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International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church stack of books and films on a wooden chair against a white blanket

Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. It's a reminder that global Christians in different parts of the world are likely facing persecution and even martyrdom for their Christian faith.

Here are a few books that may help in learning more about their struggles and plight. As one part of the body of Christ hurts, so do the others. If you are interested in learning more, some of these resources come from Voice of the Martyrs.

📗 Jesus Freaks by dc Talk
📗 Live Like a Jesus Freak by dc Talk
📗 Killing Christians: Living the Faith Where It's Not Safe to Believe by Tom Doyle
📗 Persecuted: The Global Assault on Christians by Paul Marshall, Lela Gilbert, and Nina Shea
📗 Between Two Tigers: Testimonies of Vietnamese Christians compiled by Tom White
📗 Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand
📽 Tortured for Christ
📗 God's Double Agent by Bob Fu
📘 Safely Home by Randy Alcorn
📘 Across the China Sky by C. Hope Flinchbaugh
📘 Daughter of China by C. Hope Flinchbaugh
📽 China Cry

Not pictured:
📗 Foxe's Book of Martyrs by John Foxe
📗 I Dared to Call Him Father by Bilquis Sheikh and Richard H. Schneider

I've read a few biographies and books over the years from other parts of the world as well; however, you can probably detect that I have a heart for Christians in East and Southeast Asia and have collected those stories. If you're interested in learning more about which countries top the list for where Christians face the most extreme persecution, Open Doors offers a World Watch List to help guide our prayers.

May we remember our brothers and sisters in Christ and the trials they face for believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. - Matthew 16:25

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