#RedWednesday University Day: The Persecuted Church past and present

#RedWednesday: A Day of Prayer and Action for the Persecuted Church

#Red Wednesday is a global day of prayer and action for the persecuted church. It is held on the Wednesday before Palm Sunday each year. The day was first started in 2014 by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a Catholic charity that supports persecuted Christians around the world. The goals of #RedWednesday are to: * Raise awareness of the persecution that Christians face around the world. * Pray for those who are being persecuted. * Act on behalf of those who are being persecuted. #RedWednesday is a day for Christians to come together in solidarity with their persecuted brothers and sisters. It is a day to pray for their protection, to speak out against their persecution, and to work to end it.

#The Persecuted Church: Past and Present

The persecution of Christians is not a new phenomenon. Christians have been persecuted since the time of Christ. In the first century, Christians were persecuted by the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, Christians were persecuted by Muslims. In the 20th century, Christians were persecuted by communists. Today, Christians are persecuted in many countries around the world. According to Open Doors, a Christian persecution watchdog group, there are over 360 million Christians who are persecuted for their faith. The countries where Christians face the most persecution are: * North Korea * Afghanistan * Somalia * Libya * Pakistan * Eritrea * Yemen * Iran * Iraq * Saudi Arabia

#The Suffering of the Persecuted Church

The suffering that Christians face for their faith can be severe. They may be: * Beaten or tortured * Imprisoned or killed * Forced to flee their homes * Denied access to education or employment * Discriminated against in society The suffering of the persecuted church is a tragedy. It is a violation of human rights. It is a crime against humanity.

#What Can We Do?

We can do a number of things to help the persecuted church: * **Pray for them.** Pray for their protection, for their strength, and for their perseverance. * **Speak out about their persecution.** Let your voice be heard. Write to your elected officials. Support organizations that are working to end persecution. * **Act on their behalf.** Donate to organizations that are providing aid to persecuted Christians. Write letters to prisoners of conscience. Advocate for religious freedom. We must not be silent in the face of persecution. We must stand up for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must work to end the persecution of Christians around the world.

#Conclusion

#Red Wednesday is a day to remember the persecuted church. It is a day to pray for them, to speak out about their persecution, and to act on their behalf. We must never forget our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering for their faith. We must stand with them in solidarity. We must work to end their persecution.