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On February 6, athletes from around the world will gather together in Italy to walk in the opening ceremonies of the 2026 Olympic Games. People all over the earth will be watching events for the two weeks after the opening ceremonies, cheering on hometown heroes as they compete for Olympic gold.
At their best, the Olympic Games are a time for people from countries across the world to put aside differences and compete in a peaceful way, a reminder that all people share common humanity. For Christians, this can be extended—the Olympics can be a visible reminder that every human being is made in God's image.
This year, you can take that one step farther and use the Olympics in a potentially surprising way: to pray! This February, 14 countries participating in the Olympic Games are also on Open Doors 2026 World Watch List, the annual list of the 50 places where faith costs the most.
Here are the 14 countries you can pray for—and what you need to know about how your brothers and sisters in each place risk so much to follow Jesus:
Ranked No. 17 on Open Door's 2026 World Watch List, China has 125 athletes competing in this year's Olympics. Christianity in China is a threat that must be tightly controlled and contained—according to the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP). While there are registered churches in the country, these are closely overseen by the state, which monitors what is preached and who is present. Anyone under 18 is not permitted to attend.
Many churches decide not to register, meeting underground instead as house churches. This is an enormously brave move because it can bring raids, fines, arrests, imprisonments and the confiscation of materials. With incentives offered to report on such "illegal" activities, the risks facing those involved in house churches, particularly leaders, are deepening.
A prayer for China:
Sovereign God, as we watch immensely talented athletes from China compete in this year's Olympics, we think of our Chinese brothers and sisters risking so much to follow You. Please equip our Chinese family with all they need to stand strong in their faith and share it with others. Give them courage and creativity as they navigate suffocating restrictions and surveillance, and inspire the words of those brought before the authorities (Mark 13:11). Protect underground gatherings and guard Your people from harm. Strengthen, encourage and grow Your church in China in these difficult times, we pray. Amen.
This is the third consecutive Winter Olympics that Colombia has participated. This year, they are sending a single athlete, cross-country skier Fredrik Fodstad.
Colombia ranks No. 47 on the 2026 World Watch List. While much of the population claims Christianity as its religion, there are parts of Colombia that are riddled with criminality. That fact can make life very dangerous for Christians, especially church leaders who are involved in activities that threaten the influence of gangs and cartels. Those activities could be helping former gang members rehabilitate, protecting young people from recruitment to gangs, or engaging in humanitarian work. It can lead to threats, extortion and even murder.
Christians living in indigenous areas can also face opposition. Faced with accusations that they have betrayed local traditions by choosing to follow Jesus, Christians can be targeted for threats, discrimination, legal complaints and imprisonment. Given these dangers, some believers choose to stay under the radar.
As you watch Fodstad race in Italy, pray this prayer:
God of all comfort, surround those affected by persecution in Colombia with Your unfailing peace. Give them strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. Continue to embolden them amidst opposition and protect them from harm. Help Your children to be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16), and through their shining and persevering witness, draw people to Jesus and transform communities. Bring peace to conflict-ridden regions, we pray. Amen.
Eritrea is among the most dangerous countries in the world for followers of Jesus, which is why it's ranked No. 5 on the 2026 World Watch List. At the 2026 Olympic Games, Eritrea will have one athlete participating in alpine skiing. Shannon-Ogbnai Abeda was the first Eritrean to compete in the Winter Olympics as a skier, and he returns this year for his third Games.
In Eritrea, the government recognizes only four religious groups. Christians who worship outside state-sanctioned churches face intense surveillance, violent police raids and indefinite imprisonment—often in brutally shocking conditions. Converts from Islam or the Eritrean Orthodox Church also risk rejection by their families and social exclusion, in addition to state persecution.
People who are forcibly drafted into the military face an indefinite period of service. There is no leniency for anyone unwilling to serve, and Christians in the military caught worshipping are punished severely. Christians face a devastating dilemma: endure persecution and forced service or flee the country through routes made hazardous by trafficking, danger and the risk of torture.
Here's how you can pray with your family in Eritrea as you watch this year's Winter Olympics:
Father God, it's difficult to know how to even begin to pray for Christians in Eritrea. It's been such a difficult place to follow You for so long... and yet, we trust that Your plans will not fail, as You've promised in Your Word. Bring a sense of hope and understanding to Christians in Eritrea, that they may be filled anew with Your life-giving Spirit. Provide joy where there is sorrow, hope where there is despair, and light where there is darkness. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
India has two athletes competing in this year's Winter Olympics. But as you watch the exciting skiing events where Indians will be cheering on their countrymen, don't forget to pray for India, ranked No. 12 on the 2026 World Watch List.
