Prayer for the Persecuted - Monday November 2, 2026 @ 7 PM

 1. Open in Prayer

2. Scripture: Yesterday, Sunday, November 1st, Christians around the world united in prayer on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are facing persecution. This year's theme, Do You Know Our Suffering?, reminds us of the call to stand with those who suffer for their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 3:10-11

10 You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance,

11 my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

3. Worship Video: Great is thy Faithfulness

 I'll Keep My Eyes On Jesus

Prayer for the Persecuted:

4. Jordan, Ethiopia Massacres Underscore Urgency of IDOP Prayer for Persecuted Christians

5. Benin: Christian Teen Flees Voodoo Violence

6. Christians in India Lose Ancestral Home for Faith in Christ

7. Asabe from Nigeria: Extremists killed my sons and husband

Recent News

Source: Morningstar News - First Light Before the Dawn

• Muslims Sentenced to Death for Killing Two Evangelists in Uganda
• Official Help Sought to Recover Pastor’s Wife, Daughter in Nigeria
• Authorities in Egypt Hold Christian Incommunicado
• Court in Pakistan Adjourns Hearing on Christians’ Abducted Daughter
• Slain Christian Harbored Converts in Western Uganda

India: Christians in India Lose Ancestral Home for Faith in Christ

 Source: 8Thirty8

Vikas Salam, a Christian living in a small village in Chhattisgarh State, India was brutally beaten on September
21 for following Jesus.

Over 150 Hindu extremists joined villagers to beat Vikas along with three other Christian families while the police looked on and did nothing.

The photo shows the villagers deciding the fate of the Christian families.

“The mob attacked and beat three Christian families with sticks, vandalized their homes and threatened to expel them from the village because they refused to renounce their faith in Christ. Local officials also later pressured the families to recant their faith.”

Vikas and the Christian families have not renounced their faith in spite of severe persecution over recent years.

Because of the reality of facing death, Vikas and his family along with the three other families are leaving their ancestral homes to live somewhere else.

Pray for Vikas and the three other Christian families to remain strong in their faith.

As they leave their ancestral homes, pray for God's provision for new homes and work and that God would grant them favour with the people where they relocate to.

Pray that God would bring healing from the attack and protect them from further attacks.

Pray for the villagers who attacked them, that they to would find Christ.

I'll Keep My Eyes On Jesus

 

Asabe from Nigeria: Extremists killed my sons and husband

 

Ethiopia: More than 60 Christians killed in massacre, church official says

Source: Aciafrica.org

Mass Killing of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians in Oromia

In late October, Ethiopia's Oromia region was shaken by a series of attacks that left more than sixty Orthodox Christians dead, many others injured, and numerous families displaced from their homes. The violence occurred in communities where armed attackers targeted villages largely inhabited by members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Church leaders reported that the attacks unfolded over several days. In addition to the loss of life, homes were burned, property was destroyed, and surviving residents were forced to flee in search of safety. Children, elderly persons, and entire families were among those affected. The tragedy has deepened fears among Christian communities already living amid ongoing insecurity in parts of Oromia.

The Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church responded with profound sorrow and strong condemnation. The bishops described the killings as brutal and unacceptable acts that violate the sanctity of human life and fundamental religious freedoms. They emphasized that no faith tradition can justify such violence and called upon all Ethiopians to reject hatred and bloodshed.

Church leaders also expressed concern that these attacks reflect a broader pattern of insecurity that has affected some Christian communities in the region. They warned that repeated incidents of violence, displacement, and intimidation have left many people living with uncertainty and fear. The bishops appealed to civil authorities to investigate the killings thoroughly, identify those responsible, and provide effective protection for vulnerable communities.

At the same time, Christian leaders urged believers not to respond with vengeance. Instead, they called the faithful to prayer, mourning, and solidarity with those who have suffered. Orthodox churches and monasteries were encouraged to remember the victims during worship services and to pray for grieving families, the wounded, and those who have been displaced from their homes.

The tragedy has also renewed calls for reconciliation and peace within Ethiopia. Religious leaders from different Christian traditions have emphasized the need for justice, dialogue, and mutual respect among the country's diverse ethnic and religious communities. Their message is that lasting peace will require not only accountability for acts of violence but also a commitment to healing divisions and protecting the dignity of every citizen.

As Christians around the world remember the victims, they are invited to:

pray for comfort for those who mourn, 

healing for the injured, 

protection for displaced families, 

wisdom for government leaders, 

and a future in which all Ethiopians may live in peace and practice their faith without fear.

