WEA religious freedom Advocacy

Defending Persecuted Christians

Religious Freedom Advocacy

Jesus is very clear in the gospels that his followers will face persecution. This is borne out around the world. Over 300 million Christians face persecution on a daily basis. The WEA advocates at the highest levels of power on behalf of those who are persecuted. The WEA has offices in Geneva and New York to have a voice at the United Nations on behalf of those who are persecuted for their faith. We work with our national alliances in over 140 countries to give voice to the voiceless.

The WEA does not only advocate for Christians but for all who are persecuted for their faith. Since its founding in 1846, the WEA has been deeply concerned about religious freedom. We believe that each person has a decision to make about following Jesus as Lord. Whether or not people follow Christ is their decision; it should not be dictated by the government. The WEA therefore advocates for religious freedom for everyone everywhere.

Learn More

To see our latest work at the United Nations, click here 

To see our latest research on religious liberty, click here 

International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

In the modern church calendar, the first two Sundays of November are set apart to remember and pray for the persecuted church, through the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). Today’s greatest untold story is that more than 100 million Christians worldwide face persecution for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Daily Christians in countries such as Eritrea, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Sudan and Sri Lanka face imprisonment, violence and even death.

IDOP is a time set apart for us to remember thousands of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world who suffer persecution, simply because they confess Jesus Christ as Lord.

Get Involved

Pray With Us

Let us unite in prayer for the persecuted church, in the spirit of oneness that Christ commanded: ‘For, if one suffers, we all suffer.’
How You Can Help
Learn about what you can do for Christians facing persecution in restricted countries.