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NAE Stands With Persecuted Church

Evangelical body expresses grief and concern for suffering Christians.

At its semiannual meeting on March 5, the Board of Directors of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) expressed collective grief and profound concern for the suffering of Christians around the world.

"Our brothers and sisters in Christ are being persecuted, uprooted from their ancestral homes, and even martyred because of their faith," the motion states. The NAE includes more than 45,000 churches from 40 different denominations, including the Assemblies of God. The 12-member NAE Executive Committee includes Assemblies of God General Superintendent George O. Wood and National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference President Samuel Rodriguez Jr.

"Christians have become the most persecuted people of faith in today's world," NAE President Leith Anderson said. "From almost every nation in the world we hear reports of those who are threatened and injured because they are followers of Jesus. The most frequent persecution news is the brutality in the Middle East and Africa."

"Though the church worldwide varies significantly doctrinally, we must stand united when it comes to the plight of suffering believers," Wood said. "In the body of Christ, when one suffers, we all suffer. Let us be faithful to pray for God's comfort and strengthening for all believers who are suffering, advocate for their safety and freedom, and trust God to use each situation to advance His kingdom."

The motion calls on evangelicals to "engage in sustained prayer for those whose lives are threatened and especially for the family members of the martyrs who have been brutally killed" and to "give generously toward the needs of refugees and for the rebuilding of shattered communities."

The NAE board also addressed the responsibility of government leaders in protecting religious minorities.

"We pray that our leaders will have wisdom and courage in fashioning an effective response," the motion states. "We implore our government to work with other governments to restore justice and rule of law, and to uphold the fundamental human rights of all people, especially persecuted religious minorities."

The board noted that although terror and violence are wreaking havoc in many parts of the world, Jesus also endured persecution and violence. Through His suffering, death, and resurrection, He opened the way to life for all humankind.

"Our hearts break for persecuted Christians who are suffering and dying because of their faith," Anderson said, "Our hearts are blessed by persecuted Christians who are faithful to Jesus Christ when facing threats and martyrdom."

The NAE has passed two resolutions on worldwide religious persecution - one in 1996 and another in 2002 . In May 2014, NAE leaders joined with many other American Christian leaders in a pledge of solidarity and call to action for religious freedom in the Middle East.