~gone but not forgotten~

Imagine you're driving down the highway midday, in your own city. You look in your rear view mirror and notice 3 black cars approaching you from behind. All have tinted windows. One passes you, then pulls in ahead of you. The second car pulls up besides you and keeps pace with you. The last is on your bumper.  Suddenly they all slow down, the car beside you forcing you to pull to the side of the road. You stop. At least 6 men in black clothes jump out of the cars and approach you, signalling you to exit your vehicle. You're aggressively pulled out of your vehicle and are pushed into another one. Someone yanks the license plate off of your car and throws it to the side of the road. He gets into your car. All four cars pull away from the curb and take off. 

This was three years ago and you've never been heard from again. Your car has never been found. Your wife and children wonder if they will ever find out what happened to you and if you're still alive.

Imagine you're a pastor in Indonesia. This could be your story.

This is a true story. This pastor is still missing and no one in authority cares to investigate.

Millions of people around the world who have stories similar or worse than this. Their "crime" is that they love God and share His love with others, meeting together to encourage each other. They are kidnapped, accused of crimes they didn't commit, are imprisoned unlawfully, and often starved, beaten, and even killed.

Today is International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. I'm thankful our pastor takes time each year for our church to pray for those who are persecuted around the world.  We are all ONE BODY and when one part hurts, we all hurt.

Want to know more? Voice of the Martyrs will inform you of what's going on and how you can help.

"Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Hebrews 13:3