Do Christians have a future in the Middle East?

(Images courtesy Open Doors)

Middle East (MNN) ― One of the factors in understanding the cultural dynamics of the Middle East and its upheaval is the presence of the Christian communities.

Since the "Arab Spring" began, regimes have fallen and Islamist governments have risen. The turmoil has left many of these Eastern Christians wondering what future is left for them given the corresponding increase in persecution.

President of Open Doors USA David Curry says, "Over the last several decades, we've seen the percentage of the population of Christians drop from about 20% in the Middle East to just 4%." It isn't merely reports of beatings that he finds alarming, but the dramatic shift that they're tracking. "In the next decade or two, unless we do something about it, unless we can find a way to stand up and get heard on this subject, it's possible that Christianity could be extinct in its birthplace."

The reality is that in Pakistan, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Iraq--lands where Christians have lived for 2000 years, being identified as anything but Muslim is dangerous. Curry explains, "Some of it is low-grade discrimination. Some of it is intentional persecution of believers. In other cases, it is outright murder and attacks on believers that are driving them out of their homes. I think the population is being driven out of the Middle East."

Regardless, the current repression clearly communicates that followers of Christ are no longer welcome as full members of society. If nothing changes, that begs the question: Do Christians have a future in the Middle East?

On Sept. 27, a group of academics, politicians, and parliamentarians (all Christians) met in Amman, Jordan to try to scratch out an answer to that question. The conference was titled "Eastern Christians in Light of the Arab Spring."

The group looked at the laws of the land, shifts that subtly altered laws and practices of religious freedom, then the impact on the Christian body, and finally, expectations for the future.

Since the constitutions in many of these countries (except Lebanon) presumes that "Islam is the state religion," Sharia becomes a source of the state's legislation, laws, and regulations. Curry says, "It's basically illegal to decide for yourself what you want to believe. That has very dangerous implications for Christians who may be converting from other religions and deciding that they want to call themselves followers of Jesus.
In many of these places, that marks them immediately for death."

The "religicide" becomes systematic and protected.

Today, more than one million Christians have fled Iraq. Half a million Christians have left Syria, where there were once around 2 million. There remains a remnant church in Egypt. In Lebanon, the retreat is obvious.

Curry notes that despite Islam's obvious impact on the body of Christ, "Christianity is not at the verge of extinction in the Middle East because we've lost the battle of ideas. We are on the verge of being extinct in the Middle East because we are being persecuted, because we are being driven from those areas, and because en masse, we are being targeted for death."

What are the possible ways of dealing with what has become one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes of our time? Curry takes that question head-on. Be aware. "First of all, I think that there is an element of these extremist groups that is, for lack of a better word, ‘imperialist.' They believe that they can force their faith on people. They'll do it in their regions, and then they're going to do it in our regions."

Be active. Realize that the Gospel is still going forward. Share the predicament of new believers with your Church body.

Also pray. "There's a scriptural premise here, for believers, certainly. It says, ‘When one part of your body hurts, then the whole body hurts.' Right now, we have members of the Christian faith that are suffering; not a few, but millions of people who have no freedom to study and to choose for themselves how they share their faith."

Invitation to pray for persecuted believers

(Photo Courtesy of Open Doors)

International (MNN) ― The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is just around the corner. It's a day when believers worldwide will come together to pray for their brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer for their faith. 

November 11, 2012 is the day Open Doors USA has set aside for prayer for the persecuted church. 

Leading up to November 11th, Open Doors encourages believers to stand with "those who share our faith but not our freedom" through their One With Them campaign. This is an initiative designed to bring awareness to the reality of Christian persecution throughout the world.

Esther is a widowed mother of six from northern Nigeria whose husband was killed in a vicious attack by an Islamic extremist group notorious for attacks on Nigerian Christians. When asked how Christians in the West could be One With Them (persecuted Christians), she said, "Share our stories so more and more people will know about the situation in Nigeria, so they can pray for us."

As IDOP approaches, keep people like Esther in mind. Pray for the many followers of Christ who are being persecuted. 

