By Dr. Peter Hammond
What Have You Learned?
The pastor under whom I was converted and discipled, Rev. Doc Watson, challenged me after my first cross-border Mission to Mozambique in 1982: "Many Missionaries tell us what they have done, I would be more interested to hear what they have learned."
That profound challenge has continually guided me in over 40 years of ministering to the Persecuted Church.
Prayer and Partnership
There is so much that we can learn from the Persecuted Church. Yes, they need our prayers and support.
We are commanded: "Remember the prisoners as if chained with them..." Hebrews 13:3 and "In as much as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." Matthew 25:40.
But we also need to remember that these precious brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone through the fires of tribulation have much to teach us.
Fear God Not Man
They fear God and therefore are able to stand like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and declare: "Our God whom we serve is able to save us, and He will. However, even if He does not, we will not bow before your idols, neither will we serve your gods!"
Memorise the Word of God
They love the Word of God. As Sabrina, the wife of Romanian Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, testified: Before she went to prison, she was very poor. But once she went to prison, she became very rich. This was because she was poor in the things of the world, but rich in the Word of God. When she came to prison, she had the only currency that was of any value. She had stored up in her heart and mind the Word of God. From her Bible memorization she was able to make many people rich in prison.
Experience Outweighs Theory
After my first night in a filthy, mosquito-ridden jail cell I remembered the words of Richard Wurmbrand in his book Tortured for Christ, and I said to the other Frontline Missionaries with me: "An ounce of experience is worth a tonne of theory!"
When we were thrown into an overcrowded prison with an average of 60 prisoners crammed per 15 feet by 20 feet cell, we had the opportunity of conducting Bible studies in our prison cells at night and sharing the Gospel with 1,200 prisoners in the open courtyard by day.
However, there was no electricity and no plumbing. Neither, of course, did we have our Bibles or sermon notes. All we could
Pray For the Persecuted
Sunday, 10 November is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.
Of course, we should be praying for the Persecuted Church throughout the year.
However, this is a wonderful opportunity to join with hundreds-of-thousands of Christian Churches worldwide to pray for the Persecuted Church and with the Persecuted Church.
Mobilise Prayer and Action for the Persecuted
Currently, around 365 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution due to their faith, with this affecting about one in seven Christians globally.
This figure highlights a significant rise in anti-Christian persecution in recent years, representing the highest levels since monitoring began over three decades ago. Additionally, the number of countries with "extreme" levels of persecution has increased, reaching 13.
These include North Korea, Somalia, and Eritrea, among others, where believers often experience severe restrictions on their freedom to worship, as well as threats to their lives and livelihoods. The total number of countries where persecution is prevalent stands at 50, according to the 2024 Open Doors World Watch List.
In countries like Nigeria, where violence against Christians is especially brutal, believers frequently face attacks from militant groups, contributing significantly to the overall persecution statistics.
Similarly, Asia and parts of Africa see the highest rates of persecution, with Christians often forced to practice their faith in secret or face severe consequences, including imprisonment or violence.
"And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the Body of Christ, and members individually." 1 Corinthians 12:26-27.
Over the years Frontline Fellowship has produced resources that enable us to learn from the Persecuted Church and enrich the lives of our family, friends, church and school.
Find books dealing with the Persecuted Church.