Prayer Resources > Pray For The Neighbors

Prayer Bulletin

“Therefore, I urge first of all that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all people” – Bible

Pray For The Neighbors

Why do we pray? God is at work among the neighbors. And when Christians pray, we find that:

Christians gain a better understanding about the Neighbors, their faith and their various, diverse cultures.
There is increased love and compassion towards the needs of the Neighbors around the world.
God effects change and the Neighbors grow in their interest in Jesus.

WORLD

The neighbor dominates a territory that stretches from West Africa, through the Middle East and Central Asia, down to Indonesia. They grew quickly, from 12.3% of humanity (1900) to 24.3% (2020). Most of the growth comes through high birth rates, but conversion plays a big part in West Africa, Indonesia, and the USA.

World Population: 8,118,835,999
Largest Religion: Christian, 32.3 %
Percentage of Neighbors: 25% (approx)

Praise Points

Migration of neighbors from Africa and West Asia to Europe; from Myanmar to Bangladesh and India; this can potentially expose them to the Gospel.
Thousands of the neighbors are seeking to follow Jesus in West Asia and Central Asia

ASIA

Population: 4,785,060,131
Largest Religion: Islam
Percentage of Largest Religion: 26.4
Percentage of Christians: 8.8 %

WEST ASIA

Praise Points

Believers from among the neighbors (BMB/MBB) are growing in number in almost every context and on an unprecedented scale. This is happening in trickles (in places such as the Arabian Peninsula) and in torrents (Iran, Iraq).
Christians in lands closed to the Gospel are increasingly recognising the need to reach out to neighbors.
Christian satellite TV and the Internet have been effective in reaching many neighbors who could not be reached otherwise.
The presence of migrant workers from India, especially from Kerala, in Arab countries can be a potential source of witnessing.

Prayer Points

Middle East: Large-scale and sustained emigration after centuries of endurance has deprived the Middle East of most of its Christian communities.
Middle East: There is hardly any unity among Christian denominations. Most Protestant denominations are nominal even when they face persecutions.
Middle East: There is a lack of trained leaders in churches. Those who go to the West for training don’t return to their countries.

CENTRAL ASIA

Praise Points

Indigenous evangelical Christians have multiplied to number tens of thousands in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and even Turkey.

Prayer Points

New Christians in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkey face pressures from many sides - the government, Islamist groups, the Orthodox hierarchy and family members/society at large.
Christianity is seen as a foreign religion. Pray that Christian faith in Central Asian will find expressions in their own cultural forms so that it is not perceived as a foreign influence.
Pray for Russian, Ukrainian, German, Korean and other expatriate believers in these countries. Pressures on Christians are more severe in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and especially Turkmenistan. Foreign workers have been expelled from these countries, congregations scattered and church leaders imprisoned. Getting back into the country post-COVID has been difficult for expatriate workers.
Multi-national partnerships of expatriate believers exist for each of these nations. They have raised up intercession, mobilized mission, fostered cooperation and encouraged local believers. Pray that their continued carrying of these burdens might bring forth greater harvest in these needy regions.
Pray that Governments, while fighting religious extremism, will not target Gospel-believing Christians.
Pray for the development of mature Christian leaders among the native populations.
In Afghanistan, indigenous believers face great risks and must be very cautious in meeting together – made even riskier since the Taliban took control once again.

SOUTH ASIA

Praise Points

South Asia has the largest number of neighbors who can be freely reached with the Gospel.
There is church growth happening, predominantly among Tribal groups, Dalits and the lowest castes. Churches are unable to keep up with the demands of those expressing interest in or commitment to the Lord.

Prayer Points

The established churches in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka face decline in membership and increasing nominalism.
There is a lot of mission work is being done by evangelicals and Pentecostals. But South Asian Christians are not actively reaching out to the neighbors. To make matters worse, Hindu propaganda and Western voices influence Indian Christians. Rumors and fears are spread about the neighbors. Pray for a change in attitude.
Pray that South Asian churches will adapt their cultural ways to make MBBs feel welcome. Separate churches may have to be started for MBBs so that they can maintain their cultural ways: manner of prayer and worship, food habits, clothing, etc.

