On July 26, the world’s eyes will turn to Paris as the 2024 Summer Olympics—officially the “Games of the XXXIII Olympiad”—take place in the French capital. The best athletes in the world will gather show their competitive spirit and demonstrate excellence in their chosen sport.
At its best, international sporting events like the Olympics can bring together people from across cultures and nations. Countries that are officially enemies—or, in some cases, even at war with one another—compete in a peaceful environment, showing the common humanity between every person.
As Christians, we can learn a lot from this mindset! After all, we believe each person is made in the image of God. When the Olympics shows us that all people are more than whatever conflict their nation might be involved in, it’s a good reminder to acknowledge God’s love for every human.
The Olympics is also a powerful opportunity to pray. All 50 countries on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List—the annual ranking of the top 50 places where it’s most difficult to follow Jesus—are participating in this year’s Games, along with a team of refugees.
This year, as you watch, why not pray?
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Open Doors challenges you to lift up persecuted Christians living in the countries represented by athletes in this year’s Summer Olympics. When you see a competitor from North Korea compete in a diving event, pray for that person and the Christians living in North Korea, risking their lives to follow Jesus. When you’re watching a boxer from Nigeria, pray for that fighter and for the Christians who are violently attacked in Nigeria. Each time you see a competitor from one of the countries where faith costs the most, take a moment and ask God to be near to His people.
Here are 51 ways to pray as you watch this year’s Summer Olympics:
- Ask God to touch the hearts of the athletes competing, that they would have an opportunity to hear about the truth of Jesus as they visit Paris for the Games.
- Please pray that secret believers in Afghanistan will be protected from harm—and they will sense the prayers of their brothers and sisters around the world.
- Ask God to touch the hearts of the Taliban leaders—who brutally target Afghan minorities—and any other extremist who would oppress Christians. Pray that God would reveal the truth of Jesus to every person who opposes Him.
- As Algerian athletes compete, ask God to bless them and that this would be an opportunity for leaders in Algeria to see the goodness of God.
- Pray for Algerian Christians who are accused or suspected of breaking the regulation making it illegal to “shake the faith of a Muslim.” Pray these believers would not be unfairly targeted and the unjust laws would be overturned.
- Ask that every Christian in Algeria would be able to worship freely with other Christians. Pray that God would protect them from abuse and oppression from family and community.
- Pray for healing for Bangladeshi Christians who have been attacked or physically abused for their faith. Ask God to bind up their wounds, both physical and emotional.
- Ask God to give perseverance to Christians who endure pressure from their communities. Pray they would have the supernatural courage to stand for Jesus, no matter what.
- Pray that somehow the Olympics will be a time when all Bangladeshi people can understand how much God loves them.
- Pray for Christians who found Jesus out of Buddhism. Ask God to protect them from pressure, discrimination and persecution.
- Pray that Christian communities would be able to meet without interference. Thank God for the ability of Bhutanese believers to gather, and ask Him to help His people find fellowship in spite of the difficulties.
- Pray the Lord will touch the hearts of all the Bhutanese athletes and spectators during this Olympics and that He would reveal the truth of His hope.
- Pray for Christians who struggle with laws that are biased against anything outside of Islam. Ask God to give His people grace and patience.
- Ask God to turn the hearts of the leaders in Brunei, even as they watch their subjects compete in the Olympics.
- Pray that younger Christians in Brunei will have the strength to continue to follow Jesus despite peer pressure and criticism from their friends.
- As the violence continues in Burkina Faso, pray for all those affected by abductions, sexual violence and death. Ask God to heal their hearts and souls, and to comfort those who mourn.
- Pray for Christians displaced by Islamic militant violence. Pray that God would bind up their wounds and help them realize the global Church is praying for them.
- The situation in Burkina Faso is so violent for so many believers. Pray they would be able to have a respite from the violence and celebrate their Olympic team.
- Pray for the violence—especially in the Far North region—to end. Ask God to bring about peace only He can create.
