November 5, 2020Last Sunday was set aside by IDOP Canada (International Day of Prayer Canada) to be a day of prayer for the more than 260 million Christians worldwide who suffer for their faith in Jesus Christ. The theme chosen by IDOP for 2020 is “Hope in Isolation” with the key verse being Romans 12:12 (please see below). For more information about this, please visit www.idop.ca.
In this month`s journal of Every Home for Christ International Canada, Jacqueline Dugas writes: “Ìn many parts of the world, the cost of Christian discipleship is huge. Yet the witness goes on faithfully and the precious Church of our Lord and Saviour continues to grow.
An elderly woman who was asked how Christians come together for worship in her remote village answered, ‘At night, we climb down in an old dry well and in the dark, we whisper our songs and prayers to God.’”
The following is taken from a post on August 25, 2020 on the IDOP website: “Suffering for one’s faith does not go on forever. After centuries of being a Hindu kingdom that persecuted Christians, Nepal is now changing in amazing ways. Christians are finding increasing freedom and the church is growing rapidly. Although there were just a few dozen Christians in Nepal 50 years ago, today there are many thousands.
Eventually, whether in this life or the next, Christians will be victorious in Christ. That was the theme of Canada’s 2011 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, which several Christian agencies helped to plan. I wrote a song that year to tie in with IDOP. Here is a verse that I hope will resonate with you as you consider and pray for persecuted Christians:
When we’re persecuted by our foes,
We should trust in God through every woe.
God will rescue us in times of fear,
Speaking words of comfort we should hear.
We can be victorious in Christ,
Trusting Him who paid the greatest price.
Who are those who overcome the world?
Only those who trust in Jesus Christ.”
This month is the time when people in North America and many other areas remember the great sacrifices that men and women made in service to their country and to preserve freedom. Karen found a story this morning about Irena Sendler, who rescued 2,500 children during World War II. You can read about her at: https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/irena-sendler-saved-children.html.
Today is a very special day for our family, as our daughter, Bethany, graduated with a Master of Social Work degree from McGill University in Montreal. We are very proud of all that she has accomplished and are grateful for the many people who have prayed for Bethany and all of our family.
Scripture for the weekend: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.” Romans 12:10-13 (NASB)