Indonesia

Pray for the economic recovery of Indonesia, and for Muslims in Indonesia to work towards peace and prosperity in their islands. Indonesian Muslims come from many different ethnic groups and speak hundreds of unique native languages.
Pray for Christians who can reach each of these groups with the gospel in their own language.
Pray for whole families to come to faith in Jesus in Indonesia.

India

Afghanis in India

There are an estimated 20,000 Afghanis living in India. Most of these are refugees, who live in and around Delhi. Many of them are waiting for permission to move to other countries, and some have already been denied entry to other places, having left Afghanistan. They are not permitted to work in India legally, and it is difficult to get their children enrolled in Indian schools.

A group of local believers put their faith into action by serving these families. They provide education in math, English and computer training, and offer skills development classes to help them find work. They also distribute food and medical hygiene kits.

Pray for Indian neighbors and neighbor refugees in India to experience the love of Christ and come to faith in Him.

Iran

Population: 89,809,781
Percentage of Christians: 0.5 %

The 1979 Islamic Revolution promised peace and prosperity, but more than 40 years later, greater and greater numbers are throwing off their shackles. Widespread protests in 2022 demonstrated that the younger generation is fed up with the legacy of oppression, bloodshed, cruel ‘justice’, corruption, economic hardship, and cultural isolation from most of the world. Despite external religiosity, drug addiction, and prostitution are widespread. Iran is an ancient, noble, and proud civilization. But in the modern era, these struggles have made many people very open to the gospel.

Praise Points

Massive numbers of Iranians have come to Jesus in recent years! From only 500 MBBs in 1979, many estimates suggest the number is even greater than 1 million just in Iran alone.
Large numbers of Persian people have also encountered the risen Christ outside of Iran. The Church in Persia has not grown this fast since the 7th century.
In Iran, a person can receive a death sentence for apostasy (abandoning religious faith). Despite this, 50,000 mosques have closed in recent years as Iranians are disillusioned with both the regime and with Islam. This growth is a remarkable move of the Holy Spirit, with many signs and wonders, dreams and visions.

Prayer Points - Iran contains some of the largest unreached, unengaged peoples in the world. Missions are not free to minister in Iran, but some tentmaking opportunities exist. Pray for the door to Iran to open in God’s perfect timing. - Pray that Iranians’ desires for greatness, prosperity, freedom, and even for righteousness might ultimately be met through worship of Jesus.

Pakistan

Fundamentalist Islam (driven by many different factors) impacts the whole nation. There are dozens of Islamic terrorist organizations operating in Pakistan. Political parties appease radical Muslims, which empowers Islamism ever further. It causes violence against religious minorities. Hundreds are murdered every year in terrorism-linked violence. Social and economic progress is difficult for non-Muslims (and non-Sunni Muslims). Women who live under fundamentalist Muslim values have very few freedoms or rights. Education is minimal, and domestic abuse is widespread. Pray that the true nature of this type of Islam might become clear for all to see, so that it might lose its power.

Prayer Points

Pray for the persecuted Church. Religious minorities face discrimination and persecution in many forms. Christians, Hindus, and minority Muslim groups (Shi’a, Ahmaddiya) suffer the most. The famous “blasphemy law” allows the death penalty on anyone who insults Mohammed, and life in prison for anyone who damages a Quran.

Extremists use this law to falsely accuse innocent people. They stir up religious frenzy so the crowd enforces the punishment.
They beat, murder, abduct, rape, or force conversion on Christians and other minorities.
Pray that believers might always be ready to share about Jesus, and to repay violence with love.

Pray for Christians in Pakistan.

