INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

Imagine the suffering believers in Gaza are experiencing because of the war. They suffer because of the war but also because of their faith. Around the world believers are persecuted simply because they believe in Jesus. Family members are driven from their homes and in some cases killed simply because they have put their trust in Jesus.

This past year 5,621 people were killed for their faith — that is 15 people every day. Plus 5,259 Christians were abducted last year, and 2,110 churches and religious buildings were destroyed. Approximately 360,000,000 Christians around the world suffer high levels of persecution for their faith. Darkness hates the light, and when the light of Jesus enters, the darkness not only resists but fights to retain its territory.

While this should grieve us and prompt us to at least pray, it should not surprise us. Jesus told his followers in John 15, “if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” Perhaps because of the atrocities of the current war in Israel there is a heightened awareness of the potential for broad persecution of believers.

The persecution of Christians has been going on since the time of the apostles. Paul encouraged the Corinthian church when he wrote: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed — always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10).

Our hope and the hope of every believer who is being persecuted is in Jesus. While we are not experiencing persecution in America, we can certainly pray for those living in countries where persecution is frequent and severe. According to OPEN DOORS, 2 of every 5 believers are persecuted in Asia and 1 in 5 are persecuted in Africa. The top 5 countries with the poorest record for persecuting believers are North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Eritrea, and Libya (according to opendoors.org/en-US/). Consider adopting and interceding for a country on the World Watch List.

NOVEMBER 5, 2023, is INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH. The following link will take you to information on how to pray and resources to promote this important day: persecution.com/idop/.