“When I am in distress, the Lord will answer me.”
Ahead of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) on the 10th, Evangelical Focus reported on the 7th that the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and Religious Freedom Commission (RLC) urged churches around the world to join as in previous years.
Godfrey Yogarajah, the Ambassador for Religious Freedom of WEA, said, “The reality of persecution today is harsh. Last year, approximately 5,000 Christians were killed for their faith. Over 14,000 Christian properties were attacked, and over 4,000 were detained under often harsh and inhumane conditions.”
Ambassador Yogarajah said, “In a world where religious freedom is threatened, our prayers are more important than ever. We stand with our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ, are encouraged by their example and are committed to supporting them when needed.”
IDOP 2024 will take place on November 3 and 10 with the theme “Bold Faith” from Deuteronomy 31:6. Organizers have asked Christians to “pray eagerly for the persecuted churches, pray God to strengthen and hold them amid trials, and consider how we can extend support and interest for them and act to provide practical help.”
Ambassador Yogarajah concluded, “We hope that our prayers will be a source of strength for those who suffer, and we who pray, too, can live with bold faith knowing that God is with us.”
The IDOP webpage provides several materials “produced in English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Portuguese to help churches pray effectively for those persecuted.” In Spain, on the 10th, the Spain Evangelical Alliance (AEE) and Open Door will jointly hold an event focusing on persecuted Christians in Africa.
France’s Open Door, in cooperation with the French Evangelical Alliance (CNEF) and the French Protestant Union, will hold the IDOP on the 10th under the theme of Romans 8:35-39 and “Nothing can separate us.” Swiss Open Door and the Swiss Evangelical Alliance plan to set the 10th and 17th as the week for IDOP, and hold events focusing on “Burkina Faso, Iran, and North Korea.”
For the regional meeting on the 10th, the German Evangelical Alliance (EAD) also asked churches to pray for persecuted Christians in Burkina Faso, Iran, and North Korea. (Source: Evangelical Prayer Newspaper Comprehensive)
When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me. Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. (Psalms 86:7-9)
God, thank You for allowing the day of prayer where many countries around the world unite and uphold brothers and sisters in Christ in persecuted churches. We trust the Lord will surely answer the prayers lifted to You in November and pour the love of Christ that nothing can separate over the troubled saints every day. Also, we pray You would grant the ttriumphantly victorious faith for them so that they may reveal You are God. Thus, the day of the great mission come to pass and may all the nations, peoples, and tongues You created worship You and glorify Your name.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
