Prayers for the Persecuted Church

Our Commission on Worship published some prayers For the Persecuted Church. I thank them for these and reproduce them here for your use.

For all the baptized, that by the power of the Holy Spirit they would remain steadfast in the faith, clinging to Christ alone for their salvation as long as they dwell in the wilderness of this vale of tears, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. 

For the nations of the world and their leaders, that all who receive the sword as Your servants may bear it according to Your command, and that war, hate, and bloodshed may be overcome by peace, justice, and mercy, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. 

For our Christian brothers and sisters around the world facing persecution and martyrdom [especially in __________], that they may, by grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, confess the saving name of Jesus Christ in the face of their persecutors, remembering that He will confess them before His Father in heaven, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. 

For our brothers and sisters who have already been slain for bearing the name of Jesus [including ___________], let us offer God our praise and thanks, rejoicing that they were faithful unto death and have received the crown of everlasting life; and asking our gracious God that their witness would be remembered in His Church and serve to encourage and strengthen our own faith, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. 

For compassionate, gracious, and humble hearts, that all Christians would keep their persecuted brothers around the world in their prayers, remembering also our Lord’s commands to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who persecute us, so that petitions would also rise for our enemies to be led to repentance and faith in the One who has overcome the world, even Jesus Christ, our Savior, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy. 

For a generous, giving spirit in the Church, that the baptized would support the ministry and mission of our Lord in their local congregations, church bodies, and throughout the world; and that Christian organizations established to assist those in harm’s way for bearing the name of Jesus would be emboldened by the Spirit to continue their merciful work and supported by the whole Church in prayer and with alms, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.