“Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.” Hebrews 13:3
I have recently read a book that has changed my life. It is called Safely Home by Randy Alcorn.In a note at the end of the book, it was explained that this book was written to “make a statement concerning the persecuted church.”And this book made a very loud statement to me.It opened my eyes to the fact that I have brothers and sisters in prison right now who have been torn away from their families, are being tortured, and pressured to renounce Christ.Many of them will die martyrs.This almost seems surreal when all I see is religious freedom in my own country.Many nights I went to bed heavy-hearted, praying for those who were suffering for Christ around the world.
In Safely Home the main character, who was persecuted, asked that his friend return to the US and share with Christians how to pray for him. Here is a summary of what he asked we pray for…
- That those witnessing their suffering will see that Jesus must be real in order to sustain them.
- That the rotten prison food will taste good to them.
- That the rags they wear in the winter will keep them warm.
- That the torture will not weaken, but strengthen their faith.
- That Satan would not overcome them or their families faith with despair and discouragement.
- That the prisons would be centers of revival.
- That illegal churches would be invisible to the police and visible to everyone else.
- That sons and daughters would not be ashamed of their fathers and mothers in prison.
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“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:40
