1.5 Billion Reasons to Pray

As the Chinese celebrate their New Year today and the opening of the Olympics approaches, let’s pray for this vast country of nearly 1.5 billion people, with 443 unreached people groups cut off from the Gospel by linguistic, cultural, geographic, political and other barriers.

Due to an increase in persecution, China rose 26 places in three years on Open Doors’ list of most dangerous countries for Christians to live. Their highly sophisticated surveillance system is both invasive and oppressive, with Christians as a main target. Churches have been invaded, threatened and forced to disband in recent years, with believers suffering a span of persecution including arrests, interrogation, threats, imprisonment and worse. Children and youth are forbidden to learn about Christ and those who teach them (including their parents) are punished. In addition, the government is adjusting Scripture to fit their socialist agendas.

Lord, please be a Shield around every believer in China. Protect them and their families from surveillance and persecution. Provide safe ways for Christians to meet together to worship and study Your Word; and place a shield of protection around every true Bible to prevent its confiscation and protect the owner. Awaken the people of China to You, O God. Give every person such a hunger they will seek You with all their heart and find You. Translate Your Word into every language and reach every heart with Your Good News. Remove from power every person in authority who fights against You, and replace them with those who will open the way for Truth to reign. Build Christians’ faith, increase their love, empower them to forgive, and shine forth Your light through them so brightly the darkness is obliterated and the nation is flooded with Your glory. For every Christian who is persecuted, bring thousands of lost to faith in Christ. For every church that has been closed, plant 1,000 more. For every child forbidden to hear about you, save 10,000 more. Make a way where there seems to be no way for Your Gospel to reach every corner of China and for faith in Jesus to rise up and replace the era of Communist oppression with Revival.

For 30 Days of Prayer for Global Awakening, and other powerful resources for overcoming the enemy and praying forth God’s purposes in your family and in the world, visit MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com.