- Ask God to help the victims of violence find comfort and restoration. Pray they would know God is a healing Father who walks alongside them.
- When you see an athlete from Cameroon, pray for that person specifically, as well as the people they represent. Ask God to bring His shalom and grace.
- The conflict in Central African Republic (CAR) has lasted more than a decade—peace seems so far off. Pray that God would miraculously bring about a peaceful resolution to the constant fighting.
- Ask God to preserve His people who risk violence to follow Him, particularly in areas where they are targets of extremists. Pray these believers would be protected.
- As the Olympic Games happen, ask God to use the event to bring people together in CAR, even as they are on opposite sides of conflicts and war.
- As China continues to tighten its grip on religious freedom this year, pray for wisdom for Christians to know how they should continue to honor and worship God under ever-changing circumstances.
- Pray for young people who are technically not allowed to attend church. Pray that God would strengthen their faith and give them—and their parents—courage.
- Chinese athletes will have a chance to meet many other people, including Christians. Ask God to bless these relationships and use them to change hearts and minds in the parts of China where faith in Jesus is regarded with suspicion.
- Colombia’s peace treaty with illegal armed groups is not yet a reality—and violence is still rampant. Pastors and church leaders often find themselves in the crosshairs of such groups. Ask God to protect church leaders and help them to serve Him, despite the danger.
- Pray for believers who are part of indigenous groups that view Christianity as a betrayal of culture and family. Pray these Christians can find community and hope in the Lord.
- Ask the Lord to help bring awareness of the violence facing Christians during the Olympic games.
- Comoros is sending a tiny team of athletes to this summer’s Olympics. Pray that even these few people will hear the truth of the gospel during the event.
- Pray for Christians who have come to a saving knowledge of Christ out of Islam. Ask God to protect them.
- Ask God to give secret Christians the knowledge that they belong to a global family of believers. Ask Him to help them meet even one other Christian this year.
- As Cuba’s social and economic unrest grows, pray that God would use the Olympics to bring openness to the people of God who want to worship Him.
- The church in Cuba is growing, despite the severe restrictions. Ask God to protect and strengthen church leaders in Cuba from harassment or pressure from the government.
- Pray that Cuba’s leaders would allow churches to meet openly and legally. For Christians who must meet in house churches, ask God to help them to be wise, and for their fellowship to glorify Him.
- Christians in eastern DRC are targeted by Islamic militant groups like Allied Democratic Forces, which has ties to the Islamic State group. Pray that God would protect His people from violent attack.
- During these Olympic games, ask God to work even now to bring about peace in the DRC.
- There are millions of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the DRC—and there are many Christians among them. Ask God to provide for His people who have lost everything, and that He would create a way for them to find other believers.
- Pray that Egyptian Christians who follow Jesus out of Islam would be safe.
- Ask God to help Christians who have converted from Islam find fellowship.
- Football (or soccer) is the one of the most important sports in Egypt, and the men’s football team will represent their country at the Paris games. And yet, even though 9% of the population of Egypt is Christian, no believers play soccer at the highest level in Egypt. Pray that those Egyptians who feel like second-class citizens in Egypt will be comforted, even during the Olympics.
- Pray that God would be at work in the lives of the Eritreans who are competing in and watching the Olympics.
- The Eritrean government only recognizes three Christian denominations. Ask that God would intervene to bring about freedom for all of His people.
- Christians are at risk of arrest and forced military service. Pray for grace for prisoners and those forced into the military against their will.
- Ethiopia is well-known for its excellence in long-distance running. This week, take a walk and pray for Christians in Ethiopia who risk everything to follow Jesus.
- Pray especially for evangelical converts from Islam and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. They can be pressured by family and community.
- Ask God to protect converts who may face threats and pressure for following Jesus.
- Pray that Hindu nationalists would accept Christians as fellow Indians and allow Indians of all faiths to flourish.
- As India builds after its June election, pray that God will use the Olympic Games to unify all Indians.
- Ask God to protect and grow His Church in every part of India.
