International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

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

Comments

All the Cheese

I've been coming across content within the past several weeks that has stereotyped Christian books (and other mediums) as being cheesy on Christian accounts. While this isn't a new label or even a new topic, what has surprised me somewhat has been seeing more Christian authors jump into this conversation who wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. Although some authors will name others whom they believe are writing non-cheesy fiction, I feel as though the damage has been done by repeating this blanket statement. While readers have freely been engaging in this type of commentary for some time, it's been interesting to see authors chime in, where in some cases, there seems to be an emphasis on self-promotion over reflection. I'm not stereotyping and saying that all authors or even the authors I'm connected to respond with this tactic (because I really don't think they do!), but there are a few out there from my limited experience who seem to respond to this disc...

Review: A Garden Grows - Hills of Harvest #1

Just in time for the upcoming spring season, a new series launches today. A Garden Grows , the first book in the Hills of Harvest series by Karen Higgins , is one that will have you planning and desiring to plant the garden of your dreams once the weather clears up. It's a welcome reprieve after a time of dormancy, awakening the joy of seeing God's creation in all of its splendour. Many thanks to Mountain Brook Ink for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis One plucky widow, six scrubby acres, and an unlikely group of gardeners, all brought together by a long-ago promise. Fifty years is a long time to wait. Posey knows Elliot meant his promise, and oh, how he tried, but time and money didn’t grow on the sagebrush blanketing their high-desert land. Neither did life go exactly the way they planned. Now, Elliot is gone, the sound of his plea ringing in her ears ... “Build the garden, my love!” This English ga...

Review: Breath of the Almighty

I've had the pleasure of revisiting my love of poetry through reading poignant and touching collections of Christian poetry that I've been introduced to on Instagram. I'm grateful that Breath of the Almighty by Shay McNally came at just the right time for me, tugging on my heart and my mind through verses that point back to God in every breath and poem. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : SA Book Synopsis Breath of the Almighty is a debut collection of free verse, confessional Christian poetry born from a life that's seen both deep wounds and deeper mercy. These poems move through topics such as family, grief, soul searching, healing, love, marriage, calling, spiritual warfare, prayer, forgiveness, and the ordinary places where Christ shows up when we least expect it. Each poem is rooted in Scripture and lived-in faith, and grounds lofty theology to an eve...