STRUCK DOWN BUT NOT DESTROYED – IDOP 2023
As we observe the IDOP, our hearts are heavy with the rising tide of Christian persecution worldwide. From Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and beyond, over 360 million Christians now live in places where they face high levels of persecution, equating to one in seven Christians globally.
According to the World Watch List, 5,621 Christians were killed, over 2,100 churches were attacked, and more than 4,500 Christians were detained for their faith in 2022. These staggering numbers highlight the harsh reality that many believers endure daily – harassment, discrimination, wrongful imprisonment, and even death for their devotion to Christ.
However, as we gather in prayer for our persecuted brethren, we find hope and strength in the Scriptures. Paul says that “…we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” This powerful biblical text reminds us that though persecution may strike believers down, it does not destroy their faith. The resilience and unwavering trust in God displayed by our persecuted brothers and sisters serve as a testament to the enduring power of Christ in their lives. This verse encourages us to pray with empathy and fervency, knowing that in Christ, the persecuted find the strength to stand firm and persevere despite the adversities they face. It strengthens our resolve to lift them up in prayer, seeking God’s protection, comfort, and strength, and affirming our unity as one body in Christ across the globe.
Through the IDOP, we bring global attention to the plight of our persecuted brothers and sisters. In places where they share our faith, they do not always share our freedoms, as 80 percent of religious persecution worldwide targets Christians. For over two decades, the IDOP has united millions of Christians in prayer for the persecuted. We recognize that their most urgent and basic need is for prayer. Hebrews 13:3 commands us to pray for those who are mistreated, understanding that their pain is our pain, and we are one in Christ.