Waikanae Anglican Parish

It is easy to believe that our prayers and support for the persecuted church have little impact, but this just isn’t the case. I learnt this first-hand when I was in India last year with a team from the UK. We met a Christian family from the Orissa region of India who had fled persecution, leaving their home, wider family, friends and belongings.  While I listened to their painful story, I was asked if we had heard about Orissa in the West. The family were amazed that we had not only heard of Orissa but had been praying for them as a church and writing to the Indian Government on their behalf. To us it was not much; it was all we could do, but to them it meant everything.

Brother Andrew who set up Open Doors, advocating for the persecuted church, says that the first thing that persecuted Christians ask for is prayer. Surely prayer is something that all of us can offer?

Father, we give you thanks and praise that you revealed yourself to us in your Son and drew us to yourself. We pray for those who endure discrimination and persecution, violence and injustice for the sake of knowing you. We pray that you will give them daily strength to persevere in the hardships they may face.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

(Taken from the Barnabas Fund Prayer for the Suffering Church)

Tim Bustin