PRAY - Voice of the Martyrs

I COMMIT TO
PRAY
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Kids of Courage Resource for the International Day of Prayer

Lesson Plan
Parents and Teachers
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted
Church (IDOP) is a day set aside to focus our
prayers on those who are suffering for their faith
in Christ. The following lesson is designed to
encourage children to remember and pray for
Christians around the world who face persecution.
As you teach the lesson, encourage students to
pray for the persecuted not just one day a year, but
throughout the year and throughout their lives.
[Note: Prayer activities are included in this lesson
plan. Choose the ones most appropriate for your
students and your setting.]
Introduction
Ask: What is persecution
(Possible answers: Persecution can mean someone
is teased, picked on, or made fun of. Or it can mean
someone is arrested, put in jail, or injured. They
might even die.)
Explain: The Bible tells many stories of bold believers
who were persecuted for following God. Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a furnace
(Daniel 3); Saul had to escape his pursuers in a
basket (Acts 9); Jeremiah was thrown into a muddy
dungeon (Jeremiah 38); Micaiah was ridiculed and
struck in the face (1 Kings 22); Peter was jailed (Acts
12); and Stephen was stoned (Acts 7).
(Share and discuss with the students one of the
Bible stories above, or another story from the Bible
about a courageous believer.)
Ask: Some Christians in other countries face
persecution because they follow Jesus. Why do
you think Christians are persecuted
Explain: Believers have been persecuted since the
beginning of Christianity.
• Jesus told his disciples that they would be
persecuted because persecutors do not know
the one true God, “‘A servant is not greater than
his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also
persecute you…But all these things they will do
to you for My name’s sake, because they do not
know Him who sent Me” (John 15:20, 21).
• Jesus is “the light of the world” (John 8:12). The
Bible tells us that people who do evil things hate
the light (John 3:20).
• Paul said Christians go through many hardships
in this world, “We must through many tribulations
enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
• But Jesus also encouraged his disciples and
said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but
be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”
(John 16:33).
• Jesus said in Matthew 5:11 that those who are
persecuted for his sake will be “blessed.” Discuss
what it means to be blessed.
• Jesus also said not to worry when his followers
are delivered to their persecutors. The Holy Spirit
will guide believers in knowing what to say (Matt.
10:17-20).
Compared to the joy we will experience in heaven,
the Bible calls persecution “light affliction” that
lasts only a short time. Afflictions are problems and
hardships. (See 2 Corinthians 4:17.)
Ask: Christian workers from The Voice of the
Martyrs visit persecuted Christians to help and
encourage them. The workers ask the persecuted
Christians how they can help them. What do
you think is the number-one thing persecuted
Christians ask for (Possible guesses: Bibles,
money, doctors, lawyers, soldiers to free them, etc.)
Explain: Most Christians say the main thing they
need is prayer. Christians know that God is more
powerful than their persecutors. They know he
can help them and give them peace about their
situation. (See 2 Corinthians 1:3-5.)
The Bible tells us to remember persecuted
Christians as if we were suffering along with them!
Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember the prisoners as if
chained with them—those who are mistreated—
since you yourselves are in the body also.”
The words “since you yourselves are in the body
also” tell us that all Christians are part of one family,
or “body.” First Corinthians 12:26 says, “And if one
member suffers, all the members suffer with it….”
The verse reminds us that if one person in a group
suffers, others suffer along with them.
IDOP Sunday is a day when we remember the
needs of Christians who are persecuted for their
witness and pray for them. This special day of
prayer can help us form a habit of praying for them
every day.

Prayer Activities
A–Z Prayer Guide Suggestions
There are 52 Sundays in 2014 and 26 prayer
points on the prayer guide shown on the
following pages. Help the children make a plan
to pray for persecuted Christians throughout
the year. Encourage them to pray for each
prayer request for two weeks.
Explain: The Bible tells us an amazing story of
how one man got out of prison after Christians
prayed for him. In Bible times, a king named
Herod did not like Christians. Herod had Peter,
one of Jesus’ disciples, put in prison. Four
groups of soldiers guarded Peter. Christians in
the city prayed for Peter all the time.
Then an angel of God came to Peter in the
prison! Peter’s chains fell off! Peter followed
the angel past all the guards and out of the
prison gate. Then the angel disappeared.
Peter went to the house where Christians
were praying for him. He knocked, and a girl
named Rhoda came to the door. She was so
excited to hear Peter’s voice that she ran to the
other Christians without remembering to open
the door! She told everyone that Peter was
outside. They didn’t believe her. “It must be an
angel,” they said.
But they opened the door and were amazed to
see Peter! (See Acts 12.)
Not all Christians are freed from their problems
after people pray for them. Others receive
strength to get through their struggles. But
God hears all the prayers and he cares for all his
children who are suffering. (See 1 Peter 5:6-7.)
Nigeria Prayer Card Suggestions
Photocopy and cut out the prayer cards on
Page 6. To make sturdier cards, print them
on cardstock and/or laminate them. Read the
information on all the cards to the students.
Then divide the students into groups to pray
for the children on the cards. Discuss what
they might pray about. Make extras to send
home with the students if desired. [Note: The
families of the children on the cards have
been featured on the www.kidsofcourage.com
website.]
Background to share with students: The
Stephen Center is a home and school for
children in Nigeria. (These children have
lost one or both parents.) Muslims have
persecuted the children’s families because of
their Christian faith. At the Stephen Center, the
children grow in their faith and learn to forgive
their persecutors.
(The names of some of the people in this
lesson plan have been changed to protect their
identities.)

