Pray! Ministry leaders arrested in Yemen church crackdown

“Even when we are caught, we pray the [ministry] will continue. Ask God to raise up others who will continue sharing His light with the Yemeni people, those living in the dark. They deserve to know Him.”

Yemeni ministry leader Majed* shared this prayer request when Open Doors partners last contacted him. You may remember him. We recently shared his story.

Majed was preparing for the moment he would be arrested, trying to memorize as many Bible passages as possible. “I know it’s coming,” he said. He explained that he wanted to be a “walking Bible” so he could share about Jesus whenever he was taken. Some of his last words to us were: “May we be mirrors of our Savior in the way we speak and act.”

That time came only days after we last spoke to him. He now joins a group of Christians who have been abducted or arrested in Yemen, currently facing interrogation, torture and even imprisonment by extremists.

Although Majed could have fled the country for a safer place, he refused to abandon his home and his mission. “I could escape,” he said, “but others can’t. My vision is to change Yemen, and I can’t do that from abroad. If we all leave, who will stay and continue? I can’t and won’t leave the people I love behind.”

An unprecedented crackdown

Majed is one of more than 50 arrests in what has been described as an unprecedented crackdown on Yemeni Christians. For the small and secret church in Yemen, 50-plus arrests is a heavy blow.

Fear remains a constant, as discovery that someone is a Christian can be deadly; in Yemen, ranked No. 3 on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List, apostasy is legally punishable by death. Christians in the northern areas (home to 80% of the country’s population) are afraid to meet, even online. They remain in hiding, isolated from each other. Where they live, the area (including the nation’s capital city of Sanaa) is controlled by the Zaydi Shia Islam political/military movement the Houthis. The extremist group views Christians, especially converts, as enemies of Islam who deserve punishment, including the death penalty. For multiple reasons, Yemen is one of the most difficult countries to live in as a Christian, let alone serve and witness for Christ.

But as Scripture shows us repeatedly, this crackdown on Christians is an indication that, despite the danger, the church in Yemen is growing and the gospel is advancing. Believers like Majed are making an impact in both seen and unseen ways.

That’s why Open Doors is calling for fervent prayer for Yemen, Majed and all Christians who are risking everything to serve the body of Christ and tell the Yemeni people about Jesus—inside and outside prison walls. Majed and our local partners shared 13 ways we can pray:

• Majed’s determination and strength come from his deep roots and trust in the Lord. Pray that he will dig even deeper roots with his Savior in these difficult days.
• Pray protection and strength for Majed. May he be reminded that he is not alone nor forgotten. Pray that God would bring peace to his heart, clarity to his mind and hope for the future.
• Pray that Majed would be “a walking Bible.” Pray that he uses the passages he memorized boldly and wisely. May he be the “mirror of his Savior,” just as he wanted.
• Majed’s ministry was very impactful. Pray this would only be a short absence and that he will be free soon, without any harm, to be able to continue God’s work in his beloved Yemen.
• Pray for the prisoners, may they feel God’s presence with them in these tough days. Pray for their prompt release, as they reunite with their loved ones.
• Pray that church meetings will take place inside prison cells. Ask God to use His disciples to witness even when they’re imprisoned.
• Pray for the friends and families of Christians who are imprisoned. Pray for peace, comfort and hope.
• Pray that these Christians’ arrests and imprisonments would fuel their family members to cling to their faith and witness to those around them, even in the most difficult situations.
• Pray for the seekers who were meeting with some of the now-imprisoned Christians. Pray they will not veer from Jesus but, instead, look to Him. Ask God to provide other people to follow up with them and lead them to the truth.
• Pray for the Christians who are still missing and those we haven’t heard from and don’t know their whereabouts. Ask God to be with them, keeping them safe from any harm.
• Pray for Yemen. May this hardship become an opportunity for the eyes of the Yemeni people to be opened to the truth, and their hearts be prepared to receive Christ.
• Pray for the church in Yemen and this unprecedented situation. Being a Christian in this country was never easy, but today, the reality is even darker. Ask God to strengthen His people in His own ways and give them renewed faith, reminding them that He is on the highest throne no matter who is in power here on earth.
• “Yemen needs light,” Majed said. “It has been living in darkness for decades. Pray that change may happen. Pray that what is happening now will open the eyes of my dearly beloved Yemenis. May they realize that there are Christians in Yemen who believe in Jesus. May our struggles push them to believe in Him.”

*Name changed to protect identity