Pray for Christians Condemned to Death

by Timothy Howe

Recently, the government of North Korea has condemned 33 Christians to death for what it calls subversive activity. Unfortunately, this action is not something new in that country. North Korea is one of the most repressive governments in the world. Our brothers and sisters have suffered a great deal there. Please pray for them. The following link offers a brief description - 33 Christians to be executed. The video on the webpage is hard to watch but very informative.

And yet they are not the only ones suffering around the world right now. We have brothers and sisters in many countries who cannot express their faith with freedom. Recent reports coming out of Syria indicate that Christians are not only suffering during that countries civil war, but are also direct targets of attack on account of their faith. Similar attacks have occurred throughout much of the region that has experience political turmoil in the past couple of years.

This should not surprise us. Persecution of Believers has been the more common reality in most times and places during the church's history. It has only been a relatively short time in human history that religious freedom has existed. All throughout the New Testament we are told that this would happen. In one place, 1 Peter 4:12 tells us:

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. (1 Pet. 4:12 NLT)

Someone might argue that we are the blessed ones to live in a country with freedom of religion, but history and personal experience has shown that those who endure hardship for the sake of faith tend to walk in a deeper faith. I pray for increased struggles and lessened comforts for free Christians even as I pray for the end of suffering for those experiencing it.

Please pray for our brothers and sisters in North Korea.
Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Syria.
Please pray for our brothers and sisters in ...
     throughout the world
     who are being
     persecuted for their faith.