"We encourage prayer for the souls of the oppressors, the nations that promote persecution, and those who ignore it," affirms Open Doors.  

Open Doors has also invited Christians to use their artistic ability through an online competition called "One Body-Many Gifts," a creative aspect of One With Them.

The top 10 entries have been announced. You can vote to determine the 3 winning entries! Voting ends midnight November 6.

The top three entries will be announced on November 10. The grand prize is a unique opportunity to travel and meet with persecuted Christians face-to-face. It will change you forever.

Another way you can get involved is by wearing One with Themwristbands -- a tangible reminder to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters.

Open Doors has provided IDOP resources for you or your church. Click here to learn more. Encourage your friends to participate in this life-changing event. 

Southern California church asked to 'Pray for the Persecuted' and also become 'Ambassadors for Peace'

ANS Founder, Dan Wooding, and Garry Ansdell, senior pastor of Hosanna Christian Fellowship, make these pleas during a special prayer service


By Jeremy Reynalds
Senior Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

BELLFLOWER, CA (ANS) -- Veteran journalist Dan Wooding, founder of the ASSIST News Service, and Garry Ansdell, senior pastor of Hosanna Christian Fellowship, Bellflower, California, joined forces on Sunday morning (November 13, 2011) to challenge Christians to get involved in helping persecuted Christians.

Garry Ansdell with Dan Wooding with a copy of From Tabloid to Truth, Wooding's autobiography

Wooding, 70, was speaking at the Bellflower church on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) and began by saying, "Welcome to the biggest prayer meeting in the history of the world. 


Today, we join with millions of Christians around the world who are praying for the persecuted church."

He continued, "As we pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world on this day, I would like you to think about what it will be like for our brothers and sisters living in restricted countries as they secretly gather to worship our Lord Jesus Christ, not knowing if they will be arrested for their activities. For some, the very act of gathering in their home to pray, study the Bible and quietly singing worship hymns and choruses, could mean imprisonment and worse, if they are discovered by the authorities."

Wooding reminded the congregation that hundreds of millions of Christians today suffer serious discrimination, imprisonment, torture, kidnappings, and even death, because of their commitment to Jesus Christ.

Hosanna Christian Fellowship

He said, "And this morning, I want you to meet some of these courageous believers, such as Asia Bibi, a 45-year-old Pakistani Christian mother of five who is on death row in her country for not denying her Savior."

Wooding went on to detail the shocking story of Bibi, who is appealing her death sentence and has had several death threats on her life and is in solitary confinement.

"Her story began when in June 2009, Asia, a farm hand from the village of Ittan Wali in Sheikhupura District, was asked to fetch water. She complied, but some of her Muslim fellow workers refused to drink the water as they considered Christians to be 'unclean.' Apparently some arguments ensued. There had already been a disagreement between Asia and a neighbor about some property damage. Later some coworkers complained to a cleric that Asia made derogatory comments about Prophet Muhammad. Apparently she told them that Jesus was still alive, but Mohammad was dead," said Wooding.

Asia Bibi

Wooding continued, "A mob came to her house, beating her and members of her family before she was rescued by the police. However, the police initiated an investigation about her remarks, resulting in her arrest and prosecution under Section 295 C of the Pakistan Penal Code. She spent more than a year in jail. In November 2010 Muhammed Naveed Iqbal, judge at the court of Sheikhupura, Punjab, sentenced her to death by hanging. 


Additionally, a fine of an equivalent of $1,100 was imposed."

Wooding said Bibi's husband, Aashiq Fauji Masih, 51, plans to appeal the verdict, which has to be upheld by the Lahore High Court."

He added, "As if that wasn't enough, there have since been two assassinations of Pakistani leaders who had leapt to her defense."

The first took place on Jan. 4 2011, at Kohsar Market of Islamabad, when the Governor of Punjab, Salmaan Taseer, was assassinated by a member of his security team, Malik Mumtaz Hussein Qadri. The killing was a result of his defense of Asia and opposition to the country's blasphemy law. Taseer was outspoken in his criticism of the law and the verdict in the Asia Bibi case.

