More than 70,000 U.S. churches have requested materials for the November 16 International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted Church. Many pastors will sign a prayer resolution in front of their congregations on that day.

The event culminates a seven-week "season of prayer" to raise awareness of the plight of persecuted believers around the world (CT, Aug. 11, 1997, p. 61). A wide range of evangelical groups is actively supporting the effort, including Prison Fellowship, the National Association of Evangelicals, the Christian Coalition, and Focus on the Family. The October 4 Promise Keepers Stand in the Gap included a segment on prayer for the persecuted.

IDOP kicked off September 28 with a church service of religious and political leaders at National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. Among those speaking at the service was Bob Fu, who escaped persecution in China (CT, Sept. 1, 1997, p. 70).