Churches Prepare for November 1 Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians
Churches and Christian organizations are preparing to observe the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church on November 1, bringing attention to believers facing violence, imprisonment and restrictions on religious practice.
An October 29 announcement from the Global Methodist Church encouraged congregations to set aside time during worship for the observance. Organizers of the wider international initiative also identify November 8 as an alternative date, allowing churches to choose the Sunday that fits their calendars.
The World Evangelical Alliance organizes the annual international observance. Its history traces an emergency prayer appeal for Iran to 1994, following the killing of church leader Haik Hovsepian Mehr. In 1996, the alliance, then known as the World Evangelical Fellowship, invited the wider Christian community to participate. Organizers say more than 100 countries joined that first worldwide observance.
This year’s materials emphasize knowing the experiences of persecuted Christians rather than treating them as distant, anonymous victims. The initiative marks 30 years since the 1996 international call and encourages congregations to learn from the faith and endurance of affected communities.
Free resources include Bible studies, prayer points, country guides, songs and posters. Materials are available in English, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Arabic, and the organizers permit churches to download, adapt and share them. National evangelical alliances can also obtain a media kit.
Within the Global Methodist Church, leaders described pressures affecting partner communities in Africa and Asia, including interference with worship, intimidation, arrests and violence. These accounts describe experiences reported by the denomination and its partners; they do not represent a new worldwide incident count released for the observance.
The Rev. Dr. Ashley Goad, a missions pastor at The Woodlands Methodist Church and an international ministries leader, said congregations could participate through a pastoral prayer, Scripture reading, silence or a story from an affected community. The denomination also suggested educational activities for children, young people and small groups.
The appeal extends beyond a single Sunday. Global Methodist leaders described existing partnerships involving prayer, pastoral encouragement, humanitarian assistance and financial support. Organizers are encouraging churches to continue learning about religious persecution throughout November and to maintain contact with affected believers beyond the annual observance.
References
Global Methodist Church — October 29, 2026.
globalmethodist/international-day-of-prayer-for-the-persecuted-church-november-1
International Day of Prayer / World Evangelical Alliance — 2026 campaign; publication date not stated; accessed October 30, 2026.
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