X

Pray for Persecuted Christians

[See books in the Bible Gateway Store on the subject of Christian persecution]

Join with Christians around the world in praying for our brothers and sisters who are persecuted for believing Jesus Christ is their savior.

[See the Bible Gateway Blog post, Latest Religious Persecution Research]

Christians will observe the International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (#IDOP) on November 7 & 14, 2021. The term “persecuted Christians” refers to any person who is harassed or attacked simply because they identify as being a Christian. Examples of persecution faced by Christians include, but is not limited to, beatings, physical torture, confinement, isolation, rape, severe punishment, imprisonment, slavery, and discrimination in education and employment.

[See the Bible Gateway Blog post, Standing Strong Through the Storm: Stories from the Persecuted Church]

Sign up for our Verse of the Day to receive a daily Bible verse in four well-known translations.

        Array
(
    [template] => /mnt/www/blog_biblegateway_com/releases/20250801140552/wp-content/plugins/harpercollins_silverpop_wordpress_plugin/public/partials/form.php
    [vars] => Array
        (
            [attr] => Array
                (
                    [headline] => Sign up for our Verse of the Day to receive a daily Bible verse in four well-known translations.
                    [background] => #952004
                    [image] => placehold.png
                    [text_color] => 
                    [template] => /mnt/www/blog_biblegateway_com/releases/20250801140552/wp-content/plugins/harpercollins_silverpop_wordpress_plugin/public/partials/form.php
                    [code] => bgblog-pine-cone-em-d-88fbd55690
                )

            [fields] => Array
                (
                    [name] => pine-cone
                    [list] => Verse of the Day Digest
                    [votd1] => NIV
                    [votd2] => ESV
                    [votd3] => NLT
                    [votd4] => NKJV
                    [blog_form] => Yes
                )

            [content] =>  
            [site_key] => 6LdMkEkUAAAAAGd5aGH1cwku1OFyHwKYW_QUDZxm
            [form_number] => 1
            [domain] => biblegateway.com
        )

    [template_path] => /mnt/www/blog_biblegateway_com/releases/20250801140552/wp-content/plugins/harpercollins_silverpop_wordpress_plugin/public/partials/form.php
    [attr] => Array
        (
            [headline] => Sign up for our Verse of the Day to receive a daily Bible verse in four well-known translations.
            [background] => #952004
            [image] => placehold.png
            [text_color] => 
            [template] => /mnt/www/blog_biblegateway_com/releases/20250801140552/wp-content/plugins/harpercollins_silverpop_wordpress_plugin/public/partials/form.php
            [code] => bgblog-pine-cone-em-d-88fbd55690
        )

    [fields] => Array
        (
            [name] => pine-cone
            [votd1] => NIV
            [votd2] => ESV
            [votd3] => NLT
            [votd4] => NKJV
            [blog_form] => Yes
        )

    [content] =>  
    [site_key] => 6LdMkEkUAAAAAGd5aGH1cwku1OFyHwKYW_QUDZxm
    [form_number] => 1
    [domain] => biblegateway.com
    [value] => Yes
    [name] => blog_form
)
    

[Jesus said,] “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NASB)

According to Korea Future Initiative’s report, Persecuting Faith: Documenting Religious Freedom Violations in North Korea, interviews with North Korean Christians have revealed horrendous torture.

[See the Bible Gateway Blog post, Violence Against Christians Surges; More Than 1,000% Increase in Attacks on Churches Since 2018]

Open Doors’ current research suggests that 260 million Christians live in countries where they experience high, very high, or extreme levels of persecution; up from 245 million in 2019. Every day around the world …

  • 8 Christians are killed for their faith
  • 23 Christians are raped or sexually harassed
  • 25 Churches are targeted and attacked
  • 10 Christians are unjustly arrested or imprisoned for their faith.

[See the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Staggering Picture of Christian Persecution: An Interview with Johnnie Moore]

“If one part [of the Body of Christ] suffers, every part suffers with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:26 (NIV)

[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Bible Verses for the International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church]

Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Hebrews 13:3 (NIV)

[See the Bible Gateway Blog post, I Am N: An Interview with Cole Richards and Jason Peters]

The following organizations have resources ready to help you help others become more prayerfully aware of the plight of Christian brothers and sisters around the world:

[See the Bible Gateway Blog post, Christian Genocide in Africa: An Interview with Johnnie Moore and Rabbi Abraham Cooper]

Pray through the Bible when you become a member of Bible Gateway Plus. Try it right now!

Sign up for our 'Standing Strong Through the Storm' Devotional to receive reflections from the persecuted church.

        Array
(
    [template] => /mnt/www/blog_biblegateway_com/releases/20250801140552/wp-content/plugins/harpercollins_silverpop_wordpress_plugin/public/partials/form.php
    [vars] => Array
        (
            [attr] => Array
                (
                    [headline] => Sign up for our 'Standing Strong Through the Storm' Devotional to receive reflections from the persecuted church.
                    [background] => #952004
                    [image] => placehold.png
                    [text_color] => 
                    [template] => /mnt/www/blog_biblegateway_com/releases/20250801140552/wp-content/plugins/harpercollins_silverpop_wordpress_plugin/public/partials/form.php
                    [code] => bgblog-persecuted-church-em-d-60a5cdcc8e
                )

            [fields] => Array
                (
                    [name] => persecuted-church
                    [list] => Standing Strong Through The Storm
                    [blog_form] => Yes
                )

            [content] =>  
            [site_key] => 6LdMkEkUAAAAAGd5aGH1cwku1OFyHwKYW_QUDZxm
            [form_number] => 2
            [domain] => biblegateway.com
        )

    [template_path] => /mnt/www/blog_biblegateway_com/releases/20250801140552/wp-content/plugins/harpercollins_silverpop_wordpress_plugin/public/partials/form.php
    [attr] => Array
        (
            [headline] => Sign up for our 'Standing Strong Through the Storm' Devotional to receive reflections from the persecuted church.
            [background] => #952004
            [image] => placehold.png
            [text_color] => 
            [template] => /mnt/www/blog_biblegateway_com/releases/20250801140552/wp-content/plugins/harpercollins_silverpop_wordpress_plugin/public/partials/form.php
            [code] => bgblog-persecuted-church-em-d-60a5cdcc8e
        )

    [fields] => Array
        (
            [name] => persecuted-church
            [blog_form] => Yes
        )

    [content] =>  
    [site_key] => 6LdMkEkUAAAAAGd5aGH1cwku1OFyHwKYW_QUDZxm
    [form_number] => 2
    [domain] => biblegateway.com
    [value] => Yes
    [name] => blog_form
)
    
Jonathan Petersen: