Standing together: A global family united in prayer

How Prayer for the Nations sparked a commitment to stand in the gap

On the evening of 2 November, something beautiful happened. Believers gathered at City Church Cardiff and joined online from across the UK and beyond—from the Isle of Wight to Paraguay—for a powerful evening of prayer and worship. It was the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, and this wasn't just another event. It was a reminder that we're part of something far bigger than ourselves.

Throughout the evening, we heard directly from Elim missionaries serving in some of the world's most challenging places. Their faces were often blurred for security, their locations unnamed, but their faith? Unmistakable. There was Ken, leading work in Asia where blasphemy laws make following Jesus dangerous, where Christian families are trapped in brick factory slavery. There was the church planter in West Africa, facing death threats yet training new believers to share their faith. Dee, serving in an oasis deep in the Sahara Desert among an unreached people group. And Osama in the Middle East, where Pastor Khaled was killed for his faith earlier this year along with eleven others.

What struck home wasn't just the persecution, it was the joy. The resilience. The refusal to give up. These brothers and sisters aren't just surviving; they're loving their persecutors, serving entire communities regardless of faith, and seeing God move in miraculous ways.

As Pastor Bob prayed the Lord's Prayer in his heart language and worship filled the room, something shifted. This was about unity, recognising we're one family across continents and cultures. When one part of the body suffers, we all suffer. When one part is honoured, we all rejoice.

The challenge we left with was simple but profound: pray, give, and tell. Not just on one evening, but beyond. To keep standing in the gap, to partner with those on the frontlines, and to remember that our freedom to worship openly is a gift not everyone shares.

We are Elim. They are Elim. And together, we're seeing God's kingdom advance in the darkest places.