My name is Shae.  I am a Christian homeschooler. I live in the Pacific Northwest.

Last year I read a book that left a huge impression on me called Safely Home by Randy Alcorn of Eternal Perspective Ministries at http://www.epm.org.  I  had read another one of his books called Deadline that I had really enjoyed.  Safely Home is about the underground church in China and the persecution Christians face.  That book opened my eyes to what it means to be a Christian in other countries.  I  could not stop thinking about it, so I read everything I could find about persecution.

I knew that Christians in other countries did not have freedom like we do in the West, but I was shocked when I found out they are arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and killed for their faith.  I started praying about it, asking God to show me how I could help.  I helped my mom’s friend with her garage sale, she told me I could have any books I wanted.  I found a book called The Narrow Road written by Brother Andrew founder of Open Doors.   His story inspired me and showed me how God can use one person to make a difference.  I’ve heard many times at church and Bible studies that God uses imperfect people in His plan.  I know that He can use me.  Soon after I finished that book I was at a store and saw two books I had been looking for Tortured for Christ and Jesus Freak.

Tortured for Christ was written by Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of Voice of the Martyrs.  In his book he wrote about his fourteen years captive in a Romanian prison.  He was tortured and spent three years in solitary confinement.   His wife Sabina, also spent three years in a prison labor camp.  There is so much I learned from their story.  One thing he clearly illustrated is how we are all one church.  If one part suffers, the whole body suffers.  I went on Voice of the Martyrs at http://www.persecution.com/.  I was surprised about how widespread modern persecution is.

Next was Jesus Freak.  I had seen Tobymac and Newsboys in concert many times.  I love their music!  I had no idea DC Talk was involved with this book.  It is a collection of personal stories of people who risked their lives for their faith in Jesus Christ.  My hunger grew.  The day I finished that book a friend of my mom’s unexpectedly sent over a book for me, Hearts of Fire by Voice of the Martyrs .  She had heard I was interested in learning about the persecuted church.  God kept sending me books, I could feel it.  I just kept following the path of books.  My heart for my brothers and sisters in Christ continued to grow.

I want to use this blog to collect and share information about our brothers and sisters who are suffering for the name of Christ.  Sitting here in my cozy home with my family, my heart is heavy for them.