How can I pray for persecuted Christians?
Somewhere in the world tonight, a believer is praying in secret. The door is locked. The candle is low. She is praying for her persecutors. She is also praying for you.
Prayer is the heartbeat of the Christian faith. Persecuted Christians know this. Prayer is always the first request of persecuted Christians and they pray for us. In praying for them we identify with their suffering and we bring their needs to the throne of our Almighty God.
So, how can you pray in a way that is informed, faithful and rooted in Scripture? Whether you have five minutes or want to dig deeper, scroll down to discover the different ways we resource you to pray.
A prayer for today
Each day our Prayer Shield provides a brief, country-focused prayer topic for you to use. It can help if you are busy, or if you just do not know what to pray for. You can see today’s prayer, plus those for the last six days, to the right.
Thank God that our partner has been able to help Christian widows such as ‘Rachelle’ (pictured), who now rears pigs to provide for her and her five children. Pray for God’s blessing on other widows who are receiving support through our partner project.
Ways to pray together
Three resources to help you stand in prayer with your brothers and sisters in Christ – alone, as a family, or as a church.
Receive weekly prayer alerts
Subscribe to our prayer emails and receive a weekly message with up-to-date prayer alerts and information. It helps you pray for our partners working directly with those who suffer.
A monthly resource for the whole household
Do you and your family pray together? Our monthly resource offers activities and prayer points suitable for all ages. It helps your household learn about and care for the body of Christ around the world.
A visual reminder of your global family
The Prayer Map is a visual reminder of where your family in Christ is around the world. Put it up in your home or on your church mission board. Click below to order your copy.
Go deeper with Voice magazine
Voice magazine brings you deeper stories from the persecuted church. Each issue features stories from around the world with context, background and pointers for further prayer. It keeps you rooted in fellowship with those who suffer for Christ and the gospel. Each magazine includes a printed Prayer Shield with three months of daily prayer requests.
Pray country by country
Use our interactive globe to help you pray. Rotate the globe and click on a country. Meet your brothers and sisters.
Each featured nation includes background information, what it is like to be a Christian living there, the work Voice of Persecuted Christians supports and links to the latest news, stories and prayer requests. Some countries have prisoners of faith, with direct links to their profiles.
Host our International Partner Speaker Events
Every year we invite one or more of our international partners to the UK to share the first person voice of persecution. We would be delighted to consider your church as a possible venue for this. These events are great ways to engage your church, but we always encourage you to invite other local churches and friends. These are typically larger events, and we may seek your help with parking, resources and volunteers. Could your church host such an event? Contact your nearest Engagement Manager to talk it through!
Need Support or Have Questions?
If you’re developing church engagement and would value guidance, our team is here to help. Whether you’re building church partnerships, exploring church fundraising ideas, or using our church mission resources, we can support your next step.
Email us at info@releaseinternational.org or call 01689 823491 to discuss how your church can strengthen its response to persecuted Christians.
Together, we can grow meaningful church involvement that makes a lasting impact.
