A terrible example of such persecution ocurred August 1st, 2009. According the EFE agency, hundreds of religious extremists burned 50 Christian homes and a church in Gojra, in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. A total of seven Christians, including a child and four women, burned to death and a further 15 were injured.
We could also speak of many other recent examples in China, Cuba, Laos, Afghanistan, Irak, Somalia, Nigeria, North Korea, Indonesia, Ethipia, Iran, India, Sudan, etc.
In view of these facts, the Evangelical Council of Catalonia (Consell Evangèlic de Catalunya) has partnered with the Religious Freedom Commision of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance to call for silent gatherings in front of the city halls of Barcelona, Girona, Tarragona, Lleida, Sabadell, Manresa and Vilanova-i-la-Geltrú to send a message of solidarity and encouragement to all persecuted Christians throughout the world.
We want them to know that they are not alone in their suffering, because we remember them in prayer at our homes and in our churches. We also ask their forgiveness for not praying enough.
We want them to know they are an example to us for their faithfulness to God in the midst of such pain.
We want them to remember that Jesus Christ continues as Lord of the story, and when He arrives victoriously at His second coming, He will wash away their tears and comfort them, as the Bible says:
Revelation 7:16-17
16 They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;
17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
He will do all of this, because Jesus loves His Church, and He loves Christians who are persecuted for their faith in Him.
You are not alone. Jesus Christ loves you.
The Evangelical Christians of Catalonia.
Press Release
United by our creed
“JESUS CHRIST LOVES YOU! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!”
Evangelical Christians of Catalonia will gather on Saturday, December, 12th at 7:30 pm in an act of solidarity to send a message of encouragement to Christians throughout the world who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ.
Every day, news arrives about what is happening in countries governed by different kinds of dictatorships or where extremist religious groups are present. In such countries, churches are burnt, Christians’ homes are attacked, and Christians and their leaders are imprisoned, tortured, executed or murdered simply for having and living a faith different from that of the majority.
One terrible example of this persecution occurred August 1st, 2009. According to the EFE agency, hundreds of religious extremists burned 50 Christian homes and a church in Gojra, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. A total of seven Christians, including one child and four women, were burned to death and a further 15 were injured.
In face of these facts and others like them, the Evangelical Council of Catalonia (Consell Evangèlic de Catalunya) has called for silent gatherings in the main cities of Catalonia to send a message of solidarity and encouragement to all persecuted Christians throughout the world. Participants will bring banners of support and will light candles and remain silent for half an hour. At the beginning of the event, a statement will be read to explain the reasons for the gathering.
These gatherings will be held in front of the city halls of the four province capitals and also of Sabadell and Vilanova-i-la-Geltrú.
For more information, visit the website: http://cristianosperseguidos.blogspot.com
In the above site, you will find details on the coming gatherings on December 12th, as well as graphic information on the gatherings of May 6th, 2007, held in response to the murder of 3 evangelical Christians in Turkey. That time, 12,400 participants gathered in 33 Spanish cities, 5,400 of them in 8 cities of Catalonia.
