About the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Each year, for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), Christians throughout the free world band together in solidarity with believers who live out their faith in the face of harassment, attacks, false imprisonment and even death.
This year, we stand together in lifting up those who follow Jesus in North Korea, the country that has ranked #1 on the Open Doors World Watch List for 17 consecutive years indicating that it is the most difficult place in the world to be a Christian.
It is our hope that 100,000 Christians around the world will pledge to pray for the state of North Korea for IDOP this year.
Download FREE Church KitPray with Them: North Korea
In more than 60 countries around the globe, 215 million believers face high levels of persecution because of their decision to follow Jesus in places that are hostile to Christianity.
People like Hea Woo from North Korea risk so much to follow Jesus. Hea Woo endured torture and persecution inside one of North Korea’s infamous prison camps. Hea Woo's husband was killed for his faith behind prison walls but, miraculously, Hea Woo survived and escaped the country. Today, she uses her story to encourage Christians all around the world to pray for the underground church in North Korea.
Watch her story and consider sharing it during your worship gathering on Sunday, November 4.
Download the Free IDOP Kit!
To make it easy for you to join this critical day of prayer, we've created these free resources for you and your church:
- Videos
- Sermon Outline
- Poster
- Bulletin Insert
- Infographic
- Prayer Points
- And more
Join the Mission!
Persecution is the issue of our time and an issue on which followers of Jesus cannot afford to be neutral. Join us and stand in prayer with our brothers and sisters in the underground church in North Korea. Let's let them know they are not alone or forgotten.
As the Body of Christ, we are called to pray with each other and for each other. The apostle Paul reminds us in his first letter to the church of Corinth: “If one member suffers, all suffer together; If one member is honored, all rejoice together” (I Corinthians 12:26).
As you and your church stand with these believers in prayer, you strengthen the Body of Christ, empowering the light of North Korean Christians to shine brightly in the darkness.
Open Doors Founder Brother Andrew (God’s Smuggler) reminds us of the power of prayer:
“Our prayers can go where we cannot ... there are no borders, no prison walls, no doors that are closed to us when we pray.”
Praying Specifically With North Korean Believers
- Pray with North Korean Christians for their protection, strength and endurance. They face persecution from state authorities and their non-Christian families, friends and neighbors.
- Pray that North Korean President Kim Jong-un and his regime will come to know the one true God and open his country to the gospel for healing and restoration.
- Pray that God will move on Kim Jong-un to release the estimated 50,000 Christians who are unjustly held in detention centers and prison camps throughout the country.
- Pray that the underground church would grow in boldness and be ready for widespread evangelism efforts when the opportunity arises.
- Pray that Kim Jong-un will allow for the creation of new churches where North Koreans can freely worship.