Remembering Persecuted Christians this Christmas

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ACLJ.org

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December 22, 2015

3 min read

Persecuted Church

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As we gather with our families and friends to celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas, it’s important to remember our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.  Some are separated from their families in prison while others face torture, torment, and even death for celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Just as Christmas is the celebration of God sending His Son to save us, we are sent by God to seek justice on behalf of the persecuted around the world. This past year, we helped rescue child brides from sexual abuse in Kenya, aggressively advocated for the freedom of two Pastors in Sudan who faced possible death sentences for their faith, and helped a tortured Christian defeat false murder charges in Pakistan.  While achieving these important victories for persecuted Christians, there is much work still to do this Christmas.

Tragedy has always been a part of the Christmas story, reminding us of the broken world Christ came to save and redeem through His blood. Matthew 2 tells the story of King Herod murdering baby boys in an effort to kill Jesus Christ right after his birth. And this Christmas, there is no shortage of tragedy facing Christians around the globe.

In Iran, at least 92 Christians are detained, including American Pastor Saeed Abedini – a U.S. citizen. Pastor Saeed and the other wrongfully imprisoned Americans continue to face isolation and despair in some of the world’s most dangerous prisons.  We continue advocating for their freedom across the globe.

In Pakistan, we continue fighting for Parwasha, the eight-year-old Christian girl abducted, stripped naked, beaten, and left in the public streets by Muslim attackers with a vendetta against her family.  Our legal petition to prosecute her attackers was supported by a judge who ordered that a criminal case be opened into the matter.

In Sudan, although Pastors Michael and Peter are free, rampant persecution continues to escalate.  Christian churches and other religious facilities continue to be demolished. And in the past month, four Christian pastors were arrested for their faith.

And finally, ISIS  - the Islamic State – continues its genocide against Christians in the cradle of Christianity – abducting, ransoming, raping, and executing hundreds of Christians every day.

As we celebrate Christmas this week, don’t forget about our fellow Christians around the world who face persecution and death because of their faith.

They need our prayers. They need our actions.