International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted

[00:00:00] Speaker A: About before we jump in today, the first is if you're here last week you heard about this, but this Sunday is not a normal Sunday. Today we're observing International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted church. So we've been talking a lot recently about the body of Christ and what it means to be a part of, of the body of Christ. And there's a local expression of the body of Christ that's us here today. There's a global expression of the body of Christ that's our brothers and sisters around the world, those who have faith in Jesus. And there are places around the world where our family is suffering and they're being persecuted for their faith, for being bold in their faith. And so we want to lift them in prayer. We want to stand with them in prayer this morning. And as we pray, these are not empty words lifted in hopelessness, but they are prayers directly to our Heavenly Father where. So what, what's going to look like is we're going to visit four countries this morning. North Korea and Afghanistan and Laos, Burkina Faso, and we're going to hear their story and we're going to pray for them and we're going to sing and we're going to praise God. We're going to call upon his name. We're going to pray for them to, to have strength in the face of the persecution that they face. And I pray this morning that we would see their boldness in the face of persecution and that it would strengthen our faith. I pray that for us this morning. And so parents in the room, if you've got some young kids, I just want to give you a word of caution this morning that some of the content this morning is heavy. And so if you would like for them, if you would prefer that they not be in here for that, our Grace Kids ministry this morning has an amazing missions focused time planned for the kids. And so if you want to take them to Grace Kids, you're welcome to do that. But I want to let you know that the content this morning is going to be a little heavy. So I want to pray for us and then I want to jump in and I want us to worship. And we're going to start from a place just dependence upon the Lord calling out, lord, I need you. Lord, I need you. Psalm 121 says, I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. God, we come before you this morning and we call upon your name and we intercede on behalf of Our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted for being bold enough to not be shaken by persecution, but that they stand firm. We pray this morning for that you would cover them, that you would protect them. God, I pray for our hearts in this room this morning that our faith would be strengthened as we see their boldness. We love you, Lord. Thank you that we can gather here freely this morning unafraid. We love you so much. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Hey, would you just stand with us? We're going to sing this together. We're going to sing these words out together. Lord, I need you. Sa. [00:04:48] Speaker B: Bowing here. [00:04:51] Speaker C: I find my rest without you. [00:04:58] Speaker B: I fall apart. [00:05:01] Speaker C: You're the one that guides my heart. [00:05:08] Speaker A: Will we sing it together? [00:05:11] Speaker C: O Lord, I need you. Oh, [00:05:15] Speaker D: I need [00:05:18] Speaker E: you [00:05:20] Speaker F: Every [00:05:21] Speaker D: hour I need [00:05:25] Speaker G: you. [00:05:26] Speaker C: My one [00:05:28] Speaker H: defense, [00:05:29] Speaker C: my [00:05:30] Speaker F: righteousness. [00:05:33] Speaker I: O [00:05:33] Speaker C: God, now I [00:05:35] Speaker G: need you. [00:05:42] Speaker H: Where sin runs deep, [00:05:46] Speaker A: your grace is more. [00:05:49] Speaker I: Where grace [00:05:50] Speaker C: is found [00:05:53] Speaker I: is where you are [00:05:56] Speaker B: and where you [00:05:58] Speaker G: are. Lord, I am free. Holiness is Christ in me. Oh Lord, I need you. Oh, I need you every I need you, my [00:06:28] Speaker D: one [00:06:29] Speaker G: defense, my righteousness. Oh God, now I need you [00:06:41] Speaker H: to teach my song to rise to you. When temptation comes my way, [00:06:53] Speaker B: When I cannot [00:06:55] Speaker C: stand fall on you. [00:07:00] Speaker H: Jesus, you're my hope [00:07:02] Speaker C: and [00:07:03] Speaker F: stay [00:07:05] Speaker H: so teach, so teach my song to rise to you. When temptation comes [00:07:18] Speaker C: my way [00:07:20] Speaker B: and when I cannot stand, I'll [00:07:23] Speaker G: fall on you. Jesus, you're my hope and stay. Lord, I need you. Oh, I need you every hour I need you. [00:07:50] Speaker D: My one [00:07:52] Speaker G: defense, my righteousness. Oh God, how I need you. [00:08:03] Speaker D: You're my [00:08:04] Speaker G: one defense, my righteousness. Oh God, how I need you. [00:08:17] Speaker J: You're my one [00:08:19] Speaker H: defense and [00:08:21] Speaker C: my righteousness. Oh God, how I [00:08:27] Speaker G: need you. [00:08:34] Speaker K: You guys can be seen. [00:08:39] Speaker L: There are countries in this world where people want to make being a Christian impossible. They pass laws and close down churches. They issue threats and send out spies. They put leaders in prison and drive Christian communities from their homes. They attack, they kidnap, they even kill. The pressure is intense. And these are the countries where Christian persecution is Most extreme. Number 10, Iran. Christian converts are seen as spies. Intelligence agents raided Sheema's home in the night. They interrogated her and ordered her to return to Islam. But she refused to give up her faith. At number nine, Libya. Christians in Libya must exercise extreme caution. They can be arrested, attacked, even kidnapped and enslaved. Converts from Islam are pressured to renounce their new beliefs. Pakistan is at number eight. Many Christians are poor and socially marginalized. Believers are vulnerable to false accusations of lack of blasphemy and mob violence. Some are even killed. Number seven, Nigeria. More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world. Simon survived an attack by Fulani militants on his community, but over 250 other Christians were killed. Millions are displaced, many traumatized and living in poverty. At number six, Syria. Pressure has increased on Christians in Syria since the regime change in 2024. Violence has risen significantly. In June 2025, a suicide attack during a church service in Damascus killed 22 Christians. Eritrea is at number five. Christians who worship outside the city. State sanctioned churches face arrest. Hiwot was at a secret house church gathering when the police came. She spent nearly 10 years in jail. Sudan is number four on the list. Sudanese Christians are caught in the crossfire of civil war. Church buildings have been destroyed and leaders threatened. Among the millions who have been displaced, Christians find it especially hard to access food and aid. At number three is Yemen. All Christians are in danger here. With intensive monitoring by both extremists and the state, it's almost impossible for Christians to meet up in person or online. If discovered, they risk arrest, rejection by community, and even murder. Number two, Somalia. To be Somali is to be Muslim. When Awais first started following Jesus, he was cut off from his family and clan. He gathered a small group of Christians. But when 12 out of 14 of them were killed, Awais fled the country. And at number one, North Korea, still the most dangerous country in which to be a Christian. The regime demands total allegiance. Even owning a Bible is illegal. Believers must hide their faith or risk being sent to a labor camp or being killed on the spot. Around the world, more than 388 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. They live in lands where others want to make faith impossible. But it never works. Because God makes a way. The church remains alive, active, even growing. And through your prayers and gifts, Open Doors stands alongside our persecuted church family, supporting them with crucial aid, Bibles, training and long term care. Because humanly speaking, faith might be impossible, but with God, it's an entirely different story. [00:12:55] Speaker M: So as Blake shared earlier, today is a unique Sunday for us, but it's an opportunity for us to pray for brothers and sisters throughout the world who do not get this privilege of just being here feeling safe. So what we want to do is we want to kind of frame our hearts around that. As he said, this is an opportunity for the body of Christ to pray for the body of Christ. And so we're about to watch a video about North Korea and some of the persecution there. And so what I would just Ask is that like you pay attention and just lock in today because it is a unique Sunday, but it's a unique opportunity for us to grow in our understanding of what our brothers and sisters face daily. So let's pray as we prepare ourselves. Father, in Jesus name, we thank you for this morning. We thank you for your faithfulness, for how good you are. And Lord, as we watch these videos and listen to these facts about these countries, I just pray that your presence and power would rest on us as we do it. Lord, we thank you for this. In Jesus name, amen. And just organizations is you do things that correspond to values and for grace. One of our values is the body of Christ, is the church is being on mission. And so with that in mind, we dedicate this Sunday, the first Sunday of November every year, for the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church. It's something celebrated globally, but it's something that we have as a rhythm on our calendar because we want to make sure that we continue to put in front of us this