The Oklahoma-based Voice of the Martyrs group (VOM) refutes any connections to the Hutaree militia group. This has been reported by Charisma magazine in its report “Christian Ministry Refutes Any Connection to Militia Group,” and also in the VOM’s statement to Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) below.
R.E.A.L. received the following statement from the Voice of the Martyrs on the Michigan Arrest of Hutaree Militia Group members.
STATEMENT FROM VOM
“Just three weeks ago near Jos, Nigeria, hundreds of Christian villagers — including many women and children — were killed in coordinated attacks. VOM staff wondered why religious leaders — people who claim to be emissaries of peace — did not loudly and boldly denounce such violence and bloodshed.”
“Now, in light of recent arrests in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, VOM has found itself the subject of media inquiry. While we understand that all are innocent until proven guilty and wait for results of the legal process, we want to clearly state that violence is not an acceptable response to religious differences.”
“Our Christian brothers and sisters who have suffered persecution in Jos and other places do not advocate a violent response; they are not calling us to take up arms or to provide them with weapons. Instead they offer love and forgiveness to those who attack them, in the hopes of representing Christ’s love and living out the gospel message.”
“The Voice of the Martyrs does not now, and never has, advocated violence against Muslims or people of any other faith.”
“The Voice of the Martyrs exists to provide practical and spiritual support to persecuted Christians in restricted nations, while inviting Christians in the free world into fellowship with them. One of the ways we invite Christians in the free world into that fellowship is through our web site, www.persecution.com. VOM web policy allows any person or group to place a link to persecution.com on their web site if they would like to inform others about the persecution of Christians. Such a link does not imply that VOM has any direct contact or partnership with the owners of the site. VOM policy is that the ministry does not link to outside ministries or organizations on persecution.com; we do not ‘trade links.'”
“To the best of our knowledge, no VOM personnel were aware of Hutaree’s existence or the fact that it had a link to VOM on its web site. VOM has not had any direct contact or partnership with the organization.”
“Our philosophy of how to respond to persecution is based in Christ’s example of forgiveness as He said on the cross, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ That philosophy was also lived out by VOM’s founder, Richard Wurmbrand, during 14 years in Communist Romanian prisons, during which time he endured torture and great suffering. Often in the years that followed, Pastor Wurmbrand would make the statement, ‘I hate Communism… but I LOVE communists.’ He encouraged Christians to love everyone — even our ‘enemies’ — with the hope that by doing so their hearts might be softened toward the gospel message of Christ.”
“VOM actively supports ministry work in Muslim nations that equips believers to lovingly share the gospel with Muslims, including printing Bibles and sponsoring Christian broadcasts.”