November 9

[Willowbirch]

Sunday, Nov. 9 is the national day of prayer for the persecuted church.

Christians around the world are restricted by the government against worshiping God; they are allowed few schools or churches, and these are monitored by God-hating officials. Police regularly storm Christian gatherings, injuring, arresting and sometimes killing those who will not deny their faith in Jesus. They are refused employment benefits and sometimes jobs. Their children are often not permited in public schools, and for this reason, governments can take these kids from their families, because they were "not given education". Pastors are subjected to torture and confinement. The hatred against God's children is not limited to anything listed above; these Christians stand firm in their faith, prefering hardships to rejecting Him. By their confessions, many of their enemies have been saved.

Thank you, Lord, for Your children who are strong in You though they face "fiery ordeals". Continue to give them perseverance and hope. May we also have faith powerful enough to resist all the guiles of Satan and a world in which we are only temproarily residing.

[Whitehorse]

Amen!

[simon syrene]

amen

[KiwiChristian]

Amen to that.
It reminds me of what Jesus said to his disciples "all men will hate you because of me".

[Forrest]

           AMEN

[Malificent]

Do you have a copy of the article/report you got this information from? It sounds interesting and I have never heard of ot... It sounds a lot like what the Quakers did to the Pagans back in the day: persecution because of one's religion. How awful...

love & light
m

[Symphony]

Wow, this thread has been here almost a month and I missed it.

Thank you Willow, good points.

Here's a verse:  "...But the word of God is not fettered."  II Timothy 2:9b.

Yes, thank you, Lord for these who are strong in thee.  And that we may stand likewise...(In Jesus... ).  

[Willowbirch]

Do you have a copy of the article/report you got this information from? It sounds interesting and I have never heard of ot... It sounds a lot like what the Quakers did to the Pagans back in the day: persecution because of one's religion. How awful...

love & light
m

We're told to reach out in love, even to our enemies, not rip 'em apart to conform.   I don't understand your reference to the Quakers; they were being banished, imprisoned and killed by a government that desired their conformity. They tended to be a quieter, humbler people, trying to live at peace.
(*Quaker joke insert*: A thief snuck into an honest Quaker's home one night. Alerted, the Quaker father grabbed his musket.
"I would not hurt thee," said the father. "But thou standest where I am about to shoot...")

Yes, I have a few different sources...one of the main ones is Voice of the Martyrs, which keeps personal contact with Christians all over the world. They publish their stories and photos in an honest and loving way. They also provide needed items, such as sewing machines, food and clothing, as well as things to keep people spiritually strong; many of the believers do not have a bible, and would pay a great price for even one page of scripture because they love it.