Pray for the Persecuted Church
According to World Evangelical Alliance, more than 360 million Christians around the world live in places where they face persecution. These people face harassment, legal restrictions, detention, violence, assault, and death for their faith in Jesus Christ (IDOP). I think it would be a blight on the western believer (which includes but is not limited to members of the American church) to fail to acknowledge those who hail from a different part of the globe as being valuable members of the global Church. The global Church is not ‘just’ Christ’s church, it is YOUR church. You have brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world who stand with you under the unifying power and authority of the cross. The people that comprise the body of Christ span international borders, ethnolinguistic identities, socioeconomic status, cultures, skin colors, and enneagrams. The purpose of this blog is to persuade you that one of the most powerful and accessible ways you can both love and serve the global Church is by praying for those who are persecuted for Christ’s sake.
Why pray for the Persecuted church?
First, I’d like to answer the question, “why pray for anything?” The answer is simple; Pray because it is powerful and effective (James 5:16). It really has the power to change things and, if you believe that is true, why would you not pray for your brothers and sisters in need? In the book of Hebrews, we are encouraged to “remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and [remember] those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Heb. 13:3). Imagine what it might look like for you to remember the persecuted church as if you yourself were suffering with it. In Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth, he says we the Church (all believers everywhere) are united for we “were all baptized by one Spirit as to form one body” (1 Cor. 12:13). He goes on to write, “so there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Cor. 12:25-26a). Finally, I will remind you that in Ephesians, Paul encourages the church to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions and with all kinds of requests,” writing that in this way we ought to be alert and pray for all of God’s people (Eph. 6:18).
If you’re more of a WIFM (though I doubt you are) kind of gal/guy, let’s look at the effects of prayer beyond its impact on the global body. Prayer impacts your life, especially when you pray on behalf of those who can never repay you. This form of love and service is selfless and unconditional. On prayer, C.S. Lewis said, “It doesn’t change God. It changes me.” Praying for those who are in chains for the gospel opens our eyes to the blessing of freedom we enjoy. Praying for those who risk their lives to gather in the name of Jesus gives us a posture of gratitude for the ability to gather without restriction. Finally, praying for others reminds us of God’s sovereignty. If we are so bold as to surrender our brothers and sisters into Jesus’ hands to protect and provide for them (because we cannot), we come face to face with the reality that we, too, are in His perfect and complete care.
How can we pray for the persecuted church?
In 2019, BBC reported Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. Their reports claim that the result of “near genocide levels” of such persecution is 1) a mass exodus of Christians from areas of heightened danger due to persecution and 2) mass casualty rates, resulting in the “wiping out” of Christians from the aforementioned areas (BBC 2019). With this insight, we are able to recognize ways we can pray for believers in dangerous areas. Pray for their continued provision and protection, yes, but also pray they are strengthened by the Spirit of the Living God to stand firm. According to Cru, an evangelical organization based in the U.S., every day, 13 Christians worldwide are killed because of their faith, 12 churches or Christian buildings are attacked, 12 Christians are unjustly arrested or imprisoned and another 5 are abducted (Cru.org). As we remember those who are mistreated, let us pray for the eyes of their hearts to be enlightened to know the hope, inheritance, and power they have in Christ (Eph. 1:18-23). Using the Bible as our guide and resource for prayer, we can pray:
- that Christians facing persecution would rely on God, and not themselves (2 Corinthians 1:7-9);
- that persecuted Christians would fearlessly tell others about Jesus (Ephesians 6:20);
- that their witness would inspire those who plan to harm them (Acts 16:25, Luke 6:27-31);
- that God would provide for the physical needs of persecuted Christians (3 John 2);
- that they would experience God’s peace, despite their weakness and current circumstances (2 Corinthians 12:9);
- that God would protect them, according to His will (Matthew 26:39);
- that God would ultimately rescue them from dangerous circumstances (Psalm 91:15);
- that persecuted Christians would feel deeply connected to Jesus in their suffering (John 15:19-20);
- that they would be completely faithful and surrendered to God’s will (Revelation 2:10-11);
- that they would have wisdom and discernment for how to approach every situation (Matthew 10:16-18); and
- that as they share in Christ’s sufferings, they would be able to rejoice in the hope God offers them (1 Peter 4:12-14). Visit “How to Pray for the Persecuted Church” for more resources like this.
Additionally, please pray for those in prison and detained with or without legitimate charges and for those that are alone. In many dangerous and highly persecuted nations, the number of Christians in any given city or village is small and often unknown. Pray that these faithful witnesses would have numerous opportunities to meet together and encourage one another. Also, pray they will see open doors for evangelism (Col. 4:3) and that they will speak God’s word with great boldness despite the onslaught of threats (Acts 4:29).
Remember, we are not without hope and neither are they! All over the globe, the underground church is growing in number and influence. It may come as a surprise, but disciples are making disciples in the nations where it is most difficult to share one’s faith. For instance, the fastest-growing church in the world today can be found in Iran, a nation known for its imposing and aggressive Islamic regime. By clicking the link below, you can hear a message from some leaders of the underground church in Iran:
A Message to the Western Church.
How else can we get involved?
The Voice of the Martyrs has created a space on the internet for people to gather to pray for the persecuted church. You can read prayer requests from around the world and post your own prayers specifically for your brothers and sisters who are being persecuted at icommittopray.com. VOM has also created an interactive map to help people all over the world pray for their persecuted brothers and sisters. Go to the Global Prayer Guide to begin praying by country, by continent, or by status as hostile/restricted.
With Operation Prayer’s daily email reminders, you can pray for every country in the world over the course of one year by praying for one country per day. Their partnership with Joshua Project includes “unreached of the day,” where you can learn more about unreached people groups and how to be involved through prayer. To receive reminders to pray for the whole world just one country at a time, sign up at Operation World‘s website.
Donate financially:
- to Global Catalytic Ministries to support underground church leaders all over the world;
- to Global Christian Relief to support discipleship training, Bible distribution, emergency relief, and more for the persecuted church;
- to International Christian Concern to support in the assistance, advocacy, and awareness of the persecuted church at persecution.org;
- and to the Voice of the Martyrs to support front-line workers, persecution aid/response, and to help provide a Bible for every believer.
“Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die…”
Revelation 3:2
“Our prayers can go where we cannot…
there are no borders, no prison walls, no doors that are closed to us when we pray.”
Brother Andrew, author of “God’s Smuggler” and founder of Open Doors In’l
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
