HOW YOU
CAN PRAY
WITH US

In Open Doors' World Watch List top 50 alone, 380m Christians face very high or extreme levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith (2025: 4,476 Christians murdered; 7,679 churches and Christian properties attacked; 4,744 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, GOD KNOWS.

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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 June 22, 2025)​​​​​​

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• Iran – 800,000 ~ Islam: Persecution type: Dictatorial paranoia, Islamic oppression, clan oppression, denominational protectionism. Recognised historical communities such as Armenian and Assyrian Christians are state-protected but treated as second-class citizens. They face many discriminatory legal provisions and are not allowed to worship in Persian or interact with Christian converts. Those who support converts can also face imprisonment. Christians who followed Jesus out of Islam are most vulnerable to persecution and discrimination. Government control is highest in urban areas, while rural areas are less monitored. However, the anonymity of urban areas gives Christians more freedom to organise meetings and activities than in rural areas, where social control is higher.

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• PRAY for Iran's leader, Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-Khamenei, 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, guide Iran's new government according to Your will. We ask You to protect secret churches, granting believers both wisdom and courage. Please strengthen Christian prisoners and their families, ensuring their mental and physical wellbeing. Please bless the growing church in Iran, allowing it to multiply safely. In Your name we pray, Amen.

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• Afghanistan – Thousands +/- ~ Islam: Persecution type: Islamic oppression, dictatorial paranoia, clan oppression, organised corruption and crime. Converts from Islam are most vulnerable to persecution in Afghanistan. But since most of the Christians in the country are converts, the underground church is at risk across the entire country. There is no safe place in Afghanistan for followers of Jesus. Unfortunately, Christians in Afghanistan continue to live in a place where faith in Jesus can be a death sentence. Not much has changed since last year: the Taliban remain in control and continue to exercise wide-ranging religious authority throughout the country. Existing house churches remain deeply underground, Christians live under relentless pressure, and the discovery of their faith can still lead to abuse and even death at the hands of both family and government.

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• PRAY for Afghanistan's leader, Taliban Leader Haybatullah Akhundzada, 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, Afghanistan is one of those places where it seems like nothing ever gets better. We grieve and mourn with our family there. We ask You to bring them comfort. We also ask for miraculous hope and growth – that people will find You, that underground believers will remain supernaturally hidden, that the gospel will spread. We know You can do this, and ask You to do so. In Jesus' name, 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."