Release International
Standing together worldwide for persecuted Christians - International Day of Prayer Nov 6 |
| Oct 25 2011 |
Churches throughout the world are being encouraged to stand shoulder-to-shoulder to pray for Christians who are persecuted for their faith on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). The Day of Prayer is being held in the UK and Ireland on Sunday November 6, and Release International is offering a range of materials and ideas to help churches take part.
‘Christians face persecution in parts of the Islamic, communist, Hindu and Buddhist worlds,’ says Release CEO Andy Dipper. ‘This ranges from disapproval and intimidation to extreme violence. Thousands of churches around the world use the International Day of Prayer to stand with and support members of our Christian family who are being persecuted.
‘They need our prayers and support, and we who have freedom need to catch hold of their courageous overcoming faith. Please talk to your church leaders to see how you can take part in this special day.’
Release has produced a four-page guide to IDOP, which can be downloaded from the website: www.releaseinternational.org/pages/take-action/idop.php It includes photocopiable prayers for China, India and Pakistan, advice on how to set up prayer stations to pray for North Korea, and liturgy and written prayers by Release patron Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali.
Bishop Michael’s closing prayer asks God to ‘give us the courage of the martyrs to bear witness without flinching to your great love for us. Give us their confidence in the resurrection of your Son, Jesus, and give us that same power and reassurance of the Holy Spirit as you give them, so that we too may fearlessly bring your good news to a needy world.’
Release has also produced a range of DVDs and posters, as well as outlines for short presentations to be included in church meetings, or for entire meetings dedicated to IDOP.
Young people are being encouraged to set up a 24-hour prayer room, and Christian songwriter Nathan Fellingham of Phatfish has written Breaking Down the Walls to support Release’s campaign for religious freedom in North Korea – one of the world’s worst persecutors of Christians. This is available for download from the Release website, where there is also a petition calling for religious freedom in North Korea.
‘Though IDOP is officially on November 6, you are of course free to use any day to take your stand with our Christian family around the world,’ says Andy Dipper of Release.
Through its international network of missions Release serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries around the world, by supporting pastors and Christian prisoners, and their families; supplying Christian literature and Bibles, and working for justice. Release is a member of the UK organisations Global Connections and the Evangelical Alliance.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR
The Release guide to IDOP can be downloaded from
The song Breaking Down the Walls is available on CD or for download from: www.releaseinternational.org/pages/take-action/current-campaign/breaking-down-the-walls-mp3.php
For a country profile on North Korea and news stories on that nation please go to: http://www.releaseinternational.org/pages/country-profiles/north-korea.php
For further information, please contact Release International on 01689 823491, or by email at info@releaseinternational.org
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