value. So North Korea is ranked, as we saw, number one among the most persecuted churches, those that are there. And for them, it looks like North Korea cuts people off from the outside world. The government controls every part of life. From childhood, citizens are taught to revere the Kim family, and all political opposition is forbidden. The regime has been accused of torture, forced labor, public executions, and holding 80 to 200,000 political prisoners. Pyongyang was once called the Jerusalem of the east, but today the church survives only underground. Believers worship in secret, knowing that if they are caught, they will be imprisoned or sent to a labor camp. Most North Koreans have never heard. Think about this, never heard of the name Jesus. So I want to encourage you. These are the things we're going to pray for. We're going to pray for brothers and sisters there for deliverance from a brutal regime. We're going to pray for protection and growth of the church there. And we're going to pray for changed hearts for the Kim Young Un family and just pray that God would soften their hearts and draw them to himself. We have some missionaries in that region, and we want to pray for their protection, their strength and fruit from their faithfulness. And so what I would ask is that as I pray aloud, that you would pray along with me over these things for our brothers and sisters in these places. So let's do that. Father, in Jesus name, thank you for moments like this that help us zoom out from our lives, from our schedules, from the difficulties we have as followers of you and Helping us see brothers and sisters throughout the world who are struggling. But, Lord God, they're being faithful. So, Father, I pray that you would continue to bless them. May your spirit continue to reveal yourself to them, Lord, may you just grow among the people there that they would know, God, that they would see and understand your love and grace for them. Father, I pray for boldness of the church there, Lord God, that you would continue to do a work. I pray for the political and military leaders, that your Holy Spirit would soften hearts and draw them to you, help them see the hope of the gospel. Lord, with the missionaries that we have in that area, I just pray that you'd be present with them, that you would give protection and strength, Lord God, that they would be able to see fruit from the work they've done. Father, do this work and in us, Father, I pray that your spirit would guide us. Lead us, Lord, help us be brothers and sisters in Christ who pray for brothers and sisters in Christ. Lord, we love you. We thank you for this moment that we get to share together. We pray these things in Jesus name, Amen. [00:21:13] Speaker N: Bolo mokamo masanimon dorasti banazarazo. Foreign. Natanzamhada begins. [00:25:16] Speaker O: Afghanistan's main religion is Islam and is the 11th most persecuted nation in the world. Since the Taliban retook power In August of 2021, Christians in Afghanistan have either fled or gone deeper underground. Almost every believer is a convert from Islam, and leaving Islam is considered punishable by death. Even suspicions such as skipping the mosque can bring violence from family, clan or tribe. The church survives only in small, secret gatherings. Women face especially severe oppression. They are barred from school and most jobs. And a woman discovered to be a Christian can face many beatings, forced marriages, or even an honor killing. Men suspected of converting have been beaten, tortured or even killed. So we're about to pray for Afghanistan. We take a few moments to pray in silence. And here's what you can pray for. Pray for protection, hope and peace among believers, comfort for Christian refugees facing deportation. There softened hearts among the Taliban leaders. And then we have a missionary in the region, Dan Perez. So pray for protection and wisdom as his team prepares for the Middle east. And also pray Habakkuk 3:19 over them. That God the Lord is their strength. So take a few moments to pray in silence. Father, you are good. I pray for the believers in Afghanistan right now. I pray that they would find protection and hope and peace through you and your words and your character. Father, I pray for the Taliban leaders there that they would have softened Hearts towards the believers there. I also pray for the missionaries that are heading there. I pray for protection and wisdom as they prepare. Father and I pray Habakkuk 3:19 over them that God the Lord would be their strength. So, Father, we love you and we trust you. It's in Jesus name I pray. Amen. [00:28:25] Speaker A: Would you guys stand? We're gonna sing this together. Sa. [00:29:02] Speaker F: In all his innocence, you're walking in the dirt [00:29:08] Speaker P: with you and [00:29:09] Speaker G: me [00:29:12] Speaker F: he knows what living is. [00:29:15] Speaker A: He's acquainted [00:29:17] Speaker P: with our grief. [00:29:19] Speaker F: The man of sorrow, Son of [00:29:22] Speaker P: suffering. [00:29:25] Speaker F: O blood and tears. [00:29:29] Speaker Q: How can [00:29:30] Speaker G: it be? [00:29:32] Speaker E: There's a God who weeps, There's a [00:29:37] Speaker R: God who bleeds. [00:29:40] Speaker E: Oh praise the [00:29:41] Speaker G: one [00:29:43] Speaker E: who would reach for me. [00:29:47] Speaker S: Hallelujah [00:29:49] Speaker E: to the Son of [00:29:51] Speaker G: suffering. [00:29:59] Speaker F: Some imagine [00:30:00] Speaker H: you are [00:30:02] Speaker T: distant and [00:30:04] Speaker G: remove [00:30:05] Speaker H: but you chase us down [00:30:07] Speaker D: in [00:30:07] Speaker U: merciful pursuit. [00:30:12] Speaker T: To the sinner you [00:30:14] Speaker V: embrace [00:30:16] Speaker W: and the broken you [00:30:18] Speaker V: embraced. [00:30:20] Speaker T: And in the end the proof is in your. In the end the proof [00:30:29] Speaker E: is [00:30:30] Speaker G: in yours. How can it be? [00:30:40] Speaker E: There's a God [00:30:41] Speaker G: who weeps, [00:30:44] Speaker E: There's a [00:30:44] Speaker G: God who weeps. [00:30:47] Speaker E: Oh praise the one who will reach for me. [00:30:55] Speaker G: Hallelujah to the sun of [00:30:58] Speaker E: suffering. [00:31:07] Speaker X: Your cross, my freedom, your stripes, my healing. All praise King [00:31:16] Speaker Y: Jesus Glory to God in heaven. Your blood still speaks, your love still reaching your. Praise King Jesus [00:31:32] Speaker X: Glory to God forever. [00:31:35] Speaker T: Your cross, my freedom, your stripes, [00:31:41] Speaker G: my healing. All praise King Jesus [00:31:46] Speaker B: Glory to God in [00:31:48] Speaker C: heaven. Your blood is still speaking, [00:31:53] Speaker G: your love is still reaching, reaching. All praise King Jesus [00:32:01] Speaker Z: Glory to God. [00:32:04] Speaker G: Your cross, my freedom, your stripes, my healing. Oh praise King Jesus Glory to [00:32:16] Speaker D: God [00:32:16] Speaker G: in heaven. Your still speaking, your love still reaching your. Praise King Jesus [00:32:29] Speaker E: Glory to [00:32:30] Speaker G: God forever. How can it be? There's a God who weeps, [00:32:44] Speaker E: There's [00:32:45] Speaker G: a God who pe. Oh, praise the one who would reach for me. Hallelujah to the son of suffering. Hallelujah to the Son of [00:33:10] Speaker S: Hallelujah [00:33:12] Speaker G: to the Son of. Sa. [00:33:52] Speaker X: Sin. Nothing but the blood of [00:33:57] Speaker G: Jesus [00:34:01] Speaker X: what can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow. No other fountain. Nothing but the blood of [00:34:40] Speaker G: Jesus. [00:34:48] Speaker C: Glory to God forever. Glory to God forever. Glory to God forever. Sa. [00:35:34] Speaker AA: They prohibited us from gathering to worship together. And they didn't allow us to build a church. They made us sign a document saying that if we worship the Lord, they would confiscate our animals and our land and destroy our house. [00:36:04] Speaker AB: Lid is a Christian convert and teacher from southern Laos. He faces opposition from his local community who accuse him of following a foreign religion. [00:36:20] Speaker AA: There were many children in the village. But they were illiterate and didn't know the Lao language. So my brother and I bought some books so that the children could attend classes and start learning. I began teaching the children the basics of the Lao Alphabet. My brother, who had attended Bible classes, Helped me to teach them about the Bible, how the Lord created the earth and humans. Not long afterwards, the villagers found out that we were teaching the children about the Bible. They said, you're spreading the story of God. This is not right. It's bad. This led to persecution. Later, they started throwing stones at our house where we held the classes. In June 2024, we were forced to move to a farm. It wasn't an official expulsion, but the stoning never stopped. They told us, if you can stand it, we'll keep stoning. If not, we know you'll choose to leave yourself. We feared for the children's safety as they often played around the community. Adults could get struck, too. But it's out of fear for the children that we decided to move to the farm. Now that we live on the farm, I continue teaching the children because they are illiterate and don't know the Lao language. I feel compassion for them, so I keep teaching. Through local partners, open doors provided the believers with school supplies and helped them to build a new house. Lid now teaches about a dozen children the Lao language and maths, as well as stories from the bible. There were Christian brothers and sisters who supported us to be able to conduct the teaching. They provided the equipment so that we could continue doing the classes. They provided books, books, pencils, and