The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness and interceding in prayer for Christians around the world who face persecution for their faith. On the first Sunday in November, Christians globally unite to pray for those who suffer discrimination, violence, imprisonment, and other forms of persecution because of their commitment to Christianity.
For persecuted Christians, having access to the Bible in their heart language is a source of immense spiritual strength and encouragement. However, Bible translation is often a dangerous task in regions where Christianity is persecuted. Translators and those involved in the distribution of Bibles face significant risks. IDOP provides a special opportunity to pray for their safety, wisdom, and perseverance specifically.
The observance of IDOP underscores the ongoing need for Bible translation in many parts of the world, such as in Mainland Asia. We are faced with the sobering reminder that countless communities are still waiting to receive the Word of God in their heart language, and persecution can complicate these efforts. In Mainland Asia, churches are waiting for people to learn a language in order to understand scripture, instead of praying for God’s word to be brought to them in their mother tongue. We believe prayer is the key to reaching zero people on earth without a verse of scripture in a language they can understand. Our prayers can inspire and mobilize the church in Mainland Asia to take an active role in supporting Bible translation efforts. This includes praying for translators, providing resources, and encouraging those called to this mission.
Join us in praying for awareness and activation of the church in Mainland Asia for the needs of Bible translation.
Mainland Asia Prayer Points:
- Activate the Church: Pray that the Lord will rise up His people, including church leaders, to intercede earnestly and regularly as Prayer Intercessors for the remaining 438 languages in Asia who are still waiting for God’s word speak to them in their heart language.
- Unity: Pray for synergy and oneness in Christ as local churches and various Bible Translation organizations collaborate with church planters in each country to accelerate the good news of Jesus to all Bibleless people groups.
- Translators: Pray for more Bible translation consultants in Mainland Asia. Workers are needed to approve the translated work so that God’s word can be accessed sooner by many Bibleless people groups.
- Updating Bibleless People Numbers: Pray for more networks and platforms to be established to collate and update information of Bibleless language groups from the ground.
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is significant not only for raising awareness and interceding for those who suffer for their faith but also for highlighting the critical role of Bible translation in providing spiritual sustenance and support to persecuted Christians.
Let us unite in prayer, believing that our combined efforts can make a significant impact. Together, we can help bring the transformative power of God’s Word to every corner of Mainland Asia.
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” – Romans 10:14 (NIV)
