7 November 2005
Dear Member Care Colleagues,
Here is a summary about the upcoming International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Feel free to pass this message to others, and of course to pray! Here also is a related excerpt from chapter 4 of Doing Member Care Well, Humanitarianism With A Point, by John Amstutz. It is very sobering to reflect on John's comments on Matthew 25.
Blessings!
Kelly O’Donnell
"The implications of such an understanding of this parable [of the sheep and goats in MT 25] are significant. First, the parable assumes the universal preaching of the gospel is not optional in the plan of God. "Missions" is not an appendage on the Church's agenda. It is essential. A worldwide witness is the foundation for the judgment of the nations.
Second, accompanying this universal witness to Jesus Christ will be persecution. Indeed, "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (II Timothy 3:12). Opposition for one's faith in Christ is not just for believers in the Middle East and Asia. Christ's disciples will be "hated by all nations" because they are IN all nations.
Third, the place of hospitality and kindness toward followers of Jesus Christ is no small matter, particularly toward those who are being persecuted for their faith in Him. "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering" (Hebrews 12:3). "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another" (John 14:35). In the words of the Apostle Paul, "Let us do good to all men, ESPECIALLY to those of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10, italics added).
Is it not time we free this pointed parable of the sheep and the goats to speak clearly and fully of the crucial place of the universal preaching of the gospel to EVERY NATION (ethne) and the opposition and persecution that will attend such preaching? And is it not time we free this pointed parable to speak clearly and fully of the essential need of intentional humanitarianism--member care--toward those who have chosen to suffer loss for their witness to Christ in these nations?
Humanitarianism with a point is the point, and the point is "for, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me"! And never has a proper understanding of this pointed parable been more important than it is as we enter the new millennium in which the Church increasingly focuses on the final frontiers, many of which are in risky and resistant areas."
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For Immediate Release
October 14, 2005
Thousands of churches to partake in largest prayer initiative for the Persecuted Church
Prayer has always been the strongest weapon used by the followers of Christ in all situations. This year, Christians in over 100 countries will join in prayer to strengthen those who are persecuted for their faith and to comfort those who are overcoming the great losses wrought by the Southeast Asian tsunami, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the 7.6-magnitude earthquake in South Asia.
"In the context of his own life Jesus demonstrated the tremendous importance of prayer," said Johan Candelin, global coordinator for the International Day of Prayer (IDOP) and director of the World Evangelical Alliance's Commission for Religious Freedom. "We therefore want to transform our longings into prayer and ask God to transform the world through the prayers of his people."
IDOP, which began in 1996 by the World Evangelical Fellowship - now known as the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), has gained tremendous support from countries and church groups around the world. What began as a core group of about 7,000 churches, the IDOP has grown to be the largest prayer day event of its kind in the world. Last year, an estimated 200,000 churches experienced the spirit of unity by taking part in this Day of Prayer.
The 2005 IDOP week begins on Sunday, Nov 13th and ends on Nov. 20th. While churches are encouraged to pray throughout the week, they are specifically urged to take part in the unified act of advocacy through prayer on either Sunday.
"It is a great blessing for everyone to pray together on the same day, for it helps remind us how big the Church of Jesus Christ is and how many brothers and sisters we have," said Candelin. "The least we can do is the most we can do: PRAY!"
Resources for the 2005 IDOP is available online to download, and hard-copies of IDOP kits are available to order by mail in at least four countries - U.S.A., Canada, Australia, and Switzerland. Resources are also available in English, Spanish and French. The kits include sermon outlines, drama scripts, game ideas, country profiles for select nations, children's
materials, a prayer map, and a DVD movie that can help Christians pray effectively for the persecuted church.
The U.S. IDOP package, provided by Open Doors USA, features the country profiles for India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia - the three countries that were hardest hit by last December's devastating tsunami.
The Canadian IDOP package, titled "More than Conquerors," has the four focus countries of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia and Somalia.
"This is a time to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering for Jesus Christ every day," said Janet Epp Buckingham, Director of the Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, one of the partners in IDOP Canada. "Prayer is the most powerful tool to help those who are persecuted. And it is what those who are persecuted ask for the most."
According to organizers of IDOP, more than 200 million men, women and children in more than 60 countries face discrimination, persecution and even death for their Christian faith. The goals of IDOP are three-fold: increase awareness of the persecuted church worldwide, lead in prayer on behalf of the persecuted church, promote ongoing and appropriate action on behalf of the persecuted church.
For more information on IDOP, visit: www.idop.org <http://www.idop.org/> or
www.worldevangelicalalliance.com <http://www.worldevangelicalalliance.com/>
Contact Information:
Pauline Chang, Press Secretary
Direct Line: 415.341.2744
Sylvia Soon, Communications Director
E-mail: ssoon@worldevangelical.org
Direct Line: 604.838.3922
WEA Administrative Office:
MIP Box 3740 Markham, Ontario L3R 5J1 Canada
Telephone: 905.752.2164
Toll-free North America: 1.866.823.3073
Fax: 905.479.4742
Email: info@worldevangelical.org
Website: http://worldevangelicalalliance.com
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