Because I stay at home with Chloe I often listen to the radio or audio books (hurray for audio books!) during the day. This morning I switched on the radio while feeding Chloe her second meal and heard a focus on the family interview with John Handford, U.S. Ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom. I know that Christians are persecuted through out the world but this radio program was eye-opening as to the extent of religious persecution. I was sad and surprised to hear that Christians are persecuted more today than during any other period in history.
I am challenged to remember our brothers and sisters around the world in prayer. Let's plead with God together to strengthen these suffering believers and to relieve their burdens. After hearing this program and reading some of the articles below I am feeling VERY THANKFUL for the religious freedom we enjoy in the United States.
Country overview of persecution
Christian persecution during Sudan's civil war
Open Doors website
U.S. Office of International Religious Freedom
Voice of the Martyrs website
3 comments:
Alicia, someone just brought this to my attention a couple days ago. And I agree, we have so much to be thankful for. Sometimes it's scary to think that we as Christians were called to suffer, and it could be in God's plan for us someday here in America. May we have the faith of many of these martyrs!
It's so easy to take for granted the freedoms we have. Thanks for your post! Good reminder.
Thanks for the reminder! It is so easy to take for granted our religious freedom. The other day, a speaker in chapel who had just taught in China said that the Chinese people are praying that persecution will come to America - to refine us as Christians and to be a true test of our committement to Christ. I don't doubt that persecution will come to America in our lifetime...
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