Recently I went for this workshop called THIS IS MY FAMILY organized by Open Door (a ministry that serve the persecuted Christian) and I was truly touched by their faith and what persecuted Christians have to go through just for Believing in Christ. Imagine that you are being ridicule, mocked, insulted , accused and beaten up just because you believe in Christ. I think over here in Malaysia, we have the "Freedom to Worship" act to protect us from being persecuted but does this act builds us up in our faith or it has made us to take our faith for granted.
There were 3 workshop that I have to go through and all of them were great for self reflection. The first workshop was called "Captured on Film" where they show you video on underground church. This video really shows you their pain, their fear and you will really marvel at their courage. They are really like you and me... they have dreams, a career, family and just wanted to live a normal life but just because they believe in Christ, their suffering begins. In the beginning like anyone of us will do when we face suffering... they doubt about their faith... and they had to make a choice. To face persecution or reject Christ so that you can save your career, family and your life. It is really not an easy decision. I wonder how I will respond to it when the times comes. My faith have never been tested to that extend. I can be easily shaken if my career is in trouble... or when I face financial difficulties but never have I face persecution for just believing in Christ.
The next workshop was called "Prayer Behind Bars" Have you ever been in a prison cell? What would you do if you are there for 3-4 years? This workshop was a bit unique as they constructed a prison cell for you to be in and feel how is it like to be inside one. The whole purpose was to understand Heb 11:3 "Remember those who are in prison as though you were in prison with them" What we have to do was to pray for those who are currently in prison while we are in the mock up prison. To tell you the truth, when I was in that prison, praying for them was so real. It was so difficult to pray. Words just could not flow like I normally could when outside the prison cell. This is how those in the prison would feel. To be able to pray to God when you don't even know what will happen to you tomorrow..whether you are able to see your family again or who is going to come in to beat you up until you renounce Christ. This workshop was really not for the faint hearted.
Lastly, I went for the "Letter of Hope" workshop. I get to write a simple letter to a lady in Nigeria who lost her husband when extremist came to her house and murdered her husband and her elder son when they did not want to renounce their faith. Now she is facing a difficult future as she has little saving (her husband is a pastor) and no place to stay. At first I didn't know that to say or write. Who am I to tell her to not to worry, I feel your pain and everything is in God's hand. It is easy to write it down but to really mean what I can is difficult. To be honest, there is no way I can ever understand how she is going through. If I'm in the same situation, the last think I want to hear is that everything is going to be fine. It is really not easy to console a person and sometimes even if I meant well, but if it not the right time, it can be discouraging. It took me a while to find the right words.
Finally I wrote down these words"
"Greeting in the name of the Lord and from Malaysia. Even though we come from a different country, different race but we are one in the family of God. I just want to say that God loves you and I will pray for you constantly. They say that great faith comes from time such as these, then you will know that because you love God to such extend, He will honor this love as he honor his Son Jesus Christ who loves the Father and gave his life. God Bless, Shaharudeen - Malaysia"
After that I wrote the words LOVE, HOPE and JOY on the front cover.
When I finish writing the letter, I begin to understand why this workshop is called THIS IS MY FAMILY. Indeed she became part of me, part of the whole family of GOD. She is one of my family member. This workshop thought me that when a member of your family suffers, we all suffers together. She is not just a story or a news that we hear. She is a member of my family who is suffering for the sake of the cross.
There are still alot of people out there who is suffering because they believe in Jesus. I'm not sure how to help all of them but I'm determine to let others know about their suffering and hopefully I can get people to pray for them or write letters to them.
I'm not sure how long we are going to enjoy our Freedom to worshippig God here in Malaysia. But if someday I'm persecuted because of my faith in Christ, I really do hope to know that there are other family members out there who will pray (not to make this suffering to be easier) that I will not give up my faith for anything in this world. Their prayers and letters will keep me strong for Christ.
2 comments:
wow... wake up early to write blog ah? Good idea also :-)
Thank you for sharing.
Don't forget we are also part of your family ya ... :-D
It's a very good timing for me to read this article right after the BLESS weekend - with strong messages and testimonies that stirred and probably rebuked many..
As I experience Sha's moment of writing to the Nigerian widow, I find it hard to make comment here, neither was it easy to speak to Brother Paul from Myanmar whom shared his testimonies.
I recall Ps Elisha message - the remaining eleven that remain in the comfort and security of the boat; and didn't walk on water. I guess what we will missed is the opportunity to experience God, as we choose to rely on our "own interpretation of faith" and live very comfortably, in men's perspective.
Both the article and Ps Elisha message help to remind me again the importance to keep remembering that I'm human, and I'm just human as the rest on earth, nothing more, nothing less.
Post a Comment