in exile to the city of Sarbaz. 

In one fell swoop, the courts stripped him 

of his freedom and his ability to provide for 

his visually-impaired mother. Firouzi briefly 

entered the jaws of Evin Prison, known as 

Iran’s “torture factory,” where he spent at 

least 53 days in Ward 240. 

“Usually, the first 

month or two, there 

is torture to get all 

the information 

they can from the 

prisoner.” 

– DR. HORMOZ SHARIAT 

“Ward 240 [of Evin Prison] houses 700 to 

800 solitary confinement cells,” According 

to a report issued by the U.K.’s Independent 

Advisory Group on Country Information, 

“Solitary confinement cells lack natural light, 

and artificial light is on 24 hours a day, exacerbating 

the psychological pressure of solitary 

confinement. Former prisoners that spent 

time in both wards 209 and 240 noted that 

conditions in Ward 240 were harsher than in 

Ward 209. Reports describe more aggressive 

guards and interrogators, and former prisoners 

add that they were unable to see anything 

outside their cells or hear anything besides 

the sounds of their own voices in Ward 240. 

Several prisoners described the small solitary 

cells as resembling coffins.” 

Judicial Persecution at Its 

Worst 

For years, judges in Iran have spun fabricated 

charges against Christians like Firouzi 

under the ambiguous legal cloak of “national 

security.” The list of crimes ranges from 

praying in public to distributing Bibles, or 

even talking about Christianity with others– 

fundamental religious rights. 





Evin Prison is just another nasty tool of 

the state. The wards are infested with pests 

and cramped. Many Christians report deep 

psychological trauma from cruel interrogations, 

extremely humiliating treatment, as 

well as hellish torture. Some face starvation, 

while guards use food as a bargaining chip 

for information about other Christians and 

church activity. 

“Usually, the first month or two, there is 

torture to get all the information they can 

from the prisoner. If the prisoner dies under 

torture, they claim that he committed suicide. 

Plus, when one is arrested, other brothers and 

sisters (may) cut the relationship from him 

and his family because of the security risks. 

So the person and his family feel abandoned 

and lonely,” shared Dr. Hormoz Shariat of 

Iran Alive Ministries. 

Some are left in solitary confinement for 

months and refused proper medical care. 

Prisoners rest on the ledge of insanity, wondering 

if the outside world has forgotten 

them. 

Sentenced Again 

When Firouzi’s sentence ended in 2015, 

Iran’s justice system struck again. Judge 

Moghiseh convicted him of the same crimes 

again in March 2015 and sentenced him to 

five more years in prison. 

But Firouzi’s mother was dying of cancer, 

so she petitioned the Iranian government to 

allow her son to visit her before she died. She 

had not seen him in over a year. Her request 

was denied time and time again. When she 

passed away around Christmas 2018, her son 

was notably absent from her funeral. 

This past November, Firouzi, just a shell 

of his former self, left prison to serve out his 

internal exile in Sarbaz, where he will live 

for two years, over 1,000 miles away from 

his home. 

Firouzi’s fate remains unknown. Join us in 

praying and advocating for him in our ongoing 

mission to fight for freedom for Christian 

prisoners in Iran. 

Above: Ibrahim Firouzi before his arrest. 

Photo by Article 18. 

Right: The entrance to the notorious Evin 

Prison (“The Terror Factory”) in Tehran. 

Photo by Ehsan Iran on Flickr. 

Striking Back 

Below: A more recent picture of Firouzi 

as his health deteriorates. Photo by 

Article 18. 

Over the past year, we have been tracking 

prisoners like Firouzi, following their 

progress deep into the tunnels of Evin 

Prison. Three judges sit at the center of this 

web in Iran, responsible for capturing and 

imprisoning Christians for the Iranian government. 

Their names are Ahmad Zargar, 

Mashallah Ahmadzadeh, and Mohammed 

Moghiseh. We have documented in great 

detail the history of these judges. 

In 2019, we submitted a report on each 

judge to the US Treasury Department and 

asked them to place sanctions on the three 

judges using a US law known as the Global 

Magnitsky Act. Under the Magnitsky Act, if 

the US Treasury accepts a case submitted to 

them, the perpetrator’s US dollar assets in 

Western banks will be frozen, and they and 

their family will be banned from traveling to 

the United States. 

In December 2019, the Treasury 

Department placed sanctions on Judge 

Moghiseh, the very same judge who convicted 

Firouzi, in a crucial victory for religious 

freedom in Iran. A ray of light found 

its way into the darkest dungeons of Iran’s 

criminal justice system, giving hope to 

those inside. 

Even as we celebrate this small triumph, 

we remember those who are still imprisoned 

unjustly in Iran. So many others remain in 

Iran’s judicial system. 

As we continue to advocate for Firouzi 

and others, targeting the perpetrators of persecution, 

we hope and pray that one day Iran 

will see the reform it so desperately needs. 



21

A Rain of 

Miracles 

A Christian woman who lived during the Cuban Revolution recounts the 

amazing revival that swept across Cuba despite the Communist regime’s best 

efforts. 

By Jeff King, ICC President 

When I met Oleda for the first time 

in the final years of her life, she 

seemed solemn, even cranky. But 

after spending a bit of time speaking 

to her, I got a clearer glimpse of her 

true personality and was drawn to 

her warm, engaging nature. When 

our discussion progressed to deep, 

spiritual things, I found her to be 

positively sparkling! 

