{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Stories","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.persecution.com\/stories","author_name":"vomtechsupport","author_url":"https:\/\/www.persecution.com\/stories\/author\/vomtechsupport\/","title":"Persecution and Ministry in 2023: Be At Peace - Stories","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"pUfBO7G8Fw\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.persecution.com\/stories\/persecution-and-ministry-in-2023-be-at-peace\/\">Persecution and Ministry in 2023: Be At Peace<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.persecution.com\/stories\/persecution-and-ministry-in-2023-be-at-peace\/embed\/#?secret=pUfBO7G8Fw\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Persecution and Ministry in 2023: Be At Peace&#8221; &#8212; Stories\" data-secret=\"pUfBO7G8Fw\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/assets.persecution.com\/stories\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.persecution.com\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/VOM-Stories-VOMRadio-Placeholder-768x503.jpg","thumbnail_width":600,"thumbnail_height":393,"description":"When terrorists invaded the church service and pointed guns at his head, the pastor could have said many things to his congregation. Led by the Holy Spirit, he told them simply, \u201cBe at peace. Soon we will be with Jesus.\u201d Instead of committing murder, the attackers put their guns down and left the church, leaving the pastor and his flock alive and well. This true story, from persecuted Christians on the Arabian Peninsula, is just one of those you\u2019ll hear this week from Jonathan Ekman, VOM\u2019s Vice President of International Ministry. Join the conversation as Jonathan looks back on VOM\u2019s work in 2022 and looks ahead to challenges and opportunities for persecuted church ministry in 2023. Listen as Jonathan discusses regions where persecution is changing, and what the next year may look like for Christians in restricted and hostile nations. He\u2019ll also suggest some less-well-known countries, such as Northern Mozambique, Malaysia and Brunei, where persecuted Christians need your prayer. Are there nations where VOM\u2019s work is likely to change in 2023? Jonathan will talk about the spread of radical Islam across Africa, and what it means for churches and Christian leaders in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Central African Republic and other African nations. He\u2019ll also look at some of the many unknowns faced this year, including intensified Christian persecution in China and upcoming elections in Nigeria and India. Your prayer list will grow as you consider the persecution being faced by Christians around the globe. One way you can pray more knowledgeably for persecuted Christians in the new year is to request a complimentary copy of VOM\u2019s 2023 Global Prayer Guide. For an in-depth discussion of Christian persecution and current events in China, listen to this recent VOM Radio conversation with Dr. Bob Fu. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the podcast."}