Global Christian Relief (GCR) hosted a livestream event for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, an observance dedicated to Christians worldwide who face violence and discrimination for their beliefs last Sunday.
This advocacy organization focuses on supporting persecuted Christians and spreading the Gospel, operating in five regions globally, including Central and East Asia, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
The event included a kit with stories of individuals overcoming adversity, such as a Boko Haram massacre survivor in Nigeria and an advocate for the underground church in North Korea, along with testimonies from lesser-known persecuted Christians, including a woman from Nepal who faced discrimination for leaving Hinduism.
“There has been a rise in the persecution and oppression of Christians over the last 15 years or so,” GCR President and CEO David Curry told The Christian Post. He emphasized the need for awareness and action on this issue.
Curry pointed out that while many in the West understand the challenges faced by Christians in Nigeria, often regarded as one of the “deadliest” places for people of faith, Nepal is frequently overlooked. He noted that while reports of persecution in Nigeria typically involve more visible physical violence, Christians in Nepal continue to face their own challenges and endure persecution.
Despite no longer being a Hindu state, Nepali Christians face threats from their families and could be forced out of their homes for their faith. The government also imposes restrictions on Christians through anti-conversion laws and the closure of churches. Moreover, many Nepalese people are illiterate and rely on oral traditions, creating barriers for Christians trying to read the Bible.
To support these communities, GCR has collaborated with local partners to distribute audio Bibles in local languages, reporting the delivery of around 40,000 audio Bibles to Nepal last month.
Curry emphasized that one of the most significant ways Christians in the West can support their persecuted counterparts is through prayer. “Because we have to recognize this is a spiritual battle,” he stated. “First, we've got to start with prayer. It's life or death. So we've got to understand it's more than just politics; that’s why we start with prayer, and then there’s advocacy.”
He added, “I think once people get into this and they see that their voice makes a difference, then we can start talking about this with our representatives, having our churches pray about it, and we can move the needle on Western governments, the U.S., the U.K., France, speaking out for Christians who are being persecuted for their faith.”
