Britain's government is hoping to help those facing threats because of their religious beliefs, as persecution of Christians continues to rise around the globe. 

Evangelical Focus reports that British Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has ordered an independent, global review into the persecution of Christians around the world.

According to Open Doors USA, a Christian persecution monitoring agency, 215 million Christians experience high levels of persecution each year. That includes 255 Christians killed around the globe each month because of their faith. Another 104 are abducted and 180 Christian women are raped, sexually harassed or forced into marriage each month.

"Christians are the victims of 80% of all acts of religious discrimination."

“So often, the persecution of Christians is a telling early warning sign of the persecution of every minority”, Hunt said in a statement last week.

He also wrote that "the International Society for Human Rights has found that Christians are the victims of 80% of all acts of religious discrimination."

While Hunt says that Britain has "long championed international religious freedom," he feels that their efforts have still fallen short.

"But I am not convinced that our response to the threats facing this particular group has always matched the scale of the problem, nor taken account of the hard evidence that Christians often endure a disproportionate burden of persecution. Perhaps this is borne out of the very British sense of awkwardness at ‘doing God’. Perhaps it’s an awareness of our colonial history, or because Britain is a traditionally Christian country some are fearful of being seen to help Christians in desperate need.

"Whatever the cause, we must never allow a misguided political correctness to inhibit our response to the persecution of any religious community."

The work will be led by the Bishop of Truro, Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen. His committee will set to map out Christian persecution and review how the British government is currently supporting those facing persecution. They will then offer policy suggestions to the UK government.

“Our government has prioritized freedom of religion or belief and the review we are announcing today is about providing an objective view of Britain’s support for the most vulnerable Christians globally”, Lord Ahmad, UK special envoy on freedom of religion or belief, said.

“We are seeking to identify additional practical steps to help stop the appalling levels of violence that saw 3,000 Christians murdered last year because of their faith."

Hunt closed his message by quoting the Apostle Paul from 2 Corinthians 4:8-9.

"The Apostle Paul foretold of the suffering that Christians would face through the ages, but still saw reason to hope: ‘We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.’

"It is time to echo that message of hope to the persecuted church around the world; with our deeds as well as our words."

The group's report is expected to be finished by Easter, 2019.