On May 10-13, there was an international Summit in the Defense of the Persecuted Christians in Washington D.C. The summit organizer was Franklin Graham who is a leader of a missionary group--“The Samaritan’s Purse” and a son of a well-known preacher—Billy Graham. More than 600 Christian leaders from 130 countries were invited to the summit with a goal of discussing the state of the persecuted Christians around the world.
Those who attended the summit were shocked by the personal testimonies of the relatives of Christians who were martyred by the ISIS, as well as testimonies of those who were tortured for their faith, lost their loved ones, were raped, and beaten.
"Open Doors" organization since its foundation in 1955 has been active in giving relief, and in protecting the persecuted Christians as well as working on gathering statistical information of the persecution, and has the shocking statistics on their website. Every month on average:
- 322 Christians around the world die for their faith
- 214 churches or church properties are destroyed, are closed down, or burned down
- 772 various acts of violence such as beatings, rape, abduction, and forced marriages are done to Christians
«The reality is that the Christian faith is being attacked around the world. According to Michael Pence who is the Vice President of the United States and who addressed the members of the summit, no one in the entire world today encounters such great hostility and hatred as do Christians. America condemns the persecution of any faith, of any kind, in any place, and at any time, and to the best of our abilities, we will fight against that».
«We had a Summit in Washington D.C. in order to attract more attention. We desire that the Presidential administration, the members of Congress, as well as the Government departments would get to know these Christians, and find out about their suffering" — said Franklin Graham.
Franklin Graham hopes that the church leaders would go to their home churches encouraged and ready to remain faithful to the Gospel regardless of their circumstances.
The Summit in Washington D.C. gave Christian leaders around the world, and who represent the persecuted church, an opportunity to share their burdens with each other. The Summit participants drafted a declaration which was given to the U.S. government. The final version of the Summit’s declaration can be read here.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE SUMMIT
- Interview with Shirinay Dosova, the participant of the Summit (In Russian)
- International Christian News about summit in Washington (YouTube, in Russian)
- Information Bureau Spectrum - Russian Protestants on the summit in defense of prosecuted Christians (YouTube, in Russian)
SOME ARTICLES RELATED TO THE SUMMIT:
In Russian:
- In Victory. Participants of the Summit in the Defense of the Persecuted Christians share about the event.
- God News. "World Summit in the Defense of the Persecuted Christians” was founded in Washington D.C
- Russian Orthodox Church. Report of a chair of DICR metropolitan Illarion Volokolam on the World Summit in Defense of the Persecuted Christians
- Christian News of the World. World Summit in the Defense of the Persecuted Christians took place in Washington D.C.
In English:
- Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
- Final Declaration Presented at World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians: https://billygraham.org/press-release/final-declaration-presented-world-summit-defense-persecuted-christians/
- Photos: https://billygraham.org/gallery/photos-world-summit-in-defense-of-persecuted-christians/
- VP Mike Pence Encourages Persecuted Christians: ‘We Stand With You’: https://billygraham.org/story/vp-mike-pence-encourages-persecuted-christians-stand/
- USA Today. Persecution of Christians isn't rare: Franklin Graham: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/05/07/christian-persecution-world-egypt-iraq-mexico-column/101279550/
- CBN News. VP Pence Joining Franklin Graham to Stand for Persecuted Christians: http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/2017/may/i-want-their-voices-to-be-heard-evangelist-franklin-graham-highlights-upcoming-summit-and-christian-persecution-in-america
- Christianity Today. You Can Debate Franklin Graham on Martyrs, But Not the World’s Persecution Problem: http://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2017/may/franklin-graham-martyrs-summit-persecuted-christians-pence.html
Open Doors. Watch List 2017 - top 50 countries with severe Christian persecutions: https://www.opendoorsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2017-World-Watch-List-Map.pdf
RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN DELEGATIONS ON THE SUMMIT
Please click the first slide below to view photos in slide-show format
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