Interceding at The International Religious Freedom Summit

by Howard Beam

Feb 19th 2025

Three members of the Men for Nations board served as intercessors for the International Religious Freedom Summit February 4th and 5th in Washington DC. Ambassador Sam Brownback & Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, Co-Chairs for IRF Summit 2025, stated that the Summit was their most impactful gathering yet. They said, “This Summit wasn’t just an event—it was a launching point for new collaborations, bold initiatives, and fresh ideas that will drive the international religious freedom movement forward." They went on to say that, “It also served as a powerful reminder that our collective efforts are gaining momentum, not only in Washington, D.C., but around the world."

This year’s Summit brought together over 1,700 attendees from 81 countries, making it our most globally diverse event yet. With the support of 73 partners, a platform was provided for 113 speakers to share powerful stories of resilience and advocacy. The movement’s impact continued to grow, with 119 stories covering the Summit and amplifying the urgent need for religious freedom worldwide.

Board members Mark Benz, George Finelli, and Howard Beam prayed with other intercessors in the prayer room and during sessions for God to have His way in the Summit. Prayers continue after the Summit for the persecuted church around the world.

One organization that stands strong for the persecuted believers globally is Open Doors US. On their website they write, “As God’s Church, we are called to pray and care for the displaced, the prisoner, the widow, the orphan, the sick and the poor—all those who risk and suffer for their decision to abide in Jesus and look to Him for their strength. As His people, we can reflect His light, praying that our persecuted brothers and sisters will look to Him to experience inner renewal, peace and sustaining hope that only He can bring.” “And we can pray boldly for change in exterior situations—for the loosening of state religious restrictions, for family members’ acceptance of believers’ decision to follow Christ, for protection from extremist group, for the release of the captives and much more. Throughout 2025, you can continue to pray with our persecuted family each day by downloading Open Doors’ monthly prayer calendar and praying for the requests of our persecuted family.” 

25 Bold Prayers for Persecuted Christians in 2025

1. It can be difficult to see where God is at work in North Korea. In this new year, pray that God will give Christians (inside and outside the country) eyes to see His light in the midst of the darkness. Lord, we ask You to continue to answer prayers and speak to North Korean believers in seen and unseen ways.  

2. Pray for the 400,000 secret believers in North Korea. Ask God to give your brothers and sisters a chance to gather, read the Bible and worship with other Christians in 2025—and to do so safely.

3. Thank God for our safe house ministry in a neighboring country where North Koreans like Joo Min* can meet Jesus and be strengthened to take the gospel back to their homeland.

4. Somalia can be an incredibly dangerous place to follow Jesus. Ask God to walk with Somali Christians (both inside and outside the country) and give them hope, even when things seem hopeless.

5. Pray that God would watch over Somali Christians who face violent attacks from Islamic extremist group Al Shabab. Ask Him to be their “place of safety” (2 Sam. 22:3).

6. Libya remains a country divided, with groups grappling for control. Pray this tension won’t boil into war in 2025 that would further endanger believers.

7. There are few churches in Libya, and converts from Islam are forced to follow Jesus in secret. Ask God to open doors in 2025 for believers to find life-giving community and grow in their walk with Christ.

8. The East African nation of Eritrea has one of the most notorious prison networks in the world. Pray for imprisoned believers in 2025 … that they would be released and not lose hope in these trials.

9. 2024 saw yet another mass arrest of Christians in Eritrea. Pray that in the coming year, these believers—and others like them—will be kept from all harm and ultimately, freed.

10. In Yemen, it seems there’s never an end to violence. Pray that in 2025 God would bring peace and justice to Yemen, and that the cries of His people would be heard.

11. Pray for Yemeni women’s ministry leader Zahra* who often talks to women who don’t yet know Christ. “This is the riskiest part of my ministry,” she says. “It’s why Yemeni women coming to Christ is really a miracle.”

12. Pray for the millions of Nigerians who have been displaced by violence. Pray that God would guide them and give them tangible reminders of His closeness and truth that their hope is in Him.

13. Pray that in 2025, God would work in the hearts of Nigerian government leaders, especially President Bola Tinubu—that they would be convicted and challenged to work to protect Christian citizens and communities.

14. Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws continue to be used to falsely accuse and target Christians. Ask God to change the hearts and minds of Pakistani decision-makers to overturn these laws.

15. Ask God to protect and preserve Christian girls and women in Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria and throughout the world who may be kidnapped and forced into marriage.

16. In Sudan, Christians have been caught in the crossfire of civil war. Pray for peace in 2025.

17. Ask God to be close to all of our brothers and sisters displaced from their homes by violence. Pray that He would hear the cries of the suffering and that 2025 would be a time of return and refreshment.

18. Every year, pressure seems to increase for Chinese Christians. Pray that believers would experience growth in their faith in 2025, even as persecution rises.

19. All believers in Afghanistan are secret Christians. Ask God to protect them. It’s impossible to live openly as a follower of Christ, so pray that the Lord will cover and preserve His people.

20. Praise God for the 2024 election results in India. Ask Him to help the new coalition government protect the rights of all Indians, including Christians, this year.

21. As an increasing number of Indian states tighten anti-conversion laws, pray that house church leaders will not be attacked or imprisoned. Ask God to be their sword and shield (Ephesians 6).

22. Almost every Protestant church in Algeria has been forcibly closed, or fears they will be soon. Pray with church leaders that God will allow these places of worship to remain open and that shuttered churches will be reopened in 2025.

23. Ask God to guide Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, that he would pursue an openness to all minorities, including Christians. Pray for him by name today. 

24. As persecution rises, the Iranian church continues to grow; pray that God would bless this Kingdom multiplication and empower it to continue.

25. Pray that throughout the world, suffering believers would put their hope and trust in God this year, knowing that He is doing a new thing.