Missions Newsletter - November 2021
Ramya at a gathering with local believers
The Persecuted Church
I recently spent some time in several villages across North Africa with a team of medical providers, long-term field workers, pastors and local churches. We were privileged to set up medical clinics in rural villages in hopes of opening doors to proclaim the good news. These villages consisted of Muslims, followers of Jesus, poverty-stricken families, and desperate communities in need of physical, mental, and spiritual needs.
In addition to these medical clinics, we were also able to host a pastors’ conference for pastors across this country. Our team was able to encourage and train up believers in order to multiply [the] seed for sowing and increase the harvest. During the conference, we were able to hear countless stories of persecution and grief within each local church. As we wept with these local believers and field workers, we begged God to comfort them in the midst of their suffering just as He comforted Jesus while carrying the cross to His crucifixion.
At Redeemer, we pray and petition on behalf of our persecuted brothers and sisters, but sitting and worshipping with them left me completely humbled because I couldn’t believe what I saw. I can attest that the persecuted church is full of the most joyful believers I have ever met! The joy they had was incredible as they worshipped in song and in prayer, made jokes at meal times, and as they encouraged and prayed for our team and long-term field workers. I almost couldn’t believe it, but remembered, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Join me in praying for not only our church in the United States, but also for our brothers and sisters in the persecuted church. Let’s ask the Lord to help us rejoice and be glad as we may face daily persecution for following Jesus, and for the Lord to increase His Kingdom through it all.
