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October 30, 2002

For immediate release from the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada

UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED CHURCH

November 17th is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). Please include IDOP 2002 in your publication’s list or calendar of upcoming events.

Did you know that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world today? The World Evangelical Alliance estimates that over 200 million Christians face persecution and discrimination because of their religious beliefs. We can help these persecuted believers by standing with them in prayer on November 17. This year, Christians in over 120 countries around the world will come together in November to pray for the persecuted church. Plan now to lead your church, Christian school or Bible study in praying for suffering Christians. Remember, the least you can do is the most you can do: Pray!

IDOP Canada has worked to produce a special resource kit that will help churches and groups pray effectively for the persecuted church. This year, churches and groups can choose between the original, paper-based kit, a CD-Rom kit that includes a special PowerPoint presentation, or a Teacher’s kit designed to meet the needs of Christian educators. In addition, you can now purchase and download the IDOP kit online (some components will arrive by mail).

The resource kit is designed to assist churches, university chapels and prayer groups who pray for those who are persecuted. It includes:  · Country Profiles describing the history and special prayer needs of five focus countries  · A video featuring the music of Canadian recording artist Liana Klassen (6 min)  · A month-long devotional in which you will hear the voices of the persecuted as they challenge Christians in North America to walk closely with Jesus Christ  · Sermon outline  · Prayer map  · Children’s activity sheet  · Worship resources, including suggested songs, a responsive reading and a litany  · A 21-day devotional book on persecution covering a new country or region each day

The kit may be ordered three ways: by mail (IDOP Canada, M.I.P. Box 3745, Markham, ON, L3R 0Y4), by phone (905) 479-5885, or online at http://www.idop.ca .

IDOP Canada is a partnership of the following organizations:

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada’s Religious Liberty Commission Bruce Clemenger, Acting Director (613) 233-9868 ext. 224 Fax (613) 233-0301

Open Doors with Brother Andrew (Canada) Rev. Paul Johnson, Director (905) 602-6404 Fax (613) 602-6477

Partners International, Canada Rev. Grover Crosby, President Emeritus (905) 458-1202 Fax (905) 458-4339

The Bible League Rev. David J. Tigchelaar, Executive Director (905) 319-9500 Fax (905) 319-0484

Voice of the Martyrs (Canada) Rev. Glenn Penner, Director of Communications 1-888-298-6423

THE EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP OF CANADA Bringing Christians together for greater impact in mission, ministry and witness The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) is an association of denominations and ministry organizations collaborating for Christian mission. In addition, congregations and individuals are invited to partner in this shared enterprise. The EFC cherishes the historic Christian gospel described succinctly in the World Evangelical Alliance’s Statement of Faith. There are an estimated 3 million Protestant evangelical Christians in Canada of which approximately 1.5 million are affiliates of the EFC.

TO VIEW OUR CURRENT INITIATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS VISIT THE EFC WEBSITE http://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/

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FOR AUSTRALIAN CONTACTS

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INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER

The global Church is presently growing at a phenomenal rate, comparable only with the early Church.

In fact, evangelical Protestant Christianity is the fastest growing religion in the world today.

In Nepal the first church gathered in 1959 with only 29 believers – but now there are an estimated 500,000 believers in some 3,000 congregations. Likewise in Sudan, in 1960 only 5 percent of the Southern Sudanese were Christian, but today it is estimated to be around 70 percent. And India is now one of the world’s leading missionary sending nations, with over 440 Indian mission agencies and more than 44,000 missionaries!

BUT the Church has an enemy – Satan – who is fighting against this harvest. Persecution and attacks on religious liberty are not only human rights issues, they are Satan’s weapons in spiritual warfare.

It is estimated that 164,000 Christians were martyred in 2001. Some 200 million Christians suffer persecution and further 400 million suffer serious discrimination and restrictions on their basic freedoms simply because they are Christians.

Mission and prayer are our mighty weapons, with which we can demolish his strongholds (2 Cor.10:4).

We must choose to engage in this spiritual battle and support those who are suffering for their faith. The problem of persecution is not going to go away. Can we just ignore it?

HOW YOU CAN BECOME INVOLVED

On Sunday 10 November more than 300,000 congregations will engage in the 2002 International Day of Prayer (IDOP) praying together in unity of spirit, across more than 130 nations.

To help you pray, materials can be obtained on CD, together with a PowerPoint presentation.

Order by e-mailing or view and download at http://www.idop.org. For more info call Ron Clough (03) 9842 1562 (Source: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission)

os.yahoo.com/rlgmediaau”>http://au.photos.yahoo.com/rlgmediaau http://community.webshots.com/user/ramon_williams ——————————————————————- Telling others, what others are doing for the Lord.

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