Questions for Converts: Are you ready to be rejected? To die for Jesus?

VOMRadio

The Voice of the Martyrs

Christianity, Martyr, Vom, Persecution, Gospel, Pastor, Persecutedchurch, Apologetics, Islam, Christian, Church, Missions, Missionaries, Religion & Spirituality

4.9 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 2 August 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Some Christians in Malaysia—ethnically Chinese or Indian believers—have freedom to practice their faith in Christ. But if an ethnic Malay person becomes a believer in Jesus, he or she will face intense Christian persecution. The Malaysian government sees ethnic Malay people as off limits for evangelism and holds them subject to Islamic Shariah law.

“To be Malay is to be Muslim,” says Carter Gates, leader of VOM’s international ministry work in Asia/Pacific. “Ethnic Malay’s can’t even [openly] say they are interested in learning more about Jesus.”

As Carter meets with VOM’s ministry partners, one shared key hindrances that keep Malays from following Christ and the questions he uses as he engages them in gospel conversation. One of those questions: are you ready to die for Jesus? Gates says he was challenged as he thought about evangelism in free nations versus in Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, China and other restricted areas and hostile nations.

“This pastor is in a context where he knows what [sacrifice] means,” Carter says. “We should consider these costs in America too.”

We’ll also share an update on the court case over the forced disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh in 2017. A verdict is expected in the case in November. Listen to what Susanna Koh shared during her first visit with VOM Radio about how she and her family struggled after her husband's abduction. She also shares how the Lord helped her to forgive those who persecuted her husband. Please pray for truth to be revealed through this legal process and pray for the Koh family as they await the verdict.

The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians—in Iran and other nations—throughout the year, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Are Christians persecuted in Malaysia?
0:03.3	Carter Gates serves believers in Malaysia, and he says persecution depends on your background.
0:09.3	If you visited a restaurant in Malaysia, people at some of the tables would be able to talk with you about faith in Jesus.
0:16.4	But others would not.
0:18.0	You would be interacting with a Chinese Malaysian that grew up
0:21.6	generational Christian, freedom to practice our faith, they go to church multiple
0:26.3	times a week, they openly identify as Christian, and then across the restaurant
0:31.9	where you may be talking to this Chinese Malaysian you have a Malay that's a
0:35.6	woman that's wearing a head covering, they're clearly Muslim by how they dress. And in a context of Malaysia, if that Chinese
0:42.6	Malaysian person decided to engage their Malaysian neighbor with the gospel, there could be
0:48.7	great costs that come with that.
0:51.8	Jesus never promised his followers an easy path. In fact, he told his disciples that the world
0:57.3	would hate them. He sent them out as sheep among wolves. Jesus' words came true in the life
1:03.3	of the apostles, and they're still coming true today in the lives of his followers around the
1:07.9	world. Join host Todd Nett, as we hear their inspiring stories
1:11.7	and learn how we can help right now on the Voice of the Martyrs Radio Network.
1:16.3	I'm glad you're back for another episode of the Voice of the Martyrs Radio. Thanks for joining
1:20.4	us this week. My name is Todd Nettleton. I'm back with Carter Gates. He leads international
1:25.4	ministry work for the Voice of the Martyrs in the Asia Pacific
1:28.5	region. And last week he was here, he gave us an update from several different Asian countries.
1:34.6	You can hear that interview at our website, v.omradio.net. You can also find Voice of the Martyrs
1:41.4	radio wherever you listen to podcast. Just search for VOM Radio, search for Voice of the Martyrs. In you listen to podcast. Just search for V-Home
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 5 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Voice of the Martyrs, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Voice of the Martyrs and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.