Worldwide religious persecution is escalating. Open doors says one in seven Christians worldwide suffer high or extreme levels of persecution. While significant religious persecution is happening in nearly eighty countries, Sub-Saharan Africa, where extremist Islam is rampant, is experiencing the most violence against Christians. Last year nearly six thousand were killed for faith-related reasons. These realities should make American Christians more faithful in praying for the persecuted church and more zealous in protecting our religious freedom.

Religious freedom was the impetus for the founding of our country. In sixteen twenty, the Pilgrims came to the New World for the right to live according to the dictates of their faith. Succeeding generations have fought to protect this First Freedom. It is now our turn to safeguard this right. In this week of Thanksgiving, our religious freedom should be high on our thankful-for list.