President's Blog

A historic Summit focused on the unprecedented scale of increased persecution of Christians worldwide called the global Church to prayer and action.

Over 600 delegates (150 being victims of persecution) from 130 countries gathered in Washington, D.C. in May 2017. Some bore scars of their beatings and torture. Each had a story to tell from countries where following Christ is perilous.

They gathered at the first ever “World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians.” The Summit’s purpose was five-fold:

To show solidarity with all who suffer for the Name of Jesus Christ. To call attention to the plight of persecuted Christians. To pray for those in political authority To learn from one another how to persevere amid suffering. To “recommit ourselves without reservation to the Lord Jesus.”

DECLARATION on the Persecuted Church Worldwide

In the closing session of the World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians, a final declaration was created; calling all followers of Christ to pledge solidarity in spirit and action with fellow believers worldwide who suffer for Christ’s sake. The declaration is meant to be a catalyst for individual believers, local churches, and governmental agencies to take action after a decade in which persecution of Christians globally has increased at an accelerated pace reaching unprecedented levels.

The final portion of the DECLARATION is a call to action. It reads:

 “Let us declare our allegiance with all who suffer for Christ’s name and pledge to make the following commitments:

We Pledge to promote awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide and work to help in their hour of need. We Pledge to pray unceasingly, urging other believers throughout the world to pray for those being persecuted, that the whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless (1 Thessalonians 5:17, 23-24). We Pledge to provide practical assistance, whenever possible, to the persecuted church (Philippians 2:4). We Pledge to work with individuals, organizations and government agencies, encouraging them to act as advocates on behalf of the persecuted because of their faith in Christ Jesus (Proverbs 31:8-9). We Pledge to follow the Biblical mandate to comfort and edify one another so that we exemplify Christ’s love and transforming power, even in the midst of hardship (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We Pledge to strengthen the worldwide witness of the church around the world through biblical proclamation – evangelism – and to do so boldly, unapologetically and without compromise (Mark 16:15; Romans 1:16).

Persecution is increasing, but the Church’s witness to the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ will never be extinguished. We pray for our fellow Christian believers, wherever they may be found. We claim the Lordship of Christ and watch for that day when He will return and reign as King of kings forever, and we pray for that promised day when, as that cherished hymn of the faith declares, “the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.”

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day…”   (Ephesians 6:12-13).

IDOP Sunday is November 12, 2017

Please consider praying for persecuted Christians worldwide in your local church on Sunday, November 12. Consider this call to action….