Glenn Penner, CEO of Voice of the Martyers Canada is 47 and doesn’t have much longer to live.
Faith Today did an interview with him. He is trying to leave well as cancer takes his breath and his life.
KS: What is the one message you would like to give to the Evangelical church in Canada?
GP: The fact of the reality of suffering Christians around the world. That suffering is normal for Christians. I was a pastor before I joined VOM. I don’t understand how people can run away from God in the midst of suffering but they often do. When we need God the most, we often run away from Him. I have been so blessed, so honoured to work with our suffering brothers and sisters. They are so thankful when we come and serve them and show them we care. If the Canadian Church could see how impoverished we are because we’ve robbed ourselves of part of the Body of Christ ….
KS: We’re not very good at suffering, are we?
GP: We see suffering as the worst thing that can happen whereas our brothers and sisters in the persecuted church see disobedience as the worst thing. I couldn’t have gone through this time without having had my life enriched by them, by their faithfulness and trusting even when things don’t get better. One of our problems is we expect God to protect us.
KS: And God’s not going to do that?
GP: He has greater priorities in our life than keeping us from harm. His priority is to make us into the image of His Son. We serve a suffering God.
Amen. Thanks for posting that BD!