Editor’s Notice: Our February 2025 mini-series on the BCC Grace and Fact weblog addresses biblical counseling within the persecuted church. On this second article, Esther St. John discusses counseling in Spanish-speaking nations going through non secular persecution. In different contributions to the collection, Jim Newheiser shares his expertise coaching and counseling in closed nations within the Center East and East Asia, and Tim St. John recounts his expertise counseling a persecuted pastor in Myanmar.
In recent times, Nicaragua has seen an escalation in government-led persecution essential of President Daniel Ortega’s administration. Whereas the preliminary goal was not targeted on non secular communities, more moderen occasions describe an increase of persecution towards non secular teams. Some of the notable circumstances occurred in 2018 in the course of the violent crackdown on protests in opposition to Ortega’s authorities. Catholic bishops, clergymen, and laypeople who had been vocal of their opposition to the regime discovered themselves focused. A number of Catholic church buildings had been dishonored, and non secular leaders had been harassed and threatened. In a single high-profile incident, a Catholic bishop named Silvio Báez was pressured into exile after receiving quite a few demise threats for his outspoken criticism of the federal government’s human rights abuses.[1]
Lest one suppose the non secular persecution is just towards the Catholic Church, Moravian and Evangelical church buildings have additionally suffered loss and hostility from the Nicaraguan authorities. Over 3,600 organizations have been confiscated and closed within the nation, and 15% of these organizations are formally non secular of their mission as both Catholic or Protestant.[2] Furthermore, in 2021, the Nicaraguan authorities handed legal guidelines that successfully criminalize non secular actions seen as opposite to the state. Many non secular leaders have been subjected to surveillance, and a few church buildings have confronted restrictions on their means to carry companies.[3]
This information breaks my coronary heart. As a Hispanic who grew up in Honduras, these studies shock me. As a daughter of two Nicaraguan-born mother and father, this example issues me. The facility of the federal government to not solely quiet individuals who could disagree however to be hostile towards those that imagine in a different way is a troubling scene in a third-world nation like Nicaragua. But, there’s something extra highly effective than their authorities. That extra fantastic energy is the facility of God’s Phrase. Throughout this time, the folks of Nicaragua want biblical hope. They want devoted counsel from the Scriptures. That’s the reason you will need to come alongside struggling pastors and missionaries like these in Nicaragua to associate with them in prayer, strengthen them with assist, and encourage them to endure.
Accomplice with the Persecuted in Prayer
As we’re made conscious of the persecution and the necessity for devoted biblical counseling, it could actually really feel overwhelming to know the place to begin. Within the midst of such trials and tribulations, what do we have now to supply these fellow believers? The reply is bound however easy: our prayers. God’s Phrase is obvious that after we have no idea what to say, we have to search His knowledge (James 1:5). As we go to the Lord in prayer, we will encourage our hurting brothers and sisters in Christ that we’re partnering with them in prayer. The Apostle Paul, throughout his personal time served beneath home arrest in Rome, tells the church in Philippi he’s grateful for them “all the time in each prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with pleasure, due to your partnership within the gospel” (Phil. 1:3-4). The specter of persecution can deliver worry to the floor in hearts, however the pleasure of gospel partnership by means of prayer reminds us to have our religion targeted on the sovereign energy and good work of our God.
Strengthen the Persecuted with Help
By way of prayer, we associate with our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ as we take their requests to the Lord. By supporting, we wish to strengthen the souls of different believers by providing a listening ear. Proverbs 18:13 reminds us to not converse earlier than we have now taken the time to pay attention, and that is very true in serving to our persecuted Christian household. We don’t wish to supply empty theological platitudes or clichés that ignore or neglect their wrestle and struggling. We would like them to expertise the close-knit fellowship described in Romans 12:15: “rejoice with those that rejoice; mourn with those that mourn.” Whereas expertise offers the opportunity of connecting with our worldwide household to supply assist by means of the telephone, FaceTime, and messaging, in lots of circumstances, as in Nicaragua, hand-written letters could be a blessing for the reason that authorities may have entry to technological means.
Encourage the Persecuted to Endure
The significance of taking our time in listening to the tales of struggling doesn’t negate the encouragement we have to share for the persecuted to endure. As I lately had the chance to spend time with my father, who’s at the moment serving as a pastor in Honduras, I do know these persecutions hit house for him. It could be tempting to compromise on sharing the reality of the gospel or doing good to these in nice bodily and religious want. In these moments, pointing them to Jesus in Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds them to run with perseverance, and 1 Peter 5:10 shares the hope that Christ will strengthen and restore the agency and steadfast.
Typically, after we come throughout information such because the persecution going down in Nicaragua, we could be at a lack of how one can reply. By the steering of God’s Phrase, we’re given a framework of partnering in prayer, strengthening the place we will supply assist, and inspiring these going through persecution to endure for the sake of Christ.
Questions for Reflection
- How will you associate in prayer with persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ?
- What verses would you utilize to encourage a persecuted brother or sister to endure?
[1] U.S. Division of State, 2020 Report on Worldwide Spiritual Freedom: Nicaragua, U.S. Division of State, 2021, https://2021-2025.state.gov/studies/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom/nicaragua/.
[2] Divergentes, “Las condiciones degradantes de la libertad religiosa en Nicaragua,” Divergentes, June 27, 2023, https://www.divergentes.com/las-condiciones-degradantes-de-la-libertad-religiosa-en-nicaragua/.
[3] U.S. Division of State, 2022 Report on Worldwide Spiritual Freedom: Nicaragua, U.S. Division of State, 2022, https://www.state.gov/studies/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/nicaragua/.
