Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow-prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Hebrews 13:3
On November 3rd, churches all around the world will join together in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. As believers here in the West, we might often find it difficult to know how to pray for our brothers and sisters who are under direct physical and spiritual opposition to their faith in Jesus Christ. But unless we learn to stand alongside them, we fall silent to the persecution of the spirit of apathy and ambivalence.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, ““Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
Let us join alongside our family in prayer – for prayer is the tool by which we come alongside Jesus Christ, and battle against the evil of this world.
You can find out more about the International Day of Prayer at the Christian Solidarity Worldwide homepage. If you are in Birmingham, there is a special event on the 6th of November at the Selly Oak Elim church.
During today’s message I also showed three videos.
The first is by Operation Christmas Child, and shares the story of Alex.
The second two are related to the International Day of Prayer.