{"id":44927,"date":"2022-12-13T14:00:37","date_gmt":"2022-12-13T05:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=44927"},"modified":"2022-12-13T13:14:00","modified_gmt":"2022-12-13T04:14:00","slug":"vomk-report-233","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2022\/12\/13\/vomk-report-233\/","title":{"rendered":"UKRAINIAN PASTORS RECEIVE TRAINING IN MARTYRDOM"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”44906″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”“We are alive. We are fed. We have clothes. We are healthy.“ ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_column_text]According to Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley, <\/span>that was the reply of one pastor in Russia-occupied Ukraine to her question, \u201c<\/span>What message would you like us to share with Christians in the outside world about your situation?\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley and members of the Voice of the Martyrs Korea organization <\/span>conducted <\/span>a <\/span>week-long <\/span>martyrdom <\/span>training event <\/span>in late November in a secret location in Romania, <\/span>attended by that pastor (who asked that his name be withheld for security reasons) along with <\/span>eight<\/span> others <\/span>from Russia-occupied Ukraine and <\/span>other parts of the country hit hard by the war.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Two things are true about the pastors who attended,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cFirst, they are facing extremely difficult and dangerous ministry situations. <\/span>Second, they are choosing to stay in those situations and to make a faithful witness to Christ and the gospel.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”44910″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that <\/span>while <\/span>the location in Romania was selected because of its accessibility to <\/span>the majority of<\/span> invitees<\/span>, four <\/span>invitees <\/span>were <\/span>unable<\/span> to attend due to border crossing restrictions. \u201c<\/span>Almost all the attendees had arduous travel, by car, bus, train, and even some other means,\u201d she says. \u201c<\/span>Getting visas and making it through passport checks was <\/span>a constant challenge. <\/span>One <\/span>invitee <\/span>was even turned back on the way, after a long j<\/span>ourney.\u00a0 Two invitees became ill<\/span> and had to cancel<\/span>. <\/span>Hearing about the travels of these Christian workers <\/span>in and out of these war regions<\/span> reminded me of the Apostle Paul\u2019s<\/span> recounting of his own travel experiences in 2 Corinthians 11:26, where he wrote, \u2018<\/span>I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers<\/span>.\u2019<\/span> But the<\/span>se nine<\/span> said they came because they wanted to learn <\/span>more effective <\/span>strategies for <\/span>faithful <\/span>witness amidst persecution and <\/span>war<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley,<\/span> one day of training was devoted <\/span>to <\/span>the theology of martyrdom and persecution, another day to trauma recovery from <\/span>a Christian perspective, and another to how to preach and teach martyrdom and persecution from each book of the Bible. <\/span>She said the highlight of the training was taking the attendees on a <\/span>day-long <\/span>field trip to several locations <\/span>from <\/span>the life of Voice of the Martyrs global founder, Romanian pastor Richard <\/span>Wurmbrand<\/span>, who spent <\/span>14 years imprisoned and tortured by Communists during the Soviet era. \u201cFirst, we watched the movie \u2018Tortured for Christ\u2019 together<\/span> with our Ukrainian training attendees. The movie <\/span>tells the story of Pastor <\/span>Wurmbrand\u2019s<\/span> imprisonment<\/span> because of his faithful witness to the gospel<\/span>. <\/span>Then we took <\/span>our attendees<\/span> to <\/span>Jilava<\/span> Prison and to the old Communist Party headquarters, <\/span>the <\/span>two <\/span>main <\/span>locations where Pastor <\/span>Wurmbrand<\/span> was imprisoned and tortured. <\/span>We also took the<\/span> attendees<\/span> to the Christian bookstore which was opened with the help of the <\/span>Wurmbrands<\/span> when communism fell. <\/span>We told them how at that time t<\/span>he bookstore needed a place to store its extra books<\/span> and Bibles<\/span>, so the post-communist government offered the use of Pastor <\/span>Wurmbrand\u2019s<\/span> former prison cell<\/span> nearby.<\/span> It was a powerful reminder to them that faithful witness can ultimately topple even the mightiest political and military power.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says the attendees were deeply moved by the field trip. \u201cOne attendee said she <\/span>felt physically ill inside the prison, thinking of the suffering Pastor <\/span>Wurmbrand<\/span> and other Romanian Christians had endured<\/span> there for so many years<\/span>. But one attendee noted, \u2018Although this prison was extremely bad, I <\/span>have actually seen <\/span>even worse prisons.\u2019 <\/span>We talked about Christian leaders in Occupied Ukraine<\/span> who have faced interrogation, imprisonment, and even death. <\/span>Yet the attendees concluded the week with renewed strength and commitment to return home and be faithful just as Pastor <\/span>Wurmbrand<\/span> had been faithful.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44914″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley teaches Christian-based trauma recovery to church leaders from Occupied Ukraine and the neighboring war zones. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44916″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley stands in front of the former Communist Party headquarters in Bucharest, Romania where Voice of the Martyrs founder Richard Wurmbrand was once imprisoned in an underground cell. The organization took Ukrainian pastors to the site as part of a recent training event in martyrdom.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that the time together <\/span>provided an opportunity for attendees to consult with each other and with Voice of the Martyrs Korea on ministry strategy. \u201cThe situation is different in each area of Ukraine,\u201d she says. \u201cThe attendees agreed that <\/span>the Luhansk Region is the most <\/span>restrictive for Christians, with local Christians there hearing rumors that Russia is planning even <\/span>tighter <\/span>control<\/span>s<\/span> to be implemented from now through 2026.