is a Vietnamese proverb that says , “ When eating fruit , remember the one who planted the tree .” Every year , 365 days a year , CMA and its partner ministries are about their work . Serving God , serving man , trying to bring the two together so that all may know what we know as believers ; that God loves us . He desires a relationship with us ; His Son died for us . And we need to dedicate our lives to using our gifts , talents , and time to serve mankind until God calls us home .

Through Run for the Son , millions of Bibles have gone into the darkest corners of the world in order to supply believers with the greatest book and the greatest tool that provides life-giving truth to all of mankind . But there is an element that I think we can sometimes overlook .

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ( NIV ) tells us that , “ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching , rebuking , correcting and training in righteousness , so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work .” With this verse , we see that the Bible , God ’ s Word , has many uses . Most of us as Christians know this . It does all the things above , but I want to focus on one aspect that Paul ’ s letter to Timothy mentions ; the Bible teaches .

Now when I say “ teaches ,” my first thought is Bible study , Sunday school , church services , and things along those lines . I grew up in church , and my parents were diligent to provide me many opportunities to learn from God ’ s Word , to allow it to teach me . But with the partnership between CMA and Open Doors , there is a deeper element to that “ teaching .” It ’ s not just that Christians need God ’ s Word to get closer to God , to gain understanding , enlightenment , guidance , wisdom , and encouragement . Persecuted believers face a very great challenge that presents itself in a different light than those of us who live in a country where persecution is low . And by the way , we are all persecuted , or we will all be persecuted – that ’ s a fact . It ’ s only a matter of time .

We had a story come out several months ago about a 13-year-old boy . He grew up in a country where he was fed a 1,300 year old lie by satan . He was raised to hate Christians and was told , all his life , that Christians are an enemy . So , one day he took it upon himself to steal a motorcycle and ride it to a church . Once he arrived , he poured the gas out of the gas tank onto a church and set it alight . The church burned , and a Christian was killed . He wasn ’ t prosecuted . His parents told the judge that he was impetuous . He was young . He made a foolish decision . And he went free .

When we look at that level of unrepentant persecution , something we don ’ t see in our own country , yet , what would be our words to the family of the martyr ? At Open

Doors , we encourage believers that are under siege to stand strong . Not to leave , not to give up , and not to retaliate . This isn ’ t so that the individual believers can just stand strong , it ' s so that God ’ s Word that achieves so much isn ’ t removed from that house , that village , that town , that country .

So , what is being “ taught ” to persecuted believers isn ’ t just the things that we have all learned in Sunday school , or church , or Bible study – it ’ s also to practice the Biblical gift of meekness . To turn the other cheek . Not when they are insulted , or their feelings are hurt or when someone is rude to them because of their beliefs or a sticker on their bike . But to be meek when their churches are attacked . To turn the other cheek when their homes are burned . To forgive when their families are imprisoned , tortured , or martyred . This is what the Bible is “ teaching ” them . To be stalwart . To be resolute that giving their life for Christ is worth it if one more person can come to a saving relationship with Jesus .

I tell you this because God must remind me of the true nature of what I do . I supply besieged and beleaguered Christians in the darkest places , not just so that they can survive but so that they can thrive . And not thrive economically , but so that they can survive to thrive to serve another day . 1 Corinthians 9:25 ( NASB ) tells us , “ Everyone who competes in the games exercises