Today, Open Doors USA published the 2019 World Watch List – a tool to track and measure the extent of persecution around the world. They have been monitoring the worldwide persecution of Christians since the 1970s, and each year they create a list of the top 50 countries where persecution is the worst.

This list, of course, is not just for head knowledge. In it, we see a complex reality of persecution against Christians around the globe. This is coupled with stories from the field–personal accounts to help us understand how to pray, to support, to empathize and to stand with persecuted Christians when they suffer—and rejoice with them when conditions improve.

More importantly, responding with compassion and prayer is not only necessary for the individual believer, but for the church as a whole.

One Body, One Family

When Jesus confronted Saul in Acts 9, he didn’t say, “Saul, why are you hurting these innocent people?” or “Saul, don’t you care about human rights or religious freedom?” No, when Jesus confronted one of the greatest persecutors of Christians at that time, he simply asked, “Saul, why do you persecute me?” Persecution goes back to Jesus.

We are his body—the largest expression of the Son of God on earth. We’re attacked, ostracized, falsely accused, imprisoned—and even killed—by proxy of the name of Jesus. That’s also why Jesus said, on more than one occasion, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of me.”

Today, from Sri Lanka to Syria, from Egypt to Eritrea, from Nigeria to North Korea—and every other region where persecution occurs—it’s always about him.

In 1 Corinthians 12:26, the apostle Paul reminds us that we, as the church, are called to both suffer and rejoice together as one: “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” We have both a beautiful opportunity and an obligation to stand with our suffering sisters and brothers in Christ as one family. As they suffer, the worldwide body suffers; when they rejoice, the worldwide body rejoices with them. Perhaps the greatest show of God’s love today is not just to care for a hurting and lost world, but to care for our own hurting family—with radical, sacrificial love and unity.

Sometimes the issue of global Christian persecution can feel daunting and overwhelming, but it might be good to think of it in terms of your local church. When there’s an issue or a need from a member in your community, you and others rally around to hurt with them, comfort them, encourage and pray with them—possibly even helping them with a physical need. We need that that same kind of compassionate and intentional posture on a global level. God has called us to stand with the persecuted church and let them know they have not been forgotten. They’re not alone. And the worldwide body of Christ is with them—in both their pain and their joy.

The Church stands with Suffering Believers

What does a compassionate response look like for you and your church? To get started, Open Doors has numerous ways to help you increase your personal awareness of persecuted believers and awaken your church to the existence of modern-day Christian persecution—and how they can follow Jesus’ example and teaching to strengthen, encourage, comfort and pray for their persecuted family. Each resource is free and easy to access.

• Download the Pray for the Persecuted prayer app. This free app offers a simple way to pray for persecuted believers around the world. Get specific prayer requests from persecuted believers regularly delivered to your cell phone, including urgent prayer needs. Learn more at ODUSA .org/PrayerApp.

• Request the free monthly prayer calendar with specific requests from persecuted believers daily. Download it for individual or small group use. Learn more at ODUSA.org/PrayerForceAlert.

• Start the four-week study series The Ripple Effect—with host J.D. Greear—in your small group or class. The study is designed to help you learn about Christian persecution today and what Scripture says about it; and connect with persecuted believers around the world. Download the free series at RippleEffectSeries.com.

• Download free church resources. You’ll find exclusive small group resources, videos, prayer walls, research and relevant stories to help you connect your church with their persecuted family around the world. Learn more at ODUSA.org/Church.

• Follow Open Doors on social media. Each day, Open Doors shares prayer needs, videos and stories as well as live broadcasts to help connect you to the needs and stories of persecuted believers around the world.

“But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”  —1 Corinthians 12:24–26

The church has both a beautiful opportunity and an obligation to stand with our suffering sisters and brothers in Christ as one family. As they suffer, the worldwide body suffers; when they rejoice, the worldwide body rejoices with them. Click To Tweet