Serving the persecuted

Liberty University students have banded together to create a new club, Project Fourteen22, which exists to support and raise awareness for the worldwide persecuted church. 

Evan Gaul, president of the club, was inspired at a Convocation last year when former campus pastor Johnnie Moore came to speak about the persecuted church. 

“That Convo made me think that discussing the persecuted church was something we needed to do on campus,” Gaul said. 

Since that Convocation, Gaul was able to discuss his passion for helping the persecuted church around the world with other students, which led to the creation of Project Fourteen22.

Project Fourteen22 hopes to inform students about the persecuted church by having events on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, Nov. 4, 2018, where students can spend the day praying for Christians around the world who are in danger for the faith they profess. 

“I want Project Fourteen22 make people aware of the issue,” Gaul said. 

Starting Oct. 16, Project Fourteen22 will be holding meetings every other Tuesday where they will be actively involved in praying for and discussing ways to help Christians being persecuted. Being a part of next year’s Global Focus Week is another goal that Gaul would like to see happen.

Currently, Gaul said the hardest place to be a Christian is North Korea, along with Mexico and Colombia. Project Fourteen22 hopes informing students about the persecution Christians face around the world will grow into a passion for helping them. 

“If you are passionate about missions, foreign policy and your faith, Project Fourteen22 is the best way to get involved,” Gaul said. 

Once the idea of the club started developing, Gaul focused on what would be the best name for the project.

“I did a topic study about what the Bible said about … engaging with persecuted Christians,” Gaul said.

He came across Acts 14:22. This verse focuses on strengthening and encouraging disciples to remain true to the faith, and since that is the central goal for the club, the name Fourteen22 fit. 

Acts 14:22 says, “Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God.” 

Gaul and the Project Fourteen22 team strongly believe that Liberty should have a consistent voice in matters of the persecuted church, so they are dedicated to the project and hope to see many students join them in this cause.

Although starting a new club on campus can come with challenges, Gaul has received great responses after pitching the idea to several students on campus. The first meeting was held Sept. 25, with 23 students in attendance. 

“I want to see graduates leave being advocates for this issue,” Gaul said. 

Gaul believes one of the best ways to help those who are being persecuted is by praying for them.

Project Fourteen22’s next meeting will be Oct. 30, more information can be found on their Instagram @projectfourteen22.