The Persecuted

Church Worldwide

Michelle Busse

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The Persecuted Church Worldwide• Faces of Persecution of Christians Worldwide• Restricted and hostile nations by continent• Imprisonment and sharing the gospel

– Cycle of imprisonment and sharing the gospel

• Putting a face with the situation– Marzieh and Maryam– Gao Zhisheng– Imprisoned Christians worldwide

• Get Involved

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Restricted and Hostile Nations by Continent

CaribbeanNorth AmericaEuropeEurasiaAfricaAsiaSouth America

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Imprisonment and Sharing the Gospel

Imprisonment is a very real possibility, and even probability, for many Christians in restricted or hostile nations worldwide. However, it can give them a unique opportunity to share the gospel message with the guards and their fellow inmates.

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The Cycle of Imprisonment and Sharing the Gospel

Imprisonment

Sharing the GospelPersecutionSharing the gospel in prison can cause more persecution.

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PUTTING A FACE WITH THE SITUATION…

The following slides contain the true stories of real Christians who are being persecuted for their faith.

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Marzieh & MaryamLocation: Iran

Arrested: March 5, 2009

Days Imprisoned: 235

Thirty year-old Marzieh and 27 year-old Maryam were arrested by Iranian security forces and labeled “anti-government activists”. They are currently being held at Evin Prison, which is notorious for it’s poor treatment of women. Both women are unwell and are allowed extremely limited contact with their families. The women have been interrogated numerous times and have been to court. Thankfully, they have never denied their faith!

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Gao ZhishengLocation: China

Arrested: February 4, 2009

Days Imprisoned: 282

Gao was abducted from his hometown by Chinese secret police. Since 2005, he has been repeatedly arrested, imprisoned, and severely tortured by Chinese authorities for his work defending Chinese Christians. In 2006, Gao and a group of prominent human rights lawyers created the Association of Human Rights Attorneys for Chinese Christians. The Chinese government does not acknowledge that he is imprisoned in their country.

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Imprisoned Christians Worldwide

Prisoner Name Country Prisoner Name Country

Ms Li Ying China Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel

Eritrea

Ms Mengyu Tang China Evangelist Ambaye Eritrea

Sun Minghua China Marzieh & Maryam Iran

Zhang Rongliang China Son Jong Nam North Korea

Alimujiang Yimiti China Sandul & Asia Bibi Pakistan

Shi Weihan China Gulsher Masih Pakistan

Kim Kyung Il China Dmitri Shestakov Uzbekistan

Li Mei China Y Wo Nie Vietnam

Gao Zhisheng China Father Nguyen Van Ly

Vietnam

Haile Nayzgi Eritrea Nguyen Van Di Vietnam

Kidane Weldou Eritrea Li Thi Cong Nhan Vietnam

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Get Involved!Most importantly… PRAY

Pray for persecuted Christians

Pray for the leaders of restricted and hostile nations

Pray for the persecutors of Christians

Raise awareness

You can raise awareness at your school, job, church, or anywhere else.

Write letters

Write to Christians who are being persecuted for their faith

Write to restrictive governments on behalf of persecuted Christians

Donate

You can donate money to organizations, such as the Voice of the Martyrs, who help the persecuted church all over the world

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Recap•There are restricted and hostile nations all over the world on seven different continents.• Imprisonment, while a terrible situation for a Christian, can provide a unique opportunity for ministry to fellow inmates of guards.•Stories of persecuted Christians

•Marzieh and Maryam•Gao Zhisheng

•There are hundreds of Christians imprisoned worldwide, a few of them were shown in a table.•There are many ways that you can get involved, from donating money to writing letters to imprisoned Christians.•Most importantly… PRAY for the persecuted Church and its persecutors daily!!

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“When I was being persecuted, I didn’t feel their insults. I was happy to suffer for the witness of Jesus Christ.”

- Parveen M., in Pakistan