Mission Month
As November is our mission month, we are reminded of our persecuted brothers and sisters around the globe. Let us journey with them in prayer and support.
(from Christianity Today https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/11/pray-persecuted-christians-church-international/)
How do I pray for them?
(For those in North Korea) Pray for the secret Christians in North Korea. To survive, they have to hide their faith. Pray that they may continue to remember the gospel story in their hearts. Pray also for opportunities to share the gospel safely. Pray that the North Korean government may be changed to one that permits freedom. And pray for the Chinese government to send North Korean defectors to South Korea, not back to North Korea.
(For those in the Middle East) Pray that God will raise up resilient leaders who will set an example of courage and faithfulness, guiding the church through ongoing pressures. Pray that Christians in other parts of the world will not only provide practical help, support, and encouragement to these communities but also learn from their endurance, recognizing the deep spiritual insights that emerge from their struggles.
(For those in Late America) Pray for the church in these countries to persevere boldly as an effective public witness, to be protected from government abuse and bullying, and to embrace and leverage the positive results of persecution—namely, enhanced devotion, endurance, and purity. And pray that the global church will become informed and care.
(For those in Southeast Asia) Pray for the work God is doing in us—building patience, strengthening witness, deepening love, and shaping us so that we can transform others. Ask God to use these hardships to strengthen his people and grow his kingdom. Pray also for forgiveness, that the hearts of our persecutors may be softened and that we can continue to shine brightly for Christ in our communities.
(For those in Africa) Pray for our governments to have the political will to act against Islamic militias; for the international community not to turn a blind eye but to engage with Christian organizations and to support victims through seeking justice and redress; and for the Christian community to persevere and receive justice.
(For ALL) Pray for God’s persecuted children to have the courage to live in the fullness and power of his blood shed for us. Ask that the church may resist cultural pressures to reject or belittle those who have suffered sexual assault, lost their jobs, or been in prison. Pray that the church can become a community of trust, freedom, empowerment, and acceptance (John 13:34–35) and that it may glorify God even when words are forbidden.
