ICC Note:
Christians across the world will take time to pray for the persecuted church worldwide this Sunday. American Christians need to take time to understand what it is like for their persecuted brothers and sisters worldwide. Christianity continues to be the most persecuted religion in the world, yet it is seldom discussed on an international level.
11/3/2012 Global (ChristianPost) – The persecution of Christians in the 10/40 Window has increased by 400 percent over the last 10 years, which is why Gospel for Asia (GFA) is calling on Christians to spend an entire day, not just a few minutes, fasting and praying for the persecuted church.
“Americans who have not experienced persecution do not fully understand what it means to have their lives threatened, homes destroyed, rights violated and loved ones imprisoned, all because of embracing faith in Jesus Christ,” said K. P. Yohannan, GFA founder and president, in a statement. “In the 14 countries we serve, persecution of this sort has become a normal way of life, especially for those directly involved in mission work.”
The 10/40 Window is a section of the world – between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator – that encompasses those nations that have been least reached with the Gospel message. These nations include China, India, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Sudan and Nigeria, just to name a few.
This Sunday, Nov. 4, churches across the U.S. will take time to pray for persecuted believers around the world as a part of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), but GFA says a simple “nod” toward the problem isn’t enough.
The organization hopes churches will do more than say a brief prayer as a part of their morning worship services on Sunday. Instead, GFA wants them to intercede for their Christian brothers and sisters for the entire length of their services.
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