A word from our Missions Pastor:
Today, more than 360 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith according to Open Doors International. The truth is that 1 in 7 Christians in the world suffer persecution. If you are a Christian in Africa there is a 1 in 5 chance that you will suffer persecution and in Asia, it is a 2 in 5 chance that you will suffer persecution. This has resulted in roughly 5600 murders of Christians worldwide, 2110 churches attacked and over 4500 Christians detained.

Northside works together with some courageous pastors in South Asia. Already, one pastor has been beaten, robbed, and then kidnapped. He was taken to a Hindu temple where he was told to submit to that god. Other pastors have been imprisoned and threatened with jail sentences over 10 years.

None of this is reported on the nightly news, but it is happening in many countries around the world. The physical and emotional toll is impossible to express. Families are separated, believers are beaten, and some die for their faith. All this happens simply because they love Jesus and choose to follow Him.

During the month of June, we want to focus on the persecuted church. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ. They are part of our spiritual family! We must intercede for them and ask God to strengthen them, help them, and embolden them. We pray against the evil deeds of their oppressors while at the same time praying that these oppressors will be saved and know the love of God.

God commands us to bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Gal 6:2). Let us bear their burdens in prayer.

Steve Allen
Pastor of Missions and Ministry

JOIN US FOR GLOBAL MISSIONS FOCUS: THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

Sunday, June 25

SPECIAL MISSIONS EMPHASIS WORSHIP SERVICE

Lexington Campus: 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 AM
Hear a special message from Pastor Rocky and from one of our mission partners serving in an area where there is strong resistance to the gospel and extreme persecution toward believers.

West Campus: 11:00 AM
Hear a special message from Wybo, who serves as consultant for various ministries and churches, with regard to Bible distribution, church planting and training how to deal with secular intolerance. He has been arrested about 7 times and blacklisted in 3 countries while serving in ministry. He has experienced first-hand some of the persecution faced by the persecuted church.

SPECIAL OFFERING FOR UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS

Northside has mission work among 5 unreached people groups and we are committed to supporting the national workers there. These workers spread the gospel among these groups, many facing oppression and persecution. Your offering will go to continued support of these brothers and sisters and prayerfully expanding our support to even more people groups. In July, Rocky and Steve will be meeting with brave believers who are working among the unreached. There have been many martyrs there, but there also has been a movement of God among the underground church. We want to help these dear brothers and sisters in Christ to advance the Kingdom of God for the glory of God. You can give during worship services on Sunday, June 28, with a special Missions offering envelope provided in the chair backs. Or, you can give online HERE and be sure to select the “Unreached People Groups” fund.

GLOBAL MISSIONS DINNER

Sunday, June 25 at 6:00 PM
Multipurpose Room at Lexington Campus
Tickets $5 per person
Tickets available online and in LIFE Groups
Meal catered by Tim’s Catering
Childcare available by reservation only!

Join us for a Global Missions Dinner, as we focus on THE PERSECUTED CHURCH. Two international workers will join us for a night of worship and fellowship. Both of these men have worked deep in the darkest areas of the world where there is much persecution. We will hear first-hand stories of persecution going on right now with our international brothers and sisters. We will learn how we can confront persecution and better support those who sacrificially serve the Lord and face persecution. We pray this be a great learning opportunity for Northside and our commitment to the spread of the gospel among the unreached.

CLICK HERE for tickets.

LIFE GROUP MISSIONS EMPHASIS

Beginning on May 28, and each Sunday leading up to our GLOBAL MISSIONS Dinner, we will provide an information sheet for 5 of the countries who are ranked on The World Watch List, which is Open Doors’ annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. You will find information about their situation and specific prayer requests. Extra copies will be available at the Welcome Desk.

We pray this GLOBAL MISSIONS FOCUS open our eyes to the battle that is out there among believers so that we can “… reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law.” Galatians 6:2 (MSG)