The persecuted Church: How to identify and intercede for it

By John Abiola

Matt.10.22 – And everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me. But those who endure to the end will be saved.

These scriptures remind us to intercede fervently for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are enduring persecution for their unwavering faith.

A Prophetic Burden for the Persecuted Church

While studying John 7:7 – “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify that its works are evil”, Further I read the two reference scriptures:
John.15.18 – “When the world hates you, remember it hated me before it hated you.

John.15.19 – The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you don’t. I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you”.

John.3.19 – Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

John.3.20 – They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished.

I received a divine prompting. This scriptures revealed to me the intense hatred the world has for Jesus Christ and for His true followers and preachers of the Gospel.

I cried out, “Lord, what is Your message for the next edition of our Revive Us Again prayer movement?”

Then I heard the Lord say:
“The prayer calendar you hung in your room, the one titled International Day of Prayer (IDOP 2003) for the Persecuted Church, republish it now.”

It was originally published by Arewa Fellowship Missions under International Christian Response. I asked, “Lord, why are You instructing me to send this message again after so many years?”

And the Lord answered:
“Because My children in comfort zones are asleep. They must awaken. They must become serious with their Christian life. They must understand the suffering of the persecuted Church for My name’s sake, and pray.”

Recent Reports on Christian Persecution

Over 52,250 Christians killed in Nigeria over the past 14 years by Islamist extremists (Source: Vatican News, April 2023).

Between Nov. 2022 and Nov. 2024, 9,814 Nigerian Christians were killed—primarily by Boko Haram, radicalized Fulani herdsmen, and ISWAP.

Let what Brian says sink in a bit—more than every other country combined.

Behind each of those 10,000 lives is a story of courage and resilience in the face of unimaginable persecution. Stories like that of a mother who watched militants slaughter four of her children in front of her for refusing to deny their Christian faith and now must rebuild her life in a displacement camp. Or the story of a woman who saw her son shot for his faith, then carried him to safety in the mountains where they hid for three months.

Hope amidst the persecution crisis in Nigeria
But even in the face of such darkness, there is hope. As Brian shared, GCR is on the ground responding to the persecution crisis in Nigeria, standing with these brave believers as they rebuild their lives and hold fast to their faith.

“We’re standing with these communities to give them trauma care, to give them safe shelter and displacement camps, to give them medical aid, income generating projects, education, and empowerment programs as well, too, for youth and for women and so much more,” Brian said, “because these believers have been attacked and left with nothing.”

Nothing, that is, except their unwavering faith in a God who sees, knows, and loves them beyond measure.

As members of the global Body of Christ, we have a responsibility to stand with our persecuted family in Nigeria—to pray for them, to support them, and to tell their stories. Because every single one of those 10,000 lives matters. Every story deserves to be told. And every act of love and solidarity, no matter how small, helps to shine a light in the darkness.Will you help us ensure the stories of these courageous brothers and sisters are not forgotten.

Africa remains the deadliest region for Christians, with Nigeria consistently ranking as the most dangerous nation for Christ-followers. Similar patterns are evident in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and even Dagestan in Russia. (Source: Global Christian Relief Red List, 2025). Is this not enough to awaken us?

10 Ways to Identify with the Persecuted Church

You and your small group can take intentional steps to “become one” with the persecuted brethren. Try one or more of the following:

Sing songs softly: Most underground churches meet secretly and do not want neighbours to know of thier presence. They love to sing hymns but they do it in hushed.
Copy scripture passage: Each member of the group copies out by hand five or ten verses and commits them to memory. Then all the writing papers is glued together to form a scroll, which is given to one member.
Pray until everyone hears from God: The Chinese, for example, are known for their persistent praying. They will stay together for hours in the conviction that God speaks very powerful when His people pray in groups. They believe everyone should hear from God, and is able to pray what the Spirit is saying to the Church .
Get someone to read a Bible passage with long, unusual, and difficult words blacked out: The reader will not able to read the passage completely. It will sound disjointed and will not make sense. You are now identifying with illiterate peasants who form a huge part of underground churches in rural areas. Now read the same passage in a Christian’s Bible. The illustration will be similar to what many illiterate christians experience.
Share experience of suffering: Each group member must share how they have suffered for Jesus the last time the group met.
Live- a- verse- a – week: Ask God for a verse from the scriptures, then live every activity that week in the light of that verse. The following week, report back to the group all you have learned from the school of life about that particular verse
Pray “prison style”: Conditions in prison are harsh, and overcrowding is common. Mark out a square about 3.7 metres long, then lie side by side in it, packed like sardines, Form this position, pray for those in prison.
Select and fund evangelists from the group: Spend an evening deciding who has the gift of evangelism, where they should work even if just part time and for a short time, commission them for the trip. Underground churches usually choose their evangelists young- normally under 25.
Target the neglected sectors of your community in prayer: Many underground churches spend an usual amount of time in prayer for outlying unreached peoples in thier country. Identify and target the unreached sectors of your own community in prayer.
Walk miles to attend the group meeting: Arrange to hold the meeting a few kilometers outside the township where the members live, then walk in groups of two or three to the arranged site. Pray daily, 1st–31st: A Month of Intercession 31-Day Prayer Guide for the Persecuted Church A call to awaken, identify, and intercede.

Persecuted believers often ask not for relief, but for strength to endure suffering for Christ. Let us respond by praying faithfully using these points:

Pray for God to strengthen the accused and thier families and for justice to prevail.
Pray for the ongoing safety of the leaders and pastors who risk and suffer persecution to fulfill thier calling.
Pray that Christians will continue to practice thier faith without compromise inspite of the danger.
Pray that God would give Christians pastors and thier families a real sense if His love and providence.
Pray that government policies will be confronted by democratic countries that value human rights.
Pray that truth would prevail and that God would strengthen those who face trial for thier faith.
Pray that God would bring healing to the victims if violence and to thier families.
Pray that God would grant christian families peace in thier ordeals and wisdom to know how best to proceed.
Pray that God would continue to strengthen the church in the midst difficult circumstance.
Pray that the Kingdom of God would come and that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. A Final Charge
“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it…” 1 Corinthians 12:26
Let us not be silent. Let us not slumber. May this edition stir a holy burden in our hearts to stand with those who stand for Christ in hostile places.

Let the Church arise. Let the intercessors prevail. Great shall be our reward! John 4:33-38.

By John Abiola
Revive Us Again Series 110
A Prophetic Publication of Nigeria Global Intercessors (NGI).
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