A Christian is martyred for their faith every five minutes somewhere in the world, according to a Christian persecution watchdog group.
Massimo Introvigne, a sociologist at the Organization for Safety and Cooperation in Europe said in 2011 that at least 105,000 people are killed every year because of their Christian faith, though current figures may be higher with the presence of ISIS this year.
"If these numbers are not cried out to the world, if this slaughter is not stopped, if it is not acknowledged that the persecution of Christians is the first worldwide emergency in the matter of violence and religious discrimination, the dialogue between religions will only produce beautiful conferences but no concrete results," Introvigne said at a conference on Christian-Jewish-Muslim interfaith dialogue.
As a part of the annual International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, Christian Freedom International-- a human rights organization that provides aid for persecuted churches around the world-- is urging Christian churches to join in prayer for brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ.
"They are your Christian family throughout the world. Pray for their safety; that they would be emboldened to continue sharing the Gospel even in the face of persecution; that their persecutors would also come to know Christ as they observe the courageous witness of these believers," CFI president Jim Jacobson said in a statement.
CFI is offering a free resource kit for churches-- which includes Sunday school curriculum ideas, and posters and bulletin inserts, and other material-- in preparation for the day of prayer on November 8.
