Friday, November 5, 7–8:30 pm
The Falls Church Anglican
6565 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA.

A woman in India watches as her sister is dragged off by Hindu nationalists. She doesn’t know if her sister is alive or dead. A man in a North Korean prison camp is shaken awake after being beaten unconscious; the beatings begin again. A woman in Nigeria runs for her life. She has escaped from Boko Haram, who kidnapped her. She is pregnant, and when she returns home, her community will reject her and her baby. A group of children are laughing and talking as they come down to their church’s sanctuary after eating together. Instantly, many of them are killed by a bomb blast. It’s Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka. And we are all aware of the horrendous situation for Christians in Afghanistan.

These people don’t live in the same region, or even on the same continent. But they share an important characteristic: They are all Christians, and they suffer because of their faith. While Christian persecution takes many forms, it is defined as any hostility experienced as a result of identification with Jesus Christ. From Sudan to Russia, from Nigeria to North Korea, from Colombia to India, followers of Christianity are targeted for their faith. They are attacked; they are discriminated against at work and at school; they risk sexual violence, torture, arrest and much more.  In just the last year[i], there have been:

• Over 340 million Christians living in places where they experience high levels of persecution and discrimination.

• 4,761 Christians killed for their faith.

• 4,488 churches and other Christian buildings attacked.

• 4,277 believers detained without trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned.

These numbers are heart-breaking. They represent our brothers and sisters around the world who suffer enormously for Jesus.  When they are asked what we, the church, can do for them, their first (and second and third) request is that we pray for them. Not necessarily to be freed from the suffering, but that they would stand firm, whatever the cost.

You are invited to a time of worship and prayer for the persecuted on Friday, November 5, 7–8:30 pm, The Falls Church Anglican, 6565 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA.

[i] Open Doors 2021 World Watch List reporting period.