Hundreds of Christians from around the UK joined this year’s online event in November to mark the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church – and were encouraged to join in the ‘battle’ of prayer for those who suffer for Christ and the gospel.
The live event, hosted by the Evangelical Alliance, featured Paul Robinson from Release International, Henrietta Blyth from Open Doors and Mervyn Thomas from CSW.
Dependence and relationship
Host Alicia Edmund began by asking each about the importance of praying for persecuted Christians. Henrietta Blyth said prayer was ‘the real battle’ when it came to persecution, as in it we express our total dependence on God. Paul Robinson said prayer was a blessing – as it expresses a real relationship with God – but also a mystery, as God in His sovereignty chooses to do His work through His people and their prayers.
All three organisations presented a short video focussing on persecution in one particular country. Peter Li, a former human rights lawyer and judge in China, was seen speaking of his time in prison. Although initially downcast, he ended up sharing the gospel and leading a number of inmates to Christ. One was an ex-gangland boss who was later clubbed to death by prison guards for refusing to give up the only Bible he and a group of prisoners possessed. Release International partners have since helped Peter to flee the country.
‘According to our partners, persecution is getting worse in China,’ said Paul Robinson. Whereas in the past it was the so-called underground churches who were targeted, now even state-registered churches are coming under pressure. He added that, while Christians in the West make increasing use of the internet, in China it has become a potential weapon against Christians as everything is monitored. New and innovative ways are needed to equip Chinese Christians and their leaders with the word of God.
A second country of focus was Iraq. Henrietta Blyth said that although Iraq no longer makes the secular news headlines, Christians in the country continue to experience persecution, from extremists, government authorities, and even their neighbours.
A third video clip focused on a pastor in Cuba who is currently in prison. Mervyn Thomas said Cuba remained something of ‘an old style Communist’ country: Christian leaders who spoke out against injustice were likely to suffer.
The evening event ended with a combined focus on Nigeria. In a video message Archbishop Daniel Okoh, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said the country was passing through very difficult times and insecurity was higher than ever. Mervyn Thomas said Nigeria was a failing, if not exactly a failed, state. People needed to realise the problem was religiously motivated violence, and fresh thinking was needed to prevent the country descending into lawlessness.
People were encouraged to pray for the forthcoming elections in Nigeria in February – for capable, credible and confident leadership.
