Persecuted Christians 4
- Praying Scripture
- Aug 31, 2023
- 15 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
Receive Holy Spirit Guidance
Let Your Holy Spirit help us to pray because Your Word says that we do not know how to pray as we ought but that the Holy Spirit helps in our weaknesses and makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26)
Let the Holy Spirit make intercession through and for us according to the will of God (Romans 8:27)
Let the Holy Spirit guide us into all the truth and declare to us the things that are to come (John 16:13)
Let the Holy Spirit baptize us fully as with the apostles, let tongues of Holy Spirit fire rest upon each of us and let us receive Your Holy Spirit power so that we are led by the Holy Spirit in everything pertaining to this life (Acts 1:5-8 & Acts 2:1-4)
General Prayer for The Persecuted
Lord, Your Word says that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12), but we take hope that blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:10) and we pray that the Kingdom of Heaven would come upon all these persecuted Christians. May The Holy Spirit teach them in that very hour what they ought to say when they are brought before authorities (Luke 12:12).
We pray You'd give them the strength to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44 | Romans 12:14), and to rejoice in sharing Christ's sufferings (1 Peter 4:12-14). May they endure to the end and be saved (Matthew 10:22).
We pray that all those who have left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for Your sake and for the gospel, will receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life (Mark 10:29-30).
May those who suffer according to Your will entrust their souls to You, their faithful Creator while doing good (1 Peter 4:19). We pray that they would be faithful unto death, so that You will give them the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).
We pray they would fear no evil and that Your rod and Your staff would comfort them (Psalm 23:4). We pray You'd rescue them from the hands of their enemies and their persecutors (Psalm 31:15).
We pray that the things which happen to them would actually turn out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it will become evident to prison guards and all persecutors, and to all the rest, that their chains are in Christ. Let the brethren in the Lord become confident by their chains, that they will be much more bold to speak the word without fear (Philippians 1:12-14).
Lord, let Your vengeance against the persecutors of Christians be their salvation. As they beat, kill, torture, and persecute Your Church, let them wonder who this Jesus is that is worth the lives of those they persecute. Let them wonder why these people think this Jesus is worth torture and pain. Let them look for answers as to why this Jesus is worth persecution and suffering, and in doing so, let them find You. Let them, in the midst of persecuting Christians, meet the Damascus roads that Paul met. Let the zeal with which they persecute Christians become the zeal with which they turn around, follow and preach Jesus Christ.
We thank You Lord, for Your grace and mercy that allows us to freely be Christians. May we never forget to continue praying for and supporting our brothers and sisters who don't have this freedom.
Links, prayers and references compiled from Open Doors International
Mexico [opendoors link to overview]
Opendoors Prayer Points
Pray that God will protect His people living in areas where drug cartels and criminal gangs are present.
Pray that God will continue to draw to Himself and care for believers from indigenous communities.
Pray for God to strengthen Open Doors local partners, that they would be ambassadors who help to build Jesus’s kingdom of hope and peace.
Open Doors' strengthening of persecuted believers in Mexico with biblical training, legal support, trauma care and socio-economic aid.
Criminal violence attempting to silence Christian witness.
Opendoors Suggested Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for our brothers and sisters in Mexico, and for their courage in standing up to the violence and crime that is so rife in the country. Strengthen them and fill them with Your Holy Spirit; give them the right words to say as they continue to stand against injustice. Protect believers from being recruited by criminal gangs and bring an end to the hold that these groups have over the nation. Help believers from indigenous backgrounds to find safe places to meet and worship – may their testimonies shine Your light in dark places, Amen.
Person to Pray For - Mauricio
"My suffering started when I accepted Lord Jesus. The authorities in my community first tried to take away my land title. They took away my certificate so that I could not work my land, they imprisoned me and my wife for 24 hours, and finally, they took away our drinking water and public services."
People to Pray For - Napite Church
[Video: Persecuted believers celebrate baptisms in Mexico]
Pray with the families of the Napite Church—that they would grow in their faith and love for Christ.
Pray that this church would continue to add believers and multiply in ways we can’t fathom.
Pray that God would open the hearts of local authorities and community members as they see the love of these believers for each other and for them.
Pray for these newly baptized believers. Pray that the roots of their faith would be deep and life-giving. Ask God to protect these young Christians as they encounter inevitable pressures from their peers and authorities. Pray that they would be reminded of this day and their decision when persecution comes their way.
