This past Sunday, November 2nd, 2014, about 30 of us joined together to view the film Love Costs Everything and to pray. The evening was one that both raised awareness of what our brothers and sisters around the world are facing for their faith and inspired us to be more bold in our faith as we listened to the personal stories shared throughout the film.
Daily we watch news broadcasts of what is going on in the Middle East and even around the world. Christians live in fear of being beaten, imprisoned, and killed. They are pressured consistently to deny Christ. Now as we listen to the reports, we no longer have to feel totally out of control to act.
How can you continue to support the Persecuted Church?
Educate yourself. These sites give you opportunity to sign up for newsletters and email updates.
Pray. November is dedicated to praying for the Persecuted Church and raising awareness so there are extra resources available this month, but prayer is needed year round. Check at the Ministry Counter for a prayer list for November. Here is an exert:
- November 7 | SRI LANKA A local minister has been providing shelter to Pakistani Christian families. Pray that God would give wisdom to those who are helping them.
- November 8 | SYRIA Pray for the millions of Syrian refugees who have fled to neighboring countries, and also for the church to play an important role in Syria’s peace and reconciliation.
- November 9 | SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES “Please also pray for peace in Jolo,” says a local believer. “Kidnappings, murder and bombings are rampant there now.”
- November 10 | NORTH KOREA Pray for the protection of North Korean women in the Chinese border area. They are often sold into prostitution or abusive marriages.
- November 11 | VIETNAM Pray for the women’s training courses Open Doors is offering to Vietnamese women.
- November 12 | EGYPT Pray for teams of committed Christian workers who continue to travel between villages to facilitate youth, women and children events as well as do home visitations for widows and the needy.
- November 13 | ARABIAN PENINSULA Please pray for peace in the homes of Christians who have family members who are not believers, and pray for an end to domestic violence against Christians.
- Prison Alert - http://www.prisoneralert.com/
Support. There are many ways to support the persecuted church.
- There are orphanages that care for kids whose parents are martyred.
- The are care packages that are sent as encouragement and love in the name of Jesus to children in these countries giving them school supplies and other needed items.
- There are also pastor care packages that equip pastors to minister in these dangerous places.
- Direct financial donations to organizations such as VOM and Open Doors.
- Purchase of clothing items from VOM's store not only shows support and raises awareness here, but also a portion of the purchase often goes directly to serving the Persecuted Church.
- We would love to provide more opportunities to support the Persecuted Church at Life Bridge. If you are interested in helping to organize an outreach of this kind contact Traci Kersker.
Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power,
preserve those doomed to die! – Psalm 79:11
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets
who were before you.” – Matthew 5:11-12
“But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it.
At that time you will be given what to say.” – Matthew 10:19
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but can not kill the soul.
Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” – Matthew 10:28
Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them,
and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. – Hebrews 13:3
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