Prayer Rally September 15, 2001 at the United Nations for the Persecuted Church
Right now in approximately 40 countries throughout the world, Christians are being persecuted, tortured and killed for their faith. One Christian is martyred every three minutes. Over 200 million Christians are being persecuted right now. Many more are forbidden to read the bible, worship or attend their church. All their religious freedoms are stripped. In many parts of the world, Christianity is disappearing due to forced conversions to Islam. In these countries children are taken and forced to become Islamic. The 20th century has produced more martyrs than all 19 centuries previously combined. Approximately 40 countries are involved in persecuting Christians, with an additional 30 countries involved in legal repression and discrimination against Christians.
Here in the west we are either ignorant or apathetic to the plight of our Christian brethren. The Lord placed this burden upon our hearts in November 1999. Our ministry was born shortly thereafter. Our mission is three fold: 1) Prayer, 2) Raising awareness, and 3) Mobilize. We encourage all Christians to pray for our persecuted brethren. By shining a light onto the darkness of these countries and their deed, we are able to educate and bring to the forefront the plight of our brethren. Last we aim to mobilize Christians of all denominations and ethnic backgrounds to come together as one voice for our persecuted brethren.
Last year, God motivated 2500 Christians to come out to the U.N. to stand for our brethren in Sudan. The impact of these 2500 Christians, who took the church outside their four walls, made it impossible for the media to continue to turn a blind eye. The service, which included prayer, praise, and worship, was televised on the Fox 5 10 o’clock news as well as CNN International News. Many major newspapers started and continued to cover the atrocities in Sudan.
What: A prayer rally to coincide with the U.N. meetings that week. Our vision is while the leaders representing all parts of the world meet inside; we will have Christians from all denominations and ethnic backgrounds praying and praising the Lord outside on behalf of our persecuted brethren. We have a unique opportunity to show these leaders and our own politicians that this is an issue we want addressed. It is about time we come together and put our differences behind us. Let us take the church to the street and show the world what is on our hearts and minds – that the body of Christ will no longer remain silent and apathetic to Christian persecution worldwide.