Page 23 - Voice of the Persecuted Christians - Oct-Dec 2022 - 120

Prisoner focus to special day of intercession
November sees the annual and long- established International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church (IDOP)
presentation on the IDOP theme? Our resources would be ideal for this.
While we would want Christians and churches to be praying for their persecuted brothers and sisters throughout the year, this annual date in the calendar is
prayer points, a PowerPoint presentation and song/hymn suggestions. You can find all of these at woocommerce-1195296-4229685.cloudwaysapps.com/ idop.
Secondly, in addition to producing materials that can be used in churches for IDOP Release International will once again be taking part in a special online event on November 6 at 7.30 pm.
a great way of reminding one another of issues of persecution and of introducing Christian friends to the realities of persecution for Christ in our world today.
Each year we have a particular focus for IDOP and this year our materials will be encouraging churches to think about and pray for Christians around the world who are in prison for their faith or face the constant threat of imprisonment for their gospel witness.
In the past couple of years this event has been hosted by the Evangelical Alliance. Release International has contributed, along with Open Doors and CSW.
First launched in 1996 by the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), IDOP is now marked each year
by many Christians and churches around the world. This year IDOP Sunday is on November 6. Will you be marking it in your church?
Do have a look at our IDOP page on the Release International website and feel free to download and
use as many of these resources
Release International CEO Paul Robinson will be speaking at this year’s event. Paul will be introducing a short video which will highlight the difficult situation many Christians
There are two ways you and your church can get involved in IDOP this November.
as you would like. You can do so on November 6, but, equally, you could choose another Sunday in November if it is more convenient. If you are not able to have a whole church service devoted to the persecution of Christians, why
in China face as the communist authorities continue to crack down on believers in their attempt to bring religious groups under ever-tighter state control. (See our latest report on page 6 for more illustrations of the persecution Christians face in that country).
First, as we have done for a number of years, we have produced a suite of resources on the Release International website that you can use in your church. These include a short video, a sermon outline, testimonies,
not ask your church leadership if you could have a slot in one of the services in November to do a short
You can register to join the online event on Eventbrite (eventbrite. co.uk) by searching IDOP Online 2022, or on the Evangelical Alliance website (eauk.org).