HOW YOU
CAN PRAY
WITH US
World
In Open Doors' World Watch List top 50 alone, 365m Christians face very high or extreme levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith (2024: 4,998 Christians murdered; 14,766 churches and Christian properties attacked; 4,125 Christians detained). The Bible says in Romans 8:35-37, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."
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As Australians, the call to pray for the persecuted can seem daunting, we are so far away from these people, and we have little understanding of what they are feeling and experiencing. We need to remember that even though we aren’t all-knowing, GOD IS, and we can lift people in prayer even if we don’t know their real names because God does. He knows who we are praying for and exactly what they need, regardless of how well articulated and informed our prayers are, He knows.
We read in James 5:16b “...A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.” So, please join us as we pray together for our persecuted brothers and sisters who live each day as a testimony of God's saving faith through His Son, Jesus. May God be glorified through their suffering...
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(name of the country, population Christians (% of population), main religion, current as of October 20, 2024)​​​​​
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ETHIOPIA – 60% ~ Christianity: Prosecution type: Islamic oppression, Christian denominational protectionism, dictatorial paranoia, clan oppression. The level of freedom Christians have in Ethiopia depends on where you live and what kind of Christian you are. The country is one of the world's oldest majority-Christian countries, but most of these families and community members belong to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC), which can ITSELF persecute Christians who leave the EOC for evangelicalism or other Protestant denominations. However, the most overt forms of persecution happen in areas dominated by Islam. In these regions, converts to Christianity can face social ostracism and church attacks by Islamic militants. Families and communities may pressure converts and use violence against them to recant and return to Islam.
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PRAY for Ethiopia's leader, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, that he may come to know the saving power of Jesus in his life and turn away from his former life to live for Christ.​
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Heavenly Father, we pray for our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia. We pray that You would protect and sustain Your people there—particularly those who are at risk because they've chosen to follow You. We pray for an end to violence, and that our brothers and sisters won't be required to fight in unjust wars. We pray for those Christians who have been rejected or abused by their families; help them to know that, in the Holy Spirit, they belong to a much bigger family. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.
TUNISIA – 0.2% ~ Islam: Persecution type: Islamic oppression, dictatorial paranoia. Christians comprise a tiny minority in Tunisia. Traditional churches such as the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, which largely serve foreign Christians, are officially recognized by the government and enjoy a relative amount of freedom, although public evangelism is not tolerated. Tunisian Christians, however, are not officially recognized and do not have officially recognized church buildings. Tunisians who convert from Islam to Christianity face a level of hostility that forces many to keep their faith secret. This is especially true in the south, where the Muslim population is more conservative. Gathering with other Christians brings risk of exposure due to monitoring by the Tunisian security services. If a believer's faith is discovered, it can have a damaging impact on their daily life, including verbal and physical abuse, rejection by loved ones and job insecurity. But despite these pressures, the number of Christians from a Muslim background is growing gradually. There are fears that persecution may worsen if President Kais Saied remains in power.
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PRAY for Tunisia's leader, President Kais Saied, that he may come to know the saving power of Jesus in his life and turn away from his former life to live for Christ.
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Lord Jesus, thank You for the bravery of Your children in Tunisia. May they not become disheartened when they encounter setbacks, but continue to grow in faith. Provide fresh and exciting opportunities for believers to gather, so that no believer will be without fellowship. Provide for those forced to flee their homes, may they quickly feel at home wherever they relocate. Give them supernatural strength to cling to You when the pressure is most intense. Help all believers to "fan into flame the gift of God, knowing that, the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:6-7). Amen.
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James 1:12... "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
Australia
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PRAY that God will convert many Australians to Christ including many atheists, secularists, poor people, rich people, indigenous people, new arrivals, people of other religions, people of no religion, ‘unconvertible’ people, people with a Christian background, people in prison, people in need, the educated and the uneducated, young people, children, students, university students, workers, the unemployed, middle-aged people, old people, people in nursing homes, and people on the streets.
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Romans 13:1... "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is NO authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God."
Exmouth
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PRAY for our neighbours who ARE our mission field, that we will stand strong for the weak and the hungry. That our homes would be safe havens of friendship, kindness, and compassion;
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PRAY that no one will go hungry, no one will go unnoticed, and lives will be changed in the name of Jesus!
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John 13:34-35... "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another."​
Our Church Family
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PRAY for the courage to step out in faith and to share the good news of your grace and salvation with those around us;
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PRAY God will bless our church with new members, and help us to nurture and support them as they grow in their faith.
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1 Peter 3:15... "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear…"
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Our Elders and Board Members
It is a humbling honour as well as a heavy burden to lead a church. Please...
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PRAISE God for the divine wisdom and spiritual insight that you have given Keith. Help him to grow in the grace and knowledge of God's Word each day, and equip him to use the scriptures to teach powerful messages that transform the lives of many;
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PRAY that fear would be far removed from our leadership and that every doubt would be washed away by the knowledge of His peace.​
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1 Peter 5:1-4... "So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory."
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