USA (MNN) — ‘One God, One Faith, One Freedom’ is the theme for this year’s International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, scheduled for November 9, 2003. A church service will be broadcast nationwide to help drawn attention to the suffering church.
Luis Bush, the person who first coined the phrase ’10/40 Window’, will be the keynote speaker. “One of the wonderful thing that can happen is that just connecting with Christians shows that we have a oneness” in Christ, says Bush. Bush says it’s helping Christians gather in unity. He says, “we do want to get the facts on the table to show what is happening, where it’s happening and how we can focus our prayers.”
While many believe that evangelism isn’t taking place in some of the most difficult countries of the world like Saudi Arabia and North Korea, Bush tells us the church is alive. “Those are the two (that are the worst),” says Bush. He says, “even though the church isn’t visible, it doesn’t mean it’s not there…it’s an underground church because they can not openly meet.”
Nine organizations are helping to support this special event. Open Doors with Brother Andrew is just one of the groups. OD USA President Carl Moeller says, “Open Doors is working with people who are dealing with forced relocation, loss of jobs, families being split apart, imprisonment, even torture and martyrdom for the sake of their faith in Jesus Christ.”
Moeller says despite the oppression, people are coming to Christ and the church is growing. He says their faith is more precious as it costs them more.
Mission Network News is broadcasting the event live across the United States. The broadcast will be aired from Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan beginning at 6:00 PM eastern time. Cory Emerson with Discovery House Music will be the worship leader. Contact your local radio station to find out if they will be airing this special broadcast.
