Over 258 million people live in a different country from their birth country. Another 20 million are refugees, 3 million are asylum seekers and 10 million are stateless. There are many other "people on the move" who are not counted in those statistics -- tourists, seafarers, diplomats, flight crews and so on.
Here are a few questions to help you know how to pray for diaspora people -- whether your neighbor, the person next to you on the bus, another church member or someone you see on the news.
Diaspora experience
In what ways does this person feel pushed out of his or her homeland?
In what ways does this person feel pulled by (or drawn into) his or her new location (as opposed to the homeland or another location)?
Who comes into regular contact with this person? With whom does this person wish to connect?
How long might this person be at the new location? How long might it be until the person returns “home”?
What skills, experiences and gifts might this person offer?
Faith experience
How much knowledge does this person have about the good news of Jesus? Is this person growing in this knowledge? What are some hindrances to more knowledge? What are some opportunities to know more?
What is this person’s attitude toward Christ and people who follow Christ? Is this person growing in love toward Christ? What are some hindrances to loving Christ more? What are some opportunities to grow in love?
What does this person understand to be the bad news about his or her situation? (This may include physical, emotional, social, economic and spiritual aspects.) What about God might this person then hear as good news?
Find more free prayer resources focused on diaspora at Global Diaspora Network
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