Hymns
Hymn for the Persecuted Church
Father, in the name of Jesus,
hear our prayer for those in pain:
Scattered through the hostile nations
many suffer for Your name.
You have promised to Your people
opposition from the world.
Now sustain them, yes, protect them
by the truth found in Your Word.
Satan uses persecution
to instil a frightening fear,
threatening to destroy the body,
telling them that death is near.
Give them courage, noble courage,
never to deny Your name.
In the footsteps of the martyrs
may they spread abroad Your fame.
Be with those in Muslim nations
where to choose You is to die.
May the motives of fanatics
be exposed as Satan’s lie.
Where the Hindu is intolerant
of the faithful Christian few,
may their loving witness conquer,
showing Christian attitude.
Raise up leaders in Your Church, Lord,
people of integrity,
who will lead by their example
as You, Lord, want us to be.
May Your people in each nation
work in loving harmony.
Change the hearts of the oppressors,
break the yoke of tyranny.
Words: Hugh G Wetmore (c) 1999 (written for the annual International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church)
Metre: 8787D Tune: Austria (“Glorious things of thee are spoken”)