The Global Methodist Church asked every congregation in its connection to set aside time on Sunday, November 1, to pray for Christians who suffer for their faith, the denomination said in an October 29 announcement. The day marked the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, and it fell on the church's observance of All Saints' Day, when saints and martyrs are remembered. Churches that missed the date can observe it on November 8, and believers are encouraged to keep praying through the month of November.
The denomination cited the Open Doors 2026 World Watch List, which estimates 388 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith. "The Church is so much bigger than our own congregation or even our own country," said the Rev. Dr. Ashley Goad, International Ministries Chair for the Trinity Annual Conference and Pastor of Missions at the Woodlands Methodist Church. "We belong to one Body of Christ. When one part of the Body suffers, we all suffer." She added: "We hear the word ‘persecution,’ and it feels like something from the early church. But it is happening right now. To people we know. To people we pray with. To people who are part of our Methodist family."
That family includes many Christians within the Global Methodist Church itself, particularly in African and Asian countries, who experience intimidation, injustice, oppression and violence because of their faith, the announcement says. The denomination says it supports persecuted churches through prayer, pastoral encouragement and counsel, solidarity with affected congregations, and humanitarian and financial assistance. Annual conferences and regional disaster response teams provide relief to persecuted and crisis-affected communities. Through her work with the Trinity Annual Conference, Goad has connected with partner conferences around the world that meet monthly to pray together.
The church kept the ask simple. "It doesn't have to be complicated," Goad said. "A pastoral prayer, a Scripture reading, a moment of silence, or sharing a story from one of our global conferences." Congregations can also learn about the persecuted church through Sunday school and small group studies, children and youth activities, sermons and prayer guides, and the announcement says the global church can learn from the faith and leadership of persecuted Christians.
The denomination's prayer points include asking that people come to faith in Jesus Christ through the faithful witness of believers even amid persecution, that God will touch the hearts of those who persecute Christians and lead them to repentance and faith, and that the Global Methodist Church will stay faithful to its calling to make disciples of Jesus Christ across the globe. If your church did not mark the day, you can still do it this week, at home or in a small group. Name one country, pray for one church, and keep praying through November.
