The Core Values of VOMC
Committed to Fellowship
"Some Christians try to go to heaven alone, in solitude, but believers
are not compared to bears, or lions, or other animals that wander
alone. But those who belong to Christ are sheep in this respect, that they
love to get together. Sheep go in flocks, and so do God’s people."
~ Charles Spurgeon
Sitting together on the couch, the three Malaysian friends embodied a beautiful mix of personalities. Dian, the quiet one, always had the right Scripture to uplift their spirits. Budi radiated excitement and enthusiasm, sharing his thoughts with passion. Felipe, with his contagious laughter, brought joy and resilience to their gatherings. For seven years, despite being banned from church buildings and feeling rejected by their Muslim families, these three friends remained steadfast in their faith, courageously following Jesus the only way they knew how. And, during the process, they grew together in both fellowship and faith.
Such close-knit fellowship demonstrates the strong relational ties that are experienced among dedicated followers of Jesus (Hebrews 10:25). Founded on shared beliefs and purposes (John 17:20-23), this special bond of unity reflects their collective faith in Christ. Similar to iron sharpening iron, meaningful fellowship enables believers to uplift and encourage each other in the faith through shared experiences. Within this nurturing community, they inspire one another to live out their faith with love and by engaging in good works that honour God (Philippians 1:11), foster spiritual growth, and cultivate a common mission.
At VOMC, we affirm four key truths of fellowship that empower our staff members to deepen their connections with God, one another, and the “church persecuted.”1 Firstly, it’s important to acknowledge that Christian fellowship has been made possible by God’s grace through the redemptive work of His Son, Jesus Christ. First John 1:6-7 states: “If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practise the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (ESV).
As each one of us walks in the light, living in accordance with God’s commands and truth, our personal relationship with Him further develops. This leads to a greater level of intimacy with our Heavenly Father – one that is characterized by prayer, worship and obedience to His Word. Developing a closer relationship with God consequently fosters unity among fellow believers, regardless of one another’s race, gender and age. Since Christian fellowship is a communal expression of faith, it’s necessary for believers to gather together to worship, pray and support each other. Acts 2:42 provides an example of this, using the early church as a model: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
Highlighted in the forementioned verse are the four essential components of Christian fellowship: teaching, communal worship, The Lord’s Supper and prayer. In his book, Tortured for Christ, Rev. Richard Wurmbrand observes that even when he was confined within the brutal, inhumane environment of a Communist prison, these vital elements of Christian fellowship continued to flourish.
Fellowship among Christ’s followers is thereby shown by the genuine love and care that’s expressed to one another. When this manner of love is demonstrated among members of the Christian community, it also serves as a means of inspiring others who have yet to acknowledge Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour to likewise follow Him. This gives us all the more reason to love one another, bear each other’s burdens, and motivate one another in faith and good works. Hebrews 10:24-25 states, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Without the intentional gathering of believers who are united in Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, these goals cannot be achieved.
Finally, having fellowship with persecuted Christians is essential to understanding the way of Christ. Rev. Wurmbrand recounted the story of two imprisoned believers in China who were shivering from the cold while confined to their shared cell. Each of them only had a thin blanket. One of these prisoners happened to notice the trembling of the other. A thought crossed his mind, “If that were Christ, would you give Him your blanket?” Naturally, he would! Moved with compassion, that selfless prisoner immediately draped his blanket over the shivering cellmate. This simple yet powerful response illustrates the way of Christ that we, as His followers, are called to imitate.
Our three Malaysian brothers in Christ – Dian, Budi and Felipe – continue to bless one another and those in their community by serving as faithful witnesses of God’s love, mercy and grace. Each of them understands that they are not alone, but rather part of a larger faith community that extends far beyond their local area. They are quick to point out that Christianity is not just a religion, but a vital relationship that’s shared between God and His people. As every opportunity is a divine moment, we must not be self-centred; instead, as demonstrated by our Lord Jesus, we need to compassionately live and care for others. When asked what they would like to say to fellow Christ-followers, Dian answered, “As far as the opposition [believers receive] from this world, remember that no matter how hot the fire is around you, it cannot burn out the fire within you.”
My prayer is that you will encounter authentic Christian fellowship; for, through it, you will experience profound spiritual growth and share the resulting great joy with like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ.
May He find us ever faithful!
Floyd A. Brobbel
Chief Executive Officer
Voice of the Martyrs Canada Inc.
Endnote: 1 The leadership of VOMC firmly believes that Christian fellowship is best experienced and expressed within the local church. To achieve this, VOMC encourages all staff members to fully engage with their local churches by regularly attending services, participating in church ministries, and fostering relationships with fellow congregants.
