Religious freedom report indicates much prayer is needed
The U-S's "Countries of Particular Concern" report, required under U-S law, allows the government do something about the concerns, says Voice of the Martyrs' Nettleton. The law allows the government to sanction some of these countries as a way of influencing them toward more freedom of religion. Nettleton says that there is good news going on in all of these nations, spiritually. "These are countries where the church is growing. Is it the persecution that helps the church grow? Or, is it the fact that the church is growing that leads to more persecution?" Either way, God is doing great things. While they're countries of particular concern in the eyes of the U-S, Nettleton says, "We, as Christians, should think of them as countries for particular prayer. These are places where Christians are suffering. These are the places where our brothers and sisters are locked up, are beaten, are sometimes even killed for their faith in Christ."
Pray that their work will encourage the church, empowering them to do even more to see people turn to Christ.
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