Jordan, Ethiopia Massacres Underscore Urgency of IDOP Prayer for Persecuted Christians

• Please uphold all those who have tragically lost loved ones in both recent attacks, praying that they will experience God's comfort, strength, peace and hope in the days ahead through the reassuring presence of the Holy Spirit.

• Ask the Lord to also provide needed healing to the innocent civilians who were wounded during the attacks, restoring them both physically and emotionally as they recover from the traumatic incidents.

• May the Lord also minister to the terrorists who were responsible for instigating the attacks by softening their hearts, drawing them to repentance, and eternally changing the trajectory of their lives.

• Pray that the tensions resulting from these violent incidents will not escalate further and that God will ultimately bring about lasting peace and stability throughout the region.

Benin: Christian Teen Flees Voodoo Violence

Source: iCommitToPray
Oct. 8, 2026 | Benin

Benin is known as the
birthplace of voodoo.

A 17-year-old girl named Nogosa fled from her home on Sept. 13, 2026, after being severely beaten by her family for her faith in Christ. Nogosa had recently become a follower of Christ and was attending church services, angering family members who had dedicated her to become the wife of a voodoo priest. After the assault, they told Nogosa she must participate in upcoming voodoo initiation ceremonies. “These ceremonies often involve horrific assault and abuse,” said a front-line worker. Fearing for her life, Nogosa escaped to her pastor’s home, and now she and her pastor are asking for prayer in how to best help her. The front-line worker said the pastor and his family already face many pressures from area voodooists and the burdens of caring for their congregation.

Pray that Nogosa will remain faithful to Christ and be kept safe.

Pray for her to find a permanent safe place to live and for a way to earn income or for financial support.

Pray for her family that they will come to faith in Christ.

Pray for the pastor and his family, to be safe, and to be able to care for their congregation spiritually.

Benin is the birthplace of voodooism. Pray that many will flee from voodoism and find freedom in Christ.

JORDAN: Mass Shooting Attack at Funeral Service

Source: VOMC
Sources: International Christian Concern, Al Jazeera, The Associated Press, Deutsche Welle, France 24, CBS News

Footage of shooters moving towards the church. Photo: Wikipedia

On October 23rd, nine people were killed and dozens more injured when gunmen opened fire during a Christian funeral service in Hamoud, a village located within the Karak governorate of Jordan. Video footage verifies that at least three assailants began shooting as they approached the church building. At the time of publishing this report, no group has claimed responsibility for the widely condemned attack. Jordan's national political leader, King Abdullah II, promised that those responsible for committing these crimes will face the "harshest penalties."

During a subsequent raid by the Jordanian military on October 26th, three suspected perpetrators of the funeral service shooting were consequently arrested. All three suspects were wounded during the operation; one of them sustaining critical injuries. The assailants, identified as two brothers and a relative by marriage, were referred to by governing officials as "Islamic extremists."

That same night, Jordanian forces carried out retaliatory strikes in southern Syria, specifically targeting locations they claimed were linked to Islamic State terrorists. While the military reports that more than 20 militants were killed in the strikes, it acknowledges the loss of civilian lives as well. Tragically, three children were among the list of casualties.

The Karak region is home to a significant community of professing followers of Christ. Although Islam is the official religion of Jordan, the country has generally been considered a safe place for its Christian minority.
To learn more about this Southwest Asian nation, visit our country profile.

• Please uphold all those who have tragically lost loved ones in both recent attacks, praying that they will experience God's comfort, strength, peace and hope in the days ahead through the reassuring presence of the Holy Spirit.

• Ask the Lord to also provide needed healing to the innocent civilians who were wounded during the attacks, restoring them both physically and emotionally as they recover from the traumatic incidents.

• May the Lord also minister to the terrorists who were responsible for instigating the attacks by softening their hearts, drawing them to repentance, and eternally changing the trajectory of their lives.

• Pray that the tensions resulting from these violent incidents will not escalate further and that God will ultimately bring about lasting peace and stability throughout the region.

CHINA: School Children and Educators Interrogated

Source: VOMC
Source: ChinaAid

Schoolchildren in China. Photo: Pixabay

The ongoing crackdown on unregistered churches in Hunan Province has led China's Communist authorities to target schools by questioning and disciplining both students and their educators. Local Christians report that these expanded interrogations have taken place in primary and secondary schools, as well as universities.

At the Hunan Institute of Technology, one instructor has been suspended from her duties and placed on standby status. Another teacher, concerned over the political group's intense opposition to Christianity, was suspended after requesting that his membership with the Communist Party be withdrawn.

In several primary and secondary schools in Yueyang, children from Christian families were questioned by Communist Party officials. Some of the interrogations lasted for three to four hours, during which time the students were pressured to sign documents accusing the churches of religious "brainwashing." Even first-grade students were among the young children interrogated.

