#IDOP14 – The International Day of Prayer For the Persecuted – How to Participate

Mark your calendar -IDOP14 Participate and PRAY with us for the Persecuted Church!
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Today, can we take pause in our busy lives and think of those who are enduring persecution for the sake of the Gospel? Let us remember those who have not eaten for days because they are given nothing to eat, those languishing in prison, Christian families who have watched their homes burn to the ground, pastors who are beaten and tortured for their faith and enduring physical pain, Christian families and children living in constant fear of violence, those who have lost their loved ones, those who are facing death, even right at this moment, for refusing to denounce Christ…

If you or I were in such a situation, what would you ask your wider church family to do for you?

Every time I ask a persecuted Christian what we can do for them, the answer is always the same: ‘please pray for us’.

On a visit to India, I met several widows of Christian leaders who were killed in the Orissa violence in the summer of 2008. They had lost everything: their homes, their possessions and their husbands. ‘We have lost everything except our faith,’ one told me, clutching her baby. ‘Pray that we stay strong and bring up our children in the faith for which their fathers gave their lives.’

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) gives us the privilege of joining together with over half a million churches in 150 countries to pray for the suffering church. It plays a vital role in encouraging and strengthening the persecuted church and also awakening churches in places where there is no persecution.

Let us unite in prayer for the persecuted church, in the spirit of oneness that Christ commanded: ‘For, if one suffers, we all suffer.’

Godfrey Yogarajah, Executive Director, WEA Religious Liberty Commission

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We cannot help but cry: “Why Lord?” (Psalm 10:1). Yet Jesus warned us that persecution would come (John 15:18-16:33), indeed, that tribulation/pressure would be inevitable in this world (John 16:33a). “But,” he added, “take heart! I have overcome the world” (v33b). When trouble rolled in, threatening life and liberty, King David exercised radical faith in his faithful God. He petitioned Yĕhovah (Psalm 10:12-18), confident that Yĕhovah would hear and not ignore the cry of the afflicted/humble (`anav) (Psalm 9:12).

You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them & you listen to their cry. (Psalm 10:17) Our English translation is very soft compared to what this verse is actually saying, which is: Our eternal God (Yĕhovah) hears the desire / longings (ta’avah) of the afflicted / helpless / humble (`anav); he strengthens / makes firm / establishes (kuwn) their hearts, and always remains keenly, sharply attentive with ears pricked (qashab) to hear (Psalm 10:17).

invest our hopes in human beings (that are mortal), human institutions (that cannot save), human works (that are insufficient), political power (that is self-interested), military might (that is limited) and money (which can only buy what is unprofitable and useless).

If we will but petition our faithful God, then even if our cry is but a whispered prayer, delivered with heavy heart and failing breath from a dark and lonely place, our faithful Yĕhovah will hear because he has inclined / extended (natah) his ear toward us (Psalm 116:1-2).

Sometimes, in wisdom and providence, God waits1 / tarries (chakah) to show grace and mercy (Isaiah 30:18a). That does not mean he has not heard. “Blessed are all who wait (chakah) for him” (Isaiah 30:18b). He has promised salvation. Cry / petition / pray / intercede with confidence to our faithful God who hears, and wait /keep watch (tsaphah) in faithful expectation (Psalm5:1-3).

Place and power of prayer:
2 Corinthians 1:10-11
– God works as we pray.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 & Ephesians 6:10-18
– Spiritual battle requires spiritual weapons.

Elizabeth Kendal, International Religious Liberty – Analyst and Advocate

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In the modern church calendar, the first two Sundays of November is set apart to remember and pray for the persecuted church, through the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP).

Today’s greatest untold story is that more than 100 million Christians worldwide face persecution for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Daily Christians in countries such as Eritrea, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Sudan and Sri Lanka face imprisonment, violence and even death.

The IDOP is a time set apart for us to remember thousands of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world who suffer persecution, simply because they confess Jesus Christ as Lord.

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This year, Voice of the Persecuted is uniting together in prayer with other organizations and in promoting the IDOP among Christians in the U.S and around the world. In the spirit of oneness that Christ commanded: For, if one suffers, we all suffer.

Persecuted believers in restricted nations always ask for prayer.  Four years ago Persecution Watch was birthed by God to answer this need.  We are a national prayer call of believers who meet 4 times a week to lift up our persecuted brothers and sisters in prayer. We also cry out for the harvest of lost souls around the world.  By God`s marvelous Grace we are going into our 5th year doing this.

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For the last 3 years Persecution Watch has partnered with the International Orality Network and other ministries to host a 12 hour conference prayer call on the International Day of Prayer in November.  We serve as one prayer venue among many to lift up prayers for our persecuted brethren around the world. These calls have always been a blessing.

This coming November, Persecution Watch in collaboration with Voice of the Persecuted, International Orality Network, Prayer Surge Now, Mission America Coalition, Global Prayer Resource Network, Student Volunteer Movement and Ethne to Ethne will host two 12 hour calls on Nov. 2 and 9. This will be a marvelous opportunity for believers to come and lift up their prayers for the persecuted around the world.  But whether you come on the prayer calls or participate in another venue. Please remember the persecuted in prayer.

Blain Scogin, Persecution Watch Director

Save the Dates / Mark your prayer calendars

International Day of Prayer For the Persecuted
IDOP 2014

Two Sundays / 12 hours / Plan to participate!

02 Nov 2014    8a-8p 12 hour (EDT)

09 Nov 2014    8a-8p 12 hour(EDT)

Dial: (712) 432-0926*
Code: 373000#

We invite you to step in and bring your voice to the prayer room as thousands around the globe link together.

Below links available for print and distribution

IDOP 2014 Grassroots Prayer Conf Calls Bulletin Insert

IDOP 2014 Grassroots Prayer Conf Call FLYER

Churches, Organizations, Prayer groups

Download these resources, share them with your praying friends and groups. Be sure to order your Free IDOP Church Resource Kit at  http://idop.org/en/resources to lead your church to get ‘all in’ to support the persecuted around the globe in prayer.

PLEASE SHARE AND ENCOURAGE OTHER TO JOIN US!

 

Voice of the Persecuted™