The Church continues to grow, despite many obstacles. Poverty, illiteracy, and lack of teaching opened the door to corruption, immorality, and low spiritual standards among Christians. Some Christians live devoted lives, committed to God, but the majority have a weak, immature faith.
Common problems in churches include leadership struggles, greed, court cases, substance abuse, and divisions.
Ask God to raise up humble, committed spiritual leaders with passion to serve the Church.
Pray for more students in Bible and leadership training, wise and godly leaders, and adequate financial resources for Christian work.

Afghanistan

The re-conquest of Afghanistan by the Taliban in 2021 came as a shock to many. These events led to the suspension of humanitarian aid to the needy people of Afghanistan, the reintroduction of much harsher Islamic laws, the flight of 1.6 million Afghans from Taliban rule, the intensified persecution (and even manhunt) of Christians, and the emboldening of Islamist movements elsewhere against what they perceive as a weak and failing Western world.

The aftermath of the 2023 earthquake, the gripping poverty and hunger, and the increasing attacks of the Islamic State against the Taliban also intensify the suffering. There is so much to pray for; above all, pray that God preserve the lives of Afghans so that they might hear the good news of Jesus.

The status of women deserves special prayer.

Virtually all progress made from 2001-2021 has been undone by the Taliban since September 2021. Women are once again all but banned from participating in public life.
Numerous women die in childbirth in Afghanistan because many cannot receive healthcare from male doctors.
One-third of women suffer from physical violence.
Widows face very difficult circumstances, and suicide is common.
Special radio programmes share with women from the Bible, about the love and value God holds for them.
Female literacy had improved from 11% in 1979 to over 55% in 2018; perhaps this will enable more Afghan women to read material that will lead them to Jesus.
Pray for justice and freedom from gender-based oppression, and especially that women might find the true freedom that comes only through Christ.

China

Yunnan province is one of the most diverse provinces in China, with 26 different ethnic minorities. This includes Muslim communities such as the Hui Muslims – a Muslim group who are ethnically Han Chinese. Some of the Hui Muslims are descended from the first Chinese converts to Islam who were influenced by Muslim Arab traders in the 7th and 8th centuries. Other Muslims in this region are from Myanmar. Rohingya Muslims have fled the religious violence against their community in Myanmar. In Ruili, for example, about 50,000 Muslims from Myanmar have settled, learning Chinese, even marrying local Chinese spouses.

Pray for the Hui Muslim community in China which is concerned about religious oppression. Pray that they will be open to hear from their Christian neighbours, as Christians are also a minority present in Yunnan province.
Pray for Muslims from Myanmar who are taking refuge in China, that they will also have opportunity to find refuge in Christ.

Syria

Praise Points

The long civil war has ended. Assad fled the country.

Prayer Points

Pray for a new, stable government
Pray for reconstruction efforts. Syria was hit hard by the powerful earthquakes of February 2023. The worst-struck regions were already devastated by civil war. Millions may have been affected by damage to buildings.
Pray that the Lord might constrain lawlessness and wickedness. Women and children are open to exploitation.
Pray for hudreds of thousands of Syrian refugees in Europe. Pray for their safe return and rehabilitation.
Pray for those who are working in many ways to share the restoration that comes through Jesus. Pray for extraordinary opportunities and fruit for those who seek to be Christ’s hands and feet in Syria.

Yemen

Yemen has suffered in recent decades from three civil wars, tribal conflicts, and war in nearby countries. Currently Yemen is divided between Shi’a Houthi rebels who control much of the country and Sunni forces supporting the ousted President.

Neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia, U.A.E. and Iran have used Yemen as a theatre for their own proxy wars. Western governments, including the USA and UK, continue to sell arms that are used by their allies to indiscriminately take Yemeni lives.

As a result of all this upheaval, much of the population has faced food shortages and even starvation in recent years.
Few children can regularly go to school and fewer adults have a reliable income.

Praise Points

Amidst the terrible suffering, Yemenis are finding life in Christ through radio, Bible distribution, careful witness, and dreams and visions from the Lord!
Believers meet secretly and only in small groups. They often face dangerous opposition. Praise God for these followers of Jesus.

