Tom White, executive director of the highly respected Voice of Martyrs, took his own life this past April, amid allegations he had molested a 10-year old girl. “Our hearts are broken,” said a ministry spokesman, “but the Voce of Martyrs will continue serving our persecuted brothers and sisters.” Prior to his death, neither VOM’s staff or board of directors knew of the allegations brought against White.
Voice of Martyrs, known formerly as Jesus to the Communist World, was founded by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand in1967, who were both imprisoned by the communists in Romania—Richard for 14 years and Sabina for 3 years.
Editor’s Note: This is one of the saddest stories we’ve ever reported in this publication. We pray for Tom White’s family and his 125 collegues at VOM, but we pray especially for the young girl who might have been victimized. Tom White was working for VOM in 1979 when he crashed-landed his light plane onto a Cuban street while dropping Christian literature into the country. He was captured and served 18 months in a Cuban prison.
Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, stayed in our home for many days prior to Tom’s imprisonment in 1979. I recall how they talked with him on the phone from our home and spoke so highly of his commitment to their ministry and his dedication to Christ. They trusted him implicitly.
Whether or not the allegation is true that prompted Tom White to take his life, we believe his failure should not be held against this wonderful organization, and that Christians should go on financially supporting VOM and praying for the staff who must carry on their vital mission to the persecuted church following this great tragedy.
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