Top 10 Reasons to Pray for Persecuted Christians
Have you heard? The Anglican Persecuted Church Network and the Anglican Freedom Network are co-sponsoring a joint conference on fighting against global Christian persecution and human trafficking! Breaking the Chains: Responding to Christian Persecution and Human Trafficking will take place Friday, September 18, 5PM, through Saturday the 19th, 4PM, at All Saints Anglican Church in Woodbridge, VA.
In honor of and in preparation for that conference, I am resurrecting an article I wrote in 2017 to present the top ten reasons why we should pray for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted and killed for their faith in Jesus.
Years ago – 29 or so – I was part of a cohort putting together the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), an event which my APCN co-leader, Patricia Streeter, continues faithfully every year in her diocese. IDOP was initially created to bring together Christians all over the world to pray for Christians all over the world. We had Christians from the underground church in China praying for Christians suffering under Islam in Sudan. We had Nigerian Christians under attacks from the precursors to Boko Haram and the latest version of Fulani “herdsmen” (eye roll here) praying for Christians in India…and so on. Do you know what our biggest obstacle was?
The most resistance to the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church came from western Christians uncomfortable with a day (one day out of 365) that was devoted to praying only for persecutedChristians! No matter that they could pray for people of any and no faith all year round if they desired. No matter that Christians were (and are) globally the most persecuted of any religious believers. One in every seven Christians worldwide are persecuted. Open Doors reported in 2026 that some 388 million Christians suffer severe levels of persecution. They considered it “mean-spirited” to have a day of prayer just for Christians!
This resistance has lessened over the years. Stories of oppressed and persecuted Chinese Christians, Nigerian Christians massacred by Boko Haram and Fulani jihadists, beleaguered and suddenly homeless Christians in Sudan, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, and so many others have opened the eyes of many American Christians. But many more still need to know. In case you need to offer justification for a 15-minute session during one Sunday out of 52 to pray exclusively for suffering brothers and sisters in Christ, here, without further ado are:
The Top Ten Reasons to Pray for Persecuted Christians
#10. Because they are being persecuted. Hence, the name, “Persecuted” Christians. We don’t use it lightly. We are not speaking of inconveniences, perceived offenses, hurt feelings (such as the type that have caused the United Nations, and more recently, the European Union nations, to attempt to control the whole world on certain issues of blasphemy and incitement), or even issues that are preceded by trigger warnings on American college campuses. We are talking about arrest and imprisonment, physical torture, deprivation, starvation, beatings, enslavement, gang rape, disemboweling, dismemberment, and death.
#9. Because while it’s true that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church, it’s also true that unabated persecution can eradicate Christian communities. The most glaring example of this is emptying of the Middle East of Christians, particularly in Iraq and Syria. But it is also happening in places like the northern and central belt states of Nigeria, where both Boko Haram and Fulani jihadists attempt to wipe out the Christian population.
#8. Because believers under persecution frequently do not have access to Bibles or have the chance to grow and be discipled. Therefore, they can be led into heretical doctrines, cults. So it’s not enough to pray for fellow Christians to be delivered from or within their suffering. We should pray for their spiritual growth, as well.
#7. Because they are our family— our brothers and sisters in Christ.For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.(1 Corinthians 12: 12); If one member suffers, all suffer together. If one member is honored, all rejoice together. (12:26); Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6: 10); and so on.
#6. Because they ask us to pray for them. You’ve probably heard it before. The first, and sometimes only, thing persecuted believers ask for when they the opportunity is please pray for us. And it’s not like pray that God will save us from this persecution! (although I do pray that!). It’s pray that we’ll be faithful and bring glory to God as we’re being persecuted. The second thing they ask for? Bibles. It’s nice, when you’re going through the fires of persecution, to know your fellow believers have not forgotten you, and that they care.
#5. Because it enriches our own spiritual life when we pray for persecuted Christians, are inspired by their courageous witness, and see God answer our prayers for them.*DANGER* It’s possible this can lead to introspection and navel gazing. Remember: this is not about YOU. Ask not what the persecuted church can do for you; ask what you can do for the persecuted church. This is why it’s so important to proceed to. . .
#4. Because God changes our hearts by prayer and motivates us to ACTION! Prayer is meant to change us. I always want to argue with the refrigerator magnet: “Prayer changes things.” Not quite. Actually, God changes things. Prayer changes us.
#3. Because it is right to stand against injustice and evil, and persecution for one’s faith is an injustice, and it is a demonic evil. We are called to wage spiritual warfare against such powers and principalities. Shout out to all Social Justice Warriors! Christian persecution is a justice issue!
#2. Because prayer works! God answers prayer! Nothing is more exciting and faith-building than to see the answer to your prayer standing before you in flesh and blood. For me, the first time that happened in connection with praying for persecuted Christians was in the bad old days of the Soviet Union. After years of praying and writing letters to the Soviet government and prison officials, I had the joy of meeting the subject of my prayers, Alexander Ogorodnikov, after he was released from prison. Another time was when I met Czech aid worker Petr Jasek, Nuba Pastor Hassan Abdelrahim Tawor, and Darfuri believer Abdulmonem Abdumawla at the Voice of the Martyrs’ 50th anniversary banquet. The three courageous Christians had spent over 400 days in Khartoum’s prisons, threatened with death sentences, and sentenced to life (Petr) and 12 years (Hassan and Abdulmonem) before being “pardoned” because of pressure from the global community. And because God answers prayer.
And now, the #1. reason to pray for persecuted Christians:BECAUSE GOD SAYS TO. Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. (Hebrews 13: 3) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12: 12) Pray without ceasing. (1 Thess. 5: 17).
Don’t wait for the Breaking the Chains Conference – although I do hope you immediately will register and attend! Get busy praying now. Explore the resources available at the APCN Resource Page, my own Katartismos Global, and many others. And share with your friends the top ten reasons to pray for persecuted Christians.
This blog originally appeared on the Katartismos Globall website.
Faith McDonnell has recently become the Director of Advocacy at Katartismos Global, a Christian non-profit organization founded by The Rt. Rev. Mrs. Julian Dobbs for the purpose of "Equipping the Saints." Previously she directed the International Religious Liberty Program and Church Alliance for a New Sudan at the Institute on Religion and Democracy, Washington, DC. Faith has been an advocate for persecuted believers and for wider human rights issues for over 27 years, speaking, writing extensively, and mobilizing church members. Faith has organized rallies and protests and has drafted legislation on religious persecution for both houses of Congress and for the Episcopal Church. In addition to co-leading the Anglican Persecuted Church Network (APCN), Faith co-leads GAFCON’s Suffering Church Network with the Rt. Rev. Andudu Adam Elnail.
