ICDPP - Pre-Event Information
Founder’s Note:
October 01, 2017 was a historic date for Persecution Relief and India – calling a nation to prayer for the Persecuted Church, for the very first time. On this Sunday, we called upon the Leadership of all Churches, Christian Institutions – schools, colleges, hospitals, all mission organizations, all fellowships, all house churches, all blood-bought Christians, all congregations, to convene across the length and breadth of India. May all glory be unto God, as we made this day a milestone, as we embraced with conviction,to pray exclusively for the Persecuted Church. This will be an Annual Event.
Prayer is the need of the hour and the only resource we have. As the days become increasingly dark, we desperately need ongoing, ardent, consistent, faith-filled prayer for our persecuted Church. We have the examples in the Old Testament of sacred assemblies for prayer, in the times of Ezra, Nehemiah & Esther, where God’s people collectively worshipped, to repent of personal and corporate sin.
Like Elisha’s servant, we often don’t see the wall of fire that surrounds us. Elisha however saw it prayed and said, ‘O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17).Just as Elisha prayed for his servant’s eyes to be opened, may Prayer open our eyes too.
Like Elisha’s servant, we often don’t see the wall of fire that surrounds us. Elisha however saw it prayed and said, ‘O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17).Just as Elisha prayed for his servant’s eyes to be opened, may Prayer open our eyes too.
We see the miraculous deliverance of Peter from prison, from the custody of sixteen men,in response to fervent prayer. Even in the most discouraging circumstances, God hears the prayers of the godly, overturns the counsel of tyrants, obtains angels from God, breaks the prison doors, loosens the chains, puts satan to flight, and preserves the Church.
Persecution Relief has ‘handled’ more than 1200 cases till this date and we have also witnessed the power and miracle of prayers, first hand.
‘Indian Christian Day of Prayer for the Persecuted’ commemorated on 01 October 2016, was inspired by the true story of Pastor Philip George who was released from prison on 01 October, 2016 – delivered on account of the miraculous POWER OF PRAYER.
Pastor Philip who ran an orphanage, was imprisoned on false charges of child molestation and rape; he was booked under the POCSO Act (The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act), which is a very serious offense. In spite of the police not being able to prove any of the charges levelled against him, Pastor Philip was imprisoned for 666 days as part of a huge conspiracy.
Pastor’s wife never gave up hope as she fasted 21 days over 3 months as the family covered and interceded for Pastor daily. She was all alone with not enough prayer support but never lost faith in Jesus Christ. She believed that every trial was conquerable through prayer.
Pastor’s faith was resolute and unshakeable as he believed that God would vindicate and prove his innocence. 32 false witnesses were produced against the Pastor but the honorable Court did not consider their evidence and exonerated Pastor from all charges that were levelled against him. God also used Pastor’s stay in jail in a significant way, for His glory and for the extension of His Kingdom.
On 01st October, 2016, the Lord acquitted Pr. Philip George from all charges – the culmination to fervent prayer and steadfast faith.
Sis. Lilly Kutty, is another example of miraculous answer to prayer. She was running an orphanage with her husband Pr. Johnson but was imprisoned on false charges of child trafficking for over 2 years. Bail was denied numerous times and while it appeared that all doors were shut, God supernaturally released her from prison. Pr. Johnson is still in jail.
Many such Pr. Johnson’s are still in prison. Do you feel the pain of your brother or sister persecuted? The time has come for the ‘authentic’ Christian community to acknowledge, without prejudice and share in the suffering of the persecuted Church. That is the road to healing, restoration and reconciliation.
Let’s awaken an Awakening
God is calling His people to shine His light. “If My people, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”. 2 Chron. 7: 14 (KJV). This is a prophetic promise for India, but we forget that it is a conditional promise. When we meet His conditions, God will honor His promise.
God is calling His people to shine His light. “If My people, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”. 2 Chron. 7: 14 (KJV). This is a prophetic promise for India, but we forget that it is a conditional promise. When we meet His conditions, God will honor His promise.
Let us remember that we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but we are engaged in a life-or-death struggle against principalities and powers and wicked spirits in high places.
As every state and administrative machinery is working against Christians and the Church in India, our only hope is in Him – as the Psalmist recounts in 121: 1
I. lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2. My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Can we be silent at such a reality? What can we do for the Persecuted Church? If we can’t visit to encourage them or give financially to support them or provide structures to advocate for them, at least we can stand united and raise our voices to pray for them. THIS IS THE LEAST WE CAN DO.
“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes, when no man can work” John 9:4. We go but once through the world, and we cannot return to correct errors, and recall neglected opportunities of doing our duty. The Church of God must be equipped and not be myopic, lacking focus & direction.
So, may our hearts respond to the Holy Spirit’s call. Let us set our personal agendas, brands and voices aside and join on our knees, seeking God’s heart and His hand on behalf of our persecuted brethren in India.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many.”
This is a metaphor and works well as a description of the body. Let us put it into action as a community, in love, the “still more excellent way,” for working together as one body.
Let us rise up as His people to PRAY. If we persist in prayer, the answer will definitely come.
Sincerely, in Christ,
Shibu Thomas,
Founder, President
PERSECUTION RELIEF
INDIA: +91-98260-25767
founder@persecutionrelief.org