The Underground Church & An Incredible True Story, by Steven Peercy

A week ago Sojourn hosted our first “Underground Church” evening.  This event is designed to simulate what it’s like to gather with other Christians in parts of the world where our brothers and sisters face persecution.  Attendees met in “secret” locations throughout the city.  We emailed location addresses to attendees the night before the event.  Now, read this first-person account by Sojourner Steven Peercy, one of the Underground Church location hosts:

My wife and I sat in near darkness, the candlelight dancing across the walls, as we eagerly anticipated the arrival of our guests. At about a quarter to 7:00, three strong knocks were struck upon our door: the previously agreed upon signal. We quietly opened the door and warmly, albeit in low voices, greeted a trio of fellow believers that had come to worship with us that night.

So began my first experience as a persecuted Christian. The Underground Church, an event at Sojourn Community Church, was designed to simulate the normal worship gathering of our persecuted brothers and sisters across the globe. Our “house church” had only a single bible to share, and we were conscious to speak and sing in such a way as to not drum up suspicion from our neighbors.

The evening was a powerful reminder not only of how God has blessed us with so many freedoms and resources, but of the toils and sufferings that others in our body endure day after day. The writer of Hebrews had these sufferings in mind when he urged his audience to reflect on their former trials and how they were able to accept even the plundering of their property because they had a better and abiding possession: Christ.

The most moving time of the evening was a letter that was read to the group from a woman in Colombia who lost her husband to guerrilla rebels. Her impassioned plea was not that justice would be done, but that God would be glorified in the loss that her family experienced and that members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia would come to a saving knowledge of Christ. This stirring portrayal of the sufferings of a sister in Christ prompted our group to enter into a sweet time of prayer for those who face the same struggles all throughout the world.

After our prayer time, our guests departed the same way in which they arrived–quietly and discreetly–I’d like to think that all that attended one of the many Underground Church gatherings across our city went away with a heart that was more bent towards the persecuted church. I know I did.

Take a few minutes and read the true story we read during our “house church.”

Blessings,

Steven Peercy

Brothers and sisters,

Grace to you, and peace, from Colombia.  My name is Gloria.  I wish you could have known my husband, Manuel.  He was a faithful man who loved Jesus Christ and who decided to face persecution and threats of death in order to tell the people of Columbia about Jesus.  He loved me, his daughter, Lilly, and his son, Jose, very much, and he was faithful in his proclamation of the gospel at home as well as at church.

We have been pastoring a church in Chopal village, south of San Jose del Guaviare for about eight years. We have faced numerous challenges, and many churches in the area had been closed by The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas. My husband decided to open the church regardless of the threats and risks. In April, we were part of an evangelistic event at which three FARC guerrillas and seven members of the paramilitary militia accepted Jesus. The grace of Christ is absolutely amazing, that he would take those who are dedicated to war and violence and bring them into his peace!

FARC guerrillas made an appointment with us a few months ago. We thought they were going to authorize us to have a church officially, which we had discussed and asked for before, so we were very excited.  One of the guerrillas came in the house with myself, Jose, and Lilly while Manuel went outside to speak to the other guerrillas.  We heard muffled voices outside the house when suddenly we heard five successive shots from outside.  Lilly ran to me and screamed.  I stood in shock as the guerrilla who was in the house with the rest of the family yelled out the door, “Make sure that dog stays dead!”  The guerrillas fired a sixth shot into Manuel’s neck.

I ran outside and cleaned my husband’s face. With the help of Lilly, I dragged his body under a tree.  I ran back inside, grabbed my Bible and, shaking with tears, preached to all those who came near.  Jose looked up at me and said, “Mum, don’t worry, dad died for Christ and now he is with Christ.”

Brothers and sisters, pray for myself and my children.  I am trying to decide how to best lead my family in the wake of Manuel’s death.  Pray that Christ would comfort our family in this season of mourning.  Pray that we would continue to lean on Christ as we move forward in ministry.  Pray that the guerrillas who killed my husband and are persecuting the church in Colombia would turn to Christ.  And pray that those who hear of my husband’s faithfulness to Christ would be encouraged and put their faith in Christ.

I am thankful to God for you, brothers and sisters, and I will continue to lift you up in my prayers.  I praise my God that he has brought us together across the world.  May God bless you in Christ Jesus!

Gloria