When believers lose their families, livelihoods, and safety for following Jesus, our prayers are a lifeline for them. It reminds them they are not forgotten. It strengthens them when fear presses in. It connects the global Church to brothers and sisters walking through suffering most of us will never experience.
Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." This guide is designed to help you do exactly that on behalf of persecuted Christians around the world!
In many Islamic-majority countries, persecution does not begin with arrest or imprisonment. It often starts at home.
When someone chooses to follow Jesus, family members may disown them. Employers may fire them. Neighbors may report them. Governments may monitor them. Communities may see them as traitors.
Persecuted believers live under pressure that touches every part of life: relationships, work, education, and safety. Prayer addresses these daily realities, not just moments of crisis.
Prayer is not a polite request. It is a real need. Here’s how you can pray with clarity and faith for persecuted believers in the Islamic World. These prayer needs come directly from real stories our Field Ministers encounter every day.
7 Ways You Can Pray for the Persecuted Today
1. Rescue and Physical Safety
Some believers face immediate danger:
Death threats.
Violent family members.
Militant groups.
Imprisonment.
Our on-the-ground Field Ministers work against the clock to move persecuted Christians into safe housing or help them flee dangerous situations.
Prayer matters in these moments. Many believers describe moments where they sensed God’s presence and protection before help arrived!
Lord, protect believers whose lives are in danger today. Make a way where there seems to be none and bring safety in moments of fear. Amen.
2. Daily Provision
Persecution often strips believers of stability. Jobs disappear. Housing becomes unsafe. Friends vanish. Families cut off support.
Many believers are hiding from real, evident danger while they endure hunger, homelessness, and uncertainty. God’s provision often comes through His people (and you are a part of our Emergency Relief Kit distributions, Winter Relief Outreaches, Lightning Funds, and so much more!). Prayer prepares the way for each of these.
Lord, provide for believers who have lost everything because of their faith. Meet their daily needs and remind them that You see and care for them. Amen.
3. Work and Livelihoods
Finding work after leaving Islam is difficult and often dangerous. Some believers must relocate repeatedly to stay safe, making it impossible for them to maintain a steady job. However, once they are able to find a place of safety, many are able to fund their own businesses through our Enduring Livelihood Ministry—which you make possible!
Prayer is needed for open doors, safe passage, and long-term stability.
Lord, guide believers as they search for work and travel under pressure. Open doors no one can shut, and protect them along the way. Amen.
4. Family Reconciliation and Education
Persecution deeply affects families. Parents lose children. Marriages are strained. Children are bullied or removed from school.
These losses leave lasting wounds. Prayer matters for healing, reconciliation, and hope for the next generation.
Lord, comfort families torn apart by persecution. Protect children and provide education, stability, and hope for their future. Amen.
5. Prayer for New Believers
The first year of faith is often the hardest. New believers face intense pressure to return to Islam. Many are isolated and afraid.
Without prayer and discipleship, faith can feel fragile. With prayer, persecuted brothers and sisters can grow strong despite opposition.
Lord, strengthen new believers as they take their first steps of faith. Guard their hearts and help them grow deep roots in You. Amen.
6. Emotional Healing and Endurance
Many persecuted believers carry deep trauma. Imprisonment. Abuse. Loss. Witnessing violence.
Healing is often slow and unseen. Prayer sustains believers as God restores what persecution has damaged.
Lord, heal the hidden wounds carried by persecuted believers. Restore their hearts and give them endurance to keep going.
7. Wisdom and Discernment
Persecuted believers constantly make difficult decisions.
When to speak.
When to stay silent.
When to flee.
When to remain.
When to share the hope of Christ.
Prayer for wisdom protects lives and ministries.
Lord, grant wisdom to persecuted believers. Guide their decisions and give clarity in moments filled with risk. Amen.
Praying for our Field Ministers
In addition to these 7 ways to pray for persecuted Christians, we also invite you to be in prayer for our Field Ministers. They serve across the Islamic World in countries like Afghanistan, Libya, and Iran. They courageously face life-threatening persecution so that they can minister to others like them who have chosen to follow Christ, no matter the cost. They carry others’ burdens while navigating their own danger and exhaustion.
Prayer sustains their strength, discernment, and faithfulness.
Lord, protect and strengthen Field Ministers. Give them courage, wisdom, and rest as they care for others. Amen.
Continuing in Prayer Together
Prayer for the persecuted is not a one-time response. It is an ongoing partnership between fellow Christians!
When you pray regularly for persecuted believers, you stand with them in a way that matters deeply. You remind them they are not alone.
If you would like to receive regular prayer updates from the field, we invite you to join our Prayer Network. And if you feel led, your support helps make it possible to rescue, restore, and rebuild the lives of persecuted Christians who have lost everything for following Jesus.