A to Z Prayer Guide
Akash, age 12, and
his 8-year-old sister,
Rupa, were happy when
their family trusted in
Jesus. But villagers no
longer allowed them to
get water from the village
wells. Pray for the family.
Boko Haram is a radical
Muslim group in Nigeria
that attacks Christians.
Pray that members will
leave the group and that
no more people will join.
Pray that they come to
Christ.
Colombian Christians
in areas controlled
by guerrillas are often
in danger. Missionary
pilots drop Bibles and
Christian materials into
those areas with small
parachutes. Pray that God
will guide the Christian materials to those
who need them.
Delviana, a teenager in
Indonesia, was hurt
when radical Muslims
bombed her church. “I
don’t hate those who
harm me,” she said. Thank
God for her strong faith.
Ehtasham’s uncle
rescued him from
bullies in Pakistan who
picked on him for being a
Christian. As a result, his
uncle was arrested for not
honoring Muslim beliefs.
Praise God that he was later released.
Febiola’s mother was
burned while escaping
Muslim attackers in
Indonesia. Febiola hopes
people don’t make rude
comments about her
mother’s burned face. Pray
that she will have peace.
Gulnaz was helping her
husband, Narsbek, and
other Christians as they
delivered gifts to children
at a village in Kyrgyzstan.
Twenty Muslims attacked
the Christians and burned
the gifts. Pray that the
attackers will trust in Jesus and find joy.
Haile Nayzgi, a church
leader in Eritrea, was
arrested for his Christian
activities in 2004. After
his arrest, his wife and
three children were
placed in different
refugee camps in Sudan.
Pray that the family will
be safe and reunited.
I
sha and Isham’s mother,
Asia Bibi, is in jail in
Pakistan because she was
accused of insulting Islam,
the religion of Muslims.
Pray for their family and
other Christian victims of
the laws in Pakistan.

Joseph’s father died in
an attack by Muslims in
Nigeria. Christians at the
Stephen Center cared for
him and his three siblings.
Joseph has graduated
from the school and is
strong in his faith. Thank
God for caring for children
in need.
Kim Jong Un is the
leader of North Korea.
His family has ruled the
country for more than 50
years. Christians risk great
danger if they are caught
reading the Bible or
worshiping together. Pray
for Christians in prison in
North Korea.
Lily is the daughter of
a Chinese pastor. She
was confused when her
father was put in prison.
Now he is free, and she
understands that he was
punished for his faith. Pray
for her and the families of
Christian prisoners.
Mary and Martha are
twins who live in
Nigeria. Their father
died from burns he
received during an attack
by Muslims. The girls live
at the Stephen Center.
Pray for Christian families
in Nigeria.
Nimal, age 6, and his
sister, Nirmala, 12, are
Christians whose homes
were attacked in Sri Lanka.
Their father is a pastor.
The children attended
a camp for children
whose families have been
persecuted. Pray for Sri Lankan children.
Orphans in Laos
began attending
church and decided to
follow Christ. The director
of the orphanage warned
them to stop going to
church. But they still go to
church quietly. Pray that
the orphans will stay strong in their faith.
Phum, a teenager in
Laos, loves the Lord.
She is the only Christian
in her family. Her brother
burned her Bible, and
her family said she could
no longer go to school
because of her faith in
Christ. Phum asked that people pray for
her and her family.
Quran is the Muslim
holy book. Christians
in Pakistan are sometimes
falsely accused of
damaging the Quran and
sent to jail. Pray for fair laws
and leaders in Pakistan.
R
achen, an 8-year-old
girl in Vietnam, bit the
policeman who arrested
her father for his Christian
activities! Later she learned
to forgive persecutors.
Today she teaches children
about Jesus. Pray for
children in Vietnam whose
parents are in prison.

