Prayer Vigil for the Persecuted Church

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church: http://idop.org/web/

Powerful testimony: https://secure.persecution.com/idop/default.aspx

Exile night: https://www.i-am-n.com/exile-night/

Christian Iraqi girl refugee forgiving ISIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ige6CcXuMg

“In our world today, more than 40 percent still have not heard or had access to the gospel, including nearly 70 percent of Niger. Christ does not call us to pursue danger, but he asks our obedience to his calling. Time and again, God has demonstrated his power over the enemy’s attacks and his ability to save. Whether it was the day my teammates and I were surrounded by a mob and about to be burned alive with a fire already lit under our vehicle, the illegal arrest warrants issued as vendettas, being chased from villages by shovels or rocks, or perhaps, the random death threat, nothing surprises God. Rather, it is an opportunity for his glory to be displayed. Still, there may come a day when physical deliverance doesn’t occur. Let it be known on that day, God is still faithful, and the greatest deliverance will have actually occurred. Whether we live or whether we die, Christ is our life, and his glory is the reward. Jesus Christ calls us to himself, not to a life of ease by avoidance, but of intimacy through obedience that we “may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” (Phil. 3:10)

–Missionary Nathan Bramsen, 2015: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/church-on-fire

Prayer passages for those at risk of, or currently suffering, persecution:

Psalm 23 Psalm 119:51, 61, 69, 110, 157 Psalm 124 Isaiah 49 Isaiah 53 Matthew 5:3-12, 43-48 Matthew 10:16-33 Matthew 23:34-35 Mark 4:13-20 Mark 13:9-13 Mark 15:21, 34 Luke 6:22-23 John 15:18-25 John 16 Acts 5:29, 40-42 Acts 7:51-60

Acts 8:4 Acts 23:11 Acts 28:16, 30-31 Romans 5:1-5 Romans 8 Romans 12 1 Corinthians 12:26-27 1 Corinthians 13 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Galatians 4:29 Philippians 1:12-14 Colossians 1:24 2 Timothy 2:9-12 2 Timothy 3:10-17

2 Timothy 4:16-18 Hebrews 11 Hebrews 12:1-3 Hebrews 13:3, 12-16 James 1 James 5:7-12 1 Peter 3:14-17 1 Peter 4:12-19 1 Peter 5:8-9 1 John 3:1, 13 Revelation 1:9 Revelation 2:3, 8-11 Revelation 6:9-11 Revelation 7:13-17 Revelation 20:4

Persecution Today at a Glance

(Source, World Help: http://worldhelp.net/persecuted-church/)

MYANMAR: Myanmar is currently ranked by the World Watch List as the 23rd most dangerous place in the world for Christians.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (C.A.R.): Violent clashes between Muslim and Christian groups in the C.A.R. make it a volatile place for Christ-followers.

NEPAL: Nepali Christians represent less than 2 percent of the population and are frequently targeted by extremist groups, particularly Hindu and Maoist factions.

IRAQ and SYRIA: Christians in Iraq and Syria have suffered unthinkable persecution from ISIS. Pray for believers who remain or are displaced around the world—that they will lead many Muslims to Christ and that members of ISIS will come to know Jesus. ISIS has forced thousands of Syrian Christians to flee their homes or “convert to Islam, pay a tax, or face death.

NORTH KOREA: Because it is illegal to be a Christian in North Korea, Christ-followers are often completely isolated . . . making fellowship and evangelism extremely dangerous. Pray for Christians suffering torture in labor camps, and that the nation’s leadership will become open to the Gospel. In North Korea, being a Christian is forbidden by law. Public expressions of faith, worship, evangelism, or possession of Bibles have been known to end in execution.

CHINA and VIETNAM: Leaders of house churches are often targeted and closely monitored by police. Pray for the spiritual growth of minority groups and Christians living in rural areas, and for the spiritual awakening of government officials. Christians who operate apart from the government-approved churches of China are subject to discrimination, arrest, and threats.

AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, and IRAN: Large regions of the Middle East are unsafe for Christians and their families. Many face constant threats and assassination attempts. Pray for Christians being persecuted by their families, that the Gospel will invade the ranks of terrorist groups, and that those living under strict regimes will have wisdom and perseverance.

CUBA: Larger church gatherings have been told to disband, and Christian leaders are often targeted. Pray for new believers, that they will receive access to God’s Word and will boldly proclaim the Gospel without fear. Pray also for Christian leaders, that they will receive the ministry training they need.

INDIA and NIGERIA: Christians throughout India and Nigeria face violent persecution from opposing religious groups. Pray for Indian Christians living in states with anti-conversion laws and those being pressured to convert back to Hinduism. Pray also for Nigerian Christians who have been driven from their homes by Boko Haram, and that these militants will come to know Jesus Christ. India is a rich tapestry of culture, ethnicity, and religion. But a hostile political atmosphere is making it difficult for Christians to practice their faith in Christ. Boko Haram, the militant Islamist group, continues to terrorize Christians in Nigeria and has forced millions to flee their homes in fear of capture.