Wooding said, "The next day, thousands turned up for Governor Salman Taseer's funeral in Lahore in spite of warnings by the Taliban and some clerics. Thousands of Muslims also rallied in support of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan after the murder."

He added, "Then Pakistan's Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian member of Pakistan's cabinet, was also assassinated, on March 2 2011, reportedly also for his position on blasphemy laws. He was shot dead by gunmen who ambushed his car near his residence in Islamabad."

Yousef Nadarkhani

Wooding then spoke about Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani who has twice refused to recant his Christian faith during two court hearings held in Rasht, Gilan Province on September 25-26 2011.

Nadarkhani was tried and found guilty of apostasy (abandoning Islam) in Sept. 2010 by the court of appeals in Rasht. The verdict was delivered verbally in court, while written confirmation of the death sentence was received nearly two months later.

Wooding said, "At the appeal in June 2011, the Supreme Court of Iran upheld Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani's sentence, but asked the court in Rasht, which issued the initial sentence, to re-examine whether or not he had been a practicing Muslim adult prior to converting to Christianity. The written verdict of the Supreme Court's decision included provision for annulment of the death sentence if Pastor Nadarkhani recanted his faith."

Wooding continued, "Following investigation, the court in Rasht has ruled that Pastor Nadarkhani was not a practicing Muslim adult before becoming a Christian. However, the court has decided that he remains guilty of apostasy because he has Muslim ancestry."

He then said that Nadarkhani's lawyer, Mohammed Ali Dadkhah, has made it clear to the court that the repeated demand for recanting is against both Iranian law and the constitution. The court's response was that the verdict of the Supreme Court must be applied, regardless of the illegality of the demand.

Wooding said, "The death sentence for apostasy is not codified in the Iranian Penal Code. However, using a loophole in Iran's constitution, the judges in Rasht based their original verdict on fatwas by Ayatollahs Khomeini, the 'father' of Iran's revolution in 1979, Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, and of Makarem Shirazi, currently the most influential religious leader in Iran. I ask you to pray for this courageous pastor and his family, that God will intervene in his case and he will be freed."

Wooding also featured stories about persecution in Egypt and also in the land of his birth, Nigeria, where he said, "Christians are being systemically slaughtered by a fanatical group called Boko Haram, who are pledged to turn the country into an Islamic state. Just days ago, 63 people, including many Christians, were murdered by this group."

He continued, "As of 2011 it is thought to be responsible for increasingly violent and sophisticated attacks, with at least 327 people killed in 2011 through November 6 according to the Associated Press. Boko Haram use the bomb attacks in Nigeria as a strategy of tension. Its aim is to create tension and division in Nigeria."

Wooding said, "Many of us think of persecution as a modern-day tragedy, but the truth is that persecution has been a reality for the body of Christ since the days of the apostles. Hebrews 13:3 states, 'Remember...those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.' We read in the book of Acts how Paul and Silas were thrown in prison because of their faith. Throughout his life, Paul was repeatedly locked behind bars, but his captors could never silence his preaching. Today's suffering church is just like that."

Wooding concluded, "There are some 100 million of our brothers and sisters in more than 60 countries that risk their very lives to live for Jesus Christ in their land. And they are crying out for OUR HELP. They need our prayer and also our support in practical ways."

Wooding encouraged the congregation to not just pray for suffering Christian brothers and sisters on this special day, but on every day of the year."

He emphasized, "We should all 'pray without ceasing.'"

The co-founders of Ambassdors for Peace, Garry Ansdell and Ameal Haddad

Before Wooding spoke, Pastor Ansdell shared about his group, Ambassadors for Peace (www.am4peace.com), which he co-founded with Ameal Haddad, another Bellflower pastor.

He urged the congregation to go to his website and sign a "Religious Freedom Resolution" which he said is an issue, "Whose time has come."

Both Ansdell and Haddad have visited many countries in the Middle East, including Egypt, Syria, Bahrain and Morocco, to share this resolution with both Muslim, Jewish, and Christian leaders. It has been signed by many of them.

