Even if your church does not observe it or fails to pray for persecuted brethren, you and I should. Not just that, but we should be very intentional about praying for them, but for the Grace of God, there goeth you and I! In fact, days are already here in the United States where true believers are already persecuted in these very United States of America, where Freedom of Religion is guaranteed in the US Constitution. We are not just talking about the annual "Wars on Christmas and Easter" by the secular liberal humanists and progressives.
We are seeing all sorts of persecution of Christian small businesses in the US by gay rights activists, because they refuse to conduct the gay "wedding" ceremonies or US military chaplains being told they cannot pray in the Name of Jesus or the Fox Sports broadcaster who was fired for believing in biblical marriage. There is the health care mandate on Bible publishers Tyndale to pay for pills that induce abortion or Hobby Lobby etc. More and more American Christians are being told to keep our faith behind the four walls of the church on Sunday. But it will not be long before the anti-God forces come in to to monitor what is preached from the Bible. Romans 1 preaching is already banned in certain parts of Canada because of the warning against all kinds of Sin therein.
Therefore, it is our duty to pray for those under painful persecution, worse than you and I can imagine, around the globe. Why? Because one day we may need their prayer as well. In fact, I was made aware, by reliable sources, that saints in the underground Chinese Church and in certain African cities are actually praying for American Christians because they know we are not strong in Faith and Righteousness, should we have to face what they have been for over 70 years of communist oppression!
Therefore, the following are some examples for us to consider in prayer, along with any others you may know about. These are direct links back to the original articles. American Pastor Saeed is being treated like this and sent to the Iranian "death row" to disappear, because the Iranians know the American authorities and most of our western churches do not care either. God will hold those accountable for that. We know who know better should pray for him and his family over here. So without further ado, here are some headlines etc to consider at this time:
Pastor Saeed Abedini Placed in Cell With Death Row
BY STOYAN ZAIMOV, CHRISTIAN POST REPORTER
November 7, 2013|2:50 pm
Pastor Saeed Abedini has been placed in a single cell with five death row inmates in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj and is prevented from having any visitors, the American Center for Law and Justice said, raising further concerns that officials placed him there to "disappear."
"Rajai Shahr is a murders' jail. It's a violent criminals' jail," said ACLJ Executive Director Jordan Sekulow on Fox News following news that the U.S. pastor was abruptly transferred from Evin Prison in Tehran on Monday. "He is not allowed any visitors, and he is under quarantine. He is in Ward 9, which is the murders' ward. So he's sharing a 10x10 cell with five people who have been convicted of violent crimes, these are people who are basically on death row.
Half a Million Churches to Pray for Persecuted Believers for IDOP
Christians around the world will observe the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) either this Sunday or on Nov. 10, but those being persecuted for their faith want other believers to not just pray for them, but pray with them.Jerry Dykstra, director of media relations for Open Doors USA, told The Christian Post that prayer is the "number one request" of believers in persecuted nations, and even those who are among the persecuted are praying for Christians in other nations.
Christians in Nigeria, for example, pray for other persecuted believers in the Middle East, said Dykstra. A century ago about 20 percent of the population in North Africa and the Middle East was Christian, according to Open Doors, but Christ-followers now make up only four percent of the population there due to persecution.
CHRISTIANS IN SYRIA:
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| A SYRIAN CHRISTIAN VILLAGE |
A new survey of Syrian towns by CNN suggests that much of northern Syria has come under the control of radical Islamist groups. CNN claims that Islamist militants, led by a group called the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), are attempting to impose a strict Islamic ideology on Syrians across the region.
ISIS is said to have complete control of a number of towns in the region, including Keftin, Tal Rifat, Azaz, Ad Dana, Dar Ta Izzah, Binnish, Taqqa, Ma’arrat, Misrin, Jarablus and Al-Bab, while many others are said to contain a strong ISIS “presence”. The effect of this on minority groups within the region, including Syria’s Christians, is a cause of growing concern. Recently, ISIS was implicated in what has been described as the “biggest and most serious massacre” of Christians since the start of Syria’s civil war.
NORTHERN IRAQ NO LONGER SAFE FOR CHRISTIANS
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| CHRISTIANS IN NORTHERN IRAQ LIVED THERE FOR ALMOST 2000 YEARS! |
An increase in violence against Christians in northern Iraq has increased the flow of Christians leaving the country. The north, generally considered a relatively safe area of the country, had become home for many Christians fleeing from the tumultuous central and southern regions.However, several bombings in the north in recent months have caused panic among the Christian community.
On September 22, a suicide bomb went off outside the home of Christian politician Emad Youhanna in Rafigayn, part of the Kirkuk province, injuring 19 people, including three of Youhanna’s children.Several bomb attacks have also taken place in the northern city of Erbil, for which Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility. In early September, Christians in the village of Deshtakh complained that they were facing harassment from local police.
(RED SIGNIFIES EXTREME & ORANGE SEVERE PERSECUTION)
VISIT THE OPEN DOORS AND VOICE OF THE MARTYRS WEBSITES FOR MORE INFORMATION.
