Leading up to the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted on November 2, Help the Persecuted CEO Joshua Youssef explores prayer's transformative power with Dr. Karen Ellis, director of the Edmiston Center for Christian Endurance Studies at Reformed Theological Seminary.
Dr. Ellis shares how persecution differs from general suffering, the power of the Lord's Prayer to reorient us from self to kingdom, and why prayer unites one global church. Hear an astonishing revival story: eight churches "reduced to prayer" reached 250,000 homes and baptized 15,000 people in five years!
Discover Jesus's boldest prayer, how sacrificial love is shifting hostility, and what restricted believers teach us about endurance. There's no "persecuted" and "free" church—only one body suffering and hoping together.
- Started 1996 by World Evangelical Alliance
- Response to intensifying persecution in mid-1990s
- Observed first Sunday of November
- Based on Hebrews 13:3
- Director, Edmiston Center for Christian Endurance Studies
- Canada Fellow for World Christianity at Reformed Theological Seminary
- 18+ years with International Christian Response
- Persecution: Identity-based suffering for Christ's name
- General Hardship: Part of fallen world (illness, loss, tragedy)
- Both require endurance, but persecution uniquely joins believers to Christ's sufferings
- Religious freedom rooted in Christian worldview
- God's common grace enables non-Christians to understand human dignity
- Opportunity to point to God as source
- Not seeking persecution, but faithful if it comes
- The battle: believing God's unseen promises when the visible world screams otherwise
- One church globally—no division between "persecuted" and "free"
- All one body sharing same experience through union with Christ
- Communion and communication with God to align hearts with His will
- Jesus' model: constant reorientation from self to God
- "Nevertheless, not my will, but yours"—most dangerous prayer
- Key to endurance: "I want what God wants"
- Restricted region during COVID: eight churches "reduced to prayer"
- Went house to house praying (5 years ago)
- Results: 250,000 homes reached, 15,000 baptized in 2024
- Government attitude shifting from looking away to asking "How can we help?"
- Can't keep up with growth—"always one step behind the Holy Spirit"
- Each situation highly complex (cultural, political, historical)
- Churches have their own evolving history
- Taking listening posture essential
- Structured around teaching prayer course at RTS Atlanta
- Reorienting self-focus toward God's kingdom
- Praying for suffering believers, oppressors, and global unity
- Learn About The Edmiston Center (and Karen's prayer class): https://edmistoncenter.org
- Submit your questions: podcast@htp.org
- Support persecuted believers through Help The Persecuted: htp.org/donate