Mark your calendar! International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:7-9).

Every November, Christians around the world join together in prayer to remember our Christian brothers and sisters suffering persecution simply because they confess Jesus Christ as Lord.

In the traditional church calendar, the month of November is marked by "All Saints Day" and "All Souls Day." These days were set apart to remember the saints of the church and the souls of those who have departed this world. In recent years, the modern church has also set apart the month of November to remember and pray for suffering believers through The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) -- an initiative of the Religious Liberty Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance.

There are many countries around the world where Christians are martyred for their faith. Last August, the world watched in horror the unbridled violence unleashed upon Christians in Orissa state, India. In countries like North Korea, acts of persecution take place daily, but we often don't see or hear of it. Brother Andrew of Open Doors once said, "Our heroes are not with us simply because they are in prison."

This November, join with thousands of Christians worldwide in prayer for the Persecuted Church. Mark your calendars, inform your churches, and tell your friends about this unique opportunity to pray for your persecuted Christian family and remind suffering believers that they are neither forgotten nor abandoned. We would encourage you to post a prayer for the brothers and sisters mentioned in this story on our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall.

To find out more about IDOP 2009 and special resources designed to help you get involved, please visit the IDOP-international website. In Canada, click here.