Person to Pray For - Alicia
[12-Year-Old Girl Faces Persecution for Faith in Mexico]
Pray for the freedom to follow Jesus. Ask God to grant Alicia and her family the right to live out their beliefs without fear of retaliation or punishment.
Pray for the local community leaders. Pray that God would soften their hearts and allow the building of a church.
Support house churches in prayer. Intercede for every Christian who gathers in homes ... that they may experience God's presence in fellowship and worship, even under pressure.
Pray for healing. Ask God to bring emotional healing and restoration to all who have suffered persecution, especially the children who have endured rejection and fear.
Hope for transformation. Cry out for a spiritual awakening in the community, that one day every heart would be open to the gospel and come to know Jesus personally.
Person to Pray For - Sergio
[Following Jesus under drug cartels in Mexico]
Please pray that the violence would not grow worse, and instead would begin to cease.
Pray that Christians would have both wisdom and boldness.
And pray for healing for all of the people who have been affected
Oman [opendoors link to overview]
Opendoors Prayer Points
Please pray for church communities, that God will protect them.
Ask that immigrant believers will have wisdom and boldness in living out their faith.
Pray for Open Doors partners on the Arabian Peninsula to shine the light of Christ.
Open Doors' support of the body of Christ on the Arabian Peninsula by organizing prayer, distributing Scripture resources, and training believers and pastors.
Opendoors Suggested Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your church in Oman, and for all the ways that You are revealing Your Son to the Omani people. Protect and strengthen Christians who hide their faith, and comfort believers who have suffered for choosing to follow You. Help Christians to find church communities where they can flourish, and bless immigrant believers with creativity in how they share the gospel with others, Amen.
Person to Pray For - Yacoub
"My wife threw me out of our house as she didn’t want me to talk about Jesus." Yacoub, from the Arabian Peninsula met Jesus through a series of dreams
Ethiopia [opendoors link to overview]
Opendoors Prayer Points
When believers leave Islam or the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and join evangelical communities, they can experience heavy pressure. Pray for them.
Pray for believers living in unstable parts of Ethiopia where they may be targeted for following Jesus. Ask God to protect them.
Pray for unity among all Christians in Ethiopia, that they will all remain dedicated to Jesus.
Pray for the believers in Qibet, for perseverance and resilience in their situation. Pray that they will be salt and light in their communities.
Pray for comfort and provision. Pray for restoration of their former lives and that they be able to live without fear in their hometown.
Pray also for the Muslim extremists in Qibet, that they will ask questions about their beliefs and turn towards Jesus as their Savior.
Opendoors Suggested Prayer
Heavenly Father, we lift Ethiopian believers to You. We ask for Your protection, strength and unity among all Christians in Ethiopia. May Your love and grace sustain them through every trial, and may they remain steadfast in their faith, Amen.
Person to Pray For - Desta
"Because I came [to the Open Doors trauma care seminar], countless things have changed in me. ...Jesus was also hated, and He was also cast out. So what I have learned is to befriend these people. We need to know they won’t love us, but we need to live for them."
Pray for Desta and her family to have abundant grace amidst the continued persecution.
Person to Pray For - Jemal
"The Lord is the source of my hope! When I see the church filled with people, I get overjoyed." Jemal, Ethiopian believer
People to Pray For - Ermias, Fasil, Ezana, Pastor Yohannes
"These children are the hope for the church to continue, and for that to happen they need to understand Christ’s light.” Ermias"
Ermias says:
Please pray for the continuity of my children’s spiritual life. I come from a family where even my great-grandparents are believers in the gospel. It has continued with me, and I want this to continue in my children as well; everything else is an addition, I want them to grow up with the gospel.
Pray they will grow in knowledge, as Jesus grew with wisdom and knowledge.
My children want to do much in the area they were born in, so I want you to pray for them to reach to the places they want to reach.
Pastor Yohannes says:
Please pray for my family. My heart’s cry is for my family to come to Christ.
Pray for the town to surrender to God.
Pray for the students in the school to understand God’s truth. Pray for them to grow in the face of God, that they can change [their generation] and the world.
Pray for strength and perseverance for me, so that I can share the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Tunisia [opendoors link to overview]
Opendoors Prayer Points
Pray that converts from Islam will be sheltered from abuse and rejection.
Ask God to help Tunisian Christians forbidden from worshipping publicly. Pray that they will be able to meet and encourage one another.
Pray that God will guide communities of Christians that can help them grow in faith.
