Courage Before the Communists
“I refuse to give you my church!” Pastor Lap Ma courageously faced the Communists. They came with guns and demanded that he sign papers that would have linked the Christian Missionary Alliance Church at Can Tho to the Communist party.
Lap Ma explained, “The Communists want to control pastors as their tool. Every month you must report what activities you are doing, who is the strongest Christian, who is sharing the Gospel, who is going to the army. You must become the police in your church.”
Punished for Refusal
The government was furious with his lack of cooperation. Since he was the leader of many pastors in other areas of Vietnam, the Communists made him an example, hoping that the pastors under him would decide to follow the government. Twenty-eight CMA pastors in that district wrote to the government about his case and all were called to the police station and threatened. Because he refused to cooperate, Lap Ma and his family were forced into exile by the government. Their clothing, books, letters, and property were confiscated.
Years of Isolation
For twelve-and-a-half years, they were forced to live alone in remote areas on the Mekong Delta, unable to leave. When Christians around the world heard of his arrest, many wrote letters, both to Pastor Lap Ma and to the government.
Because of the international attention focused on his case, the police now allow him to leave his village and receive visitors as long as he first gets their approval.
Letters That Sustained Faith
Pastor Lap Ma and his family have received over 3,000 letters from Christians around the world. Just knowing that someone is thinking of them encourages them for days. “I devour every letter we receive and meditate on the Scriptures shared in them. I then share these words of encouragement and the Scriptures in Vietnamese with my family. We are glad and encouraged in spirit for the messages in them.
Faith Under Persecution
“I read these letters with prayers and tears, because I know our Father never will leave us nor forsake us. He has strengthened and helped us. Even in these years of great trial and persecution, my eleven children did not stop serving the Lord. All of them love the Lord and are serving the Lord fulltime.”
Lap Ma and his family remain in exile today. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18.
Date: 5th November 2022
Title: I Devour Every Letter
Martyr: Pastor Lap Ma
Location: Vietnam, 1982
Source: Tortured for Christ (The voice of the martyr)
Author: Richard Wurmbrand
Suffering Saturday 016
Previous post
Next post
