Revelation 2:10 (New American Standard Bible)
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the
devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and
you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will
give you the crown of life.
In 1988, Wally Magdangal was pastoring an underground
church in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He was a Filipino lay pastor of Christian
foreign workers wishing to gather for worship. In 1992, soon after the
conclusion of the Gulf War, the house church had grown to over three hundred
worshipers, the largest church in the country. The Saudi government became
alarmed at the positive impact the church was having and Wally was arrested.
While he was in prison, Wally was tortured, abused, and eventually falsely
charged with blaspheming Muhammad and Islam. He was tried before the Saudi
Arabian High Court and was sentenced to death by public hanging scheduled to
take place on Christmas Day 1992. Throughout his terrible ordeal, Wally refused
to renounce his faith in Jesus Christ. Outcries from several foreign
governments and agencies, including President Fidel Ramos of the Philippines,
Amnesty International, and members of the U.S. Congress were made on behalf of
Wally to the Saudi Government. And then just a few hours before his scheduled
execution, Wally Magdangal miraculously was granted a reprieve. The Saudi
Government decided to deport him to the Philippines instead. Today, Wally is
itinerant preacher, sharing how the Lord delivered him from persecution.
Being a Christian has never been easy. There are many
Christians today who are being persecuted for their faith. Are you regularly
praying for those who are persecuted?
Dear Lord today we pray for the Christians in the Middle
East who are being persecuted. We pray that they may be faithful to You in all
they do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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