…all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…
2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

[See the Bible Gateway Blog post, International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church: Nov. 6 & 13, 2016]

According to Open Doors USA, Christian persecution is any hostility experienced from the world as a result of one’s identification as a Christian. From verbal harassment to hostile feelings, attitudes and actions, Christians in areas with severe religious restrictions pay a heavy price for their faith. Beatings, physical torture, confinement, isolation, rape, severe punishment, imprisonment, slavery, discrimination in education and employment, and even death are just a few examples of the persecution they experience on a daily basis.

[See books in the Bible Gateway Store on the subject of Christian persecution.]

[Jesus said,] “If you find that the world despises you, remember that before it despised you, it first despised Me.”
John 15:18 (Voice)

The Pew Research Center reports that over 75% of the world’s population lives in areas with severe religious restrictions (and many of these people are Christians). According to the United States Department of State, Christians in more than 60 countries face persecution from their governments or surrounding neighbors simply because of their belief in Jesus Christ.

[See our blogpost, Standing Strong Through the Storm: Stories from the Persecuted Church]

Rejoice as you share Christ’s suffering. You share his suffering now so that you may also have overwhelming joy when his glory is revealed. If you are mocked because of Christ’s name, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory—indeed, the Spirit of God—rests on you.
1 Peter 4:13-14 (CEB)

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP)—initiated in 1996 with a resolution on the worldwide persecution of Christians passed in both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate—now extends to three Sundays in November, appealing for people to pray for those around the globe who are being persecuted for their faith: unable to share their Christian belief or freely read the Bible without personal retribution and physical danger. In 2015, the dates are November 1, 8, and 15.

[Jesus said,] “…But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”
Matthew 5:44 (NIV)

#IDOP, #IDOP15, and #IDOP2015 began with a live webcast by Open Doors USA, Friday, October 30.

The Open Doors USA World Watch List ranks the top 50 countries where Christians face the greatest persecution, including North Korea, Somalia, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran, Pakistan, Eritrea, and Nigeria.

The following organizations have resources ready to help you help others become more prayerfully aware of the plight of Christian brothers and sisters around the world:

• Bible Gateway Twitter List: Religious Freedom
• Christian Solidarity Worldwide (@CSW_UK)
• Critical Prayer Requests
• International Christian Concern (@persecutionnews)
• Open Doors UK (@OpenDoorsUK)
• Open Doors USA (@OpenDoors)
• Release International (@ReleaseInt)
• Religious Liberty Commission (@EAUKnews)
• The Voice of the Martyrs (@VOM_USA)
• The Voice of the Martyrs New Zealand (@IDOPNZ)
• World Evangelical Alliance (@WEARLC1)
• WorldWatch Monitor (@wwmonitor)

Think constantly of those in prison as if you were prisoners at their side. Think too of all who suffer as if you shared their pain.
Hebrews 13:3 (Phillips)