Prayer Points

Pray for them as they learn how to honour their culture and family while faithfully serving the Lord. There may be more Yemeni followers of Christ than all the other indigenous groups in the Arabian Peninsula combined!

EUROPE

The Neighbors make up about 6% of the population of western Europe. Pray for them to develop strong friendships in their communities and be a blessing in their homelands.

Pray for immigrant families and those with mixed-generations of immigrants adapting to cultural changes in Europe.
Pray for Christians in Europe to take a stand against racism and hatred, and be a witness to the love of Jesus.

United Kingdom

There are an estimated 3.4 million neighbors in the United Kingdom, mostly living in England. The majority of British Neighbors are from South Asian families, but also from all over Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe. The community is well established in the UK and very engaged in British society.

Pray for neighbors in the UK who are struggling financially to be connected to resources that can help them.
Pray for Christians in the UK to work alongside the neighbors and be generous in helping neighbors’ families in need especially during Ramadan.
Pray for Muslims in the UK to have good relationships with Christians and for opportunities to serve their communities together.

France

Some estimates say that about 15 000 neighbors leave their religion each year in France. Equal numbers tend to convert to that faith. So the population figures do not change significantly, but ex-neighbors are a growing community.

The rise of secularism in a place like France spreads to other nations, as ex-neighbors influence people in their countries of origin - places like Algeria or Morocco.

Pray for MBBs in France who are uniquely able to be an effective witness to others from their culture however they do, or do not, believe.
Pray for French neighbors who are seeking Jesus to bring their families and communities along with them.
Pray for Christians in France to be loving, welcoming, witnesses.

Austria

Austria is a country of beautiful culture, music, art, and scenery, but it mostly feels spiritually empty. Many believe in God (84%, which is high for Europe), but few know Jesus personally. Large numbers leave the Catholic Church every year, despite the longstanding Catholic culture.

Almost all church growth occurs within evangelical/charismatic churches. Pentecostal churches almost doubled from 2000 to 2010. Prayer movements grew among teenagers and led to an Austrian Prayer Congress of over 1,000, that now meets bi-annually! Even so, evangelicals are only 0.5% of the population. Pray for God to multiply congregations that honour and proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ.

Many children have migrated from Neighbor-majority nations to live in Austria. Many of them have had traumatic experiences in their home countries and during their journey. They often do not fit into the school system and have had few educational opportunities. But they love it when someone takes time to get to know them and play games with them. In the process, they always ask questions about what Christians believe and love to talk about God.

Pray for refugee children in Austria to recover from their trauma, and find peace and security in their new home.
Pray for them to have the resources they need to learn new languages, cultures and ideas, and for those who work with them to have patience and compassion.
Pray for refugee families to find Jesus as their Saviour.

AFRICA

The Neighbors dominate in the northern and western regions of Africa. This includes the Sahara and sub-Saharan regions. Neighbors in the West and Sub-Saharan regions - especially, the Fulani tribals who are nomads - are dangerous and violent. Also, the northern region of Nigeria is under the most dangerous group called Boko Haram. In the East, the dangerous Al-Shabab and Somalis dominate.

Prayer Points

Pray that God will cut the funding from oil-rich countries to the neighbors in African countries.
Pray that Christians will overcome tribal mentality to achieve unity so that they can focus more on mission to the neighbors.
Most African Christians are wary of the neighbors. Pray for a better attitude and passion for witnessing.

Nigeria

The Fulani Nomadic Tribes

Sudan

Somali Land

Eritrea

Kenya

Disclaimer

The sole purpose of sharing this information is to help Christians pray meaningfully for suffering Christians and for neighbours who follow other faiths.
We encourage Christians to love their persecutors and to pray for them.
We do not support or promote disunity or disharmony in society. We do not promote positive or negative bias towards any individual, community, gender, race, nation or religion.
We are not responsible for the misuse of this information.