International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted November 11, 2012

1 Corinthians 12:26

If one part (of the body of Christ) suffers, every part suffers with it;

if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Hebrews 13:3

Remember those who are imprisoned,

as if you are imprisoned with them. Call those to mind who are afflicted,

as if you are the people who wear their bodies.

via The Voice of the Martyrs’ Persecution Blog:

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church 2012

by Stacy L. Harp

It’s hard to believe that it’s that time of year again, but it is. We’re two months out from observing the 2012 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, which will take place this year on November 11th.

As a way to help you get ready for the event, we have created a special webpage that has details about this years IDOP.

Please visit www.persecution.com/idop in order to get your order in early for our IDOP resource kit. The cost of our kit is only $9 and it includes everything you need to help put on an event in your church, home or school.

also visit Open Doors website – http://www.onewiththem.com/resources-for-the-international-day-of-prayer/ for free resources, including church bulletin inserts and read some amazing stories of the faith and courage of 25 men and women (and their families) who are in the midst of persecution right now across the world- http://www.onewiththem.com/stories/

One With Them

Published on Jul 31, 2012 by OpenDoorsUSA

For those who share our faith but not our freedom.

Nearly 70% of the world’s population live in areas of severe religious restriction. Many of these people are Christians.

One With Them™ is an Open Doors initiative designed to bring awareness to the reality of Christian persecution to the Western Church. Through One With Them we seek to inspire Christians in the United States to stand as ONE with those who share our faith in Christ, but who don’t share our religious freedom.

Learn more here http://www.onewiththem.com/

from The Barnabas Fund

When we read of the suffering which our brothers and sisters in Christ endure for the sake of His Name, our hearts are moved and we long to bring them before the throne of grace. But sometimes it is difficult to know exactly how to pray, especially if we have never experienced such injustice or persecution ourselves. The Bible tells us that the Church will be persecuted. So if the Lord will continue to allow persecution, what exactly should we ask Him for when we pray about these situations? We hope that the ten points below will be helpful suggestions, under the guidance and prompting of the Holy Spirit.

God that He is all-knowing that in Christ He himself experienced shame, pain and agonising death, as well as the glorious resurrection. Thank Him for His promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Josh 1:5).
Pray that all governments will work for justice and righteousness. While Jesus says that in this world we will have trouble, (John 16.33) He does not say that it will always be present in every place.
Pray that leaders of liberal democracies will use their influence to find ways to reduce, if not end, persecution in countries where it occurs. Just as Paul appealed to Caesar to seek justice (Acts 25), so Christians can appeal to secular governments.
Pray for the growth of the Church where persecution flourishes, remembering that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
Pray for strength and courage for those undergoing persecution, and for peace that only God can bring. Thank Him that His grace is sufficient for their needs (2 Cor 12:9). Pray that their faith will not fail, but that their suffering will draw them closer to Him and increase their faith.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will enable persecuted Christians to forgive and love their persecutors (Matt 5:44) and that their Christ-like reactions will have an impact on their persecutors.
Pray that the Lord will be at work in the hearts of those who currently persecute our sisters and brothers to bring them to a saving knowledge of Himself, as He did with Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9).
Thank the Lord for the privilege of entering into the sufferings of our sisters and brothers, remembering that “if one part [of the body] suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Cor 12:26).
Pray that Christians who are experiencing persecution will not lose the ability to accept or trust genuine approaches from those who have formerly persecuted them, as when the believers in Jerusalem had to learn to accept the reality of Saul’s conversion (Acts 9). Pray that the Lord will give discernment, and relief from unnecessary fears.
Pray for yourself and for persecuted Christians to be spiritually ready for whatever tomorrow brings, be that persecution, respite from suffering or Christ’s return (Matt 24.42).