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The other challenge attendees reported facing, says Representative Foley, is <\/span>the need to separate humanitarian aid distribution from evangelism. \u201cThe attendees reported how they <\/span>all were receiving large quantities of humanitarian aid from outside groups and <\/span>how <\/span>they had been trying <\/span>to use <\/span>it <\/span>to \u2018prepare the soil\u2019 for evangelism<\/span> via distribution to non-Christians<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cB<\/span>ut <\/span>through their experiences <\/span>they had all come to the realization that<\/span> fallen, sinful human beings<\/span> know how to take advantage of any system<\/span> where<\/span> material benefit is available to them<\/span>. <\/span>They said all the aid has produced <\/span>are <\/span>many so-called <\/span>\u2018<\/span>bread Christians<\/span>\u2019<\/span>. <\/span>So<\/span>,<\/span> our <\/span>training <\/span>attendees concluded that <\/span>there really is no substitute for <\/span>a direct<\/span>, clear<\/span> proclamation of the gospel<\/span> totally separate from <\/span>humanitarian aid. <\/span>Both <\/span>humanitarian aid and evangelism <\/span>are important ministries for Christians, but <\/span>faith can only come by hearing the word of God, and <\/span>God <\/span>neither uses nor requires any <\/span>\u2018preparation of the soil\u2019<\/span> when he gives the gift of faith to those who hear the word.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that a particular highlight of the training for her was the opportunity to provide funds to attendees <\/span>to enable them to continue <\/span>their <\/span>ministries of faithful witness.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir needs are so vari<\/span>ed<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201cOne attendee <\/span>just <\/span>needed snow tires for his car <\/span>so he can return to his <\/span>church <\/span>now that it is winter. Another attendee needed help to cover the living expenses of his church deacons. Across the <\/span>whole <\/span>Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine, about half the Christians have left<\/span> since 2014<\/span>, including <\/span>many pastors. One of the attendees now oversees a network of five churches with the help of deacons. But the deacons must <\/span>remain out of public sight at all times<\/span> because if they are caught, they will be automatically conscripted <\/span>into the Russian military. <\/span>So<\/span> they are risking their safety to stay, but they are unable to earn money <\/span>to support their families <\/span>through outside jobs.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44919″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley and CEO Pastor Eric Foley lead a group of Ukrainian pastors into Jilava Prison in Romania. During the Soviet era the prison housed Voice of the Martyrs founder Richard Wurmbrand and other Christians who were detained and tortured for their faith.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44925″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley guides pastors from Occupied Ukraine through a Christian bookstore in Bucharest established with the help of Voice of the Martyrs founder Richard Wurmbrand. The tour was part of a week-long martyrdom training event the organization held in November for Ukrainian church leaders. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that <\/span>while other organizations are concentrating on providing humanitarian aid, <\/span>Voice of the Martyrs Korea <\/span>continues to focus on providing funds enabling churches to continue to make a faithful witness through direct evangelism<\/span>, and to care for family members when that faithful witness leads to <\/span>the <\/span>death or imprisonment of church leaders.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Humanitarian aid is important, but as Jesus told us, man cannot live on bread alone<\/span>. A<\/span>s our attendees have learned, combining humanitarian aid with evangelism<\/span> usually yields ineffective and even counterproductive evangelism,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span>Now in Eastern Ukraine, half the church has <\/span>fled<\/span> and no<\/span> amount of bread can bring it back. Unless bold witnesses risk their lives proclaiming the gospel<\/span> there<\/span>,<\/span> there can be no hearing of faith. Voice of the Martyrs Korea is honored to providing training and support to <\/span>the church leaders who are doing just that.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Those who are interested in making a donation to Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s Ukraine Emergency Fund can do so at <\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/donation<\/span><\/span><\/a> or via electronic transfer to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span> (KB Bank) 463501-01-243303<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span> (Account Holder): (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please include the word \u201cUkraine\u201d with the donation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”44923″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley and CEO Pastor Eric Foley view a display about Rev. Richard Wurmbrand at Jilava Prison in Romania. The organization recently conducted a week-long martyrdom training event for pastors from Occupied Ukraine. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”44906″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”“We are alive. We are fed. We have clothes. We are healthy.“ ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_column_text]According to Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley, …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":44907,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[857,235,869,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-russian-special","category-special-column","category-china-special","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44927"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44931,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44927\/revisions\/44931"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44907"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}