- Though Christians worship freely in some parts of Indonesia, in other areas believers can be forced into the shadows. Ask God to protect these secret communities of Christians.
- As Indonesia competes in the Olympics, pray that God will bring about freedom and openness for all Christians living there.
- Pray for Christians rejected by families and communities because they left Islam to follow Jesus.
- Ask God to change the hearts of the Iranian government, that they would allow freedom for all religions.
- Praise God that the church in Iran is growing! Ask God to continue to pour out His Spirit on Iranian believers.
- There were calls to ban Iran from the Olympics for their human rights abuses. Pray that God would use the international attention brought about by the Olympics to shine a light on His people’s situation in Iran.
- Pray for Christians and churches who are victims of discrimination in Iraq. Ask God to help them persevere through unfair treatment and to change the hearts of their persecutors.
- As Iraqi athletes compete in Paris, pray that God would bless them and would use their performance to bring about openness and unity in Iraq—unity that will extend to the Christian community.
- Praise God that rebuilding continues in historically Christian communities in northern Iraq. Ask Him to help churches and Christians continue to deepen their roots in Iraq.
- Ask God to make His presence known to Jordanian Christians who have followed Jesus out of Islam. Pray that these believers will know that they are not alone.
- Praise God that many believers in Jordan can worship Him freely. Pray that, even during these Olympics, more hearts and minds would see the truth of Jesus and turn to Him.
- Pray that God would open doors for Christians to share their faith safely and wisely.
Pray for church leaders in Kazakhstan who are monitored by the government.
- Pray for church leaders who are monitored by the government. Pray for safety.
- Pray that more believers in Kazakhstan would gain access to Bibles and Christian literature to help them grow in their faith.
- As Kazakh athletes compete in these Summer Olympics, ask God to help open doors for more people to hear about His saving love and grace.
- Laos only has four athletes competing in the Olympics. But they have competed since the 1980 games. Ask that God would use the Summer Games to remind Laos that all people are valuable—including Christians.
- Pray for Christians and especially church leaders who are heavily monitored by the Communist government. Ask God to give them wisdom and courage.
- Pray for believers who are expelled from their rural communities for their faith in Jesus. Pray that God will comfort them.
- During the Olympics, ask God to work in the hearts of Libyans to set aside differences and build a society that can work for all people, including Christians.
- Libya remains deeply unstable, and parts of the country have little rule of law. This leads to danger for God’s people. Pray for stability and that order will come to Libya.
- Ask God to protect migrant Christians. Pray they would be protected from militant extremists.
- Pray that Christians who can worship freely will find ways to encourage and uplift their sisters and brothers who must follow Jesus in the shadows.
- As you watch Malaysian athletes compete in this year’s Summer Olympics, pray for Malaysia to be more open and tolerant of Christian worship and public expressions of faith in Jesus.
- Ask God to end the unjust treatment of Christians under the law. Ask Him to help Malaysian authorities to govern fairly and without discrimination.
- Maldives may be a paradise for vacationers from around the world, but for Christians it’s anything but. As Dhivehin people (those from Maldives) compete in Paris, pray God would soften hearts across the small nation.
- Please pray that secret believers will be able to access the Bible in their own language this year
- Pray that our family in the Maldives will draw huge encouragement from knowing that they’re part of a global family who stands with them in prayer.
- Please pray for courage and safety for Christians living at risk of attack from Islamic militants
- Pray for the athletes from Mali, that their participation in a global event will help grow Mali’s commitment to protecting all of its people, including Christians.
- Pray that those affected by persecution will have a profound experience of God's comfort
- Please pray that converts will be encouraged to press on in their faith, despite the challenge and dangers.
- Pray for fresh opportunities for believers to gather and share their faith with others.
- Mauritania is sending two athletes to this year’s Olympics in Paris. Even with such a small delegation, pray these competitors would have life-changing encounters with Jesus.
- Pray for the protection of Christians vulnerable to hostility from criminal gangs.
- As Mexican athletes travel to Paris, ask God to bring unity in Mexico, and that violence would cease.
