For many people who live with religious freedom, it can be hard to imagine a place where there are real risks that come with being a Christian. Yet that is the everyday reality for millions of Christians facing persecution.
One way we can support Christians who are persecuted for their faith is to pray for them! These powerful Christian prayers for the persecuted church can make a difference in the lives of those who face a more difficult life just for their faith.
What is the Persecuted Church?
Open Doors US, a Christian organization dedicated to serving persecuted Christians around the world, tells us that over 360 million Christians are persecuted for their faith. They can face discrimination and isolation, as well as arrest and even death. Countries such as North Korea, Somalia, and Yemen top the list of countries on the annual World Watch List where it is most dangerous to be a Christian.
If you live in a country with religious freedom, ask God how He would have you help your fellow Christians who face high levels of persecution. Let’s show solidarity with those who are persecuted for their Christian faith and find ways to support them, including praying for them.
What is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church?
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is a special opportunity to share about persecuted Christians with other people, and to join together in prayers for the persecuted church. Usually the first Sunday in November, churches and other ministries gather together to support our Christian family around the world in prayer.
What can we do for persecuted Christians?
Pray. Christians who live in these countries can be encouraged in a variety of ways. As previously mentioned, we can be faithful in prayers for the persecuted church. Brother Andrew, who established Open Doors, once said, “Our prayers can go where we cannot. There are no borders, no prison walls, no doors that are closed when we pray.”
Give. We can support them with donations for Christian material and training. Frontlines International arranges for Bibles to be delivered to places where it can be dangerous or illegal to own one.
They also have options to support the distribution of the Jesus Film, digital Bibles, and discipleship materials. Having access to God’s Word and other materials makes a huge difference to these churches.
Care. We can help care for those affected by Christian persecution. Voice of the Martyrs works with those who need help because they or someone in their family has been imprisoned or killed because of their faith.
Learn. These aren’t just inspiring stories, they are the real life circumstances of people who live with persecution. Even if we have religious freedom now, it isn’t guaranteed in the future. Use your freedom to share the Gospel now. Encourage and help those being persecuted as Christians, as you would want to be helped.
Prayers for the Persecuted Church
These prayers for the persecuted church are sample prayers to help guide you through praying for persecuted Christians. It’s followed by links to prayer resources from organizations who specialize in ministering to Christians experiencing religious persecution.
There’s also a printable prayer guide to praying for persecuted Christians. This can be a helpful resource for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church or for any other time that you may want to help others learn about and pray for persecuted Christians.
Feel free to use the following prayers as your inspiration for if you need to lead a prayer at church for persecuted Christians. They can also be helpful to use as prayer points for a small group or Sunday School class.
Prayer for Strength for the Persecuted Church
One of the prayers for the persecuted church we can pray for is for strength. Pray that believers will be strengthened to endure the suffering in the midst of persecution.
Dear Lord,
We thank You for our Christian brother or sister who takes great risk each day to be a Christian, even secretly. We thank You for the strength that You have given them already, and we pray that You would sustain this faith today.
May they wait upon You today, dear Lord, and may You renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31). Please encourage them today. Help them to feel the strength that can only come from You.
Give them the strength to do what You have for them today,
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for Hope for the Persecuted Church
Another one of the prayers for the persecuted church that we can pray for is for them to have hope for the future despite overwhelming circumstances.
Dear God,
We pray from Romans 15:13 for our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters. May You, the God of hope, fill them with all joy and peace in believing, that they may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Even when circumstances look dire, we pray that You would help them see the hope that they have in You. Only You can provide the eternal hope that lasts! Please strengthen their trust in that hope.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for Boldness for the Persecuted Church
One of the prayers for the persecuted church is praying for boldness to share Christ. This can look a lot different in countries where Christians are persecuted, yet many still share their faith with others.
O God,
We thank You for Your wonderful, life-giving Gospel. What a gift it is to the believer!
As persecuted Christians around the world want to share the Gospel, there can be many obstacles in the way. Some face rejection in their culture, while others might lose their job or their family. Others could face being imprisoned or even killed for practicing their faith in these dangerous places.
When You call them to share the Gospel with someone, we pray that You would help them to communicate it effectively. We pray that You would help them discern Your call clearly and how they should share. We pray that You would shield their actions from those who would report them or discriminate against them for being Christian.
