In Matthew 5:44, Jesus said ‘Pray for those who persecute you.’ Obeying this command is absolutely vital not just for those who are experiencing religious persecution, but also for us as we pray for them. So we’d like to encourage you to start this new year the right way: by praying for those who persecute.

Pastor Behnam Irani, currently in prison in Iran

Please pray:

• Pray for the prison guards where Pastor Benham Irani is in jail in Iran, that they will stop beating him, and that they will be convicted of their wrongdoing.
• Pray for Pastor Nadarkhani who is still in danger after his release from an Iranian jail. Pray that those who wish him harm will change their minds.
• Ask God to bring peace to the hearts of terrorists such as Boko Haram in Nigeria.
• Ask God to pour out blessings on religious leaders who incite violence.
• Pray for the Chinese authorities who are persecuting Gao Zhisheng in China. Pray that they would release him from his unjust prison sentence.
• Heavenly Father, thank You so much for Your heart of compassion. Because You have commanded us to pray for the persecutors, I am lifting up to You today everyone who persecutes Christians and other religious minorities. I want to pray especially for the prison guards who have been severely beating Pastor Benham Irani. Please pour out Your blessings on these guards, move their hearts to mercy, and bring an atmosphere of peace in that prison. I ask this in the name of Your precious Son, Jesus. Amen.