Biola Recognizes International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Professor reflects on the importance of prayer for those in closed countries.
The last thing that my friends said to me as I was leaving a 'closed country' was, “Please have your friends pray for us, do not let them forget us,” remembers Sue Russell, Biola University Associate Professor of Anthropology, and Chair, Department of Anthropology.
Sunday, November 8, 2009 is International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church — a day for intercessory prayer and to raise awareness of the persecuted Christian communities worldwide.
In America we quickly forget the freedom Christians have to worship Jesus and attend church on Sunday. Around the world in countries like North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iran, Christians suffer simply for proclaiming the name of their Savior — Jesus Christ.
Russell, who has worked in closed countries, gives her account of the importance of praying for the persecuted church:
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights declares that the right to believe, change one's beliefs, and express those beliefs in public and private is an intrinsic right of all human beings regardless of nationality.
But for many Christians around the world, turning to Christ means that they will be abandoned by their families, ostracized by their communities, and persecuted by authorities. The International Day of Pray for the Persecuted Church is an opportunity for us to remember those who turn to Christ at great cost. It is an opportunity for us to be voices for those who cannot speak and make others aware of the plight of those who are being persecuted for their faith.
For the persecuted church, the day of pray is a reminder that they are not forgotten, that they are not alone, that we, as their brothers and sisters in Christ, are willing to walk with them as they seek to follow Christ.
Join Biola in praying for those around the world who do not have the freedom as Americans do to worship publicly.
Written by Sue Russell, Associate Professor of Anthropology, and Chair, Department of Anthropology, Biola University. Introduction written by Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator. Jenna can be reached at (562) 777-4061 or through email at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.