Johnnie Moore, advocate for besieged Christians in the Middle East, says the world is seeing the start of a Christian genocide at the hands of Islamic extremists, and Americans need to wake up and take action.

That's part of the message Moore will bring to Penn's Peak tonight when the Lehighton 9-12 project sponsors an appearance by the humanitarian and best-selling author.Moore's 2015 book, "Defying ISIS," carries the sobering subtitle: "Preserving Christianity in the Place of Its Birth and in Your Own Backyard."Moore, 32, is a former vice president and pastor at Liberty University and currently chief of staff to Hollywood producer Mark Burnett.He has worked with genocide victims in the Middle East, Bosnia and Rwanda and visited the world's largest refugee camps.He's convinced that the goal of ISIS is to eradicate Christianity in the world. In some ways, the terrorists have advantages working in their favor."ISIS has realized the greatest dream of the predecessors. They have a piece of land they can call their caliphate," said Moore in a recent telephone interview.Another advantage, he says, is "they can leverage technology and have been able to master a new form of asymmetric warfare which is less expensive and helps them to spread terrorism throughout the world."He encourages Americans to support humanitarian aid sponsored by churches and organizations, and to support causes such as his Cradle of Christianity Fund and the World Help.Moore points out that half of the journalists killed in 2014 were slain in Iraq and Syria.That statistic, alone, sends a message."If they have their way, you won't live another day."