Resources to Engage the Needs of Persecuted Christians
Here is a list of some of the more prominent Christian organizations that are involved in ministries to the persecuted Church. Although each ministry has the same focus, which is to inform churches of the needs of persecuted Christians, each group maintains a unique strategy for meeting those needs.
Every believer should have a major concern to engage with one or more ministries that care for their brothers and sisters who suffer due to publicly professing faith in Jesus as the Christ.
Please note that some of the videos in this article are not suitable for young children.
Organizations to Contact
Christian Freedom International
www.christianfreedom.org 800-323-2273
CFI distributes Bibles, is involved in medical aid, resettlement assistance, advocacy, asylum case-work, and provides aid to the disabled; to sponsor schools, vocational training, self-help initiatives and all of this without charge to Christians facing persecution.
I am N
This outreach is especially powerful for high school and college-aged students. Its focus is for Christians to become an “N” Christian. The “N” symbolizes the first letter of the Arabic word “Nazarene” marking a person as a believer in Jesus as the Messiah. The I am N movement resources Christians with videos, stories of persecution, a plan to experience an “Exile Night,” along with books and literature to inspire believers to align with their persecuted brothers and sisters where their faith is under fire.
International Christian Concern
www.persecution.org 800-422-5441
ICC is an organization that cares for the wives and children of martyred pastors. They also rebuild communities after they are attacked. They use broadcast media to spread the gospel, distribute Bibles, train pastors, install Bible presses in hostile areas, and lobby U. S legislators and the State Department to free prisoners. They also provide churches with materials to keep them aware of the problems associated with persecution.
International Day of Prayer
First and Second weeks in November each year. (Nov. 4, 12, 2018)
IDOP is a movement that unites churches in prayer through the sponsorship of a one-day-a-year event to pray for the persecuted Church. They also distribute resources to churches so they can create a campaign and participate in the IDOP. This video is from last year. The 2018 video has yet to be released.
Open Doors USA
www.opendoorsusa.org 888-524-2535
Open Doors USA was started by “Brother” Andrew who was known for smuggling Bibles into hostile regions. They supply Christians with the World Watch List of the 50 most hostile countries and provide various church resources churches to educate and inspire members to help the persecuted Church. They sponsor the IDOP, letter writing, advocacy, and plan trips to countries where persecution is an issue.
The Voice of the Martyrs
www.persecution.com 877-337-0302
VOM was founded by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand and his wife Sabina of Romania. VOM is an organization that connects individual Christians and churches with those facing persecution under the idea that we are all one family. Those persecuted are our brothers and sisters in Christ. They make these connections through empowering Christians to fulfill the Great Commission in areas of the world where persecution is strong and provide practical relief and spiritual support to families of Christian martyrs. They recently produced the movie “Tortured for Christ,” which will show in U. S. theaters beginning March 5, 2018.
World Watch Monitor
This organization is a news disseminating group that reports on Christians who are under pressure for their faith. They strive to be the most trusted and consulted source of news about Christians who suffer for their faith. Many of the stories that surface from closed countries and countries that methodically persecute believers originates from their reporters.
Persecuted Teen-Agers
Perhaps the most difficult part of persecution is that teenagers around the world are targets of violent persecution.
Three Things to Do
There are three points of contact that believers in a free country have to help their brothers and sisters who face daily persecution:
1) Pray for them (this is the number one request of persecuted believers)
2) Be informed about global persecution (educate yourself about what is happening)
3) Engage one or more ministries that provide opportunities to be involved (engage your faith and make a difference)
Resource Books
Here are a few books that can aid in understanding the problem of persecution and offer directions for how you can engage in a ministry to the persecuted family. Click on the book of your choice and you will be directed to where you can purchase it at a discount.*
Persecution Presentation
Dr. Jim Klukow is available to speak at your church or youth group on the topic of the persecuted church. He has three different presentations on the how Christians can engage with their persecuted family members in Christ. Each talk includes a display of resources and a free prayer map published by The Voice of The Martyrs. Youth groups can purchase an “I-am-N” black wristband for their students for $1 each.
- He is able to present to large and small groups a presentation with powerpoint slides on the current issues facing the persecuted Church.
- He is able to present to youth groups how to become an “N” Nazarene follower and how to pray for the persecuted Church.
- He is able to teach a three-session class presentation, which includes powerpoint slides and short videos on the persecuted Church.
Contact Jim through his contact us page on this website and he will return your call with available dates and costs.
*I am an affiliate with Christianbooks.com and receive a small compensation if you purchase one or more of these books through this website. Thank you for supporting this Church resource website.
