Prison Pals

“Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 3:13

We know little about suffering for Jesus. Yes, friends, family, co-workers, and teachers— antagonistic to the faith—often hurl hurtful remarks and insults. Sadly, we do hear more and more in America about Christians being denied promotions, outspoken believers being hushed, and Godly faculty being reprimanded for attending school prayer vigils. While such incidents make us mad and make us sad, they should also cause us to remember the much more severe persecution faced by our family in Christ around the world. In fact, we shouldn’t require a news flash of an incident close by to rouse our concern for those far away. We should keep them on our minds and in our hearts every day. “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering”(Heb. 13:3).

Not sure who’s hurting? Here are a few facts taken from two Christian news sites:

 One-third of North Korea’s 100,000 believers are in concentration camps.

 At the beginning of August, three houses used as churches were burned in Sumatra. A gang threw stones and threatened church members with knives before pouring gasoline around the houses and setting them on fire.

 In Malaysia, authorities from the Islamic Religious Department, accompanied by police, recently raided a celebration dinner at the Damansara United Methodist Church and recorded the names of those present.

 In Eritrea, 90 Christians, mostly college students, have been arrested since May and are in the notorious Mitire military prison.

 In the past week, dozens of priests and believers have been arrested in China, and twenty-four were killed in attacks on Christian villages in Nigeria.

 In Pakistan, a fourteen year old Christian girl was taken from her home at gunpoint by a Muslim who intends to “purify her,” convert her to Islam, and make her his mistress. Such violent acts occur often against young Christian girls, but police authorities will not respond or investigate.

 In Mexico and other Latin countries, Christians have increasingly become targeted as victims of attacks, kidnappings, and murders by gangs and organized crime.

And three weeks ago, a sixteen-year-old girl in Sudan escaped from a gang of Muslims of who kidnapped her one year ago. She was initially locked in a room and beaten until unconscious. The leader of the group raped her, and she is still suffering pain in her right eye from a blow he recently dealt her in a beating. “Apart from abusing me sexually, he tried to force me to change my faith,” she said. “I cannot forget this bad incident, and whenever I try to pray, I find it difficult to forget. I ask believers to pray for me for inner healing.”

“Remember those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Millions of our brothers and sisters are hurting, and over 100,000 will die for their faith this year. The key to prison might be held by the enemy, but the key to prayer is in your hands.

Fold them and don’t forget.