Dear GMH community,
In the coming week, we will be devoting ourselves to prayer for Christians around the world who are suffering persecution for their faith in Christ. After all, this is something Scripture calls us to do: “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Hebrews 13:3). This is a small way we can love the suffering members of the global body of Christ: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). These are our brothers and sisters; we may not know them personally, but in Christ we are family (1 Peter 5:9).
So, I want to invite you to set aside room in your hearts and your calendars to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Please consider participating in one or more of the events listed below. We will also provide you with prayer and informational resources that you can use individually at home.
“Engine Room” Prayer for the Persecuted Church | This Thursday, 11/1, 7:00-8:00pm @ First Church SDA - Our monthly church-wide prayer meeting will be devoted to praying for specific needs of Christians who live in some of the religiously oppressive countries in the world.
Sunday Worship | This Sunday, 11/4, 10:30am @ First Church SDA - The focus of our worship service will be the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, a Sunday specially set aside for prayer by Christians around the world. Duke’s sermon will focus on the topic of persecution. We will also hear from a special guest, Karen Ellis.Karen speaks internationally advocating for global religious freedom and human rights. She is the Robert Cannada Fellow for World Christianity at Reformed Theological Seminar and is currently a PhD candidate in Missiology at the Oxford Center for Mission Studies.
Foundations: Persecution and Global Christianity | This Sunday, 11/4, 12:10-1:00pm @ First Church SDA - Immediately after our worship service, Karen Ellis will be offering an additional presentation/lecture on the global dynamics of persecution. (We will be devoting our new/regular “Foundations” teaching time to this important topic.)
5th Annual Night of Prayer for the Persecuted Church | Saturday, 11/10, 7:00-9:00pm @ Chinese Community Church - At this special event hosted by Grace Downtown and shared by several churches across DC, you will hear testimonies by Christians from Burma, China, Nigeria, and Syria, and have the opportunity to pray for persecuted Christians around the world. (See PrayforOneBody.org for more details.)
We’re looking forward to praying, learning, and growing together with you in the coming week!
“Remember my chains.” (Colossians 4:18)
With hope in Christ and love for his suffering Body,
Duke