Prayers for the Persecuted Church

October 29, 2026

On November 1, 2026 churches across the Global Methodist connection will observe the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) to unite in prayer for our brothers and sisters who suffer for their faith. According to the Open Doors 2026 World Watch List, an estimated 388 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith. 


“The Church is so much bigger than our own congregation or even our own country,” said the Rev. Dr. Ashley Goad, International Ministries Chair for the Trinity Annual Conference and Pastor of Missions at the Woodlands Methodist Church. “We belong to one Body of Christ. When one part of the Body suffers, we all suffer.”


Established in 1996 by the World Evangelical Alliance, formerly known as the World Evangelical Fellowship, IDOP is observed on the first Sunday of November. The day of prayer coincides with the church’s observance of All Saints’ Day as we remember saints and martyrs on that Sunday. An alternate day of observance is November 8, 2026 and believers are encouraged to continue praying throughout the month of November.


Within the Global Methodist Church, many Christians, particularly in African and Asian countries, experience intimidation, injustice, oppression and violence because of their faith.


“In nations where Christianity is monitored or restricted by the government, simply gathering for study and prayer could result in ruinous social, financial, and physical consequences,” said Heather Carter-Young, the secretary for the Kingdom Advancement Commission. Carter-Young also serves in the areas of missions mobilization and unreached people groups for the denomination.


“GMC believers and churches have experienced legal challenges, police interference, threats of harm, disruption of worship services, false allegations of forced conversion, social pressures and exclusion, physical violence, attacks by armed militants, arrest and imprisonment,” she shared.


The GMC supports persecuted churches through prayer, pastoral encouragement and counsel, solidarity with affected congregations, and humanitarian and financial assistance. Annual conferences and regional disaster response teams provide relief to persecuted and crisis-affected communities while also helping their local churches


Annual conferences also help their own local churches understand and pray for the challenges conferences in persecuted areas face.


“We hear the word ‘persecution,’ and it feels like something from the early church. But it is happening right now. To people we know. To people we pray with. To people who are part of our Methodist family,” Goad said.


Through her work with the Trinity Annual Conference, Goad has connected with partner conferences across the world to meet monthly and pray together. The partnerships serve as an example of how annual conferences come together to support one another in their triumphs and times of need. 


“We hear what's happening in their churches, celebrate what God is doing, and lift up the challenges they're facing. This isn't just something we do once a year. We're praying together throughout the year,” she said. “We've built real relationships with these leaders. We know their names, their families, and their stories. When one of them shares that they're facing persecution or that their church is struggling, it becomes very personal.”


IDOP is an opportunity for churches and believers to stand in solidarity with the persecuted church as we pray alongside them. By intentionally setting aside a day to remember and pray, churches and believers are awakened to the very real and raw experiences of the persecuted church. Local churches are encouraged to participate in IDOP by setting aside time during worship on November 1 to pray for and bring awareness to the persecuted church. 


“It doesn't have to be complicated,” Goad shared. “A pastoral prayer, a Scripture reading, a moment of silence, or sharing a story from one of our global conferences.”


In addition, churches can offer opportunities to learn more about the persecuted church through Sunday school and small group studies, children and youth activities, sermons, prayer guides, special events and social media campaigns. Through these studies and discussions, the global church can learn from the faith and leadership of persecuted Christians. 


As a global church, we aim to embody the words of Hebrews 13:3, “Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.”


View the prayer points below for specific ways to pray for the persecuted church and use the resources listed to share about the persecution around the world with your church and community.


Prayer points for the persecuted church:

  • Pray for God's protection, wisdom and comfort for pastors, families and worshippers, for the grace to forgive, and for the strength to remain steadfast, courageous and discerning
  • Pray that the Lord brings comfort to those overwhelmed with grief and rescue those who are in harm’s way
  • Pray that God brings healing, restoration, and good amid suffering and injustice
  • Pray that people come to faith in Jesus Christ through the faithful witness of believers, even amid persecution
  • Pray that the Church strengthens its resolve in the face of pressure
  • Pray that prison doors are opened for those who are unjustly behind bars
  • Pray for the families of pastors who have been imprisoned or killed


Prayer points for the Global Methodist Church family:

  • Pray that God will touch the hearts of those who persecute Christians, leading them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ
  • Pray for lasting peace and restoration in persecuted GMC communities and reconciliation between communities of different religions and different Christian backgrounds
  • Pray for just and accountable governance, religious freedom, and equal protection for all people
  • Pray for those who are vulnerable because of poverty, social discrimination, tribal identity or limited access to legal and social support
  • Pray that the GMC will remain faithful to its calling to make disciples of Jesus Christ and spread scriptural holiness across the globe even in challenging circumstances
  • Pray for house churches and believers gathering quietly, that God would protect them and give them courage
  • Pray for Christian schools, seminaries, and ministry organizations facing government investigations and increasing scrutiny
  • Pray for our brothers and sisters in places where violence and religious hostility threaten Christian communities
  • Pray for wisdom for Christian leaders who have to make incredibly difficult decisions about how to continue ministering while protecting their people


IDOP Resources:


As we gather to pray, we invite you to remember our brothers and sisters in Christ facing persecution not just on November 1, but continuously throughout the year. Share the resources and prayer points with your local church, annual conference or small group to support and remain connected to the persecuted church.


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