Opendoors Suggested Prayer
Father God, we pray that it will become increasingly easy for Tunisian Christians to meet together and encourage one another. Please speak to the families of people who become believers, so that they will come to know and trust Jesus as well, instead of rejecting their loved ones. We pray for peace in this country where tensions run high. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Congo DR (DRC) [opendoors link to overview]
Opendoors Prayer Points
The violence in the eastern part of the DRC is staggering. Pray that God’s hurting people will know that He is near.
So many Christians have lost everything and have been forced to flee their homes. Pray these displaced followers of Jesus will find stability and hope.
Despite the ongoing attacks on mostly Christian communities, people continue to come to faith in Christ in eastern DRC. Pray for their faith to grow strong and that they will be well discipled.
Opendoors Suggested Prayer
Heavenly Father, we lift up the people of DRC who are suffering from violence and displacement. Grant them Your comfort, stability and hope. Strengthen the faith of new believers and guide them in their discipleship. We pray for peace and for the hearts of extremists to turn towards You, Amen.
Person to Pray For - Jerome
"Getting food is our main problem now that we are displaced, because we don’t have a place to farm. The situation is very bad. If life goes on like this … it’s hard to live." Jerome, an internally displaced person (IDP) in DRC
People to Pray For - Pastor Paluku, Rev. Alili, Rev. Samaki, Residents of Beni Territory, Residents of Potodu
People to Pray For - Residents of Oicha Town, Rev. Gabriel. Pastor Paluka
[Urgent prayer request from the DRC]
Pray for the families and communities left behind by those who were killed in the massacre. Ask God to be near to them and bind up their wounds.
Ask God for an end to the violence in the DRC. It has become so prevalent and created a massive displacement crisis. Pray that God would bring His peace to this part of sub-Saharan Africa.
Pray for the resilience of the church. Pray that they would be able to mourn with one another and walk with each other through this time of deep suffering.
Pray for the hearts of the ADF fighters, that they would see the hope that Jesus offers them—and that they would see He loves them more than they could possibly know.
Pray for Open Doors partners as they walk alongside the church in the DRC. Pray our partners would be able to equip the local church to provide spiritual and physical support to Christians in crisis.
People to Pray For - Residents of Mayba and Kasanga
Bhutan [opendoors link to overview]
Opendoors Prayer Points
Pray for believers in Bhutan who can only attend churches that exist in a legal grey area. Pray they will be able to meet together to encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25), no matter what.
Ask that God will protect and preserve believers who have converted from Buddhism. Many experience rejection from their families, pray these believers will see that they have a new family in Christ who prays and stands with them.
Christians can be denied citizenship and other civic rights in Bhutan. Pray that God will help these believers find their worth and citizenship in Him.
Opendoors Suggested Prayer
Dear Lord, please be with our brothers and sisters in Bhutan as they risk so much to follow You. We pray for stamina, for courage and for wisdom. Let them find places where they can gather for worship, and protect them as they do. Help young Bhutanese believers to not grow weary, but rather to grow in faith to be the next generation of the church in this beautiful nation. We pray these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.
Person to Pray For - Deki
"Villagers taunted my parents. They mentally harassed them. They called Christian faith a foreign religion and began to create chaos for our family."
Deki, a Bhutanese believer
Mozambique [opendoors link to overview]
Opendoors Prayer Points
Pray for protection for believers in northern Mozambique as the region remains unstable and vulnerable to attacks from extremist groups.
Please pray that God will comfort and heal Christians who are severely traumatised because of the violent attacks.
Pray for Open Doors partners who work in Mozambique to be protected as they seek to strengthen the faith of believers.
Opendoors Suggested Prayer
Heavenly Father, we pray for an end to the horrific violence in Mozambique and for Your peace to reign. Draw near to Christians living in fear, or with injuries and trauma; ‘heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds’ (Psalm 147:3). May the recent elections help bring stability and peace to the nation and help the newly elected government to combat the Islamist insurgency. Strengthen the church to continue to be salt and light, that many more in Mozambique – especially extremists – will encounter Your love, Amen.
Person to Pray For - Pastor Mario
"In Mozambique, we Christians are targets of much persecution, many believers are raped, killed, several churches and houses destroyed." Pastor Mario, church leader in Mozambique
People to Pray For - Residents of Napala Village & Chiure Town
[Story]
Kazakhstan [opendoors link to overview]
Opendoors Prayer Points
Pray for Christians who can be targeted for violations of Kazakhstan’s Religion Law. Ask God to protect churches from misuse of these regulations.
The government of Kazakhstan regularly monitors church leaders. Ask God to protect His servants.
