Christians around the world will come together in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Christ who face persecution and even death for their faith this Sunday and next Sunday, on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church .
THE International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church has been organized by the World Evangelical Alliance for more than two decades, with many other faith-based organizations encouraging participation.
According to Open Doors, a watchdog that monitors the persecution in more than 60 countries, more than 360 million Christians live in countries where they experience some form of hostility because of proclaiming the name of Jesus or living their faith.
In its annual World Watch List report, Open Doors reported that more than 5,621 Christians were killed because of their faith during the 2022 reporting period, 90% of them in Nigeria alone.
Many Christian advocacy organizations, such as Open Doors United States And The voice of the martyrshave offered free resources, such as discussion questions and prayer guides, to help churches or small groups host a gathering for IDOP.
Ryan Brown, CEO of Open Doors US, highlighted in an interview with The Christian Post the role prayer plays in the organization’s mission to combat global persecution of Christ’s followers. He added that no matter how big the problem, prayer reminds Christians of the power of God.
“This allows us to align ourselves with the heart of the Father that, whatever care and passion we may have for serving the persecuted Church, it is nothing compared to the heart of Christ for his bride,” he said. Brown said.
Brown said IDOP is also an opportunity for Christians around the world to lift up their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ by proving that there are thousands, if not millions, of people thinking about them.
The new CEO of Open Doors US has highlighted concerns that the West continues to sink deeper into a “post-Christian” culture, as it can be easy for those not living under persecution to allow themselves to be absorbed in the affairs of their daily lives.
According to Brown, Christians who face discrimination because of their faith serve as an example to Westerners who refuse to limit their faith despite the culture in which they live.
There have also been persistent trends in the persecution of Christians, according to Brown, citing the findings of his group’s annual study. Global Watchlist as another reason for Christ’s followers to immerse themselves in prayer.
According to a memoir on the Open Doors websiteNorth Korea ranks first in persecution of Christians, but Brown noted that countries like China have used intimidation and government power to oppress believers.
Brown said that in other countries, such as Nigeria, Christians are often victims of violence. Estimates released Earlier this year, the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law found that at least 5,000 Christians had been killed in Nigeria in 2022, and at least 1,000 had been killed in the first three month of 2023.
Regarding the IDOP, Open Doors offers resources that churches participating in the event can share with their congregations, including guides for planning a prayer meeting and sermon notes to facilitate discussions.
Through IDOP, Brown hopes to see people systematically spend more time thinking about their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ.
“The goal is not for this to necessarily become a daily or annual activity, but for it to become a stepping stone to something that impacts us on a regular basis,” he said.
On its website, WEA also offers a variety of resources, including videos and graphics.
“(As we gather in prayer for our persecuted brothers, we find hope and strength in the Scriptures,” WEA says of the event, quoting 2 Corinthians 4:10. “This powerful biblical text reminds us that although persecution may strike believers, it does not destroy their faith. »
“The resilience and unwavering trust in God demonstrated by our persecuted brothers and sisters testify to the enduring power of Christ in their lives,” he continues.
Samantha Kamman is a journalist at the Christian Post. She can be reached at: samantha.kamman@christianpost.com. Follow her on Twitter: @Samantha_Kamman
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