Christians are the world's most widely persecuted religiousgroup, according to studiesby the Pew Research Center, Newsweek,and the Economist, among others.

A woman is caught with a Bible and publicly shot to death.An elderly priest is abducted and never seen again. Three buses full ofstudents and teachers are struck by roadside bombs. These are not casualties ofa war. These are Christian believers being persecuted for their faith in thetwenty-first century.

Many Americans do not understand that Christians today arevictims in many parts of the world. Even many Western Christians, who worshipand pray without fear of violent repercussions, are unaware that so manyfollowers of Christ live under governments and among people who are oftenopenly hostile to their faith. They think martyrdom became a rarity long ago.

Persecuted soundlyrefutes these assumptions. This book offers a glimpse at the modern-day life ofChristians worldwide, recounting the ongoing attacks that rarely makeinternational headlines.

As Western Christians pray for the future of Christ'schurch, it is vital that they understand a large part of the world's Christian believerslive in danger. Persecuted gives documentedaccounts of the persecution of Christians in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, andformer Soviet nations. It contains vivid stories of men and women who sufferabuse because of their faith in Jesus Christ, and tells of their perseveranceand courage..

Persecuted is far more than a thorough and moving study of this global pattern of violence-it isa cry for freedom and a call to action.