Today is International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. If you keep up with what’s going on in North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, and a host of other nations, you know we have many brothers and sisters around the world who desperately need prayer.

Here are some facts about what’s going on today from the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church website:

Prayer is a mystery and difficult to measure. However, we can look at some of the changes occurring in the past and draw inferences from them.

Over 100,000 U.S. churches, representing nearly every U.S. denomination, are estimated to have taken part in the IDOP.

Christians in over 130 countries remembered the persecuted on the IDOP.

Christian churches are growing in awareness of the problem and coming together in unity to pray for fellow believers.

Christian leaders in restricted nations report that they are experiencing a new boldness in their witness to others.

There has been increased media coverage of the problem of persecution in both secular and Christian publications. (In the U.S., such publications include The Denver Post, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Focus on the Family with Dr. James Dobson, Christianity Today, and Message of the Open Bible.)

IDOP/USA staff participated in over 100 radio/TV interviews, reaching more than 7,000 stations nationwide. This does not include stations reached through associated organizations which also promote the IDOP in their radio addresses.

Public Service Announcements (PSAs) have aired on radio stations nationwide featuring Bill Bright, Chuck Colson, James Dobson, Shirley Dobson, Tony Evans, D. James Kennedy, Joseph Stowell, and Ravi Zacharias.

Christian freedom groups experienced record increases in funding and participation and continue to see growth in church awareness and advocacy.

Another group I’m familiar with is Voice of the Martyrs. Stacy Harp of Mind & Media writes a blog for this organization. You can learn more about them at their website.

Another organization I just learned about is Brother Andrew’s Open Doors International. He was recently interviewed on Focus on the Family. Here’s the link to Open Doors.

May we rejoice with those who rejoice, and grieve with those who grieve.