Pray for Christians in sub-Saharan Africa

Join in prayer for Christians in sub-Saharan Africa who are facing violent persecution, displacement and conflict.

Millions of Christians across sub-Saharan Africa face persecution, violence, conflict and displacement. The African church is rising up boldly in prayer against this violence – and they are calling on their global church family to stand with them. Please join with your church family in sub-Saharan Africa, asking God to stop the violence and start the healing.

Arise Africa

Ten ways to pray

Day 1: Nigeria (#7) – Rifkatu

When Rifkatu* was kidnapped by Islamist extremists just weeks after her wedding, the course of her newly married life changed dramatically. By God’s grace, she and her sister were eventually able to escape the clutches of their captors, but the trauma they took with them was unimaginable.

That was when Open Doors stepped in with trauma care offered by local partners. Since then, Rifkatu has started her journey of healing, slowly being restored by the love and grace of God.

Pray with us:

Dear Lord, we lift our dear sister Rifkatu to You. Thank You for rescuing her from her captors and thank You that You know the pain and trauma that she carries. Strengthen her, loving Father, and help her to know Your constant, comforting presence. We ask that You help her to live her life in confidence and safety as she continues to heal from her experiences. Please protect women like her in Nigeria who are at risk of abduction and abuse and bring about justice for them, we pray. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Day 2: Ethiopia (#36) – Jemal

Jemal* will never forget the day that Islamist radicals attacked his home in Ethiopia. That day, he lost his home, his livelihood and his safety. “They believed that, after our property was destroyed, Christians would convert to Islam,” says Jemal. “They did not want Christians to remain in the town. Their goal was to eliminate Christianity.”

Though he lost everything, Jemal did not give up his faith. Open Doors came alongside Jemal to support him in restarting his business and beginning to heal from the trauma he experienced.

Pray with us:

Heavenly Father, we praise You for the faith You have given Jemal and for how You preserved his life through the violence he experienced. Please continually embolden him to bear witness to Your truth, as well as provide for him and his family. We ask that You intercede in the lives of all Your people in Ethiopia who are threatened by attack and pressured by their communities to give up their faith. Please strengthen them, provide for them and encourage them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Day 3: Somalia (#2) – Aweis

Aweis started his journey of faith in Jesus when he came across a Somali radio station preaching the gospel. It would put his life on a very different path to that which his father, a mosque leader, had planned for him.

Christians are extremely rare in Somalia. Aweis spent much of his first years as a believer totally alone. When he did begin to build a small fellowship of other Christians, they were found and killed, one by one, until only two remained.

Despite the harsh persecution they faced, Aweis clung to Jesus – now he leads a ministry discipling Somali believers from outside the country in the face of very real dangers.

Pray with us:

Dear Lord, thank You that with You, all things are possible! Thank You that You are building a people for Yourself in Somalia against which no power can prevail. Please continue to establish and strengthen secret believers in the country, blessing them with fellowship and protection from those who would seek to extinguish their faith. We ask that You guide and encourage Aweis as he carries out his ministry. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus, amen.

Day 4: Sudan (#4) – Rafat

Rafat* is one of many Christians in Sudan enduring hardship and devastation brought about by the civil war that began in April 2023. Though many have been made victims of the conflict – being displaced, conscripted or subjected to poverty – Christians are especially vulnerable, looked down upon by authorities and neighbours.

“Pray for Christians to receive emotional and spiritual healing from what they have seen in the war,” he asks. “The church can play a role by being a light and salt in the community, and to start the healing of reconciliation in our country.”

Pray with us:

Dear God, we pray for believers in Sudan who are suffering because of the war shaking the nation. In Your mercy, please bring an end to the conflict and establish Your peace. We ask that You uphold Your people like Rafat and help them to shine with the light of the gospel, even in such darkness. Please provide for their needs and help them to keep trusting in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Day 5: Mali (#15)

The daily life of believers in Mali is often defined by lack and uncertainty. With ongoing conflict between the government and jihadist groups, civilians are caught in the crossfire and living conditions are worsening steadily. Amidst the warring of the two sides, Christians struggle to meet and many are afraid to leave their homes.

Charles Yabaga Diarra* is a local church leader in Mali who has, despite the difficulties, seen the hand of God at work. He says, “It still amazes me to see and reflect on God’s faithfulness during this crisis. In my place, we met when possible. God has heard our prayers because churches and believers worldwide stood in the gap for our nation.”

Pray with us:

Dear Lord, we pray for our brothers and sisters in Mali living through this crisis and all the hardships it has brought. Thank You for the faith of Your people – we ask that You continue to grow their dependence on You and their awareness of Your presence with them. Please bring peace to Mali, that citizens would be protected from the conflict and that perpetrators of evil would turn to You in repentance. Please give leaders like Charles wisdom and courage as they direct Your people. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Day 6: Eritrea (#5) – Hiwot*

“During our stay in prison, the Lord was everything we had,” says Hiwot, an Eritrean believer who was imprisoned for ten years because of her faith. She and other children were arrested after some members of the Eritrean Orthodox Church – one of very few permitted denominations in the country – informed the police about their ‘unsanctioned’ faith. If they wanted their liberty, they had to deny Jesus. But they refused.

