Delegates at the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod's 69th Regular Convention in Phoenix voted on July 23 to adopt a resolution addressing what it calls modern-day martyrdom, passing with just over 79 percent support. The resolution encourages congregations to observe the feast days of Christian martyrs and asks pastors to prepare their congregations for potential persecution through preaching and teaching.
The resolution points to recent violence against Christians, including the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, the bombing of St. Elias Orthodox Church in Damascus, and ongoing attacks on churches in Nigeria, as reasons the topic deserves fresh attention in American congregations.