The “Adopt-A-Nation” list of countries has increased in number since that first edition simply because modern-day persecution of Christians has increased since 1997. Currently, in more than fifty nations around the world believers in Jesus Christ face risk of persecution for practicing their faith. An estimated two hundred million face regular threats of attack or arrest. Another six hundred million encounter these possibilities sporadically. Attending a worship service, carrying a Bible, praying in public, or sharing the Gospel can result in discrimination in the workplace and educational institutions, harassment, personal property loss, and even imprisonment and death.

Three categories have been established to help us discern the severity of situations for believers around the world. A “restricted nation” has an anti-Christian government in place that classifies Christian activity as illegal and punishable by that nation’s penal system. Examples are communist nations such as China, North Korea, and Cuba and Islamic nations such as Pakistan, Algeria, and Saudi Arabia. A “hostile nation” is commonly understood to have areas or regions where religious or cultural animosities exist and could erupt at any time against the normally tiny Christian community. Oftentimes in these situations local police authorities look the other way and ignore the plight of harassed Christian citizens. Our attention is drawn to a nation of “particular concern” because the early indicators of religious discrimination have been reported there.

Vertical movement up and down through these three categories is recognized as political, spiritual, and cultural change occurs in regions of the world. Tight restrictions sometimes give way to more freedom. The reverse is true as well. The most dramatic example of this has been the breakup of the former Soviet Union (U.S.S.R) in 1990.

An editorial election was made on my part several years ago that once a nation is placed on the list to keep it on the list. The reasoning behind this decision was my understanding of the ebb and flow of religious freedom and its precarious dependence upon the seismic struggle in the spiritual realm between the Lord’s dominion and Satan’s. Intercessory prayer is vital before, during, and after these contrasting tides of freedom and oppression wash upon the shore.

Consistent prayer is the number one request from the suffering Body of Christ throughout the world. Our fellow believers know that through faithful prayer support they can confront terrible challenges triumphantly. The “Adopt-a-Nation Prayer Project” enlists your commitment to pray on a regular basis for the Christians in a particular country.

What to pray for:

• that faith will triumph over fear in the hearts and minds of the believers
• that forgiveness will prevail over retaliation in the lives of oppressed believers
• that the Gospel of Jesus Christ continues to advance the Kingdom of God

Scriptures with prayer application for the persecuted church:

• Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, …” (NIV)
• Luke 12:11-12 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (NIV)
• Romans 8:35-37 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ NO, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (NIV)
• II Corinthians 1:8-11 “We do not want you to be uninformed , brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, AS YOU HELP US BY YOUR PRAYERS.” (NIV)
• Philippians 1:12-14 “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to ADVANCE THE GOSPEL. As a result it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” (NIV)
• Philippians 3:8-11 “…, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (NIV)
• II Timothy 2:8-12 “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. BUT GOD’S WORD IS NOT CHAINED! Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him.” (NIV)
• Hebrews 10:32-34 “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you STOOD SIDE BY SIDE with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had BETTER & LASTING possessions.” (NIV)
• I Peter 1:6-8a “In this (living hope) you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him.” (NIV)
• I Peter 4:12-16 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be OVERJOYED when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are BLESSED, for the Spirit of glory and God rests on you.” (NIV) 
• James 5:7 &10-11 “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of JOB’S PERSEVERANCE and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of COMPASSION and MERCY.” (NIV)