"Their Pictures Remind Us"

Steven and Cynthia, a couple in Virginia, know how important it is to intercede daily for the persecuted church. To help them remember to pray, they put pictures of Manja and his family on their computer desktop five months ago. "Their pictures remind us daily that there are people who give their whole lives for the Lord," Cynthia said. "It breaks my heart to see Christians suffer for simply loving the Lord Jesus Christ."

Cynthia, Steven, Crystal, Cynthia's mother Kathy in the middle, and Stacy in front. They teach their daughters, Crystal and Stacy, to love and care for other Christians who are persecuted. At dinner each night, the family lifts Manja, his wife and children to the Lord. "We ask that if it is His will, that Manja be returned safely to his family," Steven said. He added that hearing this missionary's story has given his family an awareness of there being "many, many more untold stories of innocent Christians suffering far more than we ever could." Crystal, 15, has been impacted by this Nepali prisoner's willingness to sacrifice so he can be a missionary for the Lord. Nine-year-old Stacy knows what she would tell Manja if she could talk to him: “We are praying for you and your family and hope you will be free soon.”

From behind the scenes this family directly impacts the persecuted church through their heartfelt prayers. "We are just simple, plain Christians," Cynthia expressed. "We have never had to endure what many people throughout the world have had to endure and still do because of their love for Christ."