Day 8

OCTOBER | 2025

Iran

PRAYER FOR THIS COUNTRY

Praise Points

Lord Jesus, we give thanks for the gift of technology, especially radio programs and secret access to the Bible, which allow Your Word to reach hearts even in isolation. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

Almighty God, we are grateful for the visions and dreams of Jesus in a white robe that are drawing many Iranians to faith in You. “In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people… your young men will see visions” (Acts 2:17).

Prayer Points

Lord Jesus, we pray against the crushing persecution that threatens Christians in Iran—give them boldness to endure and wisdom to remain faithful. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8).

Abba Father, we cry out against the economic sanctions and difficult living conditions that leave families in despair. Provide for Your people’s daily needs. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Almighty God, we ask for protection from government surveillance and false accusations that endanger believers and their families. “The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

A Call to Salvation

Heavenly Father, strengthen Iranian Christian parents and leaders to teach their children secretly and faithfully, so the next generation holds on to Christ. “All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace” (Isaiah 54:13).

Lord Jesus, raise up courageous believers who, though hidden, will remain steadfast in holiness and unity, so that Christianity is not diminished in Iran’s families. “Stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

Lord Jesus, empower Your people in Iran to spread the Gospel with wisdom, through personal witness, radio, and testimonies of dreams, so that future generations will not abandon the faith. “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

MORE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY

Historically known as Persia, Iran is home to one of the world’s most ancient civilizations, famed for its empires, poetry, architecture, and intellectual heritage. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has been shaped by a rigid Islamic identity, with religion and politics deeply intertwined. Christianity in Iran traces back to the first centuries of the Church, when missionaries from Mesopotamia carried the Gospel eastward, and later Nestorian bishops and Armenian patriarchs nurtured communities of believers. Catholic and Protestant missionaries also sought to spread the Gospel in later centuries, establishing schools and small fellowships.

Today, however, Christian teenagers face immense challenges: persecution from authorities, family rejection for conversion, and the struggles of living in a society weakened by international sanctions. The Iranian regime spends billions of dollars funding proxy wars in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, propping up militias and exporting ideology. At the same time, ordinary citizens suffer from food shortages, lack medicine, and have limited economic opportunities.

For many families, survival overshadows faith, and the Church is under threat from both state repression and despair among the youth. Yet God is moving: radio broadcasts carry the Word into homes, and countless Iranians testify of dreams where Jesus appears to them in a white robe, offering peace and hope.

CHIEF OF STATE
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
HEAD OF GOV.
President Masoud Pezeshkian
POPULATION
81,824,000
CHRISTIANS
0.8%
EVANGLICAL CHRISTIANS
0.4%
DOMINANT RELIGION
Shia Islam
PERSECUTION RANKING
9
REFUGEES
982,085
LIFE EXPECTANCY
71.15 yrs
LITERACY RATE
86.8%
POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE
18.7%

Day 8

OCTOBER | 2025

Burkina Faso

PRAYER FOR THIS COUNTRY

Praise Points

Lord, we thank You for the resilience of Burkina Faso’s people, who despite hardship continue to live with dignity and community strength. “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

Father, we are grateful that the Gospel was planted in Burkina Faso through the courage of missionaries who endured many trials to proclaim Your Word. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15).

Almighty God, we thank You for the perseverance of churches that continue to gather despite threats of violence and persecution, shining Your light in dark times. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Prayer Points

Lord, we pray against the violent spread of Islamic extremism that has destroyed lives, churches, and schools. Protect Your children and silence the voice of terror. “No weapon forged against you will prevail” (Isaiah 54:17).

God of justice, we cry out against instability caused by coups and political upheaval that steal the future of the youth. Bring righteous leadership to guide the nation. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people” (Psalm 33:12).

Father, we pray against the isolation of Burkina Faso from the African Union and the international community. Open doors for wise counsel and support, without bondage or corruption. “I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron” (Isaiah 45:2).

A Call to Salvation

Lord, help Christian parents and leaders to raise children firmly in Your Word so that they will not abandon the faith under pressure. “All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace” (Isaiah 54:13).

Father, strengthen Christians in Burkina Faso to stand in holiness, unity, and courage, refusing compromise with traditional practices or fear of persecution. “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15).

Lord Jesus, empower the churches of Burkina Faso to be bold in evangelism, compassionate in service, and united in mission, ensuring that future generations proclaim Christ. “You are the Light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden” (John 8:12).

MORE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY

Burkina Faso, formerly called Upper Volta under French colonial rule until independence in 1960, is a West African nation with a history of political instability. Its culture is rooted in diverse ethnic groups such as the Mossi, Fulani, and Bobo, with strong oral history, music, and communal life traditions.

Christianity was introduced by Catholic missionaries in the late 19th century, followed by Protestant mission societies that established schools, churches, and hospitals across the land. Leaders such as the White Fathers (Catholic missionaries) and Protestant pioneers from Basel and Paris Evangelical Missions were instrumental in planting the Gospel in Burkina Faso.

The President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the military leader who took power through a coup, is creating economic reforms. He has planned economic infrastructure. Further, he played an important role to bring Burkina Faso into the EV market by unveiling their first electric car. However, the coup had consequences in isolation from the African Union. The expulsion of French and US troops from Burkina Faso has emboldened Jihadist groups.

The Burkinabé Church is under threat from Islamic extremism, government instability, and the temptation to mix traditional beliefs with Christianity. Furthermore, Christian Believers face grave threats from radical Islamic groups.

CHIEF OF STATE
Ibrahim Traoré
HEAD OF GOV.
Apollinaire Joachim Kyélem de Tambèla
POPULATION
18,932,000
CHRISTIANS
20.2%
EVANGLICAL CHRISTIANS
9.1%
DOMINANT RELIGION
Sunni Islam
PERSECUTION RANKING
20
REFUGEES
32,097
LIFE EXPECTANCY
55.86 yrs
LITERACY RATE
28.7%
POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE
46.7%