 Photo by Thomas Peter, Courtesy Reuters |
"A woman holds a cross during a rally organized by Iraqi Christians in Germany denouncing persecution by the Islamic State terror group against Christians living in Iraq, in Berlin, Aug. 17, 2014.
"Persecution watchdog group Open Doors warned that the exodus of Christians in Iraq and Syria fleeing terror group ISIS reached "biblical proportions" this year, and called for Christian unity during the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church on Sunday.
"A number of Christian leaders and commentators spoke during the webcast, raising awareness and encouraging prayer for believers around the world who have faced persecution this year.
"Mike Gore of Open Doors Australia highlighted what he called the "unprecedented focus" in 2014 on the persecuted church, and recalled a number of the most prominent stories that made headline news.
"He said that the targeting and exodus of Christians from Iraq and Syria can only be described as "an exodus of biblical proportions," referring to the rise of ISIS, which has captured a number of cities in those two countries.
"'Christians, not just in their hundreds, Christians in their tens of thousands [are] fleeing Iraq and Syria with little more than the clothes on their backs, because of increased pressure from the Islamic State," Gore pointed out..."
"...Open Doors CEO and President David Curry, who provided a preview for the Day of Prayer to The Christian Post in a phone interview last week, concluded the webcast by expressing hopes that Sunday's event is only "the beginning of the conversation, not the end."
"'We need to be praying every day for the persecuted church. You need to take action, to find where your passion lies and connect in ways to serve the persecuted church like you've never done before," Curry addressed viewers. "I believe that this is going to be the issue that we are challenged with in the next decade."
"Full streams of the webcasts from both Saturday and Sunday's event are available on the Open Doors website."
"Persecution watchdog group Open Doors warned that the exodus of Christians in Iraq and Syria fleeing terror group ISIS reached "biblical proportions" this year, and called for Christian unity during the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church on Sunday.
"A number of Christian leaders and commentators spoke during the webcast, raising awareness and encouraging prayer for believers around the world who have faced persecution this year.
"Mike Gore of Open Doors Australia highlighted what he called the "unprecedented focus" in 2014 on the persecuted church, and recalled a number of the most prominent stories that made headline news.
"He said that the targeting and exodus of Christians from Iraq and Syria can only be described as "an exodus of biblical proportions," referring to the rise of ISIS, which has captured a number of cities in those two countries.
"'Christians, not just in their hundreds, Christians in their tens of thousands [are] fleeing Iraq and Syria with little more than the clothes on their backs, because of increased pressure from the Islamic State," Gore pointed out..."
"...Open Doors CEO and President David Curry, who provided a preview for the Day of Prayer to The Christian Post in a phone interview last week, concluded the webcast by expressing hopes that Sunday's event is only "the beginning of the conversation, not the end."
"'We need to be praying every day for the persecuted church. You need to take action, to find where your passion lies and connect in ways to serve the persecuted church like you've never done before," Curry addressed viewers. "I believe that this is going to be the issue that we are challenged with in the next decade."
"Full streams of the webcasts from both Saturday and Sunday's event are available on the Open Doors website."
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