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From Full of Fear to Finding Strength in Christ: “I Would Dance Before God Every Day.”

VOMRadio

The Voice of the Martyrs

Christianity, Martyr, Vom, Persecution, Gospel, Pastor, Persecutedchurch, Apologetics, Islam, Christian, Church, Missions, Missionaries, Religion & Spirituality

4.91.3K Ratings

🗓️ 6 July 2024

⏱️ 30 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Pastor Andrew Brunson, author of the book God’s Hostage, was imprisoned two years for his Christian work in Turkey (now called Türkiye). He says every single day was a battle to overcome fear, grief and anxiety. One who inspired him in these battles was Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs. Brunson explains how Wurmbrand inspired him to dance inside his prison cell before the Lord. He says he didn’t feel joy or happiness, but he set his will to act joyfully, in spite of his feelings.

Brunson was also inspired by another former prisoner for Christ (and VOM Radio guest), Dan Baumann, to lock away doubts and questions and choose to leave those in God’s hand. Brunson says he told God from his prison cell, “I don’t need answers to have a relationship with You.”

Listen as Andrew shares how he came to “embrace my assignment” of being in prison for Christ. “I came out of prison with a deeper intimacy,” says Brunson, “I had the privilege to suffer for Christ.”

God birthed a song in Andrew’s soul while locked in prison. He’ll share how his heart changed over the long months of his incarceration to a posture of faithfulness and trust; a change that happened despite not seeing his outward circumstances change at all. That heart change, he says, was his victory over the terrible circumstances and the injustice of Christian persecution he faced in prison.

Finally, Brunson will tell the story of a letter he wrote to Norine that clearly demonstrated his changed heart. In the letter he expressed his commitment to drink every drop from “the cup of suffering” that the Lord had ordained for him.

Andrew tells the entire story in his book, God’s Hostage, which you can order here (affiliate link). Brunson has also released a teaching series helping Christians Prepare to Stand in the midst of difficulties and suffering. In the eight-session video series, Brunson shares practical insights from his own time in prison. You can also listen to Part 1 of our conversation with Andrew Brunson, and listen to his wife, Norine, on VOM Radio as she shares her side to this story.

Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the podcast. Or listen each week—and receive daily reminders of specific ways to pray for persecuted Christians—in the VOM App for your smartphone or tablet.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Do you ever wake up full of worries feeling that the Lord is far from you?

0:05.7

Pastor Andrew Brunson spent two years in a Turkish prison and he felt those same things.

0:12.4

He says he woke up every single day with fear and with grief and with anxiety and I'd begin to fight.

0:21.0

Okay God, I want to embrace my assignment. If my assignment is to be in prison now,

0:27.0

give me the endurance, help me to persevere. And I would fight for this throughout the day with various things.

0:36.0

One of them was dancing.

0:37.0

There were other things that I did as well.

0:39.0

Until by the end of the day, into the evening, I'd usually reach a point where I had surrendered and

0:47.9

that would bring me into the deepest level of peace that I experienced in prison.

0:53.0

Jesus never promised his followers an easy path.

0:57.0

In fact, he told his disciples that the world would aid them.

1:00.0

He sent them out as sheep among wolves.

1:03.8

Jesus' words came true for the wife of the Apostles.

1:06.7

And they're still coming true today

1:08.4

in the lives of his followers around the world.

1:10.9

Join host Todd Nettleton as we hear their inspiring stories and learn

1:14.4

how we can help right now on the Voice of the Martyrs radio network.

1:18.8

Welcome again to the Voice of the Martyrs radio. My name is Todd Nettleton. Last week we started a

1:23.7

conversation with pastor Andrew Brunson who was imprisoned for two years in the

1:28.9

nation of Turkey. He is the author of the book God's Hostage.

1:33.0

Andrew, welcome back to the voice of the martyr's radio.

1:36.0

Thank you.

...

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