Persecuted Christians Focus of Prayer

The Christian Reformed Church’s Office of Social Justice wants to remind churches that The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), a global day of intercession for persecuted Christians worldwide, takes place Sunday, Nov. 8.

"Its primary focus is the work of intercessory prayer and citizen action on behalf of persecuted communities of the Christian faith. We also encourage prayer for the souls of the oppressors, the nations that promote persecution, and those who ignore it," says an OSJ newsletter.

Religious persecution hampers the work of the Christian Reformed Church and its agencies throughout the world, according to the OSJ web site.

Oppressive regimes or religious tensions often destroy years of work Christian Reformed World Missions has invested in establishing a credible presence in an international community.

These same forces can prevent the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee from reaching the neediest parts of the world with humanitarian aid and can uproot carefully laid plans of economic development. (More)

Many CRC congregations participate in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church each year.

"In the traditional church calendar, 'All Saints Day' and 'All Souls Day' stand out in the month of November, set apart to remember the saints of the church and the souls of those who departed this world," says the IDOP web site.

"It is fitting that the modern church has set apart the month of November to remember and pray for the persecuted church."

There are many countries in the world today where Christians are martyred for their faith, says IDOP.

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is a time set apart for us to remember thousands of Christian brothers and sisters around the world who suffer persecution, simply because they confess Jesus Christ as Lord. For more information, click Persecuted Church.