Faith
Churches Called to Stand With Persecuted Believers
Faith Facts
- Millions of Christians endure persecution and displacement, especially across Africa and Asia.
- Women and girls bear the brunt of violence, facing repeated trauma and cultural rejection.
- Christian leaders urge global prayer, repentance, and united action for the persecuted Church.
At the World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly in Seoul, believers were challenged to pray and act for persecuted brothers and sisters worldwide.
Joshua Williams of Open Doors International highlighted the suffering faced by Christians, particularly women and children, driven from their homes for their faith.
Williams shared, “When a village or a family attacks these girls and women and keeps them, rapes them again and again and again, what these women and ladies go through cannot even be imagined.”
He defended the dignity and strength of survivors, calling them “warriors of the faith.”
Violence against Christians is not isolated but widespread across over 55 nations and affects more than 45 million in Africa alone, with 16 million of those being Christians.
Williams pointed to Biblical examples of repentance and accountability, citing the stories of Cain and Abel, Nehemiah, and Ezra as models for the Church to follow today.
“The blood of hundreds of thousands are crying to God globally. And one wonders, where is the Church? Where are the people of God?”
He called for genuine repentance and a revival of prayer and fasting, noting initiatives like Africa, Arise that unite believers for global prayer.
Williams concluded with hope in Christ’s promise: “I will build my Church. Praise the Lord!”
Faithful action and steadfast prayer stand as the answer to this urgent call, motivating churches to uphold those suffering for Christ and reclaim a spirit of unity across nations.