Westminster Presbyterian Church in Middletown will host an interdenominational prayer service at 4 p.m. June 28 to offer prayers and support for people throughout the world who are being persecuted, tortured and killed for their faith.
All are invited and encouraged to attend the service, which will be held in Westminster’s sanctuary at 94 Tindall Road.
A reception will follow the service.
The Rev. Joseph Hein, pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church, will preside and speak during the prayer service. Pastors and members of other congregations will also participate.
The Rev. Fr. Daniel Karadjian, pastor at St. Stepanos Armenian Orthodox Church, will share his thoughts and experience of the genocidal actions taken against Armenians.
The Rev. Fr. Abraam Georgy and the Rev. Fr. Abraham Wassef, pastors at St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, will speak about the severe persecution of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt. Seventy Coptic Christian churches were attacked, looted and burned in August 2013. Earlier this year, 21 Coptic Christians were beheaded in Libya by ISIS.
The Rev. Fr. William Halbing of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church will reflect and expand on the sentiments of Pope Francis regarding the global persecution and martyrdom of Christians.
In late July, on a date to be determined, Westminster Presbyterian Church will join St. Mina’s Coptic Orthodox Church, St. Stepanos Armenian Church and St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Parish to host a community event that will include a barbecue and live entertainment for the purpose of creating awareness about ongoing religious persecution throughout the world and raising funds to help those being persecuted.