“We pray for you so that you may be glorified in him”
Release International, a persecution monitoring group, asked for intercessory prayer ahead of the International Day of Prayer for persecuted churches.
Churches around the world celebrate the first and second Sundays of November every year as a day of prayer for millions of Christians who face violence such as harassment, discrimination, and death because of their faith.
Release International will collaborate with the Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Open Door and the Evangelical Alliance (EA) to hold an online event on November 5 at 7:30 p.m. for persecuted churches. The event will feature stories of persecuted Christians and people imprisoned for their faith in Eritrea, Nigeria, and Nicaragua.
Materials available for download from the Release International website include the story of Chinese pastor Wang Yi, who was sentenced to nine years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power.”
Pastor Wang Yi said, “I firmly believe that the Bible has not given any branch of the government the authority to run the church or disrupt the faith of Christians. The Bible calls on me to resist all administrative policies and legal measures that oppress the church and interfere with Christian faith, with meek resistance and active tolerance and joy through peaceful means.”
“I hope God uses me to tell people who took away my freedom that the higher authority than their authority exists and that irrepressible freedom, the freedom to fill the crucified church and the resurrected Jesus Christ, exists,” he said.
Paul Robinson, CEO of Release International, said, “In the New Testament, apostles tried to encourage and strengthen persecuted Christians and prayed for them.”
He continued, “On the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted churches, we have the opportunity to sincerely embrace those who suffer for Christ as brothers and sisters and to raise the voice of prayer with them. Join us!” (Source: Christian Daily, Christian Today roundup).
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)
God, I pray that churches from all over the world will join this prayer and enjoy being one body for persecuted churches, which endure suffering and yet keep their beliefs with patience and faith. May all those who pray to wake up to the glory of the suffering church and the power of the gospel with Christ and join the work of faith that will be completed by God’s power. In addition, let the saints who are facing oppression and suffering be strengthened by prayer and remember the Lord, who is glorified by their obedience, and go firmly until the day of the Lord.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