As a result, many Christian parents have become increasingly concerned about sending their children to school. However, homeschooling presents its own challenges, as it remains subject to significant government restrictions and scrutiny. These increased pressures follow a series of coordinated raids carried out in Yueyang on July 11th.
For more details about these incidents, see this report.

• Pray that these believers and their children will be protected from fear, and that their faith in Christ will continue to grow despite pressure from those in governing authority.

• As Christian parents throughout China consider the best course of action for their children's education, may they not only receive God's wisdom, guidance and discernment, but also His divine protection over their families.

• Prayerfully ask the Lord to encourage and provide for educators who have suffered the loss of employment because of their faithfulness to Christ, opening new doors of opportunity and strengthening them in their witness.

CUBA: Pastor Detained Following Cancelled Prayer Event

Source: VOMC
Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Pastor Maikel Pupo Velázquez with his wife. Photo: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

Pastor Maikel Pupo Velázquez leads an unregistered church in Camagüey City. The Cuban church leader had also been instrumental in organizing a large prayer event that was scheduled to take place at the Cándido Gonzalez Morales Stadium on September 26th. However, police warned him to call off the Christian meeting, stating that he could face imprisonment if anyone gathered at the site.

In response to the warning, and out of concern for those planning to attend, the event was cancelled. However, Pastor Maikel wanted to ensure that any young people possibly arriving at the stadium, due to their unawareness of the cancellation, were duly informed. As he approached the venue to encourage possible attendees to disperse, state security officers arrested him and charged him with "disobedience."

Although he was previously detained in 2025 for delivering aid to the families of two political prisoners, Pastor Maikel has remained actively involved in ministry outreach by leading Cuban youth to faith in Christ.
Additional reports addressing the challenges encountered by Christians in Cuba are available at our country profile.

• Pray that Pastor Maikel will soon be released from detention and reunited with the concerned members of his family and church community.

• While upholding this faithful pastor's family, please specifically pray for the healing of his daughter who is experiencing various health challenges.

• In the meantime, may the Lord wonderfully sustain these Cuban believers, providing for their spiritual/practical needs and drawing them even closer to Himself relationally.

• As a result, may these believers be further strengthened and encouraged, seizing every opportunity to reflect Christ's love through their words and actions.

IDOP 2026: Bassam’s Story of Faith in the Arabian Peninsula | Voice of the Martyrs

 

PAKISTAN: Blasphemy Allegation Sparks Mob Attack

Source: VOMC
Sources: CLAAS, Pakistan Christian Post, UCA News

A village in Pakistan. Photo: Wikimedia / Adeel.Ch (CC)

An angered mob recently set fire to the home and medical clinic of a Pakistani Christian man the day after police arrested him on allegations that he had shared blasphemous content on social media. Kamran Gill, a father of three, operates a pharmacy and clinic in the village of Gharial Kalan, Punjab Province.

The targeted believer was arrested on October 8th for allegedly sharing a previously posted video (reportedly containing offensive material) that he received from another Facebook user. Due to the threat of possible violence following his arrest, Kamran's family and several other Christian residents were forced to flee the village. The next day, after Friday's Islamic prayers, a mob of enraged activists gathered outside his clinic and the family's adjoining residence. After breaking into the premises, frenzied members of the mob proceeded to damage the property and set fire to the building.

Although emergency personnel were able to extinguish the flames, those responsible for the attack fled the scene before they could be arrested. In the days that followed, police detained five suspects in connection with the incident. Prior to the apprehension of the suspected perpetrators, Kamran's family and neighbouring friends had thankfully found protection in a temporary shelter outside of their village community and were able to return to their homes the next day. Despite this, Kamran's wife, children, mother and three brothers continue to face uncertainty and concerns for their security.

Vigilante violence is common in cases involving allegations of blasphemy. Speeches by opposing Islamic leaders regularly call for retribution, and anger over such accusations is often directed not only at the accused but also towards their family members and other innocent Christians within the community.
For additional reports addressing the many challenges facing believers in this South Asian nation, go to our country profile.

• Pray that the truth surrounding the blasphemy allegations against Kamran and other accused believers in Pakistan will be brought to light, so that justice can prevail in each of their cases.

• In the process, may God's perfect peace and love for His beloved humankind take precedence in areas of the country where anger and hostility presently exist.

• Ask the Lord to minister in tangible ways to Kamran's threatened family – and others facing similar challenges – ensuring they receive His divine strength, protection and daily provisions.

• Pray that Pakistan's governing authorities and judicial officials will act courageously and impartially, providing effective advocacy and legal safeguards for all those who are at risk of injustice and life-threatening danger due to the country's blasphemy laws.