You're not alone. Everyday there are underground reports you can tap into about what is really going with those sleeping giants. China. North Korea. Malaysia. India. Iraq. Afghanistan. Pakistan. Egypt.
Several countries are what Youth With A Mission (a Christian organization that reaches beyond denominational walls) recognized as the “ten forty window” ten years ago. Ironically, the human rights crimes I read about daily tend to be centralized within that window.
From Muslims who were once peaceful neighbors to Christians just suddenly rising up against them and slashing them with machetes, to Chinese pastors being tortured to death for not denouncing their faith. Whether it's Communism or Jihad extremists, there isn't just one people group that gets focused on, but rather reports from all over the world.
Who are we to think this couldn't happen to us? Who are we to think we'll never see dark days of bloodshed and loss of freedoms on our own soil? If we don't keep in touch with what is happening around the world-and try to stop it-then we are also responsible for remaining silent, and it will surely come to us.
We have the power to make a difference, to save lives and intervene. We need to stop sitting back in silence and ignoring the shrieks of pain and cries for help out there.
If you would like to have e-mail updates sent to you or sign up for a monthly newsletter, International Christian Concern (ICC), is my favorite resource. They not only give you news, but they keep you posted of ways that you can also advocate for human rights around the world.
I also like to keep tabs on the Voice of the Martyrs. They are very similar to ICC and also provide great resources of how you can help fight for the rights of the oppressed around the world.
I do not know the names of those who go on special assignments, but I am also aware through various news articles I've received that some human rights advocates go on rescue missions and other dangerous assignments to free the oppressed. These are not militant men of this world, but rather of God's army, who have risked their lives to rescue Sudanese orphans and other victims of human trafficking.
Not all of us can do that, but we can do even a small part of raising awareness. Or, even something small like signing a petition. There are funds you can donate to, but even if you can't give money, you can give prayers and time.
