A persecution watchdog who has spent years exposing anti-Christian atrocities across the globe contends that Christians in the West can learn a great deal from fellow believers in duress.
“When you see the joy of the persecuted church, this is, to me, the valuable lesson that we need in the West,” David Curry, CEO of Global Christian Relief, told CBN News. “They’re under pressure, they’re under constraints … but, yet, they’re bold, and they’re happy, and they’re present.”
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Curry described taking a recent trip to Nigeria, where Christian persecution has reached a fever pitch in recent years. He encountered people there who have had personal injuries or who have lost loved ones due to attacks by Islamic extremists.
Still, these individuals exuded joy and hope, which, in turn, left him encouraged.
“It just gives me joy, because the Lord is sufficient,” Curry said. “God is sufficient—a relationship with Jesus. I don’t want to go through those things, but I’ve seen it take them deeper in their faith, and it’s encouraging.”
Despite observing such strong persistence among the persecuted, Curry said it’s important to note not everyone takes this posture; some people are understandably broken mentally and spiritually due to the intense trauma they face.
Still, the perseverance he’s seen has left him deeply encouraged and inspired on his own journey.
In fact, Curry has felt boldness in his own life as a result of seeing the powerful responses from Christians around the globe encountering attacks due to their faith.
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Reprinted with permission from cbn.com. Copyright © 2024 The Christian Broadcasting Network Inc. All rights reserved.
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