This past Sunday was International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians, and Christ Church had the privilege of joining believers and churches all over the world, interceding and praying for those facing extreme persecution.

It’s true that every one of us who seeks to speak and live out our faith in Jesus comes up against trouble of one kind or another. Maybe we are misunderstood or mistrusted by a neighbor because we are bold. Or perhaps we face pushback from someone at work. Whatever it is, Jesus promised us that, in this world, we would face trouble because of our faith in him. And we do!

But it’s also true that there are people and churches in other parts of the world who endure persecution of a different magnitude. Simply because they call Jesus “Lord,” they are threatened, beaten, ostracized by their communities, disowned by their families, and some are killed for their witness.

It’s estimated that over 300 million people worldwide are persecuted and martyred for their faith. This number is so big it’s abstract to us. But these are real people – every one of them with a story; every one of them made in the image of God; every one of them with a face.

Of course, because we live where we do, we can become insulated from the difficulties faced by Christians in other places. We can become disconnected and apathetic. I know I can. It’s just not our lived reality.

Something that has helped me to put a face on severe persecution is a podcast Pastor Daniel told us about last year in a sermon.

The Maverick Podcast (https://www.themaverickpodcast.com/episodes) tells stories of people who live in other places whose lives are forever changed because they come to Christ. I highly recommend it!

For example, Maverick tells the story of Bashara, who meets Jesus in a DREAM! (Evidently, many people in strict Muslim countries are coming to Christ through dreams!) Jesus speaks to him and invites him to surrender his life. Bashara, from an extremely wealthy and influential family, knows that if he does, he’ll have to run from his family and leave his community. But he says yes. And over several short episodes, the podcast tells the amazing story of what happens next.

I invite you to listen to this podcast or read about what’s happening to persecuted believers from places like “Voice of the Martyrs” (www.persecution.com) or Global Christian Relief (www.globalchristianrelief.org). These and other resources help to put a human face on the reality lived by so many.

The Lord is inviting each of us to pray, to stand in the gap, for these inspiring men and women who have endured so much for Christ and his kingdom. I think these are the people Hebrews 11:38 is talking about when it says, “They were too good for this world..."