Threatened by Mob of 200 With Machetes

Pastor Miguel and his congregation were harrassed and threatened by the community leaders in San Gregorio, Huixtan, Chiapas for months. They refused to pay for and participate in the Catholic religious festivals. For those crimes the leaders decided to cut their water and electricity. As if that wasn't bad enough, a delegation of 200 screaming, machete brandishing neighbors went to their houses, and after cutting water and lights, decided to tear down the houses. That was more than some of the familiy members could bear. Several Christian members took out their rifles and started shooting in the air to disperse at mob. In the end about 8 of the attackers had been wounded. The Christians fled, and the delegation started a search for any evangelical they could lay their hands on to accuse them of attempted murder. 2 are jailed, 4 fled, and the guilty members were never detained. But no one ever thought to charge the mob with any crime... Their families are also displaced persons now.

Evangelical Family Expelled from Chilil, Huixtan, Chiapas for not renouncing their faith!

Almost a year now... displaced persons in Mexico por their faith. Threatened, harrassed, and physically manhandled. Lost a year of schooling, their jobs, possessions, house, their fields, and their crops... and are still waiting for the Mexican governement to enforce its own constitution! Freedom of Religion.

Persecution in Mexico: VOMC / VOM Mexico: Acteal Evangelical Families

Still Waiting For Justice... Please link in prayer and Activism in support of our Brethren...Acteal Prisoner's Prayer Alert & Postcard Campaign Update: We are reposting this regarding our evangelical brothers, Innocent Prisoners of Acteal. In August of 2009, Estela Luna Perez led her group of families out of Acteal walking to the Mexican capital, 14 hours away by bus. They were joined by over 300 uninvited marchers, and then attacked and fired on by the state police in Oaxaca.The government in Chiapas and political parties had promised support but backed out at the last moment. The peaceful march on behalf of the Innocent Evangelical Prisoners has now been hijacked by two radical groups...with political, propaganda, and financial clout. The Judges of the Supreme Court postponed their decisions until after the summer elections. Estela and her group were humbly camped out in the Zocalo while their counterparts were being well cared for by their backers in nice hotels. I am sure that Estela and her people were disheartened and feeling betrayed by their neighbors. In the end, we all knew that justice would only be determined through trusting the Lord to move on behalf of the innocent prisoners. In November, the Supreme released some other prisoners, but 56, among them the older men, are still condemned under sentences for another 22 years. Please continue with us in prayer for both the prisoners and their families, not forgetting the judges who are dealing with a case no one wants to touch because of the political and propaganda machines involved. You can encourage Estela and her people by participating in the Postcard Campaign here. Last year a manila envelope arrived with drawings from a Sunday School class in Buffalo, New York, telling the Evangelicals, "Don't worry, Jesus loves You!" You too can be a Voice of encouragement to our people who have suffered for their identification as evangelical followers of Jesus Christ

Persecution in Mexico: VOMC / VOM en Mexico: Los Llanos y Nachig

Persecution in Mexico: VOMC & VOM en Mexico Collaboration

21 Evangelicals Expelled from Their Community of Chilil in November 2009, still waiting for justice in Government Shelter in San Sristobal de las Casas.

Glenn Penner Passes on to Glory

Subject: Glenn Penner Passes on to Glory

After a seven year struggle with cancer, Glenn Penner of The Voice of the Martyrs Canada went home to be with the Lord on the evening of January 26, 2010 at the age of 48.

Glenn first joined VOM-Canada in 1997. Klaas Brobbel, the Director of the mission at the time, recalls, "Looking back to August 1997 when we interviewed Glenn for the position of Development Director for The Voice of the Martyrs, I marvel at God's goodness and timing to send Glenn our way. The mission was floundering and we needed help. Little could we have known the great work that Glenn would be able to pack into the nearly 12½ years of service to the Persecuted Church."

Barely five years after joining VOM-Canada, Glenn was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. After undergoing chemotherapy, radiation treatment and a stem cell transplant, Glenn, his wife Denita, and their family decided not to pursue further treatment when the cancer returned. With confidence in God's provision, Glenn bravely continued to serve the Persecuted Church and strove to utilize the time God gave him to its fullest potential.

Merv Knight, Ambassador-at-Large with International Christian Association, of which VOM-Canada is an affiliate, reflected, "It is my privilege to have had a close association with VOM-Canada from its formative days. I have seen it move through various stages of change and growth. One of those positive changes came with the appointment in 2007 of Glenn Penner as C.E.O. Glenn was God's man for the time."

Glenn had a particular passion for helping suffering believers to understand the biblical basis for their trials. His book, In the Shadow of the Cross, is an intensive study of the theology of persecution and discipleship which continues to be an invaluable resource to Christians worldwide who are suffering for Christ's sake. A gifted teacher, Glenn was blessed to be able to share his study with Christian leaders in religiously restricted and hostile nations in South America, Africa and Asia, as well as in seminaries and colleges in Europe and North America.

In January 2010, Glenn stepped down from the position of C.E.O. to allow him to serve more in line with the limitations and challenges of his condition. Corey Odden, who served for 10 years with VOM-USA, assumed the role of C.E.O. while Glenn became VOMC's Scholar-in-Residence/Executive Advisor.

Glenn's faithful dedication has inspired many – his family, the staff and supporters of VOM-Canada, international partners, and the many suffering Christians worldwide who have been touched by his service to them. As the mission moves forward into a new chapter, the staff is profoundly thankful to God for Glenn's example.

Greg Musselman, VOM-Canada's Chief Communications Officer, said, "I've known Glenn for the past 10 years and we worked together at VOM-Canada for seven. We travelled together overseas several times and worked on many video projects and newsletter articles about the Persecuted Church. I learned so much from him in the area of theology and church history and for that I will always be grateful. The rest of the team and I at VOM-Canada will strive to carry on his legacy as we serve the Persecuted Church."

VOM-Canada's Chief Operations Officer, Floyd Brobbel, added, "Words can never completely convey what Glenn meant to me and over the years ahead I will cherish the memories of my time with Glenn. The meetings, the travel, the laughter, the tears, the heated discussions, the planning, the practical jokes, and the list goes on to form a wonderful tapestry Glenn wove into my life. I would not change a thing because it all narrows to one word for me, and that is 'friend.'"

Friends and family of Glenn Penner are invited to celebrate his life and express condolences to his loved ones on Friday, January 29 at City Centre Baptist Church. The viewing will be held, the Lord willing, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with the funeral beginning at 1:00 p.m. City Centre Baptist Church is located at 1075 Eglinton Avenue West in Mississauga, Ontario. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, February 6 at 1:00 p.m. at the Zion Evangelical Missionary Church in Didsbury, Alberta. Directions are available at www.zemc.org. For more information, please phone 1.888.298.6423.