A spiritual “shockwave” will start to make its way around the world in less than 12 hours as young Christians from Malaysia to the United States join together from their respective countries to pray for the millions of fellow believers who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ.

Starting on March 6 from New Zealand, youths there will kick off the annual 72-hour global prayer event called “Shockwave” that will traverse time zones and move through at least 30 countries worldwide. Some of the countries with scheduled Shockwave prayer events include Australia, India, Malaysia, Japan, South Africa, the Netherlands, Norway, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada and the United States.

During the prayer event, which ends on Sunday, youth groups and student ministries will organize young Christians to pray for persecuted Christians in Shockwave chat rooms, prayer meetings, at churches, and in homes. Some Shockwave prayer events will be all night, while others will take place in the evening or at a prayer breakfast.

“Shockwave is a movement of prayer that allows the passion of young people’s hearts to be heard by God as we cry out and join together across the world in solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters,” says Scott Ahern, director of Innovative Strategies for Open Doors USA, in a statement.

“This is truly a witness of the unity of the body of Christ when youth from different cultures, ethnic backgrounds and regions of the world join to pray for one cause – to lift up and support through prayer God’s suffering children,” he says. “I encourage you to journey with us for this exciting international event.”

Shockwave is organized by Underground, the youth and student ministry of Open Doors, a ministry that supports persecuted churches and Christians. Students are asked to meditate on the verse found in Hebrews 13:2, which reads: “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourself were suffering.”

An estimated 100 million Christians worldwide suffer from interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ, with million more facing discrimination and alienation, according to Open Doors. The ministry helps believers in countries hostile to Christianity through Bible and Christian literature distribution, leadership training and assistance, Christian community development, prayer and advocacy on behalf of persecuted believers.

Some of the countries with the worst Christian persecution record include North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, Maldives, Yemen, Laos, Eritrea, and Uzbekistan, according to Open Doors’ 2009 World Watch List.

On the Web: www.odshockwave.org