Our face is the primary feature that identifies us. The American Heritage Dictionary defines “face” as “the most meaningful surface.”

Every face that we encounter represents someone’s history and background. It reflects the characteristics of that person’s biological parents. It reminds us that this individual is someone’s brother or sister, son or daughter, mother or father. A face may tell us if this person has had a hard day or a rough life, or what he or she is feeling. It may communicate the person’s age, health and even who he or she does or does not spend time with.

As Moses came down from Mount Sinai after meeting with the Lord, it is recorded that his face shone, so much that Aaron and the children of Israel were afraid (Exodus 34:30). Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who endured years of prison and solitary confinement under the Communist regime in Romania, emerged from his sentence not with a countenance reflecting despair or hopelessness, but with joy. His face shone, because in the dark, cold, lonely and crude cells, he met with the Lord.

God was and still is present in the most hostile environments worldwide. He is everywhere, as the psalmist penned, “If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You” (Psalm 139:8,12a). Prison was not the end for Pastor Wurmbrand. In the “hell” of his prison cell, he met with God, as have many persecuted Christians throughout church history.

In the Soviet Union, Aida Skripnikova was imprisoned four times for her witness. She entered prison a young, beautiful woman, but left with a face and body reflecting the harsh conditions she endured. Yet as she left prison, her face shone.

The Voice of the Martyrs presents the “most meaningful surface” of the persecuted Body of Christ — their faces, representing a human life with a story, a family…someone’s brother, sister, son, daughter, mother or father…experiences of heartache and victory, mourning and joy.

As you read their stories, spend extra time looking at their faces. Cut out or photocopy the photographs and place them on your refrigerator or in your Bible, bringing their faces into your prayers. As you lift up requests for that person and his or her country, ask that despite opposition and persecution he or she will remain close to the Lord, leaving His presence with a shining face so that others — even their persecutors — will see and come to know Christ.

Some Christians refuse to listen to the stories of the persecuted church. From the physical perspective, they say such stories are depressing. Descriptions of persecution are disturbing, but that’s only one side of the story. The other is their spiritual victory — their willingness to suffer rather than deny the lover of their souls, Jesus Christ. The side of their story that we embrace affects how we pray for them.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul exhorted them to “remember my chains” (Colossians 4:18). Chains are not a pleasant thing to meditate on or pray about (Hebrews 13:3). However, neither is the cross nor the crown of thorns nor the nails that pierced Christ’s body. But again, that’s only one side of the story. The other side is eternity with and restoration through Christ — what glory!

In Philippians 3:10, the apostle Paul wrote about the power of Christ’s resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings in the same sentence. The two concepts are not contradictory; they are complementary. We cannot have his resurrection without his suffering.

When Jesus addressed the multitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, he related, “But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” He was challenging them to return good for evil. But perhaps Jesus was also using this illustration to challenge us to change our focus, to turn our gaze? The Greek phrase “to turn” means to “turn quite around or reverse.” Just a few verses later, Christ said, “and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” When we shift our focus from the physical things on earth to the “things above” (Colossians 3:2), how does that affect our perspective, and ultimately, how we pray for others, especially those who wish to harm us because we believe in Jesus?

Our prayers can reflect either the “depressing” circumstances that our persecuted family faces in the world, or the “overcoming” victories that they win on behalf of the kingdom. We can pray that while our brothers and sisters are in prison, God will empower them to advance his kingdom. We can pray that their persecutors will fall on their faces in awe of the glory of God. We can pray that as believers sit in a cold, dark cell, they will sing praises to their Christ — “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!” We can pray believers will increase in boldness when their house church leaders are imprisoned.

Which side are you taking in your prayers? The fearful, physical side? Or the victorious, overcoming side? And which side of the story are you telling others?

In Luke 7, Simon invited an “honoured guest” into his home — Jesus Christ. While Jesus was at Simon’s home, a woman entered the room and began to weep, pouring an alabaster flask of fragrant oil on Jesus’ feet and wiping them with her hair.

