The International Day of Prayer is Nov. 3. Open doors is asking churches to pray on that day for the more than 16 million believers who have been displaced from that region due to religious violence.
Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the regions known for the most severe persecution of Christians, and it includes countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Mozambique, Burkina Faso and Uganda.
Ryan Brown, president and CEO of Open Doors US, said in a statement, “On November 3, we are inviting Christians everywhere to join together in lifting up the persecuted Church. This day reminds us that we are all part of one body, and when one part suffers, we all suffer.”
In Nigeria alone, more than 16,000 Christians were killed in four years between 2019 and 2023, according to the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa.
Violent persecution in sub-Saharan Africa has reached unprecedented levels, severely impacting people’s lives, according to the ministry.
The instability and insecurity in the region are not only causing immediate suffering but also threatening the future of the Church, according to Open Door US. The situation has led to crises in displacement, education and healthcare, affecting the long-term well-being of entire communities.