Persecuted Church

November 13, 2011, is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.
The banner in the photo above was hanging in our home until last week when we loaned it to the church we attend. (Hopefully, they will hang it on Sunday.) The banner has been a tangible, daily reminder helping our family keep the persecuted church in our thoughts and prayers. Too easily we seem to forget that our brothers and sisters in Christ are being whipped, beaten, tortured, imprisoned, shunned, killed, persecuted - today. Right now. As we read our Bibles, go to church, drive kids to AWANA, listen to our hymn cd and such, we forget how blessed we are to be able to do those things without fear - and yet, maybe it comes too easy or us. What if there was the threat of real persecution? What if we had to choose life or Christ? I am so humbled by the steadfastness of those around the world who are a part of the persecuted church. On Sunday, November 13, 2011, please join me in partnering with them and participating in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Please pray for those being persecuted as well as those missionaries serving in restricted and hostile nations.
Here are just a few noteworthy items.
*In Laos eleven orphans are being pressured by the director of the orphanage they live in to stop attending church. If they don't they will need to leave the orphanage - they will be alone on the streets.
*The government in Iran took children away from Christian parents and will only return them if the parents file complaints against and give information about other believers.
*Attacks on Christians in Nigeria continue - over 100 followers of Christ were killed in September alone.
*The decapitated body of a kidnapped Christian was found in Somalia.
*In Myanmar, Christian youth are being forced to choose between faith and family.
*The government in Eritrea arrested 90 Christians in a recent crackdown.
*Whole villages are being burned to the ground in northern Africa.
*And the list goes on and on and on and....
We must remember there are many places around the world where inviting a friend to church could get you arrested and beaten and where following Christ could, literally, cost you your life.
"Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Hebrews 13:3
November 13, 2011 - International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church