By Missions Coordinator John King
Imagine being a church member in a city where there is the unending threat that at any moment another mob could form and burn down the building where you worship. Imagine being a pastor in a country where the government constantly monitors all your communication, and as soon as they find you meeting with your flock, they imprison you for weeks and beat you tirelessly. Imagine being a new follower of Christ living in a culture where, if your family discovered you were a believer, they would track you down and kill you.
Unfortunately, these scenarios are not imaginary for believers living in East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and in other parts of the world. They make up the reality we call, “the persecuted church.” While we do not celebrate their suffering for its own sake, we do celebrate the One who is worth suffering for. The almost univocal message from people in these situations around the world is not for an end to the suffering, but for God to be made known through it. As Scripture teaches, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12)
For more information about how to pray for the persecuted church, check out the following resources:
- Marshall, Paul. Their Blood Cries Out: the Untold Story of Persecution against Christians in the Modern World. (Word, 1997)
- Shea, Nina. In the Lion’s Den: A Shocking Account of Persecution and Martyrdom of Christians Today and How We Should Respond. (Broadman and Holman: 1997)
- http://www.persecution.com/ (Voice of the Martyrs — website)
- http://www.persecutionblog.com/ (Voice of the Martyrs — blog)
- http://www.christianfreedom.org/ (Christian Freedom International — website)
- http://www.opendoorsusa.org/ (Open Doors — website)
