Main YWAM Page, or to YWAM Communications, or to Main News Digest PageA PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN two major Christian organizations hopes to help persecuted churches around the world more effectively than ever before.
What the two groups are calling a "strategic alliance" will bring together The Voice of the Martyrs' publishing and financial resources and Youth With A Mission's widespread workforce in an effort to maximize ministry to Christians who suffer for their faith.
"God has been blessing their ministry and they want to partner with us to help get this blessing out to the nations," said Fred Markert, director of YWAM's Strategic Frontiers center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. "They've known YWAM for 38 years, and they know that we understand how to work in these difficult countries."
TVOM was founded in 1967 by famed Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who became a champion of the persecuted churches after being imprisoned for his faith. The organization, whose headquarters are in Oklahoma, provides Bibles, Christian literature, and financial help to the families of persecuted Christians in over 50 countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East where Christianity is opposed.
YWAM has 10,500 full-time workers around the world, 700 of whom serve in places where Christians are persecuted. "While they provide literature, resources and finances, we will provide the people and the means of getting them into these countries," said Markert.
Discussions about the partnership began six months ago, and it will be officially launched next month with the opening of an alliance international coordination office at YWAM Strategic Frontiers' center, where missionaries are trained for service among unreached people groups in Asia.
The office will be manned by TVOM coordinator Steve Cleary and a YWAM representative, who will link YWAM teams from around the world who are planning ministry trips to parts of the world where Christians are persecuted with opportunities to help local Christians.
The partnership has already begun informally, though, with TVOM and one American YWAM training center linking up to serve persecuted Christians in a hard-line Communist country. TVOM is also working with another YWAM ministry to take help to Christians in an Islamic country who have been severely persecuted.
Market said that he believed that the partnership would increase effective ministry. "God puts his blessing on partnerships. There is a greater authority in spiritual blessings when Christ's body works in unity. I believe this alliance will make both of our ministries more effective, as well as helping the persecuted churches around the world."
Cleary, TVOM's development consultant, said: "We're very excited about this opportunity. The persecuted Church has been neglected for too long. We feel that this alliance will strengthen the free world's Church as a whole through taking responsibility for their brothers and sisters who are suffering."
- reported by Rose Yoon
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