persecution

The question of harassment for religious beliefs balanced against free speech is a tricky one, but the answers are becoming increasingly important.

“Persecution has an allure for many evangelicals,” Alan Noble, writer for The Atlantic, boldly stated.

What exactly about fundamentalist Christianity so deeply bothers many people, and how should we respond to their objections?

“I was reading an article about a movie called Gladiator and how Ridley Scott, who directed the movie, deleted a scene.” Pastor Tim Dilena explained in a sermon.

God has moved powerfully to save persecuted believers in India after years of petition by the church.

Evangelist and preacher Billy Graham stated, “Prayer is one of our greatest privileges as God’s children, and even if God doesn’t seem to answer your prayers at first, don’t stop praying. God loves you, and no prayer goes unanswered.”

As believers in India face growing hatred and harassment, God continues to provide for his most vulnerable children. 

In 2014, elections in India brought the Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian People’s Party) into power.

They are often described as the “Hindu Nationalist Party.” If that title summoned up shades of another nationalist government and social group that the West knew all too well in the 1940s, the comparison wouldn’t be far off. 

The many believers exiled to Siberia has helped to turn this region into a bastion of Christianity in Russia.

Under the boot of Communism, many Christians in the Soviet Union faced harsh oppression. Evangelicals worshipped in underground churches, taking communion out in the forest and being baptized at night. Bibles and Christian literature were confiscated and destroyed.

Believers in Central Asia are facing some of the worst persecution in the world currently, and they need the prayers of the whole Christian family.

The first or second Sunday of November—the date depends on your church or denomination—is considered an international day of prayer for the persecuted church, and the believers in India could certainly use our prayers.

When Priya* and her husband accepted Christ, their neighbors weren’t excited. Vicious gossip began circulating, and the pressure to convert back to Hinduism became intense.

“At times,” she confessed, “I wanted to give up and become Hindu again.”

World Challenge partners came to Priya’s church and talked about living as a light for God in the neighborhood.

At long last, one World Challenge partner finds freedom and inspiration to help others and build a new life.

Abdi’s case to become an UN-recognized asylee would take nearly three years, including two years of a Homeland Security screening process.

Finally free from Kenyan jail, one World Challenge partner is still faced with overwhelming prejudice and the grindingly slow refugee process.

The police who had dragged Abdi out of church took him to his house first. More police and investigators arrived, and they combed his house while they held him at gunpoint.

One Somali man had an incredible journey from being an agnostic refugee to being redeemed by Christ and becoming a World Challenge partner.

As the church service drew to a close, Abdi noticed several men closing in on him. They pushed through the normal Easter crowd until they were in ring around him, and one tried to grab his arm.

“What are you doing?” he asked, uneasy. “Who are you?”

“We need you to come outside with us.”