He explained the resolution like this:

* It is motivated by the existence of religious hate crimes.

* The resolution puts in writing a declaration assented to by leaders from all walks of religious beliefs.

* The resolution puts the public statements into a form that can hold us all accountable for our words.

* The religious community of the world can no longer allow the politicization of our God given right to believe and live in peace. Therefore, it will foster religious tolerance, the right to faith, freedom of speech, and freedom from reprisal or persecution.

* We therefore hold all religious and political leaders to their words of peace.

* We agree that the answer to religious disagreements is dialogue and/or debate without violence, or violent responses.

* This resolution does not seek to be political nor ecumenical. It does not intend to convert or compare nor interpret religions. It is not racially or nationally oriented.

The resolution continues:

* We understand that there are extremes in every religion. We therefore agree that violence of any kind to exercise a religious point or to cause conversion is unacceptable.

* Representatives from religions throughout the world that are connected by our common humanity and personal belief in their creator, hereby resolve to honor, respect, and acknowledge every individual's right to their faith in the creator.

* Therefore, we resolve that the inalienable rights of all individuals shall be respected.

* We believe that each religion lived out by individuals or an organization has the right to peacefully present its view of theology, people, and the hereafter.

* All national and religious entities have the right to proclaim their religious beliefs and to debate them in any open forum without violence.

* We recognize the individual's right to believe in the religion of their choice.

* Men and women everywhere have the God given right to convert or not to convert to any religion without harm from any other religion or national politics.

* We agree that no opposing religion or nation has the right to interfere in the religious service of another.

* The individual has the right to debate the facts about his or her religion without fear of reprisal.

* Every individual has the right to hear and to be heard. A citizen of the world has the right to know the facts about their religious beliefs and have access to their holy books.

* Every person no matter what religion, race, or nationality has the right to live at peace with their neighbor no matter what their faith.

* Each individual from any religion has the right to listen to another individual.

* No one has the right to interfere or disrupt a religious service.

Every seeker has the right to enter a religious service for their own exploration of knowledge. They all want others to know what they know.

* We, therefore, assert that all people have a divine right to share what they know and to live at peace with the results.

During the service, a moving video was shown called "Shatter the Silence. It was written by Welsh-born singer, Kevin Gould, and produced with guitar great Phil Keaggy.

To view and download the video, please go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHhL2GIkIzw

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Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter,http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City." Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available at http://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds atjeremyreynalds@comcast.net.

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Welsh-born singer Kevin Gould urges Christians to ‘Shatter the Silence’ this Sunday

He has made a special music video to played in churches during Sunday’s International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church


By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

NAPLES, FL (ANS) -- It was in October 1997, when Welsh-born pastor and singer, Kevin Gould, received a package through the mail announcing that the second Sunday in November would be the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP).

Kevin Gould performing

The date happened to coincide with a concert that was scheduled to take place at his church featuring Kevin and his longtime friend, fellow recording artist, Barry Bynum.

After reading through the “IDOP” literature, Kevin was moved by the horror stories about the persecution of believers in different parts of the world and immediately began to write a song.

“We had this concert arranged for the Sunday night of the day of prayer and I felt that one of the best ways to draw attention to the persecuted church and the way in which believers all over the world are suffering, was to write a song.”

The theme and title for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church that year was “Shatter the Silence” and Kevin used that as the inspiration for the song.

“I felt that it was not only a great title for a song but was perhaps the most succinct and effective way to describe the intention and motivation to pray and make others aware of what Christians are going through in many countries.”

Kevin finished the song in time for the concert and performed it that night in November 1997 to a very responsive audience. However when the concert was over the song was put away and did not see the light of day for many years.

A clip from the Shatter the Silence video

He explained to the ASSIST News Service, “It was as if the song was written for that special occasion and because I wasn’t touring any more, the opportunities to sing it were pretty limited. To be honest, after a while, I almost completely forgot that I’d written the song. Both the melody and the lyrics faded from my memory.”

That was the case until 2009 when Kevin needed songs for a new album that he was doing with guitar great Phil Keaggy.

