(International)–Next, Christians around the world will gather to pray this Sunday for the persecuted church. Mission Network News’ Ruth Bliss has the details. “Johan Companjen with Open Doors says they expect 100-thousand churches in North America to join with 200-thousand worldwide to pray for faith and unity for those who suffer religious persecution. While some may pray for deliverance, Companjen says the churches that suffer see this as an occasion of blessing. “A time of crisis is also a time of opportunity. And that’s what we hear often. They say, ‘Pray for us. Don’t pray it will go away, but that we will be faithful, we’ll be strong, trusting the Lord because this is the time that He does things that we never dreamt of.’ ” Companjen says that many Americans don’t realize that Christians are being persecuted daily around the world. He adds that prayer is needed because while some countries appear to be opening to the Gospel, more are placing stiffer restrictions on believers. For Mission Network News, I’m Ruth Bliss.” The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is November 10.
