1 IN 7 CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED: NOV 3, 10 DESIGNATED FOR WORLDWIDE PRAYER
Christians in an estimated 100,000 churches in 130 countries worldwide are expected to join together during the first two Sundays in November to pray for persecuted Christians, according to Christian persecution ministry Voice of the Martyrs Korea. The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) has been observed annually on the first and second Sundays of November each year since being established more than 20 years ago by the World Evangelical Association.
Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley says her organization is providing free materials to help Korean churches, small groups, families, and individuals participate in the worldwide event, at www.vomkorea.com/en/idop.
“Today 360 million Christians—about 1 in 7 Christians worldwide—face persecution for their faith,” says Representative Foley, citing statistics from the World Evangelical Association’s Religious Liberty Commission. “Last year, an average of 16 Christians were killed each day for their faith, while another 17 were arrested and 10 were abducted. Overall last year, more than 200,000 Christians were forced to leave their homes or go into hiding for faith-related reasons. The numbers are staggering, but behind every number is a story. Typically the story is one of Christian perseverance and God’s faithfulness.”
Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s 2024 IDOP video, “The Martinez Family: Colombia”, invites viewers to experience the real tension experienced by front-line gospel workers in Colombia’s “red zones.”
“These red zones are sections of Colombia controlled by Marxist guerrillas like the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and other paramilitary forces who are active in persecuting Christians,” says Representative Foley. “The video tells the powerful true story of one Christian family currently spreading the gospel there among not only ordinary Colombians but also the guerilla commanders, at great personal risk. We hope Korean families, small groups, and churches will watch this video and then pray especially for the Martinez family and for all frontline workers serving in Christian-hostile countries, as well as for the 1 in 7 Christians around the world who will face persecution today.”
The video is available for free viewing at https://vomkorea.com/en/idop/.
Visitors can also download a free PowerPoint presentation matching the video to help guide church congregations, small groups, families, and individuals in how to pray effectively for persecuted Christians.
VOM Korea produced powerpoint slides to help your church, small group and family to pray for persecuted Christians.