{"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":"UZBEKISTAN: Prayer Emboldens Persecuted Christians - Stories","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"TlQ0R56lF9\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.persecution.com\/stories\/uzbekistan-prayer-emboldens-persecuted-christians\/\">UZBEKISTAN: Prayer Emboldens Persecuted Christians<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.persecution.com\/stories\/uzbekistan-prayer-emboldens-persecuted-christians\/embed\/#?secret=TlQ0R56lF9\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;UZBEKISTAN: Prayer Emboldens Persecuted Christians&#8221; &#8212; Stories\" data-secret=\"TlQ0R56lF9\" 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":"Last week, Brother Max shared his testimony of seeking God through following Islam then, when he met Jesus, finding a peace he\u2019d never experienced before. After finding that peace, Max wanted to tell everyone he knew, but he was not prepared for how his community would react with anger and persecution. Max found it very natural to talk about Jesus with people who had known him before his salvation. They could see his life was drastically different, and they wanted an explanation. Brother Max was eager to share God\u2019s Word with those who asked. He told them he\u2019d found the \u2018passport to heaven.\u2019 But leaving Islam is not permitted, and his family and community persecuted him for his faith in Christ. His father could see how Max\u2019s life had changed for the better\u2014but still urged him to return to Islam. Max explained, \u201cIf I take Jesus from my heart, I will become the old Max again.\u201d He challenged his father to read the New Testament. Persecuted first by those he knew, Max and his witness for Christ soon drew the attention of the government. He was arrested and interrogated by several police. It was a frightening experience; his legs shook with fear as the police questioned him and forced him to write a \u201cconfession\u201d that would be used against him, dictating the words he was supposed to write. Christians gathered outside the police station, praying for Max during the interrogation. The presence and prayers of his Christian brothers and sisters encouraged Max, and a holy boldness came over him. He turned the table on the police, asking them questions instead of answering theirs. Listen as Brother Max shares how the Lord worked through that situation and later brought Max face to face with the one who prosecuted him\u2014now a follower of Christ! He\u2019ll also share about training new believers in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan to withstand Christian persecution after they leave Islam to follow Jesus. \u201cOur time is short,\u201d he says, \u201cso we should be ready to meet Jesus.\u201d Max will also equip listeners to pray for Christians in the region\u2014including those facing persecution. Listen to the first part of Max\u2019s story here, and learn more about Max\u2019s ministry, Global Teams, here. Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the podcast."}