Pray for the Suffering Parts of the Body of Christ
Part of our calling as Christians is to intercede for this world in prayer. We lift up those who suffer to the Almighty and ask for His help. But how do we know who to pray for?
Of course, we pray for our family, friends, and other people whose needs we know about firsthand. Many of us also pray for the victims of faraway catastrophes – wars, famines, natural disasters – that we learn about in the secular media.
Unfortunately, if our prayers are informed only by what we hear about in the news, we risk neglecting to pray for those who should be closest to us – the thousands around the world who are killed, beaten, raped, imprisoned, and discriminated against because of their identification with our Christian faith.
The Bible tells us that these victims of religious persecution are brothers and sisters in Christ. They are parts of the worldwide Body of Christ to which we belong. “When one part suffers” the Apostle Paul tells us, “all parts suffer with it”. (I Cor. 12:26)
You can make a difference – by encouraging prayer for the world’s persecuted Christians in your weekly worship services and prayer meetings.
CSI can help. Every month we publish the names and details of Christians who suffer for their faith. These cases are intended to be used in prayers of intercession. They can help direct our hearts and minds to specific individuals and many others that suffer similarly for their faith.
We will also share the good news of the liberation of Christian prisoners, slaves, bonded labor, and victims of human trafficking, so that you can life up prayers of praise and thanksgiving as well as intercession.
The monthly prayer calendar can be found on the “Get involved>Pray” page of the CSI website.
Wishing you the Almighty’s blessing,
Dr. John Eibner
International President
Prayer topics for November
Sunday November 1: NIGERIA
Mary David, 4, was badly injured when militants attacked her Christian community in central Nigeria on May 10. After being struck in the face with a machete, she has lost the vision in one eye. Her five-year-old brother was also injured. Mary is one of thousands of Christians killed and injured every year in terror attacks in central Nigeria.
We pray for healing for Mary and for all victims of terror attacks in Nigeria.
Sunday November 8: PAKISTAN
Samuel (name changed), from a poor Christian family, was just 16 when he converted to Islam under pressure from work colleagues. He is now living in an Islamic school and is estranged from his family. His heartbroken parents are taking legal action to have him returned home.
We pray for Samuel and his family, and for all Christians under pressure to convert to Islam in Pakistan.
Sunday November 15: MYANMAR
Dal Thawn Tuang, a Baptist pastor in Chin State, was shot and killed by the military on September 14. Rev. Tuang is the third pastor to be killed in the state in recent months amid an upsurge in attacks on Christians. The 49-year-old leaves behind a wife and two children. (Source: Christian Post; photo: Facebook/ChinWorld)
We pray for Rev. Tuang’s family and congregants, and for the safety of Christians in Myanmar.
Sunday November 22: SYRIA
Suleiman Khalil, the former mayor of the Christian town of Sadad, has been detained by the new Syrian government without charge for 21 months. Khalil is regarded as a hero for defending the town from Islamic State in 2015. His daughter says she was prevented from giving her jailed father a Bible.
We pray for release for Suleiman, and for the threatened Christian minority in Syria.
Sunday November 29: INDIA
Gangi was trafficked from rural India in 2023 aged 14 and forced into domestic service. After six months, rescuers managed to locate her and reunite her with her family. She has now finished school and is training as a seamstress. In India, members of religious minorities and girls from poor backgrounds, like Gangi, are particularly vulnerable to human traffickers.
We give thanks for Gangi’s freedom, and pray for all victims of human trafficking in India.