Persecuted Church on 100 Huntley Street
- Julius Vincent Naredo
- Nov 1, 2020
- 2 min read
“Joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” — Romans 12:12
Persecution because of our faith cuts to the core. It is painful.
In some parts of the world, choosing to follow Christ can be dangerous, & even life-threatening. Simply practicing one’s faith can lead to physical harm, loss of livelihood, arrest or even death. Persecuted believers live with the added burden of feeling isolated & cut off, possibly even from friends & family. Maybe with the small taste we have had of those kinds of restrictions with COVID-19, we can empathize even just a little bit more with our brothers & sisters isolated & living with persecution.
These brothers & sisters have already learned to live with isolation & have a powerful message to us: There is power in HOPE, & #Hope does not disappoint! (Romans 5:5)
Yet, in Christ, while those who are persecuted may be isolated, they are not alone. God is indeed with them & we, the body of Christ, are also one with them. As scripture says – “if one suffers, all suffer” (1 Corinthians 12:26).
Today, more than 260 million Christians are suffering & persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ.
Here in Canada, while our beliefs face increasing marginalization, we still enjoy the freedom to hold & live out those deeply held beliefs. Our different circumstances & our geographical location can leave us feeling separated & unsure of how to help these, our brothers & sisters.
Every year around the world, Christians in more than 130 countries stand in prayer with our persecuted sisters & brothers through the Canadian International Day of Prayer for the #PersecutedChurch (IDOP) which is on Sunday, November 1.
It goes on to say, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.” We often think of ourselves as the ones who have something to share with those who are persecuted, but perhaps it is we, the Western Christian church, who can learn from the ability of our brothers & sisters to find Jesus, the Hope for the world, in the midst of isolating & difficult circumstances. May Jesus open our hearts to learn from & pray for them.
Together with you, for them, in HOPE & in prayer.
(Please click the image below to view original IGTV source)
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