More than 360,000,000 Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination. That’s one in seven! In fact, in many countries, even those who have not yet chosen Christ suffer beatings and imprisonment just for asking questions about Him!
Did you know that in 2022,
- 5,621 Christians were murdered for their faith?
- 2,110 churches were attacked?
- 4,542 Christians were detained?
Top 10 Most Dangerous Countries for Christians to Live in 2023:
Some of the ways Christians are persecuted:
- Religious extremists — usually Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, but also some indigenous religions — often attack Christians through
- Terrorism, violence, murder
- Burning of homes, churches
- Abduction
- Rape
- Forced marriages (especially to Muslims)
- Forced teaching and conversion of children (usually to Islam)
- Oppressive governments (usually in Communist, Muslim or Hindu countries) often target Christians through
- Surveillance, arrests, interrogations, harassement
- Imprisonment, torture, execution
- Withholding of needed provisions
- Raiding and destruction of churches
- Restrictions on Christian materials, gatherings or talking about Christ
- Drug cartels often target Christians for abductions and violent attacks, especially in areas where Christians are speaking out against them
Powerful stories of courage and faith:
Son of Hamas Leader Chooses Christ
A Militant Muslim’s Encounter with Love
Torture Could Not Shake This Eritrean’s Faith
Extremist Meets Jesus in a Vision
Stories from Syria: A Dream of Jesus
Stories from Syria: Tortured Like Jesus
Letters Smuggled Out of North Korea
Abducted Christian Rescued in Egypt
Join us for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Join together with Christians throughout the world as we pray November 3, 2024, for our brothers and sisters facing severe persecution for their faith. For FREE daily prayer guides delivered to your inbox in time for your morning quiet times with God, enter your email below:
If the Lord is calling you to fast as you pray, check out our So You Think You Can’t Fast page:
So You Think You Can’t Fast
For more ideas on getting your church, family or others involved in a month of prayer for the persecuted church, see our 30 Days of Prayer page.
Take into your war room this full-color book, 30 Days of Prayer for Global Awakening, Volumes 1-2, available in both paperback or pdf format (for Kindle and other devices) at MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com.
You can also go to Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs to see where and how Christians are persecuted. In fact, click here to view a moving video from the heart of a sister in Nigeria, and another from Nepal by Voice of the Martyrs:
Now, let’s get started praying!
Prayers for the Persecuted:
From Matthew 10:16-42
Lord, we ask You for Christians all throughout the world who are undergoing persecution at this time. Give them strength and courage to endure, forgive, love, and proclaim Your Good News, even in the face of great hardship. Give them wisdom every moment to know what to do, where to go, what to say; and empower them, Lord, to be lights in the darkness, pointing every heart to the glory of Your love.
For those who are imprisoned or facing imprisonment or torture, rescue them and their families, please, Lord, by Your merciful hand. Deliver them in such miraculous ways their persecutors will fall to their knees in worship of the One True God. May Your Kingdom come, Lord, here on earth, as it is in Heaven.
And for those of us throughout the world who are facing each of our own difficulties and hardships, make us bold witnesses. Anoint and empower us to share Your love every moment in ways that will spark deep hunger in the hearts of the lost around us to know the God of Love.
For the day has come now, Lord, where You are bringing the nations to our own neighborhoods. Give us courage to reach out and love. Tear down every barrier, and bring the lost to You. In Your name, we pray. Amen.
From Isaiah 60:1-2
Father God, please have mercy on Your precious children. So many thousands will face persecution and even death this year because of their faith in You. Fight for them. Cover them. Shield them. Guide them. Empower them to speak Your words in the face of opposition. To forgive. To love. To share the Gospel. To stand strong in their faith. To show their persecutors who You truly are. Surround them with Your angel armies.
Stand in the way of enemy attacks. Guard your people so fiercely those who mean them harm will see You, tremble with fear and repent. Turn every instance of persecution into a Saul-on-the-road-to-Damascus event (Acts 9), where those bent on evil come face-to-face with Truth Himself and are transformed forever.
No matter how terrible the circumstances Your followers face, we know You are still in control. You are working something good out of it all, and our eternal rewards far outweigh our suffering. Comfort us with Your love. Strengthen our faith. Remind us of scriptures to help us overcome. Protect family members from harm, and give us Your instructions for every situation.
For those who are trapped, imprisoned or in danger, please rescue them. Make the way for their escape. Be near to us in our time of need, Lord. Hide believers and churches from those who seek to do harm, but expose them to seekers and Christians who long to know You more. Safely place Christians in contact with one another, especially those who are isolated. Awaken persecutors to Your mercy and salvation. May Your kingdom come to all the Earth!
From Isaiah 51:12-16
O Lord, please comfort those in danger and in prison, who live in constant terror because of the wrath of the oppressor bent on destruction. Remind them that their persecutors are mere mortals, like grass they will wither and die. But the Lord their Maker is the Everlasting One who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth. Rescue them, O God. Say to them now, “Where is the wrath of the oppressor? The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;
they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread. For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the Lord Almighty is My name. I have put My words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of My hand—I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to you, ‘You are Mine.’” Fight for them, Lord. Don’t let the enemy win against them. Give them strength, peace, hope and especially love. May their persecutors come face to face with the Living God, drop their weapons, fall on their faces before You trembling in fear of the Lord, and choose You as their Savior.
For the Muslim world
For Muslims who have converted to Christianity and are in terrible danger and for Muslim seekers who have been beaten, arrested, or otherwise persecuted just for asking questions about Jesus on social media or in other ways, please rescue them. Be a Shield around them and keep them and their families from harm. Speak loudly through them as they give a defense for the Gospel to those who want to end their lives. Move the hearts of those who hear, and turn them to faith. Get their testimonies out to the public, making the stories of their faith in You spread like wildfire, so all will hear of their courage and of Your love and grace.
Draw thousands of Muslims to faith this year precisely because Christians have been persecuted. For ever Christian persecuted by Muslims, we ask You, Lord, for 1,000 adherents to Islam to come to faith in Christ. Give them dreams and visions of You calling them to faith. Don’t stop planting the seeds of Truth in Muslim hearts. Don’t stop pursuing them. Flood them with Your kindness that leads to repentance, so they can know the true joy, peace, and purpose they were created for.
About the author: Mikaela Vincent and her husband have served the Lord for many years in a dark area of the world where Christians are persecuted and few have heard the good news about Christ. They are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through giving a donation, shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, praying for them or inviting them to speak at your church, retreat or other event, click the buttons below:
Ready your whole family to stand strong against enemy attacks through the deep Bible studies, prayer journals, devotionals and other books for all ages on removing the barriers to oneness with Christ and overcoming the enemy in the battlefield of the mind by Mikaela Vincent at MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com:
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