Local authorities in Chiapas, Mexico, recently issued an official warning to Pastor Antonio Cruz Rodas, ordering him to stop evangelizing in the area. Pastor Rodas has also received death threats.

Today marks the beginning of Lent, celebrated by many Christian traditions around the world. The Lent celebration is a reference to the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and facing temptations by Satan in the wilderness. Traditionally, it is a time which Christians devote to prayer in order to draw closer to God in the days leading up to Easter. Here are 40 ways you can pray for your persecuted brothers and sisters:

At about the same time Muslim radicals were massacring the cartoonists in Paris, Boko Haram was levelling the city of Baga, Nigeria, killing an estimate 2,000 people. I was very angry and outraged at the horrific scale of murder of innocent people of all ages. Although the massacre in Nigeria was not specifically targeting Christians (as far as I know), as a Christian I am deeply troubled by the indiscriminate killing of human beings. I prayed for justice, for the international community to stop these atrocities that grow bolder as each day goes by, and to bring those killers to justice. Where was the sign of international unity against the massacre in Nigeria?

December 3, 2014

There’s a path not far from my house that winds through nearly eleven miles of the city. The pathway runs beside the Caney River and courses through the woods, and connects a number of the city’s public parks. After sunset, many parts of the trail become incredibly dark. Only distant street lights and nearby businesses light up the surrounding area.

It's not too late to make sure that your church will "Remember those in bonds..." (Heb. 13:3) this Sunday on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP).