Last Sunday, Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani marked 1,000 days in prison. What was his crime? The official charge is apostasy, abandoning Islam for Christianity.

In 2009 he protested the government’s decision to force all children, including his two sons, Daniel and Yoel, to read the Quran. He was sentenced harshly. He was sentenced to death by hanging, and he sits on death row.

The Voice of the Martyrs is a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian organization dedicated to Nadarkhani and those like him who have been persecuted for their faith.

It was founded in 1967 by the Rev. Richard Wurmbrand, who was imprisoned 14 years in Communist Romania for evangelizing to others.

Wurmbrand tells his story in a book, “Tortured for Christ.”

“This book,” said Charles W. Colson of Prison Fellowship, “was singularly instrumental in awakening the conscience of the free world to the horrors experienced by our brothers and sisters behind the Iron Curtain.”

The Voice of the Martyrs seeks to help Christians around the world with hope, love and encouragement. It provides medical assistance, food, clothing and other forms of aid.

The charity also delivers Bibles, literature, radios and other evangelistic tools to missionaries.

It seeks to give relief to the families of Christian martyrs in certain areas of the world. It informs the world of the atrocities committed against Christians so more will come to their aid.

A regional Voice of the Martyrs conference on July 21 in Lexington, Ky., is one of the ways the organization gets the word out.

Speakers include:

• Gracia Burnham. She and her late husband, Martin, were kidnapped May 27, 2001, by the Abu Sayyaf while they were serving as missionaries in the Philippines. The militant Muslim group held them captive for 376 days.

During a rescue attempt by the Philippine Army on June 7, 2002, Martin was killed and Gracie was wounded. She then wrote the books “In the Presence of My Enemies” and “To Fly Again.”

• Getaneh Getaneh was arrested multiples times by Communist authorities in Ethiopia for preaching.

His captors hung him upside-down and poured boiling oil over his feet.

He eventually escaped and fled the country. He has been in the U.S. for the past 19 years and directs Watch and Pray International.

This ministry strengthens the Christian church in East Africa and here in America.

• Darcie Gill has been a Voice of the Martyrs staff member for the past 14 years and brings hope to persecuted Christians in China, Sudan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cuba, India, Myanmar, Laos, Bangladesh, Colombia and other countries.

• Dr. Roy Stults has served many years as a missionary around the world. He taught persecution studies at Oklahoma Wesleyan University before joining the staff of The Voice of the Martyrs. He develops online studies at www.vomclassroom.com.

• Matt Rose has traveled into restricted nations since 1998 with The Voice of the Martyrs and shares their stories of overwhelming courageous faith.

On July 21, the doors will open at 8 a.m. for registration, prayer and fellowship in the resource area.

For those interested, there are several ways to help The Voice of the Martyrs.

Donations can be accepted on the website www.persecution.com, for action packs (toiletries, school supplies, blankets, etc.), Bibles, aid persecuted prisoners/families, parachute packs (parachuting God’s word where there is no other means of delivery), aid to ministers and medical supplies.

Contact contributing writer Pamela Dillon at pamdillon@woh.rr.com.