Raise your voices together: Setting up a group to pray for persecuted Christians

‘Zion, herald of good news, go up on a high mountain. Jerusalem, herald of good news, raise your voice loudly. Raise it, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”’ Isaiah 40:9

Thank you for your interest in starting a local prayer group to pray for persecuted Christians. The information below offers advice on how to get started.

Starting a Prayer Group

– Talk to your church leaders and seek their support.

– Decide where you are going to meet.

– Decide the time and duration of the prayer meeting.

– Decide how often the group is going to meet: perhaps fortnightly, or monthly. It is important that people know what they are committing themselves to.

– Think about how you can publicise the meeting.

– Approach individuals who you know share your passion about praying for persecuted Christians and invite them to be part of the group.

Leading a Prayer Group

As the leader of the group, others who attend will naturally look to you to bring shape and content to the time of prayer. The key ingredient is to be well prepared and informed about the latest news about persecution.

In the book of Acts, after Peter and John had been arrested, beaten and threatened for preaching the gospel, we read: “When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.” (Acts 4:23; ESV). The threats they had endured shaped the prayers of the disciples.

In a similar way, it helps if our prayers are centred on what we know is happening around the world.

Resources

There are a variety of Release International resources you can use to inform the praying in your group:

– Our quarterly Voice magazine is packed with news stories and interviews, and often includes particular requests for prayer. If you don’t currently receive it, you can sign-up for your free subscription here.

– Our regular Prayer Shield (prayer diary), which comes with the magazine.

– Our general prayer alert emails (you can sign up for these here).

– Our interactive globe highlights where persecution is taking place and what we are doing to support those at risk. Our interactive globe can be found here.

– Our YouTube videos, which cover persecution topics from around the world, can be seen here.

– Our podcasts often highlight particular countries where Christians suffer persecution. You can listen to them here.

Variety of style can help sustain a prayer group over a period of time.

Praying in a Prayer Group

Many of the resources mentioned above will focus on particular situations. At the same time it is good to have some broad, biblical principles in mind that you can bring to bear on any and every situation you are praying for. For example:

– Faithful gospel witness in, through and despite persecution (Acts 4:29; 2 Thessalonians 3:1,2)

– Christ-centred, gospel-motivated Christian unity among persecuted Christians (Philippians 1:27-30)

– Effective godly and biblical discipleship of those living in situations of severe persecution (1 Thessalonians 3:1-5)

– Those who persecute Christians (Matthew 5:44)

Thank you so much for your willingness to intercede on behalf of our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.

Do let us know once your prayer group is up and running so your regional Engagement Manager can support you.