Global Christian Persecution Summit: Why Don’t Christians Care about Christians?

on April 17, 2018

Institute on Religion and Democracy Media Advisory
April 17, 2018
Contact: Chelsen Vicari, cell: 540-239-2170, e-mail: cvicari@TheIRD.org

Who: Institute on Religion and Democracy

What: A summit examining why American Christians have failed persecuted Christians overseas and aiming to inject concern for the Persecuted Church into the very DNA of American churches.

Where: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room SD-G50, 2nd St NE, Washington, DC 20002

When: May 10, 2018, 10 AM—3:00 PM (EDT)

Washington, DC—The Institute on Religion and Democracy will host a provoking one-day summit at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. to highlight global Christian persecution.

The summit speakers will join IRD’s International Religious Liberty Director, Faith McDonnell, and Evangelical Action Director, Chelsen Vicari, to address issues such as:

Lay people answering God’s call for caring for the Persecuted Church: (Matt Behum, founder and director S.I.T. (Trinitarian International Solidarity) St. Lawrence Martyr Church; The Honorable Frank Gaffney, President, Center for Security Policy and Rabbi Jon Hausman, Congregation Ahavath Torah, Stoughton, MA, founding members Save The Persecuted Christians; Jordan Allott, documentary filmmaker, Executive Producer, In Altum Productions; and Slater Armstrong, worship leader and songwriter/recording artist, founder Joining Our Voices.)

Engaging youth in an important social justice issue: (Chelsen Vicari, IRD; Sarah Roderick Fitch, Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights; Luke Moon, Deputy Director, Philos Project; and Alex Inman, a student awakened to the injustice of persecution.)

Influencing American foreign policy on behalf of persecuted Christians overseas: (The Honorable Sam Brownback, Ambassador-at-Large International Religious Freedom (invited); The Honorable Frank R. Wolf, U.S. House of Representatives (retired), Distinguished Senior Fellow 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative; The Honorable James Lankford, U.S. Senator, OK; Faith McDonnell, IRD; Albert Thompson, military historian, professor, NOVA; and Michael Horowitz, human rights activist, former General Counsel White House, former Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute.)

Keynote Luncheon Address on the Biblical Mandate to Christians to Care for Persecuted Christians: Dominic Sputo, author Heirloom Love: Authentic Christianity in This Age of Persecution, founder of Mute No More; with responses from Dr. Scott Redd, President and Associate Professor of Old Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary, and the Rt. Rev. Julian Dobbs, Bishop, Missionary Diocese of CANA East, Anglican Church of Nigeria and Anglican Church in North America.

Make sure to RSVP April 20 to reserve your lunch and seat for this inspiring summit at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/global-christian-persecution-summit-why-dont-christians-care-about-christians-tickets-43888610014

  1. Comment by Bill Messersmith on April 20, 2018 at 8:09 pm

    I cannot attend the summit. I am not an officially a member of any organization. But I agree whole heartedly the American church is asleep when it comes to persecution of Christians. I’ve done very little but a start. Glad for the summit.
    Bill Messersmith

  2. Comment by Donald on April 21, 2018 at 11:54 am

    Like the above gentleman, I cannot attend the summit and I also agree that in general the American church (especially the Legacy denominations) is not just asleep on this issue but their ‘social justice’ programs seem to have an affinity for supporting the very dictatorial regimes on the Left as well as the religion of Islam which make the persecution of Christians a matter of religious faithfulness.

    Please publish more information about this issue as well as the results of the conference. BTW, I preach about this issue regularly.

  3. Comment by Carole Bergman on April 22, 2018 at 3:49 pm

    Thanks be to God that you are having this meeting on the persecution of Christians!
    Please do keep us posted on this vital matter, as the gentleman requested .

  4. Comment by JOSEPH A. ALEXANDER on April 27, 2018 at 8:26 am

    IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LIVING CHURCH TO CARE ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD BECAUSE OF EXTREME PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS. WE CANNOT AFORD TO BE SILENT ANY MORE.

  5. Comment by Kitty on July 1, 2018 at 1:28 pm

    My pastor cares about it, he is from Korea and persecution of Christians is happening there. He warned that certain media and influences are bad for the youth. That includes worship of celebrities (who are influential and lack morals). So parents need to teach their children to be stronger Christians and not follow media outlets that are against Christianity and morality. Bring your kids back home!

  6. Comment by Tony on July 10, 2018 at 2:09 pm

    American Christians care only about their own salvation and blessings. Their attitude toward persecuted Christians is, to put it crudely, but accurately, “Sucks to be you!” So much for, “If one member suffers, all suffer!”

  7. Comment by Joshua Duong on October 17, 2018 at 1:56 pm

    Thank God for this wonderful summit so some lives may be encouraged and supported to face with their challenges and persecutions in many Gospel-restricted countries. It was tough when we faced persecution and humiliation and all we could do is to trust God.

    My father was in prison for 18 months for the sake of freedom. My father-in-law was in prison and labor camps for 20 years for the sake of faith. I was on exile for exactly 20 years now for the sake of the Gospel. Living in foreign lands and for so many years being persecuted for the sake of Christ. And on July 1, 2017 I was deported out of the country leaving my wife and 2 sons there in that country not at my choice. My family and I have been separated since July 1st.

    This year February 14, the day when lovers and families enjoyed the moments of love and celebrations, 14 leaders we know were just disappeared meaning they would never be founded even their bodies or where they were buried.

    Only those who go through those experiences could understand the turmoils, the fears, uncertainties, pressures, struggles, humiliations… Only those who go through those persecutions could understand the bleedings, the tortures, the hungers, the lost of the loved ones…

    I pray that your organization would take active actions and not just the meeting. Praying that more lives would be comforted, assisted, and supported so that they would know that they are being cared for, loved and their stories would be a great encouragement to thousands and millions of people. God bless you all

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