To religious nationalists in the country, to be Indian is to be Hindu, and that leaves no place for Christianity. The result is systemic discrimination and violence, particularly against converts. Social media is gravely exacerbating the problem, with accusations, disinformation and attacks often going viral and perpetuating false narratives around Christianity. Evangelistic activities are extremely risky. Another weapon increasingly used to target Christians and other religious minorities is the anti-conversion laws, currently enacted in 12 states and counting.
But during the next two weeks as you listen to the roars of the crowd, you can remember your family in India with this prayer:
Lord Jesus, we rejoice that countless people in India are encountering You, often through healings and miracles. As the church's presence and growth bring opposition, uphold our family with Your unfailing love. Meet every need and bring them through with an even stronger faith. We pray against the spread and misuse of anti-conversion laws and for a halt to other legal impediments to religious freedom. Locally and nationally, inspire greater protection of minorities. Amen.
Even as uncertainty reigns in Iran after protests and brutal repression have taken place, four Iranian athletes will take to the slopes in Italy this year.
Iran ranks No. 10 on the 2026 World Watch List. Christians in Iran are heavily and systemically repressed, as the authorities seek to root out what they see as a threat from the West to undermine their Islamic rule.
Converts are most in the firing line. House churches are commonly raided, often followed by arrests, interrogations, pressure to inform on other believers and long-term imprisonment. The conditions in prison are dire, and bail sums can be extortionately high, financially paralyzing families. For believers who are released, that typically comes with strict conditions, such as exile to another part of Iran, or self-censorship. They can also face hostility from families and local communities. Each year, thousands of converts flee Iran to escape persecution.
As you think of your Iranian brothers and sisters—who are enduring the same uncertainty as all Iranians on top of the normal persecution they face for faith in Jesus—please remember to pray:
Heavenly Father, as we remember our family in prison (Hebrews 13:3), flood their cells with Your presence. May they tangibly feel Your nearness—and open the eyes of guards and other prisoners to see it, too. Expose the arbitrary and unjust reasons for this oppression, compelling the authorities to release Christian prisoners and allow converts greater freedoms. Protect and grow house churches, sustain Your people, and heal those recovering from awful experiences. Amen.
This Olympics, Kazakhstan—ranked No. 45 on the 2026 World Watch List—will send 36 athletes to compete in Italy. After taking home no medals in 2022, the Kazakh team will be looking to capture at least a bronze in one of their eight events.
Christian freedoms in Kazakhstan are hugely curtailed by onerous restrictions and close surveillance—often under the pretext of countering the threat of extremist Islam. It has worsened considerably since 2010, as the authorities are seeking to tighten their grip on all aspects of Kazakh life. Raids, arrests and fines are not uncommon for believers from Protestant groups, such as Baptists and Pentecostals, who are deemed a foreign influence intent on undermining the Kazakh authorities.
The severest persecution is reserved for converts from Muslim backgrounds, who can face house arrest, beatings and expulsion from their community. Influential local leaders (with the support of the authorities) see conversion as an assault on Kazakh identity. Understandably, many converts choose to keep their new faith secret.
Each time you see a Kazakh athlete participate in the Winter Games, will you take a moment to pray? Here's how:
Lord Jesus, we pray for our family in Kazakhstan, asking that they will not become despondent because of the pressure and persecution. Equip them to withstand the challenges through the provision of fellowship, literature and their every practical need. Comfort and heal those who've suffered loss for their faith, protect people from harm, and encourage church leaders in their crucial but often exhausting work. As the authorities watch Your people, may they encounter Jesus. Amen.
Kyrgyzstan has never won a medal at a Winter Olympics—but the Central Asian nation will try again in 2026 as it sends two athletes to compete. Yet as these talented skiers compete against the best athletes in the world, it's vital for us to remember what's happening to believers in the country.
Christians in Kyrgyzstan continue to face strong opposition from their families and communities, while hostility from the authorities has intensified with the introduction of tighter religious controls.
The repercussions facing those who have courageously left Islam to follow Jesus can be severe. They can include house arrest and physical violence, and the children of converts can encounter bullying at school. Imams (Muslim leaders) are sometimes enlisted to preach against converts, and they can cause converts' expulsion from the community. In some parts of the country, the influence of the local Muslim community may mean that vulnerable Christians cannot rely on local authorities for protection and justice.
New laws governing religion have stifled the expression of local churches, including unattainable requirements for simply registering a church.
Will you stand with believers in Kyrgyzstan?
