Pray for wisdom under restriction
The law restricts sharing other faiths with Muslims and limits religious literature and public religious expression, and Christian communities have reported difficulties with church facilities and expansion. Pray not simply for restrictions to disappear, but for God-given wisdom within the circumstances that exist today.
Father, give Christian Believers in Brunei courage without recklessness and gentleness without compromise. Teach them when to speak and when to listen.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5
Pray for Christian unity
Brunei’s Christian community is relatively small, and its traditions have their own histories and congregations. Pray that Christian Believers would not be divided by denomination, nationality, or culture.
Lord, let older Christian Believers encourage younger ones, let expatriate Christians serve alongside Bruneian Christians with humility, and let churches strengthen one another rather than compete.
fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Philippians 2:2
Pray for Christian homes and schools
Christian communities maintain schools and institutions that serve people of many backgrounds. Pray that students would encounter kindness, excellence, truth, and the character of Jesus Christ there.
Father, make Christian homes and schools in Brunei places where Your goodness can be seen.
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:17
Pray for faithful witness at work
Workplaces bring together Bruneians and people from many nations. A Christian may not be able to preach publicly, but can be honest, serve, listen, refuse corruption, care for a struggling colleague, and answer a sincere question.
Lord Jesus, let Your character be visible in the workplaces of Brunei, and let every sincere question find a faithful answer.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Official language: Malay
Other widely used languages: English, Chinese, and several indigenous languages
Dominant religion: Islam, about 82% of the population (most recent census), with Christian and Buddhist minorities and followers of indigenous traditions
Brunei Darussalam is small in size but remarkable in landscape. On the northwest coast of Borneo, dense rainforest meets rivers, mangroves, and more than 160 kilometers of South China Sea coastline. The Belait, Tutong, Brunei-Muara, and Temburong districts each carry their own character, and Temburong reaches deep into one of Borneo’s great remaining rainforests.
Brunei’s natural beauty can make it appear peaceful and uncomplicated from the outside. But beneath the green canopy are people carrying questions of identity, faith, family, tradition, and the future.
Brunei is not one culture but a meeting place of many.
Malay Bruneians
The majority, whose national identity is closely bound to Islam and to the national philosophy of Malay Islamic Monarchy.
Chinese Bruneians
A significant community with its own heritage, including many of Brunei’s Buddhists and Christians.
Indigenous peoples
The Dusun, Bisaya, Murut, Iban, and others, whose histories, languages, and traditions are part of Brunei’s story.
Foreign workers
Workers and families from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and other parts of Asia.
Brunei’s economy has long rested on oil and natural gas, while the country continues to develop other sectors.
Islam is deeply woven into Brunei’s national identity, shaping public life, education, and much of society. For many Bruneians, faith is not simply a private belief; it is bound up with family, culture, citizenship, and belonging. For someone raised in a Muslim family, considering Jesus Christ may carry consequences far beyond an intellectual decision.
Religious law restricts the promotion of religions other than Islam to Muslims and to people of no faith. The distribution of non-Islamic religious materials is restricted, and Christian communities have faced limits on importing Bibles and other literature.
Many in Brunei have heard the name of Jesus, but hearing a name is not the same as hearing the Gospel. Many Muslims have encountered Jesus only through a different religious framework, and others know Christianity mainly through expatriate communities or historic institutions.
Distance plays its part as well. Rivers, forests, and remote communities in places such as Temburong create distance that is social and spiritual as well as physical.
That is why prayer matters: for dreams, conversations, friendships, Scripture, digital media, workplaces, schools, and unexpected encounters that lead people to ask who Jesus really is. Pray especially for those who have never had a trusted Christian friend with whom they could honestly discuss their questions.
Pray for spiritual hunger
Pray that God would awaken a deep hunger for truth among people who have grown up surrounded by religious tradition but may never have personally encountered the Gospel.
Lord, stir hearts across Brunei to call on You, and answer them with the truth of Jesus Christ.
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3
Pray for Bruneian families
Faith and family are closely connected in Brunei. Pray for households where questions about Jesus Christ are difficult to discuss, and for gentleness and protection when someone begins searching for truth.
Father, guard family relationships, and draw whole households to know Jesus Christ.
So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’
Acts 16:31
Pray for indigenous communities
Pray for the Dusun, Bisaya, Murut, Iban, and other indigenous peoples, including those in remote communities away from the towns, and for Christians who travel long distances to serve them.
Lord, raise up people who can share the Gospel naturally within indigenous languages and cultures, and let the beauty of creation turn hearts toward its Maker.
For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
Revelation 5:9
Pray for the next generation
Brunei’s young people live between tradition and a fast-changing digital world. Imagine a university student wondering what life is really about, or a teenager quietly carrying questions they have never felt safe enough to ask.
Father, meet Brunei’s young people through Scripture, honest conversations, and the lives of Christians who make the Gospel believable.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
Psalm 32:8
Pray for access to Scripture
Pray that God’s Word would reach people through lawful, wise, and unexpected channels, including digital formats and personal relationships.
Lord, let Your Word find its way into searching hearts in Brunei.
but the Word of God is not chained.
2 Timothy 2:9
Father in Heaven,
You know every village, every family, every workplace, and every heart in Brunei Darussalam. You know those who openly follow Jesus Christ and those who have never heard the Gospel clearly. You know those who are searching quietly, and the questions people are afraid to ask.
Give Your Church wisdom and Your children courage. Give Christian families grace, give young people a hunger for truth, and give workers opportunities to serve. Give indigenous communities people who can share the Gospel with understanding, and where the Gospel is difficult to speak about publicly, open conversations that only You could arrange.
Let Scripture find its way into searching hearts. Let Jesus Christ be encountered not merely as a name but as the living Savior. May Brunei’s forests, rivers, and shores one day resound with worship from people who have discovered the hope of the Gospel.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
