Suffering Church Action Week
1 - 8 November 2015
The theme is from 2 Corinthians 4: 8-10:
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Every day, Christians around the world "are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed".
Ideologies including Islam, secularism, Buddhism and Hindu nationalism put churches under pressure and crush life from the daily existence of Christians in parts of the world where they live as a despised minority.
The world is witness to the sheer brutality that stems from these ideologies. Angry mobs storm church services, often wielding weapons and insulting the believers who have met together to worship God. Christians in the Middle East are struck down by Islamic State fighters. Those who refuse to deny the name of Christ are shot, beheaded, or forced to leave their homes forever.
In many countries, Christians endure persistent discrimination that holds them in a poverty trap. Denied good education and decent employment, they are hungry and unable to provide for their families, and so the cycle continues.
But God's Church remains unconquered. Even in the midst of these difficult circumstances, people are becoming Christians. Adopted into a worldwide family, they rely on the support of their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Barnabas Fund is committed to standing alongside Christians who suffer.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Every day, Christians around the world "are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed".
Ideologies including Islam, secularism, Buddhism and Hindu nationalism put churches under pressure and crush life from the daily existence of Christians in parts of the world where they live as a despised minority.
The world is witness to the sheer brutality that stems from these ideologies. Angry mobs storm church services, often wielding weapons and insulting the believers who have met together to worship God. Christians in the Middle East are struck down by Islamic State fighters. Those who refuse to deny the name of Christ are shot, beheaded, or forced to leave their homes forever.
In many countries, Christians endure persistent discrimination that holds them in a poverty trap. Denied good education and decent employment, they are hungry and unable to provide for their families, and so the cycle continues.
But God's Church remains unconquered. Even in the midst of these difficult circumstances, people are becoming Christians. Adopted into a worldwide family, they rely on the support of their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Barnabas Fund is committed to standing alongside Christians who suffer.
GET INVOLVED
SUFFERING CHURCH SUNDAY
You can use our resources to plan a Sunday event to pray and remember our suffering brothers and sisters during the month of November or any day you choose. Additionally, you may also invite a Barnabas Fund speaker to share on the latest happenings relevant to your church.
Kindly contact us as needed. Email us at barnabasfund.asia@gmail.com
DAILY DEVOTIONAL RESOURCE
Suffering for Christ is a devotional resource that has been specially designed for SCAW. It includes daily readings and prayers from 2 Corinthians based on the theme for the week. For each of the eight days you will find a suggested reading, a key verse and a comment including ideas for prayer.
Download our 8 day devotional booklet below:
You can use our resources to plan a Sunday event to pray and remember our suffering brothers and sisters during the month of November or any day you choose. Additionally, you may also invite a Barnabas Fund speaker to share on the latest happenings relevant to your church.
Kindly contact us as needed. Email us at barnabasfund.asia@gmail.com
DAILY DEVOTIONAL RESOURCE
Suffering for Christ is a devotional resource that has been specially designed for SCAW. It includes daily readings and prayers from 2 Corinthians based on the theme for the week. For each of the eight days you will find a suggested reading, a key verse and a comment including ideas for prayer.
Download our 8 day devotional booklet below:
| scaw_devotional-booklet_gb.pdf |
PRAY
ORGANISE A PRAYER MEETING
Organise a prayer meeting focused on lifting up our persecuted brothers and sisters to the Lord. Saturday 7 November is the Barnabas Fund International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church). You could also pray individually, using our Suffering Church Action Week eight-day devotional booklet on 2 Corinthians 4.
Organise a prayer meeting focused on lifting up our persecuted brothers and sisters to the Lord. Saturday 7 November is the Barnabas Fund International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church). You could also pray individually, using our Suffering Church Action Week eight-day devotional booklet on 2 Corinthians 4.
BARNABAS FUND INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH - Saturday 7 November -
Can you join with us in praying for our suffering brothers and sisters, asking the Lord to strengthen them and help them to be faithful to Him in the face of persecution?
You can use our resources for your own prayer on the day, or maybe your church could set up a special event. Let us know if your day of prayer event is open to all.
Can you join with us in praying for our suffering brothers and sisters, asking the Lord to strengthen them and help them to be faithful to Him in the face of persecution?
You can use our resources for your own prayer on the day, or maybe your church could set up a special event. Let us know if your day of prayer event is open to all.
If you have any query, please write to barnabasfund.asia@gmail.com