SUNDAY MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS
On November 4, Christians from more than 150 nations around the world will be participating in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. For more than ten years, Christians around the world have set aside the first Sunday in November to pray for believers in more than 70 countries who are persecuted for their faith. This year, Voice of the Martyrs Korea representative, Hyun Sook Foley is calling specifically on Korean Christians to join the global prayer effort.
Eritrean widower with the four sons he is raising alone
“Hebrews 13:3 tells us that every day should be a day of prayer for the persecuted church,”
VOMK representative Foley explains.
“But the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church serves as a poignant reminder of this command and an opportunity for the Christian community to unite globally to ‘remember those in prison as if [we] were in prison with them.”
Since Voice of the Martyrs Korea has served the persecuted church around the world for more than 15 years, representative Foley has built hundreds of personal relationships with persecuted Christians, from Asia to the Middle East to Africa. Wherever she travels, representative Foley explains, the first thing persecuted Christians ask for is not just prayer, but a very specific prayer.
“When we pray for the persecuted church, it is always tempting to pray that they will not suffer or that the government will change and they will be free to worship. But this isn’t their prayer request,”
representative Foley says.
“Their prayer request is, ‘Pray that we’ll be faithful to Christ no matter the cost.’”
Representative Foley points out that the Korean church has a special obligation to pray on this day due to its close proximity to some of the world’s fiercest persecutors of Christians—China and North Korea.
“We aren’t just in close proximity with these countries,”
Representative Foley adds.
“The Korean church extends into both of these countries, so we truly are a common family with those who are being persecuted. This means that the Korean church—more than any other—has a responsibility to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters in these countries.”
Individuals interested in participating in the International Day of Prayer can visit Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s website for information and news about the persecuted church around the world. Books about the persecuted church can also be ordered online at VOMK Bookstore. Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s YouTube Channel also has informational videos on the persecuted church.
Eritrean widower with the four sons he is raising alone. His wife was arrested during worship and sent to prison. She died as a result of torture and poor prison conditions.
“I am happy that my wife was a hero Christian, that she died for Christ,”
he says.
Chinese Christians are facing increasing persecution from the government. Recently 344 Chinese pastors signed a petition against this persecution and the government responded by interrogating signees. One signee said,
“I hope Christians all over the world will pray hard for us.”
North Korean sex-trafficked women hold hands and pray together. Despite physical, emotional, and spiritual hardships, these women continue not just to pray for themselves and for one another, but also for the church around the world.