Heavenly Father, encourage our family in Kyrgyzstan. Give leaders an abundance of wisdom, strength and boldness as they navigate tighter controls, and help converts to persevere under huge pressure. Protect Your children, and galvanize and unite the church in its witness, leading many to You. We pray, too, for the authorities, asking that they would see believers not as a threat but as an invaluable part of the country. Holy Spirit, have Your way in Kyrgyzstan. Amen.
Mexico has five people competing in Italy this February—four in skiing events and one in figure skating. And even though most people in Mexico say they are Christians, the country ranks at No. 30 on the 2026 World Watch List.
The pervasive and widespread presence of criminal groups in Mexico puts many Christians in danger, particularly those who bravely seek to oppose criminality. Efforts by the authorities to address the issue have largely been ineffective, leaving vulnerable believers unprotected and without justice. In many places, cartels operate with near impunity, even infiltrating or replacing local authorities.
Persecution also affects believers living in indigenous communities. Those who stop following local beliefs and rituals to follow Jesus are exposed to fines, discrimination, imprisonment and displacement. Sadly, as is the case elsewhere, Christians can't rely on the state for protection.
That's why it's so important to pray with believers in Mexico. Here's a prayer you can lift up during the 2026 Olympic Games:
Sovereign Lord, thank You for the remarkable courage shown by Christians in Mexico. Continue to embolden Your children, protect them from reprisals, and may their words and actions lead their persecutors to You. We pray that the authorities will respond with greater urgency, protection and justice for those affected by persecution, and may the threat of criminal groups recede. God of all comfort, may those wounded by persecution know Your healing touch today. Amen.
Morocco, which ranks No. 23 on the 2026 World Watch List, has never won a medal at the Winter Olympics. This year, two Moroccans will be competing in Italy. As you watch them, here are some things you should know about the situation for believers in Morocco:
It's both rare and risky for anyone in Morocco to convert to Christianity—so unusual, that some Christians assume they are the only believers in their region or the entire country.
A huge challenge for Christians, both Moroccan and foreign, is that it is illegal to "shake the faith of a Muslim." That means that any conversation about faith can be fraught with risk, potentially leading to arrest.
Converts can encounter intense pressure to renounce their faith, with tactics including isolation, expulsion, violence and even superstitious treatments by imams (Muslim leaders). Converts can lose their jobs. Even if some judges do uphold the cases of converts in court, family pressures can often render their verdicts irrelevant. Understandably, many believers keep their faith secret.
But you can pray with Moroccan believers:
King Jesus, thank You that increasing numbers of people are encountering You in Morocco, often in supernatural ways. We pray for more! But we're conscious that for many, following You is very costly. Strengthen, encourage and protect them, provide opportunities for community with each other, and draw their loved ones to You. Equip and raise up leaders and give them favor with the authorities. Show Your power in Morocco today, we pray. Amen.
This is only the third Winter Olympics that Nigeria has participated in, and only one athlete is competing in Italy. But that shouldn't obscure the fact that Nigeria is the most populous and one of the largest countries in all of Africa. It's also No. 7 on the 2026 World Watch List—and the deadliest place in the world for followers of Christ.
Violent Islamic militant groups operate across northern Nigeria and into the country's central region. Some of these groups—including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an offshoot of Islamic State—target followers of Jesus and any properties owned by Christians. Other Christians, particularly farmers in Nigeria's Middle Belt, are confronted by Islamic militants among the Fulani people, who disproportionately attack Christian communities with horrific violence.
In recent years, violence has increased and spilled into southern states. Much of it is perpetrated by Fulani militants hiding in the forests.
Through prayer, you can stand with God's people in Nigeria:
God, we grieve with our brothers and sisters in Nigeria who endure such unthinkable violence. Be a strong shield and a rock for those who are displaced; be a comfort to those who grieve the loss of loved ones; restore the hopes of those who have been the victims of sexual violence; pour out Your Spirit upon Nigerian Christians, that they would catch a glimpse of Your work in their hearts and in their lives. Change the hearts of those who attack Christians. Bring peace, O God. It seems like an impossible prayer, but we know You alone can do this. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
In the 2026 Olympic Games, Pakistan has a single athlete competing, in downhill skiing. This year's Games is a perfect opportunity to also remember the situation for Christians in Pakistan, which is ranked No. 8 on Open Doors' 2026 World Watch List.
In Pakistan, Christians are exposed to many challenges, from everyday discrimination to the threat of deadly violence. Increasingly, Pakistan's notorious blasphemy laws are used to intimidate Christians and other religious minorities. Even an accusation can provoke mob violence against victims, as well as their families and the wider Christian community.