Watching the exchange, Simon said to himself that if Jesus really was a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman was at his feet, and in turn, he would put her in her place. But Jesus responded with a parable — the creditor and two debtors, one of whom owed more. Both were forgiven of their debts. Yet, the one with the greater debt naturally loved the creditor more.

Then Jesus turned to the woman and then to Simon and said, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head." (Luke 7:44) Jesus went on to rebuke Simon because he did not offer his “honoured guest” a kiss or oil for his head.

Every month you invite “guests” into your home — the stories of the persecuted Body of Christ in VOM’s monthly newsletter. Their overcoming testimonies wash the feet of our souls, giving us a fresh perspective. This fresh perspective is fragrant oil on our heads, initially causing some relative discomfort to our Western lifestyles but in the long run bringing new life.

This cloud of witnesses wets our cheeks with a welcome kiss of gratitude, giving us a renewed vigour to embrace what trials God, out of His divine sovereignty, has allowed in our lives, be it a chronic illness, a conflict-ridden relationship, a rebellious child or bearing no child at all.

The world and some religious leaders look upon such guests, our persecuted family, as worthless, a detriment to their agendas and reputations, much like Simon looked upon the woman at Jesus’ feet. In reality, our persecuted brothers and sisters hold the key to inestimable riches that can be unearthed through suffering.

Out of gratitude we return such gestures by washing the feet of our persecuted family with our prayers, our tears, the fragrant aroma of Christ within us, thanking God for their role in the Body of Christ. These faithful brothers and sisters keep our motives in check. Their courage causes our seemingly insurmountable trials to fade as they are held to the light of the eternal glory that awaits us. Their persistent love for their persecutors gives us endurance in the midst of conflict. Their response to material losses show us their confidence in eternal gains, knowing their inheritance is one that is imperishable and rests with Christ. But most importantly, our persecuted family brings us into the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings.

When they weep, we weep. When they rejoice, we rejoice. When they lose a child, we feel their loss. When their brother is put in prison, our brother is imprisoned. Their feet are weary, and their heads are aching for the comfort of fresh oil.

May we continue to invite these honoured guests into our hearts, washing their tired, callused feet with our prayers and anointing their heads with the oil of thanksgiving!

Perhaps one of the biggest stumbling blocks in our prayer life and our relationship with Christ is disappointment. We are disappointed in our spiritual life, job, country, church and perhaps even our family.

If we get to the heart of the issue, our disappointment is directed not at these areas of our lives but at God. We may ask: How could he allow this (circumstance) to happen? Why isn’t he helping me overcome these sin issues in my life? Why isn’t he rewarding me for my hard work? Why isn’t he bringing about revival in our nation? Why isn’t he working in our children’s hearts?

The apostle Paul had every “right” to be disappointed in God. Paul was given a dramatic salvation experience and was launched into ministry. People were coming to Christ; religious and government officials were being convicted. It couldn’t get any better than that, could it? It did. Paul was thrown in jail. There he wrote several letters, which today are cornerstones of the Christian faith.

Yet, Paul saw his chains not as a disappointment or a setback, but as an opportunity. He wrote to Timothy, advising him not to be ashamed of him, and used Onesiphorus as an example of one who was "not ashamed" of his chains." He invited Timothy to share in his sufferings through God’s power. Then earlier in his letter to the Philippians, he tells them that his imprisonment has furthered the gospel not frustrated it (1:12-14). And more so, his bonds have emboldened believers to preach without fear.

As we pray for the persecuted church, let us first evaluate our relationship with Christ. Spend some time alone with God, asking him to reveal any areas of your life where you are disappointed in him. If we allow ourselves to be honest, have we accused him of being indifferent toward our trials? Are we viewing our current sufferings as an obstacle for the gospel or an opportunity? Agree with him that your disappointment ultimately is sin. Thank him that he uses all things for his good purposes, and then stand on what’s true about him: Jesus is the chief cornerstone (Matthew 21:42); the earth is his and all it contains (Psalm 24:1); and he is the "ruler over the kings of the earth" (Revelation 1:5).

Then start praying for your persecuted family who is inviting you to fellowship in their sufferings according to God’s power.