7 Days of Prayer for the Unreached: October 1, 2023

By Justin Long

Join us in beseeching (δέομαι) the Lord of the Harvest this week for…

1. Praise God for the willingness of believers in less-reached parts of the world to come to the aid of their brothers and sisters. The example of the Turkish Christians advising Moroccan Christians on earthquake aid is only the latest and most visible example. The example being set by believers in West Asia, East Africa, India, and other parts of the world is one that should be shared broadly.

2. Continue to pray for the future of Sudan, and for the war to end. Pray for the millions who have been traumatized, who have suffered loss, who have been displaced. Pray for justice, peace and reconciliation to be had. Pray for the refugees and those who work among them—many thought they would be able to peacefully return to Sudan by now, and have run out of cash. They are having to return to a dangerous and deadly environment. Pray for the continued expansion of God’s Kingdom; we know it can grow in any environment.

3. for those who have fled Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s takeover. Photos of long lines of cars fleeing over mountain roads tell a story of fear and desperation. Many had “only minutes to pack” before abandoning their homes. Perhaps as many as 100,000 or more may, in the end, leave Karabakh; many of these will return to Armenia; all will be starting over from scratch.

4. for the Yemeni fighters who are looking for peace. “Soldiers from both sides are laying down their arms, returning to family life, and hoping for redemption”—a poignant and spiritually meaningful headline in a secular article. “At the end of the day, Yemenis are brothers.” The nation has been scarred by the civil war; pray for it to come to an end, for Yemenis everywhere to discover the true Prince of Peace who brings redemption and reconciliation.

5. Pray for believers in Ethiopia, where ongoing violence threatens to disturb the fragile peace. There are continued outbreaks of fighting between the government and the Fano militias, and many of the issues in Tigray have yet to be resolved. Pray for the East African movements in the region, some of which are trying to be a blessing to these areas.

6. Pray for believers in India, especially those in Manipur. There are many who are trying to inflame hatred against non-Hindus. Violence and protests in Manipur have led to curfews and Internet blackouts. Pray for believers to have wisdom about how to live and reach out and make disciples during this turbulent time.

7. Pray for believers in China, who are in the midst of a time of economic turmoil and political oppression. A recent article in Al Jazeera notes how the government is violating religious freedoms across the nation, in an effort to assert control—and every religion, not just Christianity, is being targeted. “The communist god is a jealous god that does not want anyone to compete with its power,” writes one analyst.

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This is a weekly guide to beseeching (δέομαι/deomai, Matthew 9) the Lord of the Harvest for the unreached peoples and places of the world. Written by Justin Long, it’s based on the events listed in his Weekly Roundup, as well as on information received from disciple-making movements and other sources around the world. If you’re interested in his Weekly Roundup (out each Friday), you can see a sample and sign up for it here.