Visit to The Voice of the Martyrs Headquarters

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While in Kansas for a missionary convention at Independence Bible School in Independence, Kansas, Steve took an afternoon to travel down to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to the headquarters of The Voice of the Martyrs. There he received a personal tour of the headquarters from staff member Allan Walker and received many insights into this mission work which ministers to those living in countries which persecutes Christians.

The Church is suffering in many points around the world, most notably in communist China and in the many countries of the Muslim world. It is estimated that 160,000 --yes, you read correctly-- 160,000 Christians lose their lives annually because of their Christian faith. The Voice of the Martyrs provides Christians living in the "free world" a variety of ways to minister to some of those brothers and sisters facing persecution.

Video, DVD, and printed resources were given to Steve which he will utilize in our missions ministry as we share some of the realities of the persecuted church. Steve also received helpful information about two lawyers who provide legal assistance for those fleeing from persecution (see blog for September 7, 2006 "Leader of the Persecuted Church Speaks at Our Church").

If you want resources regarding the persecuted Church for your church, school, or training center, contact:

The Voice of the Martyrs P.O. Box 443 Bartlesville, OK 74005

Phone: (918) 337-8015 Fax: (918) 338-0189 or go to their website (www.persecution.com) for more information.

Serving a Leader of the
Persecuted Church

[Please note: Due to security reasons, some of the information in this article is generalized and somewhat sketchy. The pictures are prepared so as not to compromise the life and ministry of Pastor "Joshua" or his family -- who still remain in an African country.]

This past summer, a missionary friend introduced Brother Joshua (a psuedonym for security reasons) to us. Right from the start we had warm, friendly fellowship together. During our visits together, he shared insights about life in a country controlled by a Marxist and Muslim government.

Converted in the 1960's under a national Christian leader and trained by missionaries at the mission Bible school, he later trained in the university and has tried to use his Christian example to be a witness to others wherever he goes.

In the capital, Brother Joshua has been working with house-churches. During the secret services, songs are sung in whispered tones and testimonies are quietly given as the gathered Christians praise and worship their Savior. Scriptures, sermons, and words of exhortation and encouragement are also shared. Due to the nature and sensitivity of the situation, more information cannot be shared. Certain levels of secrecy must be maintained in a public forum such as this newsletter. Let it be said that the government authorities intend to wipe out Christianity in that country.

Some of his "underground" church people have been imprisoned for various "illegal" activities. Some are currently held in slave-labor camps like we used to read about in the old Soviet Union era. Enough said.

We introduced Brother Joshua to our local Church and made arrangements for him to speak. Hearing first-hand accounts of pressures put on Christians in his country brought the “concept” of the persecuted church closer to home.While in Kansas for a missionary convention, Steve visited the headquarters of The Voice of Martyrs in Bartlesville, OK. There he received helpful information regarding legal contacts for Brother Joshua who desires political asylum for himself as well as his family, which remains in Africa.


Brother Joshua called us recently and indicated he has received his official papers granting him political asylum! Since his papers are received, his next step is to obtain permission to relocate his wife and children here to the US. We now understand a bit more clearly the verse which instructs us to "remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." (Hebrews 13:3).

Welcome!

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Here are some biographical details about Steven & Joy Mowery to better acquaint you with them and their missions ministry.

Steven A. Mowery
Steven was raised in Sunbury, PA, USA, for most of his life. He is a graduate (1982 - ADBS) from Penn View Bible Institute located in Penns Creek, PA, USA. Following graduation, he taught history and social studies at Penn View Christian Academy for four years during which time he also did course work at Susquehanna University (Selinsgrove, PA) and Penn State University (University Park, PA). He married C. Joy (Witter) on June 15, 1985. He graduated in 1994 graduate (MAMin) from Moody Graduate School in Chicago, IL.

He has been the Director of Missions at Penn View Bible Institute since 1990. He has developed the Missions Division to the point that many Penn View graduates are ministering in a variety of cross-cultural setting around the world.

In addition to these responsibilities, he is also the co-founder and director of the Summer Institute for Missionary Orientation (SíMO -- pronounced 'SEE-mō'). This ministry to missionary training is specifically designed for both veteran missionaries and new missionaries under appointment. Veteran missionaries are personally and professionally refreshed by the training while new missionaries are prepared to confront the realities of mission life in a cross-cultural setting. The focus of SíMO is to address the missionary attrition rate. To capsulize the situation SíMO addresses: Missionaries are too valuable to lose.

Steven is a past member of the Board of Directors of Mission Helps, Inc. (1996-2006). Presently, he is a board member for FEA Ministries Inc. based in Hobe Sound, FL. This board is the governing board of Hope International Missions under which several Penn View missions graduates faithfully serve. He is also a graphics designer, a write, and a convention speaker.

Together, the Mowery's were missionaries from 1987 'til 1990 in the community of Black Point, Exuma (Great Guana Cay) in central Bahamas. The national church and mission is called Bahamas Holy Bible Mission. They were the last expatriate missionaries to serve under BHBM. All three of the original BHBM churches (Nassau, Black Point, & Pleasant Bay) are under able indigenous leadership. Three churches on Grand Bahama affiliated with Hope International Missions (Freeport, Holmes Rock, & High Rock) have joined the other BHBM churches to form a six-church Bahamian denomination. Even today, the Mowery's have ongoing communication and relationships with the church leaders and laity in these churches.

C. Joy Mowery
Joy is a third generation missionary. Her grandfather (Gordon Winter) founded the Bahamian work following World War II (in about 1948). Joy spent 7 1/2 years of her childhood in the Bahamas since her parents (Robert & Dorothy Witter) had joined the missionary team. Raised as an MK (missionaries' kid) and as a PK (preacher's kid) brought many experiences into her life.

She attended God's Bible School & Missionary Training Home in Cincinnati, OH, and graduated in 1981 (BA in Music) from Hobe Sound Bible College, Hobe Sound, FL.

Presently, she provides private piano lessons from their home and is also a member of the Missions Training Team in the Missions Division of Penn View Bible Institute. Among her Missions Training Team responsibilities is teaching a unique class "Women in Cross-Cultural Ministry." She is an important staff member of SíMO.

Joy promotes among mission organizations the need for member care and provides personal care and counseling for female missionaries impacted by the rigors and stresses of mission life.

New Ministry Dimension
A new missions ministry dimension the Mowery's are developing is "Ministry to Missions." This ministry to missionaries and national workers serves to enhance their effectiveness through 1) project development 2) marketing & promotion 3) mission consultation 4) leadership training 5) personal development 6) team development.

Together, Steven & Joy have three children: Allen, Alyssa (born in Nassua, Bahamas), & Caleb.