Ten Things Persecuted Christians Are Thankful For
Published on November 26th, 2014
Thanksgiving will be celebrated this week in the United States.
To Do and To Discuss
- List 10 things for which you are thankful.
- Read below the list of things persecuted Christians have said they are thankful for.
- How many of the things on their list are available to you?
- Are there any things on your list and the persecuted Christians’ list that are the same?
- Can you provide persecuted Christians with anything on their list?
Persecuted Christians Are Thankful For:
- The prayers of other Christians
- “I knew there were people praying for me. It gave me the spiritual strength I needed to live as a Christian and to trust God.” — A pastor in prison in Asia
- Friends who encourage them
- “I am thankful that I have many friends here who help me when I’m discouraged.” — A boy who lost his parents in an attack by radical Muslims
- Hope in Jesus
- “I see people dying, crying, how Jesus gives them hope. This gives me courage. I am convinced there is no better job in the world than to serve God this way.” — Persecuted pastor in Nepal
- Encouraging letters
- “We have a family of faith that loves us and cares for us. We are not alone! — Maryam Rostampour talking about her feelings when she received letters while in prison in Iran. (Visit Prisoner Alert to learn how to write letters to persecuted Christians in prison.)
- God’s Peace
- “I started to pray, and I got the peace that is beyond understanding. I felt so close to God at that moment.” — Christian who was arrested in the Middle East
- Bibles
- “I have longed for this Bible, and now I am thankful.” — Christian in Uganda who received a Bible from The Voice of the Martyrs. VOM provides Bibles through the Bibles to Captive Nations project.
- The conversion of persecutors
- “Muslims want to hear the truth. They are just waiting on you and me to share the gospel with them.” — A Christian in Syria
- God’s Power
- “God is in control, not [the persecutors].” — A Christian in India
- Joy in Christ
- “I have Christ’s joy in my heart.” — A Chinese Christian prisoner answering another prisoner who said, “I have been watching you; your face is never sad.”
- God’s gift of salvation through His Son Jesus
- “They can burn down my house, but they can’t burn Jesus from my heart.” — A Christian in Pakistan