It started with a film. It’s a film that is hard to watch. Sheep Among Wolves is a two-part film that was first released in 2016. Sheep Among Wolves is a film based in the Middle East about a community severely under persecution.

As I watched this film I cried because I could not believe this was happening to people. All because they believe in Jesus. To hear them talk about having to soundproof the rooms and take the batteries out the back of their phones and submerge them in water just to read the bible together and worship. The stakes of them getting caught are so high and they still worship at the feet of Jesus.

We all know the persecution of Christians was nothing new; since the disciples walked with Christ, and after he rose; they faced harsh persecution. This is why in Acts we see they are in hiding. Paul talks about all the precautions he faced when he went through all the nations spreading the gospel. Persecution is nothing new. I think it’s the fact that it’s swept under the rug nowadays because it’s not “directly” affecting us in the West.

That is not an excuse to stand with these communities. The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians “He comforts us in all our troubles that we can comfort others” It also says “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” Galatians 6:10. We are called children light to help one another out if we see someone in need of help.

“Blessed are those who are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:10

God had revealed to me, that I and many others in the West take for granted the fact that we gather in public and get to adore Jesus openly. That is not everyone’s reality. We should cherish every chance we get to gather and worship. We should be sharing the gospel as much as possible with everyone. People in these underground churches are risking their lives every day to spread the gospel. How dare we take that for granted?

Places where Christians are being persecuted:

North Korea

Afghanistan

Somalia

Sudan

Eritrea

Pakistan

China

Saudi Arabia

Iran

India

Nigeria

Syria

Iraq and Libya.

According to the 2015 briefing European Parliamentary Research Service, Most of the difficulties faced by Christians lie at the interface between action by non-state groups and a state framework of surveillance and restriction of freedom of belief and freedom to practice a religion. In certain cases, they arise not from positive action by the state to impose restrictions (the cases cited in the previous section), but from its inability to act.

Groups such as Boko Haram in the Sahel, and ISIL/Da’esh in Syria and Iraq, commit war crimes and carry out persecution, abductions, rapes, or forced conversions in the absence of a state framework that is capable of protecting minorities. Their governments are turning a blind eye toward all the hate crimes or there is simply no system put in place to protect people’s basic human rights.

Shortly after watching both volumes of Sheep Among Wolves, I started researching the matter. I found many organizations that were supporting these underground churches. Some organizations like FAI (Frontier Alliance International), made the Sheep in Wolf film, directly in these regions helping facilitate whatever these churches need.

Them and other organizations are shipping materials and supplies to these churches for them to keep going. Chasing the Son wants to help in any way we can. The 5% will go to any of these organizations that we feel are directly impacting these underground churches. Eventually, we want to be able to have a direct impact without having to donate through other organizations.

Ways to pray for persecuted Christians:

Pray that Christians who are under persecution have wisdom when preaching the gospel and evangelism.

Pray that they would be bold in their faith and that the lord’s will will be done.

Pray for a safety covering over the secret house “underground” churches that are meeting worldwide.

Pray for power, love, and a sound mind for those who are imprisoned, beaten, etc for the sake of the gospel.

Pray for the hearts of those who are doing the persecution, that their hearts would be softened.

Pray that the power of the gospel and the holy spirit will transform oppressive nations throughout the world.

Pray that the lord’s grace would pour out onto those who are under severe suffering.

Pray that the burden of these persecuted churches would be placed on your heart more heavily.

Pray that they will not be fearful nor panicked and be reassured that he goes before them and will not forsake them.

Faith Under Fire: Unveiling the Untold Stories of Contemporary Christian Persecution