For many years, decades in fact, I have heard about the persecuted church. My husband has been a long-term supporter of the Voice of the Martyrs, a nonprofit that shines the light on the persecution of Christians and provides Bible and other support to those who are persecuted.
Until recently, this suffering seemed so distant. Much as when I was a small girl and saw the photos of starving children on television, it seemed so far away. Almost on another planet.
But, the internet has changed everything.
No longer is anything distant. Everything is just one click away.
Not only that, but because of the internet, I now correspond with Christians who live in Nigeria. I listen to messages from pastors in South Africa as easily as I listen to church services just blocks from my house.
The world has gotten smaller. The suffering has gotten closer.
So, what are we to do?
First, become informed. I am still learning more about Nigeria, but here is what I have learned (my main source of this information is Persecution.com)
Fifty one percent of Nigerians are Christians, including 26 percent who are evangelicals. The nation is divided between Christians and Sunni Muslims, with most Christians in the south and most Muslims in the north.
The Boko Haram Islamic extremist group and Fulani Islamic militants work together to attack Christians throughout Northern Nigeria. In fact, nearly all Christians in northeastern Nigeria have lost family members in these attacks. Entire congregations have been displaced. Many pastors have been forced to leave the region.
To quote Persecution.com “It now takes great courage and faith to openly worship and serve Christ. Thousands of Christians remain in camps designated for internally displaced people. Life is a constant struggle. Famine threatens farms in the north as a result of ongoing Islamist violence.”
While Bibles are plentiful in the south, most Christians in the north do not own their own Bible; even if they were available, few in the north could afford them.
Nigeria is just one country in which Christians suffer from persecution.
Open Doors maintains a list of the countries where it is most difficult to follow Jesus. Nigeria is listed as number nine on that list. North Korea is number one, followed by seven Islamic countries. As difficult as it is in Nigeria, there are eight other countries that are considered even worse environments for Christians.
So, what should we do?
Here are a few ways to support persecuted Christians:
1. There are two organizations that are highly rated by Guidestar.org. Open Doors, International in rated Platinum and Voice of the Martyrs is rated silver. Explore these organizations online, pray, and make a decision to give.
2. Stay informed. Visit these websites. Read the news. Understand what is taking place.
3. Speak out. Blog, talk with friends, speak in your church. Be the voice for those who are persecuted.
4. Pray – Pray for believers in overcrowded camps who have been driven from their homes. Pray for the many widows who have been forced off their land. Pray for the orphans whose parents have been killed.
Pray with me! Each Wednesday at 7 p.m., no matter where you are, spend even a few minutes in prayer. Pray first for your own country, that justice, goodness, and truth will reign and that revival will take place so that all will know Christ. Second, pray for the persecuted church, that God will intervene and provide stability, protection, a lawfulness in the land so that His people might worship freely and prosper.
Two prayers. Wednesdays at 7. Will you join me?