a board. May the Lord bless everyone who has the heart to support us. [00:38:57] Speaker A: Lass is ranked 28th in the world on the world watch list of persecuted nations. The primary religion of Laos is Buddhism. It's a communist nation, and authorities there view Christianity as a western religion opposed to the communist ideals. And so Christians in Laos, they face intense pressure from both the communist rule and strong ethnic traditions. The government there only recognizes three churches. And so, I don't know if you noticed in the video, they're forced to meet in secret. They form these small house churches for fear of persecution. They meet in secret so that they can worship the Lord. In these rural villages, the believers are blamed for upsetting spirits, and they have their homes threatened, their crops threatened, Their animals are threatened to be taken. They are threatened to be stoned. And so in this area, converts and church leaders who are active in evangelism are especially vulnerable. [00:40:09] Speaker AA: So we have [00:40:10] Speaker A: some [00:40:10] Speaker AA: missionaries from our grace family that have been sent out to this region, Rob and Jen Dirksen. And so we want to pray this morning. We want to pray for the Dirksen's, we want to pray for wisdom [00:40:21] Speaker A: in Rob's teaching and these workshops that they do. And we want to pray for wisdom in caring for aging parents and that doors will be opened for their mission. And we want to pray for the people of Laos for protection, for [00:40:37] Speaker AA: their secret house churches, that they would continue to be able to do that, that there would be boldness to meet shelter and comfort for those [00:40:48] Speaker A: who have been expelled and freedom to follow Jesus. And so what we want to do right now is we want to take a few moments to pray together, to pray in groups. And so what that looks like is just a turn to those around you. 2, 3, 4, 5, whoever's around you, let's turn in and let's pray together for the people of Laos, for the Dirksen for protection. And so let's take a few moments and let's do that now. Sam it. Father, I lift up my brothers and sisters in Laos. I pray your protection over them. I pray that by your spirit they would remain strong, that their faith would be bold. I pray for the Dirksons that their ministry will continue to be fruitful. And that by their work, by your work through them, many would come to know Jesus as Lord, We love you. Thank you for being such a good father. In Jesus name, amen. We're going to hear from a story from Burkina Faso. [00:47:23] Speaker AC: To you. [00:47:40] Speaker M: Burkina Faso, located in the western part of Africa. They experience a lot of persecution because the state authority has been basically, it's collapsed, allowing Islamic extremists and state authorities to come in and basically do what they please. Any that are around there. So they control the areas they rule with little opposition. And they have these radical religious leaders, these Muslim leaders that stir hostility towards Christians. The church buildings are being burned, institutions are forced to close, and many believers are driven from their homes or killed with no legal protection at all. These Christians in these rural areas are under this extremist control and they are the most vulnerable. And any converts from Islam face the harshest persecution from their own families and communities. So what we're going to do is we want to pray for stability and care from the authorities. We want to pray that God would really just do a work in the lives of those who are doing the persecuting those extremists, that they would know Jesus, that they would encounter Christ, want to pray for comfort for those who are displaced and are grieving. I mean, sweet women at the End there have lost their husbands just thinking about them. So we have a few couples in Africa, and so we want to pray for them. Josh and Maggie Grice, which were here just a few weeks ago. His brother Joel and Eloise Grice just left to go there. And then down in South Africa, Sam and Bryce Wilson. And these are our brothers and sisters that are serving there. And so we're gonna just take a moment and pray. You could pray in a group. I want. We've experienced that so far. You've prayed quietly, and I want to encourage you if you can just pray out loud, whatever you feel comfortable with those around you. And we would pray for Burkina Faso and the believers there. There, Father, Seeing those women who've lost their husbands and the pastor who lost his dad, God, sometimes because things aren't happening right here, we lose sight of it. Father, I pray that your spirit would just begin to do a work there in Burkina Faso, Lord, that you would begin to meet the extremists where they are, Lord, soften their hearts. Help them see the faithfulness of the believers that they are