May Your hope and truth spread despite the restrictions in these countries.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer for Provision for the Persecuted Church
One of the prayers for the persecuted church that we can pray for is for provision for what they need, including scarce or illegal Bibles and other Christian materials. Christians in some countries are not able to work easily and might struggle to have enough food to eat. Let’s be praying for the Lord to sustain them today with food and the Word of God.
Almighty God,
We pray that You would provide for the persecuted church, for the things that are needed today. May their hunger be satisfied, for their daily bread, but also for their biblical knowledge. May they know that You see them, and that You provide.
We pray that You would inspire those who You call to give to the persecuted church, that they would give cheerfully and generously. May we bless persecuted Christians with encouragement in helping with the needs they have. May they be able to minister to others with what You provide.
In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.
Prayer for Protection for the Persecuted Church
One of the first prayers for the persecuted church that most people think of is a prayer for protection. Over the years, we have heard that this is not foremost on their minds. Many of them want to pray for strength in the face of persecution so that they will be able to share the Gospel with others, and grow God’s church.
Corrie ten Boom, who suffered her share of religious persecution, said that ,“The safest place is in the center of God’s will.” Doing what God calls us to do puts us in a place where we have to trust Him for the results. We still pray for protection, but we obey His calling.
Father God,
Today we ask You to protect our fellow believers who face extreme persecution. Sometimes they risk their lives to even secretly be Christians. Please shelter them under the safety of Your wings today.
Help them to be obedient, but not to take any risks that You have not called them to take. Show them when they shouldn’t dare to do something, and when they should be bold.
For those who might bring them harm, please help their eyes not to see and their ears not to hear, the things that would endanger the persecuted church.
Help technology hide them when necessary, and protect them from being found through technology.
May they serve You as You have called them today.
In the name of Christ, Amen.
Prayer for Wisdom for the Persecuted Church
When there are risks involved with revealing themselves as a Christians, then those in countries where there is persecution of Christians must show wisdom and discretion as they share the hope they have in Christ. This one of the prayers for the persecuted church guides us in praying for wisdom.
O Lord,
We pray for Your wisdom and guidance today for Christians in persecuted countries. May they be as “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16) May they judge the situation correctly. We pray that you would help them be wise and thwart those who are only trying to bring harm.
We pray also that You would help your church around the world to grow in wisdom and knowledge from Your Word. May You provide access to training and resources for the persecuted church.
In the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.
Prayer for Revival for the Persecuted Church
Not every country where Christians experience persecution was always that way. Some come from a rich history of a strong Christian faith. Even despite the difficult circumstances, the church still remains, though it may look vastly different from before.
This one of the prayers for the persecuted church reminds us to pray for revival for the persecuted church. From reviving the remnant of a church that used to be, to bringing a revival of hope and faith into a culture that may have not traditionally followed Christ, we need to be praying for revival.
Dear merciful God,
We thank You that no matter what people or governments or societies might say, that Your Word is true and You are real.
We pray that a spirit of revival would be upon these countries, whether they have been a country that honored You before, or has not known You in the past.
Revive Your remnant. Return leaders to the Christian faith of their youth. Enlighten and soften the hearts of those who want to find hope in You. Show Your power and strength to a nation. Bring new believers to Your church.
We pray that You would encourage the believer who feels alone, that they might see this revival and enjoy fellowship with other believers. Please provide for church leaders who want to serve. We pray that the body of Christ will grow.
Revive hearts to You today, dear Lord!
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Resources for Prayers for the Persecuted Church
These resources can help you find more current information for your prayer requests for persecuted Christians.
- Open Doors US has many resources on their prayer page, including a monthly prayer guide and a weekly prayer updates email.
- Voice of the Martyrs features stories and prayer requests you can pray about at I Commit to Pray.
We are providing this free instant download of “Prayers for the Persecuted Church 7-Day Prayer Guide”. Download our guide for a week’s worth of prayers here.
Prayer does make a difference. Whether you use these prayers to inspire your prayers for the persecuted church, or you say prayers from your own heart, it is important to lift up our Christians brothers and sisters. Remember them in prayer today!
If you liked “Prayers for the Persecuted Church”, you may also like Bible Verses to Pray for the Church and Prayer Points for the Church.