ireland diary

There is an urgent need for Christians who can stand by Believers from Muslim Backgrounds (BMB's), to disciple them and model life in Christ to them. Open Doors partners provide training to church leaders in caring for these believers. Pray that the training will bear fruit and that new...

Open Doors partners have started a counselling school to train individuals and groups to provide pastoral support, trauma care, and marriage and family counselling to those in need. Pray that the school and those who work there will bring hope and healing to all who attend. Thanks so much for...

Islamic State (IS) sleeper cells continue to carry out regular attacks against villages in the border areas of Kirkik, Nineveh and Erbil. Pray for the protection of civilians living in these conflict areas and pray that IS will not regain control of the region. Thanks for praying, Elohim bless...

Thank God for the successful launch of a new Facebook group for teenagers which aims to create a secure enviroment for young people to spend time together, ask questions and express their feelings. In one week, the promo reached over 10,000 people, had over 6,000 complete views and had 270...

In recent months our local partners have been more closely monitored by Syrian security officials. Pray for protection over the projects they run and wisdom in handling questions about the funding and purpose of these projects. Pray for God's favour so that they can continue to serve Him in...

A trauma centre in Nigeria run by Open Doors partners is being extended to increase intake from 720 a year to 2,880. This includes widows, rape victims and orphans. Praise God for this development, and pray that all those who visit will find lasting hope, peace and healing. Thanks so much for...

Pastors in the region face a huge task equipping congregations to grow and stand firm in their faith. Many are also needed to care for those traumatised by persecution, and their roles can make them a target for violence. Ask the Lord to protect church leaders and pray that training programmes...

Thousands of Christians in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have been displaced from their homes by extremist violence. Ask the Lord to protect and guide our brothers and sisters, and pray for Open Doors partners providing for their needs. Islamic extremism often stems from the...

Girls and young women living in slum areas in Cairo and Upper Egypt are at risk of grooming and exploitation. They live in fear every day. Pray for their protection, for God's peace to guard their hearts, and for justice for those who have been wronged. Thanks so much for praying, Elohim bless...

On International Women's Day, Open Doors is joining with Aid to the Church in Need to host a panel on the persecution of Christian women that will be streamed live online. Please pray that MPs will attend the panel, engage with the issues raised and take action to ensure that the government...

"There are cases where Christian women are imprisoned in their houses," says Pastor Salah. "Contact with people outside is forbidden and often their cell phone is taken from them." Please pray that God will comfort and encourage these women, and that their captors will come to know The Lord...

In North Africa, women who convert to Christianity from Islam often face expulsion from their homes, as leaving Islam brings shame to the family. Unmarried women are not expected to live away from the family home and lack support. Ask the Lord to provide for their practical needs and be their...

Millions of Christian women around the world suffer persecution that is hidden, violent and complex. Open Door's vision is that every woman who is persecuted for her faith and gender is seen, valued and empowered to reach her God-given potential. Today, please pray that this vision will become a...

Even against the backdrop of violence, a health crisis, and shortages of every kind, secret believers in Afghanistan remain confident in Jesus. For Saad and his wife Fatimah, the birth of their daughter is a sign of hope: "The birth of our baby girl is a sign that God has not given up on our...

Secret believers in hiding are desperately seeking a safe community where they can live out their faith and be fed spiritually. Please ask God to keep the faith of Afghan believers alive through His Word. Pray that He will lead them to churches and communities of faith where they can grow in...

Lord God, please bless Christians in China, who worship You while facing such risks. Please give them peace, joy and strength, and enable communities to worship You in spirit and truth, despite intense surveillance. We pray that Chinese churches will be led by the Holy Spirit and equipped to...

Sharinah and her child have become asylum seekers in a neighbouring country after escaping Afghanistan. Her child had pneumonia and she had no money. By God's providence, Sharinah ran into an Open Doors partner, Ali, while he was arranging food deliveries. Ali was led by God's Spirit to help...

Refugees are controlled by the army of the country they are entering. They are given temporary shelter in transit camps, then have to go through a registration process. Only then are they allowed to be part of the camps. "The displaced have nowhere to go and are being passed back and forth...

Aysha is an Open Doors partner ministering to Afghan refugees. "Refugees - especially women - are emotionally broken, very stressed and often crying as they have lost their homes, and because of the situation in their country. We need prayers for wisdom, strength and new opportunities to serve...

With Afghans in diaspora, the opportunities for the church all over the world to come together and welcome them has multiplied. Today, pray for all the church communities reaching out to Afghan believers, that they will receive the refugees with genuine warmth. Pray that the refugees will...