arah is an Egyptian girl
S who was kidnapped
by radical Muslims
in September 2011.
Kidnapped girls in Egypt
are often forced to marry
Muslim men. Pray for
Christian girls in Egypt.
urkish Christians
T sometimes face
violent persecution, but
they also face “smart”
persecution, which leaves
no physical injuries.
An example of smart
persecution is the unfair
treatment of Christians at school or at
work. Bosses and teachers may also try
to pressure people who have become
Muslims to return to Islam. Pray for victims
of smart persecution.
zbekistan’s police
U raid Christian worship
meetings, send spies
to churches, take away
church property, and
arrest believers. Police in
part of the country try
to prevent children from
going to worship services.
Pray that police will repent and trust Jesus.
Vietnamese Christian
children from small
tribes sometimes have to
live without their fathers,
who are in prison. Their
fathers are arrested for
being Christian youth
leaders, evangelists,
or members of church
committees. Pray that their families will
be reunited.
est Bank and Gaza
W Christians live near
the place where Jesus
was born. But today, most
of the people who live
around them are Muslims.
A few years ago, radical
Muslims kidnapped Rami, a Christian man,
and shot him. Rami’s wife, Pauline, is now
raising three children alone. Please pray
for them.
Xinjiang is an area in
northwest China. Alim
Yimiti from Xinjiang was
imprisoned for sharing
the truth about Jesus with
people from the Uygur
[WEE-guhr] ethnic group.
Most Uygurs are Muslims. Pray for Alim, his
wife, and his two sons.
Youcef Nadarkhani has
been in and out of
prison in Iran. Youcef, his
wife, and their two sons
are Christians. He was
arrested after he objected
to the government’s policy
of teaching children from the Quran. Ask
God to protect Youcef and his family.
Zanzibar is an island
off the coast of
Africa. The countries of
Tanganyika and Zanzibar
joined to form the country
of Tanzania in 1964.
More than 95 percent of
the people of Zanzibar
are Muslims. Recently,
radical Muslims have attacked Christians
and churches in the area. Pray that the
Christians will stand firm and that the
Muslim attackers will repent.
icommittopray.com

Prayer Cards
Blessing
Goodness
Blessing’s family was persecuted by Muslim
attackers during a riot, and her father
died. She came to the Stephen Center in
Nigeria when she was 7 years old. Kind
Christians at the school helped her learn to
like her new home. When she was 13, she
began helping Goodness, a new 5-year-old
student who became her “school daughter.”
Blessing has graduated from the school
at the Stephen Center, and she goes to
college now.
Goodness is 10 years old. She and her
sister live at the Stephen Center. Her
favorite Bible verse, from Psalm 46, is
“God is our refuge and strength, a very
present help in trouble.”
She has a new “school mother” named Gloria.
Goodness likes Bible stories, reading, and
soccer. Her favorite subjects are math and
Christian studies. She would like to be a
doctor someday.
Faith, Miracle, and Samuel
Mary and Martha
Faith, Miracle, and Samuel are Blessing’s
younger sisters and brother. Miracle and
Samuel are twins. After the family was
persecuted by Muslim attackers, their mother
gave birth to Miracle early, but Samuel was
not born for several more weeks! They are
now 12 years old, and Faith is 14.
“God takes care of us when we’re in
trouble,” said Miracle. Her favorite Bible
passage is Psalm 23.
Mary and Martha are 9-year-old twins in
Nigeria. When they were babies, radical
Muslims burned down their house. They
later moved to the Stephen Center.
Nigeria has many twins, and there are
several other pairs of twins at the school.
“I have learned that God has a special plan
for my life,” said Mary. “I have learned that
I have to be obedient for God’s plan to be
fulfilled,” said Martha.

Additional Activities
Language How to say “Jesus loves me”
Hausa (Nigeria) YAY-soo YEHN-ah KOW-nah-tah
Chinese (China) Yeh-soo ai wo
Spanish (Colombia) KREES-toh may AH-mah
Tigrinya (Eritrea) Yehf kee rehn nee yoo
Sing a Song
Practice saying “Jesus loves me” in one or
more of the languages shown below. Sing the
song “Jesus Loves Me,” substituting the words
from another language whenever the phrase
occurs in the song. (Note: Nigeria’s official
language is English. But more than 250 ethnic
groups have their own main language. Hausa is
one of the languages.)
Head Carry Relay
In Nigeria and many other countries, people
sometimes carry things on their heads.
Instructions: Divide into two teams with an
equal number of players. Have the first player
on each team balance a book on his or her
head. After a signal to start, the players walk
as far as they can without touching the book
with their hands. At the point where the book
falls off or the player touches it with his or her
hand, the second player from that team takes
over and continues from that point. After both
teams have used all their players, the team that
went the farthest wins.
Eat a Snack
(Three Simple Snacks from Nigeria)
Baked Plantains
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel plantains
and bake in a shallow pan until golden brown.
Slice and serve while warm. Each plantain
makes one or two servings.
Mango Dessert
Peel and slice one mango and two bananas;
then gently mix together in a small bowl.
Sprinkle with 1 tbsp. lemon juice and 4 tbsp.
orange juice. Serve over ice cream.
Nigerian Snack Mix
Thaw 2 cups frozen corn to room temperature.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread the corn
in a single layer on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake about 15 to 20 minutes until lightly brown
and starting to dry out. Remove from oven and
let cool. Place in a bowl and mix with 2 cups
peanuts. Sprinkle salt on top. Keep refrigerated
in an airtight container before serving.
®
P.O. Box 443
Bartlesville, OK 74005-0443
tel: 918-337-8015
orders and contributions: 800-747-0085
ministry information: 877-337-0302
e-mail: thevoice@vom-usa.org
website: www.persecution.com
children’s website: www.kidsofcourage.com