Prayer requests as persecution of Christians rises

As persecution escalates globally, Release International has urged churches in the UK and Ireland to pray.

The appeal is issued in advance of November 5th, which is International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). Churches are urged to use November 5th or another Sunday to draw attention to the predicament of persecuted Christians, who endure violence, harassment, and discrimination because of their faith. For an online event to pray for the persecuted Church, Release International is teaming up with the Evangelical Alliance, Open Doors, and Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

The programme will highlight the stories of Christians who have been imprisoned because of their faith and of Christians who have been persecuted in Nigeria, Nicaragua, and Eritrea. Downloadable resources can be found on the Release website, such as the narrative of Chinese pastor Wang Yi, who received a nine-year prison sentence for allegedly encouraging the subversion of state authority. On this International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, we have the chance to genuinely count those who suffer for Christ as brothers and sisters and raise our voices in prayer alongside theirs, according to Paul Robinson, CEO of Release International.