- Pray that leaders of indigenous groups will see the value of Christians in their communities.
- Please pray that Christians will be given opportunity and ingenuity as they seek to share their faith, despite the dangers.
- During these Olympics, ask God to be at work in the spirits of the Moroccan athletes and spectators.
- Pray that believers from Muslim backgrounds will be empowered to stand firm amid hostility from their community.
- During these Olympics, pray for peace in Mozambique and a new openness to the truth of Jesus.
- Please pray for courage and protection for Christians living under the threat of attacks by Islamic militant groups.
- Pray that Christians facing pressure for their faith will hold on to Jesus, knowing His love and power at work in them.
- Pray for the protection of churches and Christians, and that believers will be given wisdom as they respond to different challenges.
- Myanmar has competed in 18 Olympics and has never won a medal. As they tackle this year’s Summer Games, pray the global character of the event will allow Christians to see they are not alone.
- Ask for an end to the civil war. Pray that the ruling military will do more to bring justice and freedom for all.
Pray that Nicaraguan church leaders under surveillance will be given wisdom and courage.
- Ask God to soften the hearts of President Ortega and his government and cause them to stop targeting Christians.
- When you watch the Nicaraguan team compete in this year’s Olympics, pray that God will be with the believers who risk so much to follow Him.
- Pray that church leaders under surveillance will be given wisdom and courage as they serve their congregations and communities.
- Pray for the protection of Christians living under the threat of violence from Islamic militants.
- Niger’s instability contributes to the difficulties facing Christians. Ask God that, even during the weeks of the Olympics, Nigerien leaders would be able to work toward lasting peace and protect their people from militants.
- Ask that believers from Muslim backgrounds will find fellowship and know that they are not alone.
- Please pray that victims of violence and their families will find healing and hope in Jesus.
- This will be Nigeria’s largest Olympic team ever. But the country remains incredibly divided. Pray that these Games would be a time when Nigerians could come together and work for peace and stability.
- Pray for peace, stability and safety in the areas where militants seem to attack with impunity.
- Please pray that believers imprisoned for their faith will know God's sustaining and loving presence with them at all times.
- North Korea is known as the “Hermit Kingdom” because it is so closed to the world. As North Korean athletes engage with people from all over the Earth during the Olympics, ask God to open their eyes and hearts to His perfect love—and then share what they’ve found with their countrypeople.
- Pray that secret believers will be protected from the scrutiny of the authorities as they meet together.
- Please pray that converts will be strengthened to withstand the pressure they may feel from their family and society.
- Praise God for the relative openness that foreign Christians experience, and pray that this freedom will expand to native Omanis.
- Pray for the Omani athletes, the sports authorities in Oman, and all Omani spectators, that they will be able to find the truth and hope of Jesus.
- During the Olympics, pray for Pakistan—that God would show His people He is near.
- Please pray that Christians will be protected from spurious allegations of blasphemy.
- Pray that believers will hold on to their identity as children of God as they live in a society that often demeans them.
- Praise God that expatriate Christians in Qatar are able to worship relatively freely.
- Sport has become an important way for Qatar to interact with the rest of the world. Ask that athletic competitions like the Olympics would open the hearts of Qatari people to the hope of the gospel.
- Pray for strength for secret believers under pressure from their families and communities. Pray they will be able to meet with other Christians.
- These people have no home state—they are displaced. Pray for all of the world’s Christians displaced by violence and conflict.
- Ask God to give comfort to the refugees on this Olympic team, that they would know Him and His peace.
- Pray for the countries where war, instability and pressure is driving displacement. Ask God to bring peace.
Please pray that secret believers in Saudi Arabia will find other Christians to meet with.
- Please pray that secret believers will find other Christians to meet with, and that Christian communities will have discernment and courage as they distinguish between true believers and spies.
- Donia Abu Talib is the first Saudi woman to qualify directly for the Olympics. She competes in taekwondo—even though she had to train at home because the taekwondo club in Saudi Arabia banned her because she’s female. It’s a reminder of how much pressure Saudi society places on minorities like women and Christians. Praise God for Donia’s example, and ask that her time in Paris would remind Saudis that every person matters.
