As many of you may know, Sunday was the National Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. As a result, the whole service at my Uncle's church was spent in prayer for the many, many persecuted Christians all over the globe. In the Sunday School hour, Uncle Eric showed us a slide show of the 20 Most Dangerous Countries for Someone to Be a Christian In.
1) North Korea - where Christians are punishable by death.
2) Saudi Arabia - where Christians are getting taken away from their families and being put to death, leaving many kids as orphans.
3) Afghanistan - where there is not a single church.
4) Iraq - where Christians are displaced from their homes by murder and abduction.
5) Somalia - where the only way for people to hear about God is through radio programs that have been allowed into the country.
6) Maldives - where the people don't even have a New Testament in their own language.
7) Mali - where Christians are being forced out of the country.
8) Iran - where Muslims that convert to Christianity are still thought of as Muslims to their friends and family.
9) Yemen - where evangelism is illegal.
10) Eritrea - where countless Christians are imprisoned in containers where it can get up to 120*F.
11) Syria - where Christians are being imprisoned and then their churches being raided of all goods.
12) Sudan - PTL where many people of Muslim background are turning to the Lord.
13) Nigeria - where the Christian youths are tempted to react in violence by the way they are treated for their beliefs.
14) Pakistan - where Asia Bibi was imprisoned for speaking out against Mohammed.
15) Ethiopia - where there are over 3,000 believers that have been displaced from their homes and family.
16) Uzbekistan - where there is only 1 registered Bible-believing church.
17) Libya - where it is illegal for Christians to meet.
18) Laos - where countless Katin and Hmong people have been expelled from their country and forbidden to return.
19) Turkmenistan - where the police and secret service are constantly monitoring Christian activities, trying to find an excuse to arrest them.
20) Qatar - where Christians are being deported and not allowed back.
Although many of theses countries have access to Christian TV and radio stations, many of these stations are not being taught by firm, Bible-believing people. After hearing this and watching a couple of movie clips from Voice of the Martyrs, it just really made me think. As Americans, we are free to worship as we please without having to fear being attacked by the government and yet we complain about the stupidest little things. We are so spoiled. But, if we don't pray for our brothers and sisters that are being persecuted, sooner than we want to think - we will be suffering the same persecution in our own land. The day is coming where Christianity won't even be accepted here in the US.
You may be thinking, "What can I do? I don't have the money to go overseas and witness to these people." The most powerful thing any of us can do is pray. Pray for the missionaries that are in these countries illegally. Pray that God would open up the hearts of the government officials and that they would allow the Bible in their countries. Pray for the people that do hear the TV and radio broadcasts that they might actually think about what they hear. We need to be one with our brothers and sisters through prayer.
I'm just simply asking you to pray. It doesn't have to be an hour long prayer, just PRAY.
