August 12 1996

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Churches, organizations, and denominations are joining the World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) in sponsoring an International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on September 29.

Brian F. O'Connell, director of WEF's Religious Liberty Commission, says the biggest need of persecuted Christians is to make other Christians cognizant of their struggles. "Sadly, the awareness is very minimal," he says.

O'Connell says concern and empathy will be the focal point of the day. "I'm hopeful that there will be political response, but that's not the primary response we're looking for," he says. "We're trying to get the church to be the church." The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) has addressed the issue politically, calling for action by the U.S. government (CT, July 15, 1996, p. 60).

WEF is developing instructional and informational videotapes, audiotapes, books, and pamphlets, which it will translate into seven languages for use by churches and individuals. Its goal is to involve 150,000 churches in 115 countries in the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

So far, organizations involved with the day of prayer include the NAE, Campus Crusade for Christ, Prison Fellowship, the European and Australian Evangelical Alliances, and the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean. For more information, phone (630) 668-0440.