“Through a mutual friend I got connected with Phil Keaggy who expressed an interest in producing a new album for me. Obviously I was delighted," he said. "Phil and I go back to the same ‘Jesus Music’ era of the seventies but I had never met him until our friend brought us together.”

Gould, who is now the pastor of Naples Alliance Church in Florida, went on to say, “His idea was that I should write six new songs for the album and that we should take six of my old songs and do completely new versions of them. I liked that idea and so I submitted a whole bunch of songs for Phil to take a listen to and, based on his assessment, we chose the ones that he wanted to use.”

Phil Keaggy and Kevin Gould

The album was getting close to completion but Kevin was still one song short of having a finished product.

“We had chosen five old songs we were going to use and I had written six new ones. I was having a hard time deciding on what to use as the final song. I started going over all the songs that I’d written a long time ago but that had never been recorded to see if there was something that would fit. Suddenly, I remembered ‘Shatter the Silence’.

"Although, by now, I had pretty much forgotten how it went I remembered that I was really pleased with the lyrics and that the persecuted church was certainly a worthwhile subject to record a song about. I had to get out the VHS tape of the concert in 1997 to re-learn the song. After that I played it for Phil Keaggy.”

The song, he said, passed the “Keaggy Test” and it was decided that they would record it as the twelfth and final song on the album.

“Although I hadn’t planned it this way, I found when reviewing the material on the album, that most of the songs were about Christian love,” said Gould, who for many years was the pastor of Clover Pass Community Church in Ketchikan, Alaska, before moving to Naples, Florida.

“There were songs about Love for the Lord, the love of the Lord and the believers love for one another. I decided on the title ‘Roots of Love’ for that reason. ‘Shatter the Silence’ spoke of our love for those who are suffering for being Christians and so it fitted the album perfectly. Actually, the song became a duet between myself and Phil Keaggy who sings a couple of the verses and harmonizes on the choruses. That was a blessing too.”

Yousef Nadarkhani

In October 2011, Kevin heard the news that Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani had been sentenced to death for his refusal to turn from his faith in Christ and back to Islam. His immediate response was to ask his wife Sheila to take the song “Shatter the Silence” and build a video around it.

“I wanted to combine the lyrics of the song with visual images in order to draw attention to this urgent need for prayer and support for the persecuted church,” he added.

The song “Shatter the Silence” is powerful. The lyrics are a commentary on the great need as well as a call for Christians to pray for our brothers and sisters living under persecution. It is a reminder that we are the body of Christ. We cannot turn deaf ears to the cries for help from our persecuted brothers and sisters, neither can we remain silent in their time of need.

Phil and Kevin mixing the music

This Sunday night, on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, Kevin will be singing the song in concert again. Amazingly, although it was never planned this way, he and Barry Bynum will be doing a concert together, just as they did in 1997 when the song was performed for the first time on this corresponding day back then.

Says Kevin, “It makes you think even more so that the song was written for a reason and that the Lord has a plan for it to be heard. My prayer is that many people will hear it, see the video and pray for the persecuted church.”

I will also be featuring the song during my presentation about the persecuted church at the two morning services (8:30 AM and 10:30 AM) this Sunday at Hosanna Christian Fellowship in Bellflower, California. (For directions, go to:www.hosannachapel.org.)

There is still time for any churches to view and download this wonderful video by going to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHhL2GIkIzw

To find out more about this important day of prayer, please go to: www.idop.org

Here are the lyrics:

Shatter the Silence

With love in our hearts let’s lift up our voices and shatter the silence we hear
All over the world our brothers and sisters are suffering for the name we hold dear
Just people like us that are part of His body living where God’s word is hated and scorned
For loving the Lord and being His children they are beaten imprisoned disowned

But the light still shines on ever bright
Though the darkness has tried to put out His Light
The Light of the World shines on through the night
By His truth He will guide and with love win the fight

With love in our hearts let’s lift up our voices and shatter the silence with prayer
The battles we fight on our knees end in victory as the burdens of others we share
We may never know what it’s like to be living in places where our witness may cost us our lives
But we cannot be deaf to the needs of our family as in prayer we continue to strive

