7 Days of Prayer: Sunday, 25 May 2025

By Justin Long

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

25th. Pray for South Sudan as conflict escalates. Tensions between government forces and White Army militias are increasing. The government has used airstrikes; ethnic mobilization is rising; aid is declining. If widespread fighting and civil war would erupt, it would likely not be easily stopped and could resemble the 5 year war from 2013 to 2018. It would significantly worsen the ethnic divisions in Sudan, esp. between the Dinka and the Nuer. The church in South Sudan is widespread but divided and under-resourced–but it has a strong presence in all ethnic communities and is working to reconcile warring ethnic groups. Pray for dedicated church workers who can be salt and light in the nation. Pray for restraint by all parties, protection of civilians, and for the healing and building of the nation.
Isaiah 58:12 – “You shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.”

26th. Pray for the hearts of “kings” (rulers, world leaders) and merchants to be turned to seek peace in Sudan. There is, at present, no end in sight for the war in Sudan–but the fighting has been fueled in large part by governments and arms traffickers dealing with both sides to obtain Sudan’s resources (gold, oil, livestock, gum arabic) in trade for money and weapons. Pray for leaders who will boldly and courageously seek to use their power and influence on this. Until the sides lose their sponsors there seems little hope of peace.
Proverbs 31:8-9: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

27th. Pray for the church in Burkina Faso amid increasing jihadist violence. Attacks by Islamist insurgents are rising, especially in the east. In places like Diapaga, whole communities live in fear, and Christians are among the vulnerable. The conflict has displaced over 2 million people and disrupted both rural and urban life. Yet the church continues to grow, and Burkinabe believers are sending missionaries to unreached peoples—at home and beyond. Pray for the safety and endurance of these believers. Ask God to shield churches, to strengthen discipleship in unstable areas, and to frustrate the designs of those who sow terror. Pray for peace, and for courage to proclaim the Gospel in the shadow of fear.
Psalm 46:1 — “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

28th. Pray for the church in Hong Kong to endure and adapt. In the last five years, more than 46,000 churchgoers have left Hong Kong, part of a broader emigration wave spurred by political shifts and growing restrictions (CT). Pastors now serve smaller, sometimes scattered flocks—and face questions about how to shepherd in a post-democratic, high-surveillance city. Some churches have reoriented toward local service; others look outward, connecting with diaspora communities abroad. Pray for wisdom and courage for Hong Kong’s pastors. Pray for unity between those who stayed and those who left. And pray that, even under pressure, the church will continue to bear quiet, faithful witness to the Kingdom of God.
Hebrews 10:23–25 — “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering… and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works… encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

29th. Pray for the Gospel to take root in Japan’s smaller cities. To offset aging and population decline, Japan is inviting digital nomads and foreign workers—including many from Myanmar—to work, and especially to settle in its smaller towns. These places, once insular and homogenous, are becoming sites of quiet demographic transformation. Some newcomers seek peace and economic opportunity; others flee conflict and instability. Few of the newcomers or the Japanese know Christ. Pray that Japanese believers and churches will see this moment as mission. Pray also for Christians among the new arrivals to live out the Gospel with courage, and for seekers to encounter the truth. May the towns of Japan—coastal, quiet, and long resistant—become fields ready for harvest.
Isaiah 55:12 — “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you…”

30th. Pray for Chad amid rising political repression. Opposition leader Succes Masra has been arrested, raising concerns about the government’s treatment of dissent. Fear is increasing, especially among youth and activists. Pray for fair governance, for protection of civil liberties, and for the church to encourage peace, accountability, and hope.
Amos 5:24 – “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

31st. Pray for wise and godly reform in Bangladesh. Long defined by hardship and resilience, the nation now stands at a turning point. Following recent political upheaval, reformers are working to rebuild a more just and inclusive system. Yet challenges remain: polarized politics, bureaucratic inertia, and social inequality all threaten progress. The Church, while still small, includes faithful communities from Hindu, Muslim, and tribal backgrounds—many of them poor, many formed through quiet movements of family and witness. Pray for these believers to walk in unity and maturity. Ask God to give the nation leaders who seek the common good. And pray that, through both mercy and proclamation, the Gospel would take root more deeply across every stratum of society.

Isaiah 58:12 – “Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”

Where do these prayer requests come from? 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. It is based on the events listed in my Weekly Roundup, as well as on information received from disciple-making movements and other sources around the world. If you’re interested in my Weekly Roundup (out each Friday), you can see a sample and sign up for it here.

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