International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church 2024

Here comes the encouragement for those who are suffering for their faith:-

“All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.” (2 Thessalonians 1 v 5)

God is right there in the centre of the suffering church. Perhaps if possible more so than the non-persecuted Church. We often think that where there is suffering then there is an absence of God. Paul believes the opposite. He sees the evidence of His presence. As a result of God being there then He is working this suffering through in their lives so that they will be known as worthy. The Persecuted are counted worthy! There are other things Paul will say in the next few sentences but today know that those you are praying for are worthy of the Kingdom of God.

1 in 7 believers face persecution worldwide. That’s 365 million people.

4,998 Christians killed worldwide for their faith in 2023.

14,766 Churches and Christian properties attacked in 2023.

One of our most prolific church planters in Elim is in Burkina Faso. In 2014 the nation was ranked 62^nd but in 2024 according to the Open Doors World Watch List it is now ranked 20^th.

Here are some startling facts about that nation and it is from the year 2023 alone:

Churches closed down: 1339; Churches destroyed: 90; Displaced Pastors: 1186; Pastors/Priests martyred: 15; Pastors still reported missing: 2

Let us remember and pray for the family of God suffering today.

There are more stories that we need to hear; more awareness and appreciation needed to be learnt; the worthy are waiting for us.

Watch this today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3FuwKSmYB8

It is produced by https://releaseinternational.org/idop-2024/

Let’s pray!