But the light still shines on ever bright
Though the darkness has tried to put our it’s light
The light of the world shines on through the night
By His truth he will guide and with love win the fight

Remember the words of our Master when He said they hated Me and they will hate you
The Holy Son of God was despised and rejected His disciples suffered those same things too
He said “Go into the world and tell them the Good news” the task is before us whatever the cost. So let’s lift up or voices and shatter the silence for the Lord for the gospel for the lost

And the light still shines on ever bright
Though the darkness has tried to put out the light
The light of the world shines on through the night
By His truth He will guide and with love win the fight

Note: To read a story written by Rebecca English about Kevin Gould’s extraordinary story, please to to: www.assistnews.net/Stories/2007/s07020087.htm

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Dan Wooding, 70, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 48 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. He now hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE in Southern California which is also carried throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK and also in Belize and South Africa. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 200 countries and also provides a regular commentary for Worship Life Radio on KWVE. You can follow Dan Wooding on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. He is the author of some 44 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel “Red Dagger” which is available this link.

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Bible League Offers Devotional Guide for Persecuted Church

4:22PM EST 11/7/2011 CHARISMA NEWS STAFF

Millions of Christians are persecuted for their beliefs every day throughout the world. That's why the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church focuses on intercessory prayer and citizen action on behalf of persecuted communities of the Christian faith. The day, known as IDOP, is a global day of intercession for persecuted Christians worldwide.

Leading up to IDOP, on Nov. 13 this year, Bible League International is offering a free prayer guide on its website and through social media. As an organization that works with Christians in areas where they face persecution, the nonprofit evangelical ministry offers specific suggestions and practical approaches for believers in the U.S. to support Christians around the world.

Many Bible League ministry partners help fund the work done in areas where Christians face persecution, and these partners pray daily for Bible League and those they serve. Bible League has produced this prayer guide in response to their partners’ requests for more specific suggestions as they pray, as well as to provide the broader Christian community the opportunity to join in this prayer ministry.

Hundreds of millions of Christians around the world face persecution for their faith every day—they face imprisonment, abuse, hostilities, and in the worst cases, death. More than 70 percent of the world’s population lives in areas of severe religious discrimination. Many of the more than 55 countries in which Bible League works around the world are included in that number, giving the ministry a first-hand perspective on what these believers endure.

Running through Nov. 14, a daily devotional thought, Bible passage and specific prayer request will be posted on bibleleague.org, as well as on Bible League’s Facebook page and its Twitter account.

Those who work with the ministry worldwide have shared that they are encouraged and strengthened when they learn Christians around the world are lifting them in prayer. Many tell stories of the power of prayer in their ministries and they know great things can happen when so many Christians join together to pray on their behalf.

Since its founding in 1938, Bible League has placed millions of Bibles in the hands of people in more than 80 countries. Through its ministry, World Bible Translation Center, Bible League plans to translate Bibles and Bible study materials into 100 of the world’s most commonly-spoken languages.

Millions to Rally on International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., Sept. 8, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- As summer comes to an end and autumn approaches, Christians around the world are preparing for the 2011 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). 

The IDOP, which was first organized in 1996 by the World Evangelical Fellowship, has evolved into one of the largest worldwide prayer events in existence today. For the past 15 years, thousands of churches and organizations, as well as individuals and families, have participated in the tradition of setting aside one Sunday each November to spend time in intercessory prayer for the millions of Christians around the world who are persecuted, oppressed, and even martyred for their faith each year -- and who, whenever asked, unfailingly place intercessory prayer at the top of their list of needs. 

On a general scale, Christian persecution has become a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions. According to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, persecution has become especially prevalent in countries like India and Iraq, while countries of particular concern that have been known for consistent religious and human rights violations include North Korea, China, and Sudan. 

But the United States government is not alone in its monitoring of the crisis. Many Christian ministries and nonprofit organizations have made it their mission to advocate and provide humanitarian support for those in the persecuted church, most of whom suffer a range of abuses from societal or even family ostracism, physical abuse, kidnapping, or false imprisonment on an almost daily basis. 

