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Date(s) - November 8, 2015
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International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
November 8, 2015
“Nothing Shall Separate Us”
Romans 8:35 – 37
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Above are the theme verses for this year’s International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Persecution for our faith can separate us from friends and family. In some countries, Christian leaders are thrown into prison simply because of practicing their faith. They are separated from their families—who sometimes do not even know where their loved one is being imprisoned. Families are left to support themselves while the breadwinner is confined to a prison cell.
Yet even so, these families can connect through prayer. They can pray for each other’s protection, safety and provision. God hears those prayers. Despite their hardship, these believers are not separated from God.
Some believers have families who reject them because of their new Christian faith. But despite that separation, the believers can pray for their families. Believers maintain a strong connection with God. God will honour their prayers and work in the lives of their family members.
Here in Canada, Christians may not suffer as much as our fellow believers in other nations. We may feel separated from them because our circumstances are different. Yet we need to be connected more. One of the best things we can do for our persecuted brethren is to intercede for them.
“Pray for us …” is the cry of persecuted Christians around the world. Today around the world more than 200 million are suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ. Each year, Christians in more than 130 countries stand in prayer with our persecuted sisters and brothers through the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). Join with us as Christians across Canada unite for our brothers and sisters who suffer because they declare their faith in Christ.
IDOP Sunday:
IDOP Canada 2015 will take place on Sunday, November 8. If you are unable to participate in IDOP Sunday on this date, you are encouraged to set aside time on another day to remember our persecuted brothers and sisters. The important thing is to PRAY. The IDOP Canada team annually creates free downloadable resources. Be sure to register to access those resources.
Read more about the 2015 IDOP Theme: “Nothing Shall Separate Us”
Be inspired … read the devotional A Biblical Theology of Persecution
By Glenn Penner