persecuting. Lord God, draw them to yourself, Lord. We pray for work to be done. Done, God. We pray for our missionaries that are in Africa, Father, that you would be present with them, that you would provide their needs. And, Lord God, give them boldness to do what you've called them to do in those areas. Lord God, I pray that you would so help us see. Help us understand your mercy and kindness towards us is also for them. Lord God, we thank you so much for the believers in Burkina Faso. We thank you for their faithfulness despite what they're enduring. We pray these things in Jesus name. Amen. [00:52:01] Speaker A: Would you stand as we sing this? As we look forward to the. The promise that Jesus made, that he will return again. That one day there is coming a day. But there is no more death There is no more fear there's no more sickness, there's no more pain. While we're still here, we look forward to that day. Let's sing this together. [00:52:48] Speaker AD: There is a day coming. When the old will pass away. Every wrong will be made no darkness, no night the sun will light the way There is a keep coming. The one who conquered death and greed no more pain and no more sorrow this hope for tomorrow is our hope for today. [00:53:41] Speaker AE: He who was he who [00:53:45] Speaker G: is [00:53:48] Speaker AE: he who was us? He who is he who is to come Christ, the son of man Riding on the clouds with the crown upon his head Every eye will see him with the nail Skies in his Hands Hallelujah, [00:54:15] Speaker G: hallelujah [00:54:18] Speaker AE: Hallelujah. [00:54:42] Speaker Z: Praise. Christ the Son of man [00:55:08] Speaker AF: Riding on the clouds the crown upon his head Every eye will see with the nail scars in his hands Hallelujah, hallelujah Hallelujah [00:55:30] Speaker AD: Hallelujah. Oh, can you feel it too all this tension Growing strong Just a sign he's getting close he's already on the moon [00:56:12] Speaker AE: yeah the story has been written we all know how it [00:56:21] Speaker G: is My future has been my eyes because he's coming back again oh, he's coming back again he who is to come [00:56:43] Speaker Z: Christ the Son of man [00:56:47] Speaker AF: Riding on the clouds [00:56:49] Speaker C: with the crown upon his head [00:56:53] Speaker G: Every eye will see [00:56:56] Speaker AG: with the nail scars in his hands [00:56:59] Speaker Z: Hallelujah, [00:57:02] Speaker AF: hallelujah He who waits to come Christ the Son of man Riding on the [00:57:15] Speaker C: mountain with the crown upon his head [00:57:20] Speaker AF: Every eye will see the nails God will stand Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah [00:57:41] Speaker AE: Hallelujah. Come, lord jesus come, Lord jesus, come come lord jesus, come come lord lord jesus come come lord jesus come come lord j. [00:58:48] Speaker M: So we want to take a moment and pray for our country that we get to be part of a couple days. We have an election. What we want to do is just pray that we would have discernment and wisdom as brothers and sisters. And we want to pray for the candidates and the items on the ballot. Just pray that God in his grace would be seen and known through it. So let's pray together. Father. Thank you, Lord God, by your grace, you have called us to be here, Lord God, for such a time as this. And Father, we pray for discernment wisdom, Lord. We pray for the candidates. We pray that your spirit, Lord God, would draw them to yourself, God, that they would be seen as people who are surrendered to you. But Lord God, only you can do that. And Father, for the other items on the ballots, we just pray that your spirit would be with us as we discern them. But, Father, that we would be faithful to you no matter what. So, Lord God, we thank you for this. We love you. We're grateful for your kindness. In Jesus name, Amen. So as we close, I want us to look at this scripture. We're going to be teaching it in a few weeks, but it has been our benediction for the last few weeks. Next week, if you are studying Ephesians with us, we're going to be in the first six chapters of Ephesians 3. But I want us to, like, read this, but not just read the words, but think about the implications of this prayer. Not just for us, but also for our brothers and sisters throughout the world. So this text of Scripture is so powerful. So let's look at it together. Verse 14 of Ephesians 3. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory, he may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses his knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Church I would encourage you over the next few weeks that you would make this a prayer for yourself, but also for those around you and for our brothers and sisters throughout the world that they would know the love of God. This way. Church, we love you. It is our joy that we get to serve alongside of you. Go in Jesus name and have a great week.