Persecuted Christians

I have a deep desire to help the persecuted church in other countries. It's weird , but my desire partially stems from a wish to repay them! Their contention for the faith zapped me out of a spiritual rut I didn't even know I was in. I learned of the plight of the persecuted at a time when I was growing in knowledge of God but not necessarily in love. I was not continuing to apply what I was learning of the character and nature of God to my life. Its sad but I never really thought of Christians being persecuted in other countries. I lived in a Christianity of America bubble. Then I learned of the Voice of the Martyrs, a ministry that helps the persecuted church. I was curious, all I'd really heard was of the pastor who'd started the ministry, Richard Wurmbrand, and how he'd suffered for 14 yrs in a communist prison. So I went to check out their website, http://www.persecution.com/, and I was blown away. Finding out about the persecution that exists for Christians in the world today was overwhelming. I learned of the suffering people were willing to go through just to get a Bible. Of people who were beaten, locked up, chained down but still faithful. 2 Cor 4:8-10 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed ; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. NIV These people lived this verse! My eyes were opened to people who ran their spiritual races in a very harsh environment, but still ran with such vigor. From that moment, my own walk changed, I too wanted to spiritually run with God.