Much Violence ahead of Day of Prayer for Persecuted Church
Much Violence ahead of Day of Prayer for Persecuted Church
By Michelle A. Vu|Christian Post Reporter
This year marks the most violence against the Christian community leading up to the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church within the past seven years, said an advocate for persecuted Christians.
Related
* Saddleback Church to Host Forum on Persecuted Church
* Millions to Pray for Persecuted Christians on Sunday
* Baghdad is Gripped with Anti-Christian Terrorism, Says Moeller
“I would say candidly that in my whole tenure at Open Doors this is a year when more is taking place on the weekend of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church than at any other time,” said Carl Moeller, president of Open Doors USA.
This Sunday marks the 15th year of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church – one of the largest prayer events in the world. Half a million churches in 150 countries are expected to participate in the event.
In particular, Moeller highlighted that Iraq is “gripped by terrorism against the Christian community.” On Wednesday, a series of roadside bombs exploded in Christian neighborhoods in Baghdad, killing five people. The attack followed a massacre at a Catholic church in downtown Baghdad less than two weeks earlier. The church rampage killed 56 believers, making it the deadliest attack against the Iraqi Assyrian Christian community since Islamic extremists began targeting them in 2003.
“This is the time for us to be on our knees and pray that God would intervene and protect despite the weakness of the government of Iraq,” remarked Moeller, “for God to use the government to protect the Christian community there.”
IDOP is an initiative that seeks to encourage and strengthen the persecuted Church and also awaken churches in places where there is no persecution. The Bible verses for IDOP are: “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3) and "You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry” (Psalm 10:1).
By Michelle A. Vu|Christian Post Reporter
This year marks the most violence against the Christian community leading up to the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church within the past seven years, said an advocate for persecuted Christians.
Related
* Saddleback Church to Host Forum on Persecuted Church
* Millions to Pray for Persecuted Christians on Sunday
* Baghdad is Gripped with Anti-Christian Terrorism, Says Moeller
“I would say candidly that in my whole tenure at Open Doors this is a year when more is taking place on the weekend of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church than at any other time,” said Carl Moeller, president of Open Doors USA.
This Sunday marks the 15th year of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church – one of the largest prayer events in the world. Half a million churches in 150 countries are expected to participate in the event.
In particular, Moeller highlighted that Iraq is “gripped by terrorism against the Christian community.” On Wednesday, a series of roadside bombs exploded in Christian neighborhoods in Baghdad, killing five people. The attack followed a massacre at a Catholic church in downtown Baghdad less than two weeks earlier. The church rampage killed 56 believers, making it the deadliest attack against the Iraqi Assyrian Christian community since Islamic extremists began targeting them in 2003.
“This is the time for us to be on our knees and pray that God would intervene and protect despite the weakness of the government of Iraq,” remarked Moeller, “for God to use the government to protect the Christian community there.”
IDOP is an initiative that seeks to encourage and strengthen the persecuted Church and also awaken churches in places where there is no persecution. The Bible verses for IDOP are: “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3) and "You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry” (Psalm 10:1).
