Deuteronomy 30:7 And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Christians in Southeast Asia and Sudan are having a harrowing experience: persecution. Jan Vermeer, Asia communications director at Open Doors International, told Premiere News the organization has been “inundated with reports of Christians telling us their communities would only give them food if they re-converted back to their original faith.” Christians from countries including Bangladesh, India, Sudan and Malaysia are being asked to renounce their faith for COVID-19 aid. Pastor Sam, who coordinates Open Doors’ work in Southeast Asia, said in rural Bangladesh, “governments are giving help to many people, but many Christians, especially those who come from a Muslim background or a Buddhist background, are not receiving the support when it goes to the villages.”
South Sudan has been known to face persecution by the people of the northern part. This has been going on for ages.
people may die or convert back to Islam if they don’t have the means to survive,” Sam said, adding that without the support of Open Doors, which is providing coronavirus relief in the area, “many Christians would certainly die of malnutrition and starvation, or decide that following Jesus is too hard.”
“Many of these new believers only have a fragile faith and need to become stronger in the Lord,” he said.
Faced with a report like this one where people are persecuted, denied their right of covid-19 aid, where would the persecuted turn? Vermeer told Premier that discrimination against Christians is embedded in some communities, meaning such practices will be difficult to change. Our first reaction in knowing this is to offer prayers to those who are facing this deprivation for their religious faith. To the christian in this situation the bible has assured us that this kind of experiences may arise, but they are not forgotten by the good hands of the lord. We lift up prayers on their behalf while praying that God who can change hearts will change the hearts of men responsible for this despicable acts.
While we are believing God for a breakthrough, we appeal to all those in authority to see to the end of this persecution; these people have a right to choose their religion. Not allowing this is an infraction of their basic human rights. Recently, in India, a woman was brutally murdered for converting to Christianity by Men suspected to by Hindu radicals. China, Pakistan and India are notorious for such persecution.
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