Martyr Monday

The following has been copied from an insertion that was in my churches bulletin yesterday morning regarding the persecuted church.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

What is my response?

I know I must be diligent in praying for and encouraging my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering for our common faith. I make the following commitments today:

I will seek to get more informed regarding suffering Christians and write notes of encouragement to them.

I will give a gift toward the purchase of Bibles where they might be most urgently needed to strengthen persecuted believers. If 100 people in this service today were to give just $4 each, we would be able to supply 100 Children’s Bibles to China.

I will pray for my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering for their commitment to the Lord. Suggestions for prayer:
• Pray for Christians who are beaten and tortured, that they may be healed and forgive their tormentors (Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60)
• Pray for imprisoned Christians to be comforted by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 6:9-13)
• Pray for the provision of Bibles (Psalm 119:105-112)
• Pray for Christians who have lost homes, farms, water and income, that God will meet their every need and ease their anxiety (Matthew 6:32-34)
• Pray that Christians in persecuted countries will support each other and band together (1 Peter 4:7-11)
• Pray that God would raise up leaders in the persecuted church, that they might be courageous, wise and faithful to their God given responsibilities (! Peter 5:1-4, 1 Timothy 3:1-10)


I will pray for the Lord’s guidance concerning the possibility of going on a short term mission trip to some par of the world where my fellow believers are suffering for their faith.

I will seek to learn more about what is going on globally in the Body of Christ. The following we sites and organizations may be helpful.

• www.opendoorusa.org (Open Doors)
• www.pesecution.com (Voice of the Martyrs)
• wwwbibleleague.org (The Bible League)
• www.worldevangelical.org (World Evangelical Fellowship Religious Liberty Commission)
• www.christian freedom.org (Christian Freedom International)
• www.cswusa.com (Christian Solidarity Worldwide)
• www.christianincrisis.net (Christians in Crisis)
• www.gfa.org/gfa/persecution (Gospel for Asia)
• www.persecution.org (International Christian Concern)
• wwwcompassionradio.com (Compassion Radio)
• www.iranchristians.org (Iranian Christians International)
• www.jubileecampaign. Org (Jubilee Campaign)
• www.missionindia.org (Mission India)
• www.thelast harves.com (The Last Harvest)

“You should always pray and not give up” Luke 8:1