[See books in the Bible Gateway Store on the subject of Christian persecution]
Around the world, Christians will observe the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (#IDOP) on November 3 & 10, 2019. The term “persecuted Christians” refers to any person who is harassed or attacked simply because they identify as being a Christian. Examples of persecution faced by Christians include, but is not limited to, beatings, physical torture, confinement, isolation, rape, severe punishment, imprisonment, slavery, and discrimination in education and employment.
“If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you. Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours too. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. John 15:18-21 (NET)
Open Doors’ current research suggests that more than 245 million Christians are persecuted. That’s 1 in 9 Christians in the world today.
“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ….If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Corinthians 12:12, 26-27 NIV).
[See the Bible Gateway Blog post, International Day(s) of Prayer for the Persecuted Church]
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Hebrews 13:3 (NIV)
[See the Bible Gateway Blog post, I Am N: An Interview with Cole Richards and Jason Peters]
The following organizations have resources ready to help you help others become more prayerfully aware of the plight of Christian brothers and sisters around the world:
- Bible Gateway Twitter List: Religious Freedom
- Christian Freedom International (@CFI_Freedom)
- Christian Solidarity Worldwide (@CSW_UK)
- Critical Prayer Requests
- IDOP
- International Christian Concern (@persecutionnews)
- Open Doors UK (@OpenDoorsUK)
- Open Doors USA (@OpenDoors)
- Release International (@ReleaseInt)
- Religious Liberty Commission (@EAUKnews)
- The Voice of the Martyrs (@VOM_USA)
- The Voice of the Martyrs New Zealand (@IDOPNZ)
- World Evangelical Alliance (@WEARLC1)
- WorldWatch Monitor (@wwmonitor)
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