IDOP 2003
Sunday, November 9, 2003 is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church ("IDOP"). On this day, hundreds of thousands of congregations around the world will join in prayer for their Christian brothers and sisters who are being discriminated against, displaced, tortured and killed for one simple reason: their faith.
Religious persecution is certainly not a new phenomenon, and Christians aren't the only victims of such persecution. However, in terms of sheer numbers, they are undoubtedly the largest group targeted solely on the basis of religion. The IDOP website describes the situation thusly in its FAQ:
Why doesn’t the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church pray for all persecuted people regardless of their religious, political, or social affiliation?
As a human rights issue, the persecution of Christians dwarfs all other forms of religious injustice. It is beneficial to take advocacy for fellow believers who suffer for their faith as a starting point, as Christians living in free societies have been largely unaware of or silent to this increasing tragedy. As we gain a deeper understanding of the plight of our Christian family, we can also grow in knowledge about human rights issues affecting all people. A Christian’s compassion is not reserved only for fellow Christians, but is to be given to all who suffer injustice and oppression (Luke 12:29) and to those whose dark consciences press them to perpetrate evil (Matthew 5:44). Christians are encouraged to “do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10).
In 2001, Midland became the first host city for the national IDOP observance. Up to then, the observance had been a loosely-coordinated event taking place in various cities and churches, but without any real focus. Thanks largely to the visionary action of a few local folks — primarily Deborah Fikes (founder of BASIC Ministries International), Fr. Jon Stasney (rector of St. Nicholas' Episcopal Church) and Billy Raies (pastor of the Christian Life Center) — Midland was selected to add a new dimension...a new focus...to the observance.
I was privileged to join with a large group of volunteers working to create the framework for the IDOP observance. I saw Christians of every denomination, ethnic background and social status working together, united in concern for an extended family whose sufferings we could only begin to imagine. I've been unable to return to my previous state of complacency with respect to the Persecuted Church.
I plan to post more about IDOP over the next month, but I wanted to get it on your radar screen at this point. If you enjoy the privilege of exercising your faith in unfettered freedom, then I submit to you that you also share in the responsibility to ensure that others can do so, as well. If you can't do anything else, you can pray.
No...that's not exactly right. Before you do anything else, you should pray. IDOP resources will help you know how to do that.
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