Many believers in Kazakhstan have trouble getting regular access to Bibles and Christian literature. Pray that God’s Word will find its way to every believer in the country.
Opendoors Suggested Prayer
Heavenly Father, we ask You to walk with our family in Kazakhstan as they trust and follow You no matter what. Please protect our Kazakhstani sisters and brothers from abuse in their homes, unjust court cases and the misuse of regulations against them. We ask You to shield church leaders from government surveillance and make a way for every believer to have their own copy of Your Word. We pray with confidence knowing that You can and will use Your Church to bring Your Word to all those who desire to know You deeply. In Your name, we ask all these things, Amen.
Person to Pray For - Ailin
"[My family] started to force me to say [the Islamic statement of faith], to renounce my faith, my Christianity. But I said: ‘No, I know my God—it's Jesus. I believe He is God. I’m a Christian; I’m not a Muslim." Ailin, a believer in Central Asia
Tajikistan [opendoors link to overview]
Opendoors Prayer Points
Christians who meet in house churches can face monitoring from authorities and government raids. Pray that these believers can worship together without fear.
Pray for a change in heart for government officials, so that they will stop infringing on religious freedom.
Ask God to protect evangelists and other Christian workers who bring God’s Word and other Christian resources to His people in Tajikistan.
Opendoors Suggested Prayer
Father God, thank You for the courage and determination of Your church in Tajikistan. Continue to give them confidence when they are accused of wrongdoing. We pray that the authorities will stop raiding and restricting faith communities and that the country will find a better way for people of different faiths to live together in peace. Help believers from Muslim backgrounds to find fellowship with one another, Amen.
Person to Pray For - Khasam
"For two weeks, we were summoned every day to the state intelligence service. They threatened, frightened and insulted us. But I thank God because we were able to testify about our faith in Jesus Christ ... Let’s pray for those people who oppressed us so that they would know the truth." Khasam, Central Asia
Egypt [opendoors link to overview]
Opendoors Prayer Points
Ask God to be with every secret believer in Egypt, that they would be able to live for Him as openly as they are called to be, and that they would be wise and courageous in equal measure.
Pray that God would protect them and give them strength—and that they would know they belong to a global family who is listening to their story and praying with them, asking God to bring both perseverance and hope as they follow Jesus' humility and compassion.
Ask God to reveal Himself to radical and fanatic Muslims.
Pray that the love of Jesus will be reflected to Muslims through the lives of the Christians living in Egypt. Pray that Christians will show Muslims practical love through serving them.
Pray for Muslims in Egypt, that God will reveal Himself to people who are truly searching for Him.
Pray that the love of Jesus will be reflected to Muslims through the lives of the Christians in Egypt.
Pray that Christians will show their Muslim neighbors practical love by serving them with
Opendoors Suggested Prayer
Heavenly Father, we lift up our brothers and sisters in Egypt who face persecution for their faith. Grant them courage, protection and strength. May Your love and peace surround them, and may they find hope and healing in Your presence, Amen.
Person to Pray For - Julie
"Teachers, and classmates used to mockingly tell me that Christians are crazy, claiming that we worship three gods. A Muslim classmate once told me that she will slaughter me because I am Christian." Julie, a Christian child in Egypt
People to Pray For - Raef and Sawson
[Story] "I lived with my wife Sawsan in a family house along with my parents,” he says. “I used to work as a taxi driver to support my family; the taxi belonged to my father. My father was an imam (a Muslim religious leader). He was a fanatic Muslim who hated Christians."
Pray that God would help Raef and Sawson grow in faith without fear and hesitation, guiding and empowering them to face their daily struggles.
May He also guide their words and actions as they confront the challenges of living a dual identity, providing strength and clarity along their journey.
Person to Pray For - Sarah
Pray for the future of Sarah and her two sons, along with many other poor, persecuted families who have converted from Islam.
Pray that God would continue His work among them and that they can grow in their faith. Ask God to protect Sarah and her sons from the harmful actions of her husband.
People to Pray For - Fady's Family
Person to Pray For - Mariam
Pray that God will always strengthen Mariam and her children so that they would have power to face difficult situations.
Pray for Mariam and her children, that they may live as salt and light for their surrounding community and that through God's power, they would be able to comfort and strengthen others.
People to Pray For - Adam & Dina
[Story] "Faced with a real threat, we had no choice but to leave our home and the community immediately." Adam, Egyptian believer
Prayer Series for Persecuted Christians:
Prayers for The Church
Prayer Series for The Church
Miscellaneous Prayers
