Religious Liberty Prayer List – No. 142 – Thu 08 Nov 2001

————————————————- IDOP 2001 (continued): ‘RENEW THEM IN OUR DAY…’ ————————————————-

The International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted Church is a special time when Christians around the globe unite as one voice in prayer for believers who are suffering for their faith. Last week’s RLP 141, also a special for IDOP 2001, focused specifically on the plight of persecuted believers.

As a Religious Liberty Commission, we are concerned also about the tragic effects of religious repression on those who are lost. In so many lands, regimes that oppress and persecute the Church are also withholding ‘new life’ from these millions of people who are spiritually hungry and thirsty. This too is a call to the Church to wield prayer as the ‘weapon’ with ‘divine power to demolish strongholds’ (2 Cor 10:4).

In fact we are living in exciting times when God is doing marvellous things. Communism, Islam and Hinduism may rule large tracts of this world, but people are becoming increasingly disillusioned and hungry for the very things the Gospel offers – a personal, loving relationship with the Creator, forgiveness of sins, and assurance of salvation.

On 31 October in Khartoum (capital of Sudan), some 20,000 people attended, and over 5,000 responded, on the first night of a planned series of meetings with evangelist Sammy Tippit. However, with three militant Islamist groups threatening to make armed attacks on the stadium, the four later meetings were cancelled. Sudan’s Security Forces recommended this, rather than commit to protecting the Christians. Violence had forced the cancellation also of the Easter 2001 Celebrations in Khartoum (RLP 113). There is great spiritual hunger in Sudan amidst Islamic oppression. The Rev. Samuel Nyawelo Ador, director of evangelism for the All Sudan Council of Churches said, ‘They may be able to stop our meetings, but they cannot stop what God is doing in our country.’ Keep praying for Sudan and the Muslim world.

Likewise in India, we are witnessing an amazing movement of the Dalits away from the oppressive grip of Hinduism, after centuries of severe discrimination and persecution. There are more than 250 million Dalits (literally translated as ‘broken people’ or untouchables) in this the lowest level of the caste system, totally segregated from society, treated as unclean and like slaves. In August a young couple were publicly hanged in their village for the crime of falling in love – he was a high caste Brahmin, she was low caste. Their families have been arrested for the double murder.

On 4 November, some 50,000 Dalits publicly renounced Hinduism, a brave stand amidst rampaging militant Hindu nationalism. Whilst the Dalit leader, Ram Raj, is taking them into Buddhism, once they are truly out of Hinduism’s oppressive grip, they will be free equally to embrace Christ, as multitudes already have. In fact the hardline Hindu nationalist VHP describes the Dalits’ stand as part of a ‘Christian conspiracy’. Joseph D’Souza, President of the All India Christian Council, promised the Dalits that the Christian Church in India is there to be their friend and to serve them, e.g., with 200 new schools for Dalits. K P Yohannan, International Director of Gospel for Asia, assured them, ‘We love you with the love of Christ, unconditional love.’

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY FOR

* God to answer our prayers and demolish the strongholds of this world (2 Cor 10:4), so that believers may worship in peace and witness in safety and so that the world’s oppressed millions may hear the Gospel of salvation and abundant life, and be free to receive it.

* the Church under oppressive regimes to be encouraged by the fellowship of Christ so they would not lose hope (‘But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.’ Job 36:15), but be strengthened and emboldened by the power of Holy Spirit to do God’s work on this earth. (‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.’ Acts 1:8).

‘Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known, in wrath remember mercy.’ (Habakkuk 3:2)

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ——————————————————————- IDOP 2001: ‘RENEW THEM IN OUR DAY…’

On the International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted Church believers unite to pray for those who suffer for their faith. But we are also concerned about the effects of religious repression on the world’s lost and oppressed millions as the Gospel of salvation and abundant life in Christ is withheld from them. In Khartoum, Sudan, Easter 2001 Celebrations were cancelled due to Islamic protest. On 31 October an evangelistic rally saw 20,000 attend and 5,000 respond to the invitation to receive Christ, but further meetings had to be cancelled due to threats of armed attacks by militant Islamist groups. India has more than 250 million Dalits (untouchables). They are deserting Hinduism en masse. The Church is ready to serve them and love them. God is doing amazing things in our day. Pray for ‘the strongholds to be demolished’.

‘Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known, in wrath remember mercy.’ (Habakkuk 3:2)

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The WEF Religious Liberty Commission sponsors this RL Prayer List to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues, and in particular to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.