One such organization is Christian Freedom International (CFI), a Michigan-based organization that works extensively in countries like Burma, Pakistan, and Egypt -- all regions where Christian persecution is steadily on the rise. In addition to its humanitarian support of food, clothing, medical assistance and educational opportunities, CFI has been an outspoken advocate for the persecuted church, providing compelling testimony before Capitol Hill and promoting general awareness of persecution through online petition campaigns. Each year, CFI also actively encourages churches and individuals throughout the U.S. to remember the persecuted and participate in the IDOP. 

Although Sunday, November 13 is the designated 2011 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, it will be held one week earlier, Sunday, November 6, in the UK and Ireland. 

To learn more about the IDOP and for free, downloadable resources, visit www.dayofprayer.org.

Hostility toward religion a reality; ministry launches solidarity campaign

International (MNN) ― A new study titled "Rising Restrictions on Religion" shows increased hostility toward religion between 2006 and 2009.

Released by Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life, the study revealed that hostile action by community or government toward religious groups rose substantially for more than 2.2 billion people during the study period.

The report also noted that this data was not surprising due to the fact that many of the countries with the increase had already experience high levels of hostility or restrictions.
 
Violence considered in the report included damage or destruction of property to physical assault, false charges, detention and displacement. Also predictable was the percentage of Christians involved in the harassment. According to the report, they were the victims of mob violence in 52 separate incidents by the middle of 2009.

Christians also faced harassment in130 countries, the highest numbers among the religious groups studied. According the report, the top ten countries with the highest hostilities regarding religion included Iraq, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Israel and Egypt.

A slightly different distinction with another top ten list involved countries with government restrictions in place: Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, China, Maldives, Malaysia, Burma, Eritrea and Indonesia.

Open Doors World Watch List (WWL) is a list of the top 50 countries where persecution of Christians is the worst. A comparison of both Pew lists finds the countries in the top 50. However, the 2011 WWL names the following as the world's worst persecutors of Christians: North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Maldives, Yemen, Iraq, Uzbekistan, and Laos.

Carl Moeller with Open Doors explains that "over 70% of the world's population lives in places where  religious liberty is restricted. Well over 100 million Christians right now, as we speak, in over 60 countries, are being actively persecuted for their faith."

Given the scenario facing believers, Open Doors launched the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church in 1996. From a core group of approximately 7,000 churches, the IDOP has grown to be the largest prayer day event of its kind in the world.

IDOP is a means of encouraging solidarity, offering a rallying point for Christians and others to stand behind the persecuted Church. Moeller says, "When I hear that the vast majority of the world lives in places where they are not free to believe, in the way that we are here, my heart goes out to them and I want to do something."

Traditionally the second Sunday in November, IDOP this year has a preparatory campaign launch called "One With Them." Moeller says, "By being part of 'One With Them' and going to onewiththem.com, I can actually show the world that I care and make a difference."

The sole functions of IDOP are prayer and awareness. One With Them serves both purposes with the help of a rubber bracelet shaped like barbed wire. "This campaign is really focused on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church in November coming forward, where we will mobilize literally millions of Christians around the world to pray for persecuted believers."

Since most of the persecuted church feels forgotten by the rest of the world, Moeller says, "The most important thing we do will be to mobilize prayer for these Christians. That's the number one request they have. Our commitment is to provide whatever resources they need, and in order to do that, we need the support of people in the United States."

Because Open Doors is so committed to getting people to join in the solidarity movement, they're giving the bracelets away to encourage people to participate. Go to Onewiththem.com where you can request a bracelet for yourself and one for a friend. Beyond that, you can purchase extras. The prayer reminder comes packaged with a commitment to pray for the persecuted church. Also, written inside the card is the pledge: "I wear this wristband in solidarity with my brothers and sisters in Christ, who share my faith but not my freedom."

Moeller says, "It's really vital that people mobilize those that they know who have opportunity to step in the gap and provide the material resources, the Bibles, the rebuilt churches, the food, clothing and shelter for the victims of the violence in these places."