ireland diary

"There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3.28) Rates of sexual violence, harassment and child marriage are high in Iraq. This is having a devastating effect on the lives and futures of many women and girls. Pray for...

According to the United Nations, there are over 26 million refugees around the world - of which many hundreds of thousands are Christians displaced by persecution. Please pray for Open Door's partners as they continue to meet the growing needs of displaced believers with emergency relief aid and...

"These days there is relative peace, but uncertainty reigns in the hearts of people as the days unfold," says Hana. "The economy is debt-ridden and completely dependent on foreign aid. Thousands have lost their jobs in the political upheaval. " Pray for those who have no access to jobs, that God...

"There's a huge humanitarian problem," shares Hana, an Open Doors partner in the region. "Large numbers of families are living together in hiding - when the electricity goes, when something is broken, families in hiding can't ask anyone to help with the repairs." Pray for God's continued...

Please pray for Marco Gerges, a Coptic Christian who has been sentenced to five years in prison for blasphemy after being found guilty of 'contempt for Islam' Ask the Lord to substain Marco and pray for wisdom and influence for the rights group who are representing him. Thanks so much for...

Pray for Magdy Awad Allah, a Coptic Christian and human rights activist who was stabbled while trying to rescue his son Thomas - age 17 - who was being held against his will by a Muslim neighbour. Pray for complete healing for Magdy and for his son Thomas, who is suffering from trauma. Thanks...

Since 2017, at least 16 churches have been closed under a 2006 ordinance that requires non-Muslim worship to be held only in buildings licensed for that purpose. The licensing commission established under the ordinance has yet to issue a single licence. Pray that these regulations will be...

Thank the Lord that many Christians in East Africa are diligently sharing the gospel in Muslim communities and that many are coming to faith in Christ. Ask the Lord to protect new believers and help them to connect with Christian communities that can give them the support they need to overcome...

The Open Doors team in West Africa is aiming to strengthen nearly 600,00 persecuted Christians by 2025 through training, trauma care and relief aid. One partner shares: "Pray that the Lord will establish the work of our hands and those we equip and that it will bear fruit to the glory of God."...

Baldina has lost both her sons. One was killed by Boko Haram and the other fled to escape the militants. Baldina and her husband are elderly and are too weak to farm for theirselves, and are being cared for by their local church. Pray for God's guidance and protection for their son and that he...

As we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, ask God to pour out His Spirit on church leaders who share God's Word in extremely volatile areas of West Africa. Pray that they will be 'filled with the Holy Spirit and speak the Word of God boldly' (Acts 4:31), despite the threats of...

Please pray for Esther - age 27 - whose husband Pastor Baraka was murdered in North Kivu Province last November. Open Doors is providing Esther and her three children with practical aid and livelihood support. "I know I will not lack anything because my brethren are there," she says. "They will...

Please pray for the family of a pastor who went missing last September in an area where an armed group is active. Shortly after he disappeared a man contacted the family to say that extremists had taken him. Pray for God's presence to sustain the pastor's family and pray for his release. Thanks...

Church leaders are often targeted for persecution because it spreads fear in their congregations. Punishments include fines and detention, and this could be for offences such as illegal gatherings and having worship songs on their phones, Ask the Lord to substain the health of church leaders...

There are proposals to make it harder to hold meetings away from state-registered places of worship. This would especially affect Protestant churces. It comes amid political instability in the country. Pray that the church will grow stronger and brighter despite these fresh challenges. Thanks...

Last December, Sabir and his family fled their home after villagers surrounded their house. The hatred was stirred by a Muslim leader, who said the family's Christian faith defiled the land. Pray that the family will quickly find a place that they can call home again. Thanks so much for...

Maria was in a taxi on her way home from church when her Muslim driver, realising Maria's Christian faith, sexually assalted her and then beat her. She nearly died. Maria needs long-term medical and psychological support to recover from this horrific ordeal. Pray for complete healing. Thanks...

After becoming Christians, a group of brothers from a Muslim family led some villagers to Jesus, much to the anger of the local iman. When the brother's elderly mother died, shortly after becoming a Christian, the iman blamed their new faith. The family is in severe danger. Please pray for their...

Christians from the Tausug tribe have their own translation of the New Testament. This year, Open Doors local partners began work on translating the Old Testament. Ask the Lord to substain the team and guide the in their choice of words. Thanks so much for praying, Elohim bless you. Taken from...

Praise God that, in the past year, many young people have become Christians. However, choosing to follow Jesus can bring a lot of pressure from Muslim parents. Pray that God's Word and the Holy Spirit will guide and encourage these young Christians in their faith and witness. Thanks so much...