November is a month for remembering.

Remembrance Day -- November 11th -- is a fixed date on the calendar. For those in our midst who lost family or close friends or both in World War II, the day is a particularly poignant reminder of the pain of loss and separation. It is also an occasion to remember with honour their sacrifice and to reinforce and renew the promise: "At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them."

Although the number of those with first-hand memories of World War I is now reduced to the count of those who have seen more than eighty five birthdays, there are increasing numbers of armed forces personnel and their families who bear fresh memories of the recent conflicts in Bosnia, the Persian Gulf, and Afghanistan. Even though we remember, we repeat: wars and rumours of wars continue to affect much of the world and effect much suffering.

November is also a month for remembering, for another reason. Churches around the world have fixed November 16th as the Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

Hebrews 13: 3 - "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow-prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering." (NIV)

Suffering -- often intense suffering -- continues to be a very present fact of life for Christian brothers and sisters in many parts of the world.

The freedom to worship according to the God-given commands and examples in His word, free from imposed human dictates, is part of our cherished heritage in North America. We lament and have cause for concern for the future over present threats and encroachments on such freedom -- the freedom to read and proclaim the Bible as God's word. Yet our difficulties still pale in comparison to the restrictions and pains imposed upon confessing Christians in parts of Asia, the Middle East, and elsewhere.

We are encouraged -- no, commanded -- to join together in praying for Christians who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. Three specific situations are highlighted, drawn from the many cries for help addressed to churches participating in the Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church:

- Pray for Christians in Laos, who are viewed as "enemies of the state"; Christianity in that country is identified as "a threat to national security".

- Ask God to come speedily to the aid of His people in northern Nigeria, where the advance of militant Islam and the imposition of sharia law has led to severe persecution of Christians;

- Seek divine and gracious mercies for believers in northern Uganda, where the blasphemous terrorist-militia, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), has threatened to "kill all clergy".

Others in the midst of our own congregation know first-hand some of the struggles arising from economic and political hardships facing brothers and sisters in Guyana, Lebanon, the Congo, Malawi, and China.

Let us remember, and let us act in response to what we remember, with our prayers, and our gifts, and our labours.

Matthew 25: 40 - "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (NIV)

In Christ, for the sake of His people,

Your pastor,

James T. Hurd.