“All those who would live godly will suffer persecution”
(2 Timothy 3:12).

For more than 2,000 years, persecution has been the expected norm for disciples of Jesus. Today, there are thousands of secret churches scattered globally. Most of these are “home churches” where believers secretly gather to worship God under the threat of financial loss, shunning, beatings, prison or worse. This Christmas, please keep these beloved believers in your prayers.

During one of our classes at AFM summer training, we discussed the apostle Paul’s willingness to be ‘spent’ for Christ’s sake. His commitment extended past the walls of his local synagogue into the regions beyond, and he prioritized the risky business of evangelizing. He willingly — no, joyfully — risked all he was and all he possessed to share the good news of the risen Christ. His life was committed to four pillars:

Becoming a disciple of Jesus
Learning the teachings of Jesus
Living the teachings of Jesus
Sharing the teachings of Jesus

In South Korea, the brethren are surrounded by countries hostile to freedom of thought, and who actively suppress any entity, temporal or eternal, that would weaken State allegiance. As a result, they have produced handbooks to guide church leaders and laity for when, not if, persecution comes. Produced by The Voice of the Martyrs, “Planting the Underground Church,” by Eric Foley, gives 12 principles to enable church planters to keep the faith amidst serious opposition.

AFM exists to plant churches where the church is not — what Christianity looks like when taken literally. One of my favorite quotes is: “Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary” (DA 195). So commit. Go. Send. The Christ is soon coming back.

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