- Ask that Christians will be led to those who are searching for truth, and that the number of people coming to know Jesus will grow.
- Somalia has only one athlete in Paris, competing in the men’s 800 meters. As you watch this event, pray during the 105 or so seconds the race will last. Pray for Christians in Somalia who are constantly in danger for their faith in Jesus.
- Pray for protection for Christians who are at risk from Islamic militants and their own families and communities.
- Ask that isolated believers will have opportunities for fellowship, and that they'll be given wisdom and courage to know how to live out their faith.
- Please pray for an end to the violence in Sudan and for provision for Christians who have been displaced.
- As Sudan competes, pray the joy of watching athletes compete will unite the warring factions fighting in the country. Pray for peace.
- Pray for strength and protection for brave believers who risk so much to serve others during the conflict.
- Ask that believers from Muslim backgrounds will draw strength from the Holy Spirit as they face opposition for choosing to follow Jesus.
- One of Syria’s athletes has been targeted by international sanctions for ties to the Syrian government. It’s a reminder of the instability and violence that has upended so many lives in Syria. Pray for peace, stability and more unity, that all people in Syria can worship freely.
- Pray that the Holy Spirit will give relief and refreshment to Syrian Christians who have endured so much over the last decade.
- Tajikistan’s national sport is called gushtigiri, which is a form of wrestling similar to judo. So perhaps it makes sense that the event with the most Tajik participants is judo! During the Olympics, watch a judo event, and take the time to pray for Tajik believers who risk so much to follow Jesus.
- Please pray that the government would ease their tight grip on religious freedom.
- Pray that believers from Muslim backgrounds who are under pressure will not lose hope or faith in Jesus.
- Please pray that isolated converts will be connected to other believers and draw comfort from knowing they have a family in the Church.
- Pray for those who take risks to meet together—that they would know the peace only Jesus can give.
- As athletes from Tunisia compete in this year’s Olympic Games, ask God to open the hearts and minds of all people in the country to the truth of His goodness and grace.
- Please pray that Christians will be seen as valued members of Turkish society, rather than a threat.
- As Turkey gathers to cheer on its athletes in Paris, pray that God will cause the unity to extend beyond the Games and to minorities like Christians. Ask God to open hearts to the truth of Jesus.
- Pray that believers will be given boldness, wisdom and protection as they follow Jesus in an increasingly hostile society.
Please pray that God would protect and sustain Christian converts from Islam in Tajikistan.
- Please pray that God would protect and sustain Christian converts from Islam.
- Pray that leaders living under surveillance will be able to lead God's people despite the dangers.
- This month, as athletes gather in Paris, pray that both the athletes and spectators from Turkmenistan will have an opportunity to hear the gospel.
- One of the most popular sports in Uzbekistan is boxing, and the country has been very successful in the Olympics. This year, as fighters square off in the boxing ring, pray for Uzbek believers who are targeted for their faith.
- Please pray that Christians who have been victims of police raids will have the courage to continue to worship together.
- Pray that the Holy Spirit will change the hearts of the Uzbek authorities, so they would recognize the valuable role Christians’ place in society.
- Pray for Christians from ethnic minorities—that God would protect and strengthen them to stand firm in their faith.
- Pray for the Vietnamese people as they gather to watch their countrypeople compete in the Summer Olympics. Pray they would open up their hearts and minds to the idea that minority groups—like ethnic minorities and Christians—are valued members of Vietnamese society and culture.
- Pray that the country's Communist leaders would open their hearts to the Christian community and allow them to worship freely.
- Even as the Olympics take place, Yemen continues to be deeply unstable, and at constant risk for violence. Pray for peace.
- Please pray for strength and protection for believers living in areas where they are at risk from Islamic militant groups.
- Ask that converts from Islam would have wisdom and courage to share their faith, and that the underground church would grow.
Top photo: By Ibex73 - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150146065
