While Americans spent this week focused on election results at home, churches around the world have been turning their attention to believers far away who cannot worship freely. Sunday, Nov. 1, was the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, an observance held each year on the first Sunday of November. Open Doors US invited churches to pray this year especially for Christians in the Middle East, and ministries such as International Christian Concern are offering prayer guides for the whole month.
It is a reminder that the family of faith is bigger than any one country, and that Scripture asks us to carry each other’s burdens.
A record year for persecution
The numbers behind the day are sobering. In its 2026 World Watch List, released in January, Open Doors reported that more than 388 million Christians, about one in seven worldwide, face high levels of persecution and discrimination. That was a record, up 8 million from the year before, according to Vatican News.
- Open Doors researchers counted 4,849 Christians killed for faith-related reasons, roughly 13 a day.
- Nigeria accounted for more than 70% of those deaths, and 93% occurred in sub-Saharan Africa.
- North Korea remained the most dangerous country for Christians.
- Syria jumped from No. 18 to No. 6, the largest rise on the list, driven by violence including a church attack in Damascus that killed 25 people.
Open Doors director Cristian Nani told Vatican News, “Unfortunately, this is once again a record year.”
The report also found reasons for hope. Open Doors noted growing public awareness of threats to religious leaders in Mexico and Colombia, and a drop in violence against Christians in Bangladesh during the latest reporting period.
What the Bible says
The letter to the Hebrews was written to believers who knew suffering firsthand. In the final chapter, the writer gives a simple instruction:
“Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.” Hebrews 13:3 (KJV)
Notice the words “as bound with them.” The verse does not ask us to feel a little sorry for people far away. It asks us to remember them as if their chains were our own. The phrase “yourselves also in the body” points to a truth the New Testament teaches again and again: believers are one body. When one part hurts, the whole body hurts.
That is a high calling, but it is also a practical one. We may not be able to visit a prison in another land. We can pray by name, give to trusted ministries, and speak up for those who have no voice.
Ways your family can remember this month
The International Christian Concern (ICC) November prayer calendar offers daily prompts. It highlights believers in India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Nepal, Myanmar, Egypt, Indonesia and across the Middle East, among other places. Here are simple ideas families can try:
- Pray one country a day. Use a prayer calendar at dinner and let children find each country on a map.
- Pray for specific needs. ICC’s calendar lists requests such as strength for churches in South Sudan and safety for Christians in Nigeria’s Plateau State.
- Learn a story. Read about a believer who stayed faithful under pressure, and talk about what courage looks like.
- Give thanks for freedom. With Thanksgiving coming, thank God for the freedom to gather, sing and open a Bible without fear.
Why it matters for families
Children learn compassion by practicing it. Praying for a family in another country who cannot attend church openly helps kids see that faith is not only about our own needs. It also helps parents model gratitude. The same freedoms many of us take for granted are a daily risk for millions of brothers and sisters.
Upstormed News has looked at how faith leaders served neighbors this week, including poll chaplains who offered calm on Election Day. For another story of courage under pressure, read how William Wilberforce refused to quit.
As November moves toward Thanksgiving, Hebrews 13:3 invites us to add a few more names to our prayers, and to remember that we are part of one body that stretches around the world.
Read more: “Good Tidings of Great Joy”: Pope Leo XIV Readies South America Journey
Which country or group of believers will your family pray for this November?
Sources: Open Doors US, “International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church” resources (2026); Open Doors US, “5 Things You Need to Know About Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List” (January 20, 2026); Vatican News, “Open Doors: Number of Christians persecuted worldwide rises to 388 million” (January 15, 2026); International Christian Concern, November 2026 Prayer Calendar (2026); King James Bible Online, “Hebrews 13:3”
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