CLB 98-11 Bulletin Board: Still Time to Shatter the Silence!

From: clergy@pastornet.net.au

Sat, 31 Oct 1998

Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list Bulletin Board No. 98-11 -- Sat 31 Oct 1998 Item: ---------------------------------- Still Time to Shatter the Silence! ---------------------------------- An urgent appeal has been issued for more churches around the world to "Shatter the Silence" and become involved in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on November 15 (IDOP). Steve Haas made this plea as President of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, the body facilitating IDOP in the US. He said that in three short years, the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church has become the single largest prayer day event in the world. "No community of religious faith could be more deserving of our support and acknowledgement than those who suffer for the sake of Christ, a group that numbers in the hundreds of millions worldwide. "But the hour is critical and more churches are needed to awaken to the plight of our family worldwide and join this united stand of Christian unity. It is not too late to become involved." He said that IDOP "is not about differences in polity or programs, but people of God responding to their family with understanding, prayer and appropriate action." Haas added, "By unifying in our corporate witness, we give witness to our Christian family that they are not cut off, not isolated, but that they are cared for, prayed for and the object of our support. In the same way any of us would become engaged if we were to learn of our own family's negative predicament, it is critical we respond when we learn of our brethren in beleaguered communities of faith worldwide." He said the number-one request of the persecuted Church is for our support in prayer. "Not everyone can travel to another part of the globe and stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters, but all of us can touch them in prayer," said Haas. "We have seen miracles happen this year due to the intercessions of the saints and now is no time to rest on our laurels while our Christian family face some of the most violent treatment known to mankind." When asked what will happen if God's People pray for the Persecuted Church, Haas replied, "Prayer as a form of communication with God is a mystery. It is first answering speech as God communicates to us what he wants us to pray about and we in obedience respond to these divine promptings. In doing so we participate with God in strengthening, convicting, challenging, or resourcing another. When we pray for the persecuted Church we join in 'spiritual work' against the true enemy (principalities and powers), disarming strongholds, joining God on an issue close to His heart. "Of course, we want persecution to cease, in the same way we would want a friend plagued with cancer to be healed from their disease. At the same time, we are aware that persecution of the believer is a reality forecast by Christ, experienced by any that choose his Kingdom over the kingdom of this world. As long as Christ's Kingdom increases, persecution or very real tension will be the result. These two Kingdoms, both with different masters, demand total attention. In that way, persecution will always be the result of clashing of these two domains." Despite encouraging outcomes to prayer and advocacy, the persecuted Church continues to suffer gross injustices against their fellowships and families. We have to remain vigilant, to allow this cause to grip us and sear our souls. This issue concerns our family. If it is not us speaking out, who will it be? "If it is not now that we shatter our silence, when?" ___________________ The Clergy/Leaders' Mail-List encourages to unite with upwards of 10 million fellow believers around the world for IDOP. Resource material is available from World Evangelical Fellowship Religious Liberty Commission in co-operation with other advocacy bodies. To obtain this material or for more information, contact - US: IDOP@xc.org or call: (888) LETS PRA (538 7772) Canada: rlc@efc-canada.com Australia and nearby: owner-rl-prayer@xc.org Elsewhere: candelin@pp.kolumbus.fi ___________________ This bulletin was extracted from an article by Dan Wooding ASSIST COMMUNICATIONS End of Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list Bulletin Board No. 98/11 ********************************************************* ____________________________ Clergy/Leaders' Mailing List (Moderated) This mailing list is open to all Christians via Internet e-mail and most fax destinations. Submissions welcome: clergy@pastornet.net.au To subscribe, e-mail to: clergy-request@pastornet.net.au with SUBJECT reading SUBSCRIBE To unsubscribe, e-mail to: clergy-request@pastornet.net.au with SUBJECT reading UNSUBSCRIBE Copyright: Postings may be re-sent ONLY with all copyright notifications intact.

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