Oleda came to the Lord in 1955, just before the Cuban Revolution. 

She was 80 years old when I spoke with her. Thirteen years have 

passed, and I’m sure she’s with the Lord now. She was in poor health 

and said, “My body wants to die. I feel like dying, but I am holding on.” 

Finishing the Race 

She clung to her life in order to remain active in ministry and to finish 

the race well. I was introduced to her when I requested to speak with 

someone who was familiar with Cuba’s spiritual history. Given her age 

and state of health, the secret police wouldn’t imprison her for talking 

to me. 

I’ve spoken to thousands of Christians around the world, but she really 

stands out in my memory. She was full of the presence of God, having 

lived through Cuba’s modern history. What she taught me about persecution 

has stayed with me and will stay with me for years to come! 

She witnessed Fidel Castro’s rise to power and lived through the initial 

hope that he would improve the lives of Christians. She told me, “When 

Fidel first came on the scene we thought he would help the Christians. 

He talked a very good game and pretended to believe in God [as he was 

gaining control]. We thought he would bring more freedom!” 

As Castro turned against Christians, Oleda stood strong. She said, 

“My father was involved in Castro’s revolution and became very angry 

with me since I wouldn’t stop going to church. He insisted that I stop, 

but I felt I would die if I didn’t go. [As a consequence], I eventually had 

to leave home because of the strife.” 

After leaving home, she went to Bible college. Within two years, 

the communists began their persecution. She said, “Many Christian 

workers began to be arrested.” At the time, she and her husband began 

pastoring a church, which they led faithfully for the next 25 years. 

A Rain of Miracles 

The greatest period of Oleda’s life began in 1988. After 28 years 

of intense persecution from the communist regime – and equally 

intense prayers rising up to the Lord – something began to stir in 

Cuba. The Lord began to reveal Himself in mighty ways to the 

Cuban people. Here is her testimony: 

“Literally thousands of people were healed in the most miraculous 

way. People would walk out of church carrying their wheelchairs, 

they were healed of every type of sickness and deformity, and they 

had visions and every kind of manifestation of the Lord’s presence. So 

many people suddenly came to church that the pews began to break. We 

began to sleep at the church so that we could minister most of the time. 

We would open the doors to the church first thing in the morning and 

the church would immediately be filled,” Oleda recalled. 

“The authorities came to us and told us we had to stop. ‘We can do 

nothing. It’s not us, it’s the people; they are coming.’ The government 

pressure was so intense that our lives were in danger. They threatened 

to close our whole denomination. The secret police took me and my 

family to a secret place and told us we must stop immediately. They 

told us that we could only open the church at night—the church could 

not open during the day,” she continued. 

“We were so afraid that they would kill us that we agreed. We would 

only open at night but still the people came. We had to hand out tickets 




I asked her if many 

came to the Lord during 

this time. “Ooo, Ahhh,” 

she exclaimed, waving 

her arms, “All of them!” 

The Last Words 

of the 

Martyrs 

because so many were trying to get into the limited seats,” she 

said. 

Oleda continued, “The miracles continued and the people 

continued to come from all over Cuba and even farther away. 

One man came from California. His young son back at home in 

California had terrible asthma and he was asking for prayer for 

him. I asked him if he had a picture of him that we could pray 

over. We prayed over the picture of his son. We found out later 

that the boy was healed the moment we prayed for him many 

thousands of miles away. 

“Another woman came in to the church with a terrible deformity 

in her back. She was permanently bent over and her back 

was misshapen. She was a physician and was healed instantly in 

front of everybody,” she explained. 

“For 28 years, the communists had told the people that God 

didn’t exist, and the Church was treated horribly. After the events 

of 1988, they could go on telling the people the same lies, but the 

people had no choice but to know that God was there. God came 

in a rain of miracles,” Oleda concluded. 

Explosive Church Growth 

I knew the answer, but couldn’t help but ask her about what 

happened as a result of this incredible display of the Lord’s 

power. I asked her if many came to the Lord during this time. 

“Ooo, Ahhh,” she exclaimed, waving her arms, “All of 

them!” 

At the beginning of this revival, her denomination in Cuba 

had 12,000 to 15,000 people. Seventeen years later, the 

denomination had more than 350,000 people! That kind of 

Church growth is mind-boggling. It makes no sense. This happened 

after the Cuban secret police beat, tortured, imprisoned, 

and murdered pastors for 30 years. You hardly ever see this 

in human culture, but so often this is the story of persecution. 

“A Rain of Miracles” is a devotion in ICC’s 

40-Day Challenge. The 40-Day Challenge is a 

series of daily devotions that are a supplement 

to “The Last Words of the Martyrs,” 

ICC President Jeff King’s latest book on 

persecution. Visit www.lastwordsofthemartyrs. 

org/40-day to sign up for the 40-Day 

Challenge. 



Life-Changing Lessons from 

Persecuted Believers Who 

Paid the Ultimate Price 

"It is with great pleasure that I 

recommend The Last Words of the 

Martyrs to you. The lesson that 

the martyrs are ‘whispering’ to the 

Western Church is life-changing. I 

urge you to listen carefully to the 

(martyrs’ message) that Jeff has 

captured so well." 

Pat Robertson 

The 700 Club 

Online: lastwordsofthemartyrs.org 

Phone: 1-800-422-5441 

All profits go toward assisting the 

families of Christian martyrs. 

23

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ICC 

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April 2020 Persecution Magazine

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