The historian and "Dominion" author spoke movingly about the profound impact of witnessing the suffering of Christians in other parts of the world firsthand in Open Doors' inaugural 'Perspectives' lecture.
Christians from across the UK came together on Sunday evening to pray for persecuted believers around the world and especially those in Nigeria, India, Eritrea and Afghanistan.
UK churches are being asked to pray for Eritrea where a history of persecution against Christians is threatening to spill over into neighbouring Ethiopia.
"There is still a limited appreciation amongst churches across this country of how massive this issue is worldwide," says Fiona Bruce MP, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB).
CSW's Founder President, Mervyn Thomas, said there was a need to address the "severity and pervasiveness of religiously motivated violence, discrimination and intolerance in all its forms".