ADVERTISING
The advances of the web have changed the world. Now we must learn to use it at its best.
The WEA encourages Christians and local churches to get involved in the International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on November, 11.
The WEA calls Christians worldwide to pray for the persecuted church on November 11. / IDOP
One out of every twelve Christians around the world is persecuted everyday. In other words, 215 million people put their lives at risk because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
Following the scriptural command in Hebrews 13:3, to not only remember those who suffer, but also to identify with them in their suffering, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) created the International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP).
“Over the years, the IDOP has served as a platform to highlight the stories of persecuted Christians and mobilise the global Church to respond to their plight”, says Godfrey Yogarajah, Executive Director of the WEA Religious Liberty Commission.
IDOP 2018: LISTEN TO THEIR CRY
This year, the IDOP is on 4th and 11th November, and the WEA invites Christians and local churches to “pray that, in spite of the pressure and persecution, our suffering brothers and sisters, wherever they may be in the world, would stand firm in their faith, hold fast to the promises of God, and live victoriously in Christ”.
The IDOP website provides resources “designed to help you pray effectively for the persecuted”, because “in order to pray for these suffering brothers and sisters, we must first listen to their stories. In other words, we must hear their cry”.
NOT SPECTATORS, BUT PARTICIPANTS
“This year we focus on the difference between praying for the persecuted church and praying with the persecuted church”, explained Ted Blake, director of Open Doors Spain and head of the Religious Liberty Commission of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance.
“It is not the same to be a spectator than a participant. We pray with those who are suffering persecution, so they can have the strength to move forward”, he told Spanish news website Protestante Digital.
Cases like that of Andrew Brunson and Asia Bibi become well known, but these are only the tip of the iceberg. “Thousands of Christians are imprisoned; expelled and accused by their neighbors. These situations often go unnoticed and we are not aware”, said Blake.
“CRYING OUT TO GOD MOVES US TO ACT”
“Although all this may seem far away, to cry out to God for the persecuted brothers moves us to act. God seeks people who can supply the need of the persecuted”, the Director of Open Doors Spain pointed out.
The aim of the event is to see “evangelicals who are able to pray, get involved, donate, write a letter”, because that “will strengthen the people who suffer persecution”.
“Sometimes we think we can not do anything. But I encourage you to think differently, however little it may seem, each person who gets involved helps to support and strengthen Christians who suffer persecution”.
In all walks of life, we run the risk of performing for those watching us.
Jesus, nailed to the cross, shed his crimson blood in order to give abundant life to all his children.
Julia Doxat-Purser: 25 years of EEA office in Brussels
An interview with the socio-political representative of the European Evangelical Alliance about how evangelical Christians work at the heart of the European Union.
Lars Dahle: Nominal Christianity, a mission field for the church
An interview with Lars Dahle, of the Steering Committee of the Lausanne Movement Global Consultation on Nominal Christianity held in Rome.
Arie de Pater: Refugees deserve a fair and efficient process
The Brussels representative of the European Evangelical Alliance offers a Christian perspective on the crisis: “We can’t reduce people to just a number that needs to be controlled”.
Michael Ramsden: Communicating the Gospel in today’s societies
RZIM International Director Michael Ramsden responds to questions about the secularisation of Europe, the role of Christians in public leadership and the new ‘culture of victimism’.
Ruth Valerio: A lifestyle that cares about creation
Are Christians called to make a difference in environmental care? What has creation care to do with "loving our neighbours"? An interview with the Global Advocacy and Influencing Director of Tearfund.
AEA Plaza opens to serve African evangelicals
After many years of labour, the Association of Evangelicals in Africa officially opened its new centre in Nairobi, Kenya. “Africa, your time has come!”, said the World Evangelical Alliance Secretary General Efraim Tendero.
‘Small churches, big potential for transformation’
Photos of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance’s annual gathering “Idea 2019”, in Murcia. Politicians and church leaders discussed about the role of minorities in society.
Bulgaria: Evangelicals ask government to protect religious minorities
Christians rallied in Sofia on November 18 to defend their rights. It is the second Sunday of peaceful demonstrations against a new religion draft law that could severely restrict religious freedom and rights of minority faith confessions.
Rallies in Bulgaria: “New bill on religion brings us back to Communism!”
Bulgarian evangelicals protested peacefully on November 11 against a draft law which could severely restrict religious freedom of faith minorities. Churches rallied in Sofia and other cities after the Sunday worship services.
Photos: #WalkForFreedom
Abolitionists marched through 400 cities in 51 countries. Pictures from Valencia (Spain), October 20.
Photos: Reaching people with disabilities
Seminars, an arts exhibition, discussion and testimonies. The European Disability Network met in Tallinn.
What can we learn from copying errors about the transmission of the biblical text?
“There is no evidence whatsoever of any systematic revision from the text from the begining to the end”, says researcher Dirk Jongkind.
Romania: God’s Word among Roma people
Gypsies are one of the largest ethnic minority groups in Romania. According to 2013 estimates, the Roma groups make up 10% of the country's population, accounting for about 1.5 million people.
Latin American leaders unite to fight against imposition of gender ideology
Christian leaders from all over Latin America are concerned about the progress of gender ideology agendas in the region. Many are joining together in public demonstrations and training events.
How do fake news spread?
Tony Watkins, Coordinator of the Lausanne Media Engagement Network.
Lindsay Brown: The encouraging advance of the gospel in Spain
Church planting, the amount of books authored by Spanish evangelicals and the growth of the Christian student movement in the last decades, are some of the marks underlined by Lindsay Brown.
Church planting in Strasbourg
A video on how evangelicals are planting churches in Strasbourg (France).
Opinions expressed are those of their respective contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Evangelical Focus.
If you want to comment, or