PERSECUTION WATCH:Widow Stoned After Spreading the Gospel

Lien(44) is a widow with four children-two are teenagers and two are already in their twenties. Together they live in the Central Highlands, in a province where Communism still has a tight grip on the people.When her husband passed away in 1997, Lien was left on her own to feed her family with only her strength and will to survive. Everyday she built up her strength by carrying large quantities of household items on foot to a village 10 kilometers away from her house. She took soap, toilet paper, and sugar to sell, and through this business, Lien learned the language of the people that lived there.
Adding God to her bussiness
Lien was fully occupied with her business until God added a new focus to her life in 2004. A pastor, who was a graduate of GBS in 2003, shared the gospel with her and her children. With glad hearts, they received the Lord.Constant nurturing from the pastor grounded Lien and her children in the faith. They gave up their idols and lost their belief in superstitions. Their hearts were stirred to freely give, just as they freely received the salvation of Jesus Christ. To every person they met, they talked about their Savior.Lien also saw the opportunity to tell others about the love of God through her small store. Because she had become adept with the local language, she was effective in sharing the gospel, bringing more than 100 tribal people to the Lord in three years’ time.As Lien took care of God’s business of saving souls, God took care of her business too. Lien’s income grew as more people bought her soaps, toilet papers, and sugar.
Threatened and Stoned

Upon hearing that she spread the gospel while conducting her business, the district police summoned her for interrogation on many occasions, but nothing shook Lien’s faith. She continued her ministry, sharing her faith with others, even though relatives began pressuring Lien to give up her faith in Jesus Christ.Lien opened her home to new believers early this year for a Bible study. Many came, including the pastor who shared the gospel with her. After everyone left the meeting and those at home were asleep, electricity was cut off and darkness shrouded her house. Suddenly around 10 teenage boys began throwing rocks at her house. Some climbed up to destroy the tin roof. When Lien tried to stop them, the boys began to stone her. A rock hit Lien’s head and she was knocked down unconscious. Some of the believers came to her aid and she was rushed to the nearest hospital. Open Doors extended help to Lien by assisting with her medical expenses at the hospital and by praying with her, providing much needed encouragement. Many believed that the assault was connected with Lien’s faith.Though one of her eyes was swollen and she needed a few stitches, to the relief of her children, Lien suffered no serious injuries.
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As in the days of Noah...