(PRAYER ALERT: International) — On November 2 and 9, millions of Christians worldwide will unite for the International Day of Prayer 2025. Every year, believers gather to intercede for those who suffer persecution for their faith. This year, the global focus turns to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where Christians endure relentless violence and fear but continue to stand firm in their faith.
According to Mission Network News (MNN), the Voice of the Martyrs USA is leading this year’s call to prayer. More than 310 million Christians live under persecution around the world, reports Open Doors. As James 5:16 reminds us, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Todd Nettleton, spokesperson for The Voice of the Martyrs USA, emphasized that prayer is the greatest need for persecuted believers. “Every time we ask, ‘How can we help you?’ the first thing they say is, ‘Pray for us,’” he explained. “They know they’re being prayed for, and that brings encouragement.”
Around the world, churches are preparing for united intercession. Congregations will lift up the persecuted church in prayer, believing that their faith will remain unshaken despite hardship. Meanwhile, the movement continues to inspire believers in free nations to remember those who cannot worship freely.
A Spotlight on Congo
This year, the International Day of Prayer shines its light on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a nation torn by conflict and ideology. More than one hundred armed rebel groups operate in the region, many driven by extremist beliefs that label Christians as enemies.
“There are over a hundred armed groups active in the DRC. Many are motivated by Islamist ideology that says Christians are the enemy,” Nettleton told Mission Network News. “The level of violence in some of these attacks is just mind-blowing.”
Entire villages have been devastated, churches destroyed, and families displaced. Yet amid the grief, hope persists. God is at work through Congolese believers who minister to their own communities—listening, comforting, and praying together.
“He is using His people to remind others that even in violent suffering, God still has a plan,” Nettleton added in the Voice of the Martyrs USA press statement.
Join the Global Movement
The International Day of Prayer 2025 is more than an event; it’s a declaration of unity and faith. Churches, small groups, and individuals are encouraged to participate using free digital resources and prayer guides available through The Voice of the Martyrs USA.
Pray for believers in the Congo and across the world. Pray for their safety, endurance, and unwavering trust in God’s promises. When the church prays together, heaven moves.
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A Prayer for the Persecuted
Heavenly Father,
We come before You united across nations, tongues, and traditions, one body under the lordship of Jesus Christ. On this International Day of Prayer 2025, we lift our voices for our brothers and sisters who carry the cross in hard places.
Lord, You are the refuge for the broken, the fortress for the faithful, and the healer of the wounded. We pray especially for the Congolese believers who stand firm amid fear and violence. Surround them with Your protection and let Your Spirit be their shield.
Grant them courage that conquers despair, hope that silences fear, and peace that surpasses understanding. Restore what has been lost, families, homes, churches and rebuild their lives with Your power and grace.
Father, awaken us who live in comfort to remember those who suffer for Your name. Move us to pray fervently, give generously, and speak boldly for those who cannot speak for themselves.
May the faith of the persecuted ignite revival in our own hearts. Teach us endurance, remind us of Your promises, and renew our trust in Your sovereignty.
And Lord, let every believer in Congo and around the world know they are not forgotten, for Your church stands with them, heaven stands behind them, and Your Word stands forever.
We ask this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Deliverer and King.
Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church began in the 1990s when global Christian ministries recognized the need to unite believers in prayer for those suffering for their faith. Organizations such as The Voice of the Martyrs, Open Doors, and the World Evangelical Alliance helped launch and promote the observance. Since then, it has grown into a worldwide movement connecting churches across denominations and continents.
Persecuted Christians benefit through both spiritual and practical encouragement. When believers around the world pray, it strengthens their faith, offers emotional comfort, and reminds them they are not forgotten. Many ministries also provide aid, trauma recovery, and Bible resources during the event. As a result, prayer often leads to increased support and awareness that directly impacts their lives.
Prayer Alert Disclosure: Prayer Alerts shared by Get-Prayer.com are provided for spiritual encouragement and community awareness. We share these alerts to invite prayer, reflection, and hope, not to endorse political positions or guarantee specific outcomes.
Pastor Rick Penn is an ordained pastor, writer, and the founder of Get-Prayer.com, a resource built to help believers develop a consistent, grounded prayer life.
With more than 20 years of preaching the Gospel, Pastor Rick brings deep theological training and lived pastoral experience to everything he writes. He holds a Master of Divinity from Virginia University of Lynchburg, an M.A. with a concentration in New Testament Studies from Baptist Bible Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Averett University.
His writing reflects a personal commitment to making prayer accessible to everyday Christians. Whether he is writing a prayer for someone in a hospital waiting room, walking through fear about the future, or sitting down with a blank prayer journal for the first time, Pastor Rick writes from a place of both theological grounding and pastoral care.
Pastor Rick hosts In The Moment, a Christian television program airing on Roku through AIM Christian Television. Viewers can watch the show at aimchristian.com/yourmoment and listen as a podcast on Spotify.
Before founding Get-Prayer.com, he served in the U.S. Navy, where he built his communication skills as a writer, editor, and public affairs professional. He now applies those disciplines directly to ministry and teaching.
Every article on this site reflects his core conviction: Prayer is not a performance of faith. It is the daily practice that holds everything else together.
Pastor Rick Penn is the author of all content on Get-Prayer.com.
Rick currently resides in Pennsylvania, where he continues to teach, write, and encourage believers to deepen their walk with God through prayer and the study of Scripture.
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