A young man makes his way down the street during the wee hours of the morning. He glances around cautiously before entering the apartment. Inside, his eyes adjust to the darkness, and he sees his friends — kneeling on the ground, hands clasped in prayer.
For the next few hours, he worships with other believers. They recite Scripture in hushed tones as they quietly pass around a single Bible. When the meeting is over, the congregation leaves one at a time, making sure not to draw attention to the house church.
This young man’s experience is just one example of what persecuted Christians go through every single day. Believers all around the world are forced to worship in secret or be physically or emotionally harassed by the people around them.
Nov. 3 is International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. This is a day that happens every year, and it is a call for believers around the world to intercede on behalf of our brothers and sisters in places like China, North Korea, and the Middle East.
But sometimes, this day can pass us by without much thought. Our lives are busy, and it can be difficult to add anything extra into our already full days. But if you want to make this Day of Prayer a particularly meaningful one for your family or your small group, we’ve got some resources to help you out.
Here are some of the materials you can download to use as you pray for the persecuted:
1. Prayer guides for every age
We understand that it can sometimes be hard to talk with your children or grandchildren about the different aspects of persecution. But with prayer guides specifically created for children, for teens, and for your family as a whole, you will be able to have important conversations and intercede on behalf of the global church as a family. You will love doing this together.
2. Coloring page for kids
We hope that this fun activity will help the children in your life remember to think about kids around the world who need their prayers. As you color, you can pray for and learn about different countries where it can be dangerous to be a Christian.
3. Persecuted nations PowerPoint presentation
Want to know more about some of the countries and people groups who are facing the worst persecution? Use this PowerPoint presentation in your small group or with your family to learn about some of the countries where persecution is prevalent and to hear what it looks like in different places. Allow what you learn to spark conversations and different ways to pray for believers around the world.
4. Bulletin inserts
Invite your local church to join you in standing with suffering believers during International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Ask your pastor or church staff if you can include this leaflet in your church’s bulletin or hang it up where others will see it on Nov. 3.
5. Scripture resource sheet
The Word of God has plenty to say about persecution. Use the Scriptures on this resource sheet to guide your prayers.
You can find these resources and several other stories of persecution here.
Prayer is one of the most powerful and meaningful things we can do — so use these resources to gather your family or community and pray for our brothers and sisters in need all around the world.
In addition to praying, you can also help those suffering for Christ by providing Bibles to many who have never owned one before. When you give between now and Nov. 3, your gift will be matched up to $100,000 and the number of Bibles you send DOUBLED. Click here to learn more.
You can make this International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church one of the most impactful days yet.