HOW YOU
CAN PRAY
WITH US

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 December 01, 2024)​​​​​

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BHUTAN – 2.4% ~ Buddhism: Prosecution type: Religious Nationalism. No churches have official recognition by the Bhutanese government, which means, technically, all Christian worship communities are illegal. Despite statements from the Bhutanese government declaring that religious organizations do not need to register, it remains difficult to worship with other believers in Bhutan. Every citizen is expected to follow Buddhism, the state religion. Anyone who converts to Christianity will be watched with suspicion—and their surrounding community, local Buddhist leaders and family will attempt to bring them back to their former religion. Additionally, the Christian community is denied citizenship, which negatively impacts believers' ability to conduct business, own real estate or receive higher education. Christians are also forced to follow Buddhist rituals as part of paramilitary training. Informal Christian groups can mostly meet freely, as long as they don't attract too much attention, evangelize publicly or challenge the status quo.

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• PRAY for Bhutan's leader, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 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.

 

​Heavenly Father, we pray for our brothers and sisters in Bhutan. We ask You to bless them, to give them courage and strength, and to be able to worship freely. We ask that You soften the hearts of the authorities and society in Bhutan, that people who come to know You would be free to walk with You. We pray for churches and church leaders who are at risk because they cannot register; we ask that You would give them peace and hope, and that You would be glorified in their worship. We ask these things in the name of Jesus, Amen.​

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MEXICO – 95.5% ~ Christianity: Persecution type: Secular intolerance, clan oppression, organized corruption and crime. Christians are facing growing pressure in their private lives, and personal expressions of faith such as owning a Bible in some indigenous communities, or sharing faith online are becoming increasingly risky. There has also been a growing clampdown on believers who express views that are deemed controversial, including intimidating attacks on church properties., leading many believers to keep quiet, for fear of reprisal. Reported incidents of violence have dropped slightly since last year, but remain at an extreme level. In positive news, in June 2023, the translation of the Law on Religious Associations and Public Worship into Tzotzil—one of the most widely spoken and important indigenous languages in the state of Chiapas—was completed and published, with support from Open Doors. The milestone, which was celebrated as a historic first for Mexico, will enable believers to have a better understanding of their rights when practicing their faith in communities that can be hostile to them.

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• PRAY for Mexico's leader, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, 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.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible courage of our family in Mexico who speak out against violence and promote peace. Protect them, we pray, and continue to embolden them in their ministries. May their words and lives touch the hearts of criminal leaders, so they turn from violence and hatred to follow You. Strengthen the faith of those living in indigenous communities; encourage them with your love and show them how You are powerfully at work in their neighbourhoods. May our sisters and brothers in Mexico not be despondent as opposition increases, but may they be empowered to grow in their faith and witness. Bring peace, justice and wise governance to all areas of Mexico. 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."