Open Doors, the persecution watchdog founded by Brother Andrew, today published two prayers in support of secret Christian believers in Muslim countries.

One is to be used by supporters in the UK and elsewhere, whilst the other is to be prayed by those persecuted Christians who are forced to keep their faith covert for fear of severe persecution.

The first prayer asks the Lord to strengthen church leaders "that they may be faithful to the call of God to build the church in the Muslim world", to give courage to those who face intimidation, discrimination, imprisonment or torture for their faith in Jesus, and to bring peace to the Muslim world, so that the church may grow and flourish freely.

"We also pray for Muslims all over the world who are seeking the truth about God. Bring alongside them someone who will share the love of Jesus so that they can know God for themselves," the prayer adds.

Open Doors is publishing the prayer as part of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), to be held in the UK on Sunday.

IDOP is a global day of intercession for persecuted Christians worldwide. Its primary focus is to encourage prayer and promote action in support of oppressed Christian communities. It also encourages prayer for the oppressors and for the nations that ill-treat Christians.

An Algerian church leader, in London this week for meetings with UK Government officials, told how a week earlier he had been in court, waiting to know if his appeal against a five-year sentence for insulting the prophet Muhammad had been successful. He was acquitted, but emphasised that his freedom was the result of a prayer campaign from Christians in Europe and the United States.

IDOP was started in 1996 by the World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) in cooperation with a variety of denominations and faith-based organisations. From a core group of approximately 7,000 churches, IDOP has grown to be the largest prayer day event of its kind in the world. Christians in more than 130 nations now take part, including Iranian Christians International, The Last Harvest, and Gospel for Asia.

Interest in IDOP is growing, across all denominations, in the UK as well. Every year, Open Doors produces a pack informing churches of the severity of the persecution faced by Christians throughout the world. Last year 700 were requested, this year it will be around 1000 - an increase of well over 40 per cent.

Eddie Lyle, CEO of Open Doors said: "We believe that prayer changes things. God invites us to present to Him our requests and to pray without ceasing. Persecuted Christians often plead with us for prayer to help them endure what they have to suffer. The most we can do is the least we can do - pray.

"Many Muslim-background believers are prevented from freely living out their Christian faith for fear of reprisal from family or friend, colleague or foe. Whilst praying for secret believers in the Middle East, we also want to pray with them, asking God to soften the hearts of their Muslim neighbours and reveal to them the love of Jesus."