Open Doors USA Urges Christians to Pray for Persecuted Church
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church will be held Nov. 13 to commemorate those persecuted for their Christian faith around the world.
Christian organization Open Doors USA calls upon Christians to show their support for their fellow believers around the world.
“IDOP presents a tremendous opportunity for millions of people to make a difference in the lives of those faithful Christians who are literally under the gun in countries such as North Korea, Iran, Nigeria and Afghanistan,” said Open Doors USA President and CEO Dr. Carl Moeller.
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In October, the U.S. State Department reported there are no remaining church buildings or Christian schools in Afghanistan, according to Open Doors USA.
Dr. Moeller encourages Christians to pray especially for the family of Patrick Mutinda.
Mutinda, a guard at the East Africa Pentecostal Church in Kenya, lost his 8-year-old daughter, Winnie, when Islamic extremists threw a grenade into his home on Saturday night. Church member John Kikavu was also killed, and three others were seriously injured.
“Please pray for their families. They and many more are crying out for our prayers,” urged Moeller in a press release Nov. 8.
Christians in Egypt and Iran have also experienced heightened persecution in recent months.
Twenty-seven protesters were killed in Cairo on Oct. 9 when Christian protesters clashed with military forces.
The Christians gathered to protest against the burning of a Coptic church in Southern Aswan that took place on Sept. 30. Local hard-line Muslims, who claimed the church, did not have the license for the construction of a dome, allegedly carried out the burning.
In Iran, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is currently awaiting his verdict for charges of apostasy and evangelizing Muslims.
He could potentially be executed for his Christian beliefs.
Christian leaders contend the Arab spring uprisings that occurred early in 2011 have resulted in an anti-Christian sentiment in the Middle East.
Open Doors USA has listed North Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Somalia, Maldives, Yemen, Iraq, Uzbekistan and Laos as the top 10 persecutors of 2011.
