How to pray for ​​the persecuted church

November 6 is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. On this Sunday, we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. But more importantly, we lift them up to our good God who hears our prayers.

How is your church responding to a post-Roe world?

The Dobbs decision marks a true turning point in the pro-life movement — a moment that Christians, pro-life advocates and many others have worked toward tirelessly for 50 years. As we respond to the ruling in this case, we want to be faithful to pray.

This free Dobbs prayer guide contains a list of 48 specific prayer requests to guide you, your family, and your church in your prayers over the coming weeks and months.

This Week in Washington, D.C.

All eyes are on next week’s midterm elections that will decide who holds the majority in Congress for the remaining two years of President Biden’s term. Further, the results will significantly impact what ERLC policy priorities are able to move forward and which will face opposition.

On this week’s episode of the ERLC podcast, ERLC Policy Manager Hannah Daniel joined Lindsay to discuss what’s on the ballot in November, what the ERLC will be advocating for in the remainder of the 117th Congress, and the recent attack on Speaker Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi.

Listen to this week’s episode to hear more about the upcoming midterms and the ERLC’s work in DC over the coming months.

Featured Podcasts

This week on the Digital Public Square podcast, Jason Thacker is joined by Dr. Nigel Biggar to talk about his book What’s Wrong With Rights? from Oxford University Press and the nature of rights and the common good.

From The Public Square

Overturning Roe Has Meant At Least 10,000 Fewer Legal Abortions
FiveThirtyEight

A data set shared exclusively with FiveThirtyEight shows that in the two months after the Supreme Court decision, there were 10,670 fewer abortions as compared to pre-Dobbs estimates. That figure is a net, counting both declines in some states and increases in others, and it shows how a few states are absorbing some — but not all — of the demand for abortions in states where it’s now banned.

Corporate America lobbies up in support of same-sex marriage
Politico

About a dozen corporations are directly lobbying Capitol Hill for the first time in support of same-sex marriage rights, according to newly released disclosures.

FDA says providers offering medication abortion before pregnancy have gone rogue
Politico

The FDA said health providers prescribing abortion medication to people who aren’t pregnant are acting without its authorization and that the practice is potentially dangerous for patients.

Florida Medical Board Committee Drafts Rule Banning Care for Trans Youth
MedPage Today

A joint committee of Florida's state medical boards voted Friday to draft a rule that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth, including puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and surgery.

What You Need to Read

Dana Hall McCain with Is the lesser of two evils the right question?

As believers, we are called to hold each decision—every day—up to the light of God’s Word, judging it fairly by that standard alone. We must overcome the psychological temptation to recast our marginally better choice as a genuinely righteous one. We must be honest with ourselves and others about how our choices do and do not measure up to God’s standard.

Elizabeth Bristow with How pastors can guard against burnout

My number one piece of advice is to put away all expectations. Dreaming of having thousands come to hear you preach is like believing you will win a gold medal at the Olympics. The difference between expectations and reality is disappointment. Give your expectations to the Lord since he is the One who said he would build his Church. Secondly, seek humility above personal ability.

Jon Kelly with Be surgeons, not butchers

Every follower of Christ is called to be salt and light in this world. God has placed us in the midst of broken places that desperately need the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of his Word. How are Christian to flesh this out in a public square that is often filled with toxicity, combativeness, division, and evil? As a pastor, I want to offer you a few thoughts to consider as you seek to glorify God and influence the culture in which he has placed you.