Wondering if anyone else in the group has a particular passion to pray for persecuted Christians around the world. I led a prayer group on this topic for several years and have come across three good websites that provide prayer information.
www.persecution.org - website of International Christian Concern
www.persecution.com - website of Voice of the Martyrs
www.opendoorsusa.org - USA website of Open Doors International.
The first two sites tend to focus more on individual stories and the Open Doors website more on the country level, although all the sites have a mixture of prayer items.
This month, with the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church occuring on Sunday, November 14, I will be adding daily (I hope) prayers to our forum for the country of North Korea, far and away the most "persecuting" country on the globe, according to Open Doors' Watchlist. These prayer ideas come from a prayer calendar that I got from their website. I tried to find it again but was unable to.
I invite anyone who is interested to join me in praying for the Persecuted Church this month. I will be adding the prayers to our main prayer forum, not to this discussion.
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2014 World Watch List #50: Niger
Father, please encourage the persecuted believers in Niger. Grant wisdom to church leaders to know how to respond and how to continue to grow the believers. Especially strengthen the churches that have been attacked this year; restore what the locusts have eaten and bring glory to yourself from the response of your people.
Please break the power of Islamic extremism in Niger, especially in the southern part of the country. Change the hearts of the persecutors as you changed Saul's heart; overpower them with your love and grace and put them on a new trajectory.
May your name be honored in the church in Niger and may your love and grace show forth through your people.
In Jesus' name.
Amen
The Muslim celebration of Ramadan for 2012 begins in less than a week (July 20). The Open Doors website has a prayer calendar to help Christians pray through the month of Ramadan, with special emphasis on remembering Christians in Muslim countries. The calendar is in PDF format and is free. For more information, see http://blog.opendoorsusa.org/ramadan--july-20--aug-18-?&t=34119.
The Lord has also placed on my heart the persecuted church ... Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Ps 116:15
Another good source from the frontlines of persecution is:
Compass Direct News
P.O. Box 27250
Santa Ana, CA 92799-7250
USA
TEL: 949-862-0304
E-mail: info@compassdirect.org
www.compassdirect.org
I am interested in praying for the Persecuted Church
The persecuted are on my mind, and a “barbed wire” bracelet is on my wrist, to remind me of their sacrifice, that many of us would not do in their same circumstances. How much others in other countries suffer for the faith and hold firm. Don’t know if your website has a place for such prayers, but they deserve every bit of awareness we can give them. R
Ronald E. Keener
Editor I Church Executive
Helping Leaders Become Better Stewards
4742 North 24th Street, Suite 340
Phoenix, AZ 85016
800-541-2670 I 602-265-7600 x204
www.ChurchExecutive.com
ron@ChurchExecutive.com
Fellowship with Persecuted
Christians this Christmas
Sasha was just 10 years old when authorities in Uzbekistan burst into her family's home to arrest her father, Dmitry Shestakov, for preaching the gospel. Although Sasha was devastated by her father's imprisonment, she was encouraged by his commitment to the church. “I am proud of my father's strength, that God gives him power,” she said. “I'm proud that my father is passing this exam. He is in prison because he is pastor of a church. I ask you to pray for him.”
Praise the Lord, Sasha's prayers were answered this year when her father was released after serving four years in prison.
But there are many other children whose parents remain in prison or are persecuted in other ways.
Click here to learn more and to order a prayer calendar, so that your family can come alongside individuals and families such as Sasha's.
Order your 2012 VOM Prayer Calendar today
I have subscribed to the newsletters from the organizations you have mentioned. It's a little late into the month, but rest assured 'have been praying with you and with our other brethren for the Persecuted Church this month and will continue to do so even after November.
The Lord be with you.