"Christian Millennials: Ambassadors For Christ?"

About 215 million Christians faced significant persecution last year according to Christian watchdog organization, Open Doors:

• 3,006 Christians were killed
• 1,252 were abducted
• 1,020 were raped or sexually abused
• 793 churches were attacked

Researchers estimate 1 in 12 Christians live in countries where their faith is "illegal, forbidden, or punished."

For instance, "It is illegal to be a Christian in North Korea and Christians are often sent to labor camps or killed if they are discovered," Open Doors said. "The conditions in this country have remained the worst in the world for Christians in the past 13 years."

Unfortunately, North Korea is far from alone in its oppression of Christians. Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Pakistan, Eritrea, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, Iran, and even Mexico and Columbia ranked in the top 50 worst countries to be a Christian.

Thirty of the 50 nations on the list saw conditions worsen for Christians since the last report, and yet the Gospel message of saving grace is still shared.

Why do they do it? Because Scripture demands it.

Meanwhile,  Barna Group, a research center that tracks faith and spirituality in American life, reports that 90% of practicing American Christians agree that "the best thing that could ever happen to someone is for them to know Jesus." True enough--however, the very same study found 47% (or nearly one-half) of Christian millennials believe evangelism is wrong.

The reason? The don't want to offend anybody.

A wise man once said: "For Christians, sharing one's faith--evangelizing--is viewed as a mandate from Jesus Himself...as much as ever, evangelism isn't just about saving the unsaved, but reminding ourselves that this stuff matters, that the Bible is trustworthy and that Jesus changes everything." --David Kinnaman, President of Barna Group

"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the Living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching...endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (2 Timothy 4: 1, 2 & 5).

How to go to heaven...

News:

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