Eventually, after a decade, Hiwot was freed. She commits her freedom to continually praying for imprisoned believers.

Pray with us:

Our Father in heaven, thank You that You hear the cry of Your persecuted children in Eritrea. We pray for those who are in prison and facing torture or unjust trial. Please protect them and make a way for them to be set free. Please strengthen the church in Eritrea so that believers like Hiwot will be able to grow in faith and be discipled. Would they know Your perfect peace as they trust in You (Isaiah 26:3). In Jesus’ name, amen.

Day 7: Democratic Republic of Congo (#29)

As in much of sub-Saharan Africa, violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is only worsening. Vulnerable communities are often attacked, homes destroyed and hundreds kidnapped or displaced by extremist groups. Among them, Christian groups are targeted as enemies of radical Islamists and forced to renounce their faith. Many are killed if they refuse.

Reverend Philemono* leads a church in the Ituri province, a region which has seen repeated assaults on its villages. Philemono asks, “Brothers and sisters, pray for the faith of Christians in the Christian villages of eastern DRC. Truly, let us pray for our faith.”

Pray with us:

Lord God, we grieve with the church in the DRC suffering incessant violence and attack. In Your compassion, please comfort those who have lost homes and loved ones; restore captives to their families; turn the hearts of attackers to You. Thank You that You are always sovereign over the turmoil of the world – please work on behalf of Your people to protect them and uphold their faith, as Reverend Philemono asks. Would they shine with the hope of the gospel to those around them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Day 8: Mozambique (#39) – Ernesto

When Ernesto’s* village in Mozambique was attacked by religious extremists, he experienced a brutal and shocking form of persecution – being crucified like Jesus.

And yet, despite the intentions of the extremists, Ernesto survived. A couple found him once the attackers had left their village and took him to a hospital. There, he received emergency medical care. It took time for both his physical scars to heal, and recovery for his unseen scars goes on.

By the grace of God, Ernesto looks back on his experience with peace. He says, “At that time, I knew that I could not deny who I was. If I belonged to Christ, I had to belong to Christ, no matter if they killed me. I’ve forgiven them.”

Pray with us:

Dear God, thank You for Ernesto’s courageous faith in the face of such evil and violence. Thank You for preserving him, and we ask that You continue to heal him from his traumatic experiences. We pray that his witness would bring many to faith in You. Please protect Your people throughout Mozambique who are threatened by attacks from religious militants – help them to cling to You, their ‘refuge in times of trouble’ (Psalm 59:16). In Jesus’ name, amen.

Day 9: Cameroon (#37) – Pastor Hamza

In the far north of Cameroon, Islamist extremists from Boko Haram are making life near impossible for anyone who opposes their radical views. Persecuted Christians like Pastor Hamza* have seen their villages attacked multiple times and many people killed. Thousands who have fled their homes are displaced and living in poverty.

Although Hamza and his family are now in a safer town, every week he makes the dangerous journey back to his former village, so that the Christians who remain there are not left alone. “I go and encourage them with the Word of God,” Hamza says. “I can’t leave them alone.”

Pray with us:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for pastors like Hamza who make costly decisions to support vulnerable Christians in Cameroon. We mourn with them for all that they have suffered at the hands of extremists. Please bring about healing and peace to Cameroon, that Christians who have been displaced or attacked will be able to worship You and gather in safety. Please build up their faith, strengthen them to endure hardship and give the government wisdom and courage to fight against insecurity. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Day 10: Arise Africa campaign

Arise Africa seeks to raise awareness about the violence and injustice plaguing the lives of millions of believers across sub-Saharan Africa. Christian communities are highly vulnerable to different kinds of persecution from extremists or neighbours, including displacement, violence and discrimination.

Through the campaign, we pray that more believers will know justice and restoration in our days, looking to the time when God ‘will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’. (Revelation 21:4)

“The number of Christians being displaced and killed continues to increase. Please, will you keep speaking about the persecution of Christians in sub-Saharan Africa?” asks Pastor Barnabas, who had to flee his home because of extremist persecution in Nigeria.

The Arise Africa petition aims to raise a million signatures from around the world, calling for peace, justice and restoration for our church family in sub-Saharan Africa. Please pray that the petition achieves its aims and that our brothers and sisters see lasting change.

Pray with the African church:

Gracious Father, we praise You for increasing awareness about the plight of persecuted believers across sub-Saharan Africa. We ask that You continue to bless the work of the campaign for the sake of our brothers and sisters. Please empower governments and authorities to act on their behalf to bring about justice and restoration. Strengthen Your people and give wisdom to regional leaders as they face hardship. May the light of Christ shine through Your church in Africa and worldwide. In Jesus’ name, amen.

*Names changed for security reasons