More Ways to Pray for the Persecuted Church

A crackdown on churches in China. Brutal attacks on believers in Nigeria. A suicide bomber at a church in Syria.

It’s hard to know where to start when praying for those suffering for Christ around the world. Our recent prayer guide offers ways to remember some of the countries ranked highest for Christian persecution. 

We know believers in many other nations face significant opposition as well. Some of those have endured growing or renewed persecution this year. Here are just a few more countries to remember on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (Nov. 2)—and beyond: 

1. CHINA

In China, believers have faced one of the largest crackdowns on unregistered churches in nearly eight years. On Oct. 10, police detained 30 pastors and staff members of Zion Church, a house church network in cities across China. 

China has been a story of God preserving and growing his church through persecution over the last century. But the struggles for our brothers and sisters are persistent and real.

Pray for God to protect and encourage Chinese believers facing growing restrictions. Pray for unity in their churches. Pray for believers in prison for Christ. Pray for more Chinese men and women and children to see Christ through their witness. And pray for efforts to reach still-unreached parts of China with the gospel of Jesus. 

2. NIGERIA  

Nigeria remains one of the most violent places for Christian on earth. Though many believers live and worship freely in southern Nigeria, Christians in northern Nigeria have faced a relentless campaign of persecution from Islamic militants, armed bandits, and pockets of Fulani herdsmen. 

In 2024, more Christians were killed and kidnapped in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world. 

Pray for believers facing danger, threats, and violence. Pray for their pastors,who remain especially endangered targets. Pray for women and girls recovering from targeted sexual abuse and violence. Pray for God to protect believers from their enemies, and for their enemies to see Christ in their bold witness.

3. SYRIA

In Syria this past June, a terrorist detonated a suicide vest on a Sunday morning at Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus. Twenty five people were killed and dozens more were injured.

Christians weren’t the only religious minorities targeted in Syria this year: In March, Islamist militants killed more than 1,300 people in a rampage against Alawites, a Shia minority sect. 

Though Christians in Syria have a historic connection to the early church, they’ve also faced oppression and persecution. Many fled the country in 2011, when they were targeted by terrorists during civil war. Today, Christians still face restrictions and fears, and conditions are particularly dangerous for believers from a Muslim background.

Pray that God will shield Syrian Christians (and other religious minorities) from more outbreaks of violence. Pray that he will protect, encourage, and provide for believers from Muslim backgrounds. Pray for the diaspora of Syrian Christians around the world. And pray for efforts to disciple refugee believers and church leaders from a Muslim background.

PRAYING LIKE THE EARLY CHURCH

There’s a moment in Acts 4 when Peter and John tell their believing friends they’ve been forbidden by authorities from speaking to others about Jesus. Peter and John have already refused the demand, and their Christian friends begin to pray.

They ask God to see their enemy’s threats. They also ask him to help the church “continue to speak your Word with all boldness.” Keep working through our persecution, they plead, not just in spite of it.