Praying for a country closed to the Gospel
In some countries, proclaiming the Gospel is forbidden, punished or impossible without risk. Believers are few, sometimes isolated, sometimes hidden. This quest invites you to lift your eyes beyond your borders and carry a country before God, quietly and without fear.
What it looks like in your day
Choose a country. If you know one through your own story or a friend's, start with it. Otherwise, pick one at random from the list of countries where Christians are few or restricted. Get informed for a few minutes: its language, its culture, its people, the situation of believers. Then pray, along several lines:
- For the believers on the ground. That they would stand firm, be protected, have brothers and sisters to support them.
- For the inhabitants. That they would hear about Jesus, through a dream, a book, a radio program, an encounter, someone who shows them love.
- For those who work there. Missionaries, aid workers, teachers, Christian business owners who live there discreetly.
- For the leaders. That they would be wise, that they would respect people's consciences.
- For the Word. That the Bible would be translated, accessible, readable in their language.
One possible prayer: “Lord, I entrust [country] to you. You love its people more than I do. Open hearts and doors, protect those who follow you.”
If you are short on time, one sentence is enough, with the name of the country. If you are shy about political questions, remember that this is prayer, not debate. If you want to go further, use an information sheet published by a recognized organization.
What the Bible says
Paul poses a series of questions that show what proclaiming the Gospel involves:
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
For people to believe, they have to hear; for them to hear, a messenger has to go; for him to go, he has to be sent. Prayer is a link in this chain. The book of Revelation describes the vision of a goal:
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”
A crowd “of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” before the throne: this is God's plan for history. Praying for a closed country means joining this perspective. In the book of Acts (Acts 16:6-10), the Spirit prevents Paul from going where he wanted and directs him to Macedonia: God leads the Gospel, sometimes in unexpected ways.
Pitfalls to avoid
A sense of superiority. These countries are not spiritually “less advanced”. They have their culture, their history, their riches. Pray with respect, not condescension.
Stereotyped prayer. “Lord, convert the whole country” is a start, but the more you know, the more accurately you pray: this group, this language, this region.
Putting people in danger. If you have contacts in one of these countries, don't share sensitive information on social media: it could harm believers.
Feeling helpless. The size of the world can discourage. But prayer is not proportioned to what you see: it relies on God's power.
A prayer with no follow-up. If possible, choose a country and come back to it regularly, once a week, for a month in a row. Perseverance gives depth.
Today, choose a country. Get informed for five minutes, then pray with a specific request.