This year’s International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, entitled, “One God, One Faith, One Freedom,” will be broadcasted through a national church service, November 9, 2003. Nine organizations are working together for this ecumenical movement to draw attention to the persecuted church.
"One of the wonderful thing that can happen is that just connecting with Christians shows that we have a oneness,” said Luis Bush. Bush, who coined the phrase, “10/40 Window,” is the keynote speaker for the special event.
"We do want to get the facts on the table to show what is happening, where it's happening and how we can focus our prayers," he continued.
Bush hopes that through the service, there will be a greater awareness of the existence of churches in the most persecuted nations, such as Saudi Arabia and North Korea.
"Those are the two that are the worst," said Bush. However, according to Bush, these churches are still alive.
“Even though the church isn't visible, it doesn't mean it's not there...it's an underground church because they can not openly meet,” he continued.
Carl Moeller, the USA President of Open Doors Ministries - one of the nine groups servicing the event, says despite the unbridled oppression, the persecuted church is growing.
"Open Doors is working with people who are dealing with forced relocation, loss of jobs, families being split apart, imprisonment, even torture and martyrdom for the sake of their faith in Jesus Christ."
According to Moeller, their faith is more precious as it costs them more.
The broadcast will be aired from Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan beginning at 6:00 PM eastern time.