Christians from a Muslim background can face severe repercussions for choosing to follow Jesus. These threats come from families and radical Islamic groups who see conversion as a shameful act of betrayal.
Please pray:
Lord Jesus, our hearts are heavy at the dangers facing our family in Pakistan. Bring an end to false blasphemy accusations—expose the lies and hatred, and prompt changes to the law or its repeal. Protect young girls and surround them with environments that encourage their flourishing. Breathe hope and purpose into the hearts of those in bondage to poverty and labor and give them freedom. Soften the hearts of the authorities toward Christians. Amen.
This is only the second time Saudi Arabia has participated in the Winter Olympics. They are sending two skiers to compete in Italy this year.
Saudi Arabia also ranks as extremely difficult place for many Christians. Open Doors' 2026 World Watch List places the Arabian Peninsula nation at No. 13.
Nationalism and Islam are intertwined in Saudi Arabia, with Mecca and Medina venerated as significant sites by all Muslims worldwide. All Saudi citizens are considered Muslim, and Islamic principles and writings govern the way the country functions.
Converting from Islam technically carries the death sentence, though there has been no recent documentation of official executions for this offence. Public churches are banned, and converts must try to keep their faith a secret. Otherwise, they face being disowned and attacked by their families and clans. Government officials also sometimes target Saudi Christians at the request of family or community members. Despite all this, the small number of converts is growing. Most Christians in Saudi Arabia are migrant workers. They are affected by difficult policies, exploitation, enhanced surveillance of communications, and they can face abuse due to their ethnicity and low social status. They are prohibited from sharing their faith and risk arrest and deportation if discovered.
As you watch the Saudi athletes proudly competing for their nation's first Winter medal, will you pray with believers there?
Father, we thank You for the courage and perseverance of Christians in Saudi Arabia. Please grant them Your peace, wisdom and protection as they walk a difficult path. Would You help them to find and connect with other believers for communion and discipleship? We pray that You will continue to reveal Yourself in dreams and visions to Your children in Saudi Arabia, and that there will be opportunities for the gospel message to spread, despite hostility. Amen.
Though they've participated in the Winter Olympics since 1936 (with two exceptions), Türkiye has never won a medal during the Winter games. At this year's Olympics in Italy, eight athletes will try their best to change that fact.
As you watch one of the four events where Turkish athletes will be competing, take a moment to think about the situation for your brothers and sisters in the country. Türkiye ranks No. 41 on the 2026 World Watch List. Persecution is often driven by the notion that to be Turkish is to be Muslim. Anyone who openly practices a different faith, especially if they convert from Islam, is often regarded as betraying and dishonoring their family and their nation. This results in widespread discrimination.
Converts from Islam are vulnerable to harassment, rejection and threats of violence from both family members and radical Islamic groups. Many feel compelled to hide their faith and lead a double life. However, others boldly and openly live out their faith, reflecting diversity both within the Turkish church as well as within Turkish society.
In general, Christians face limited access to state employment and can experience discrimination even in private employment. In areas with ethnic conflicts, historical Christian communities are caught in the middle and sometimes forced out of their homelands.
Pray with your family in Türkiye:
Lord Jesus, we raise our brothers and sisters in Türkiye before You. We pray You will help them to shine the light of Your love in their families and communities, despite the pressures they face. We ask You to bless their efforts to share the good news of the gospel. Please bring comfort to anyone who has been shunned, rejected or harassed because of their faith. Amen.
Uzbekistan is sending two athletes to this year's Winter Olympics, including their first ever entry in the short-track speed skating competition. The landlocked country in Central Asia is also ranked No. 25 on the 2026 World Watch List.
That's primarily because churches can be hindered by cumbersome and unattainable restrictions. This includes a recently introduced requirement for churches to have a minimum number of members—and yet, for small congregations, that number is impossible to reach. Churches that fail to fall in line with government protocols—for example, by possessing "unauthorized" materials—are in danger of raids, arrests, threats and heavy fines.
Converts from Islam can also face strong opposition from their families and community, particularly those living in rural regions where Islamic and clan identity is strong. Unsurprisingly, many believers feel forced to keep their faith secret.
Please stand with your sisters and brothers in Uzbekistan and pray:
Heavenly Father, equip, encourage and empower our sisters and brothers in Uzbekistan as they face opposition for their faith. Give leaders wisdom and discernment as they navigate restrictions and surveillance, and for those especially weary today, give them a word to sustain them (Isaiah 50:4). As believers gather, often at great risk, enlarge their faith and inspire their courage. As the authorities monitor activities, may they unexpectedly encounter You. Amen.