Praying for Peace Amid the Middle East Conflict
Our Fragile World
This week has been full of sobering developments in the Middle East. We have been reminded how fragile parts of our world remain.
I’d like to share an update regarding the Middle East and invite you to pray with the A3 Community for this situation, especially on Thursday, March 5th.
Just last week, while returning home, I had a poignant conversation with my rideshare driver from Iran. He spoke candidly about the deep disillusionment many Iranians feel after decades under the current regime, even saying that many people he knows want nothing to do with Islam because of what they have experienced. He requested prayers for his country and for his personal job search as he looks for work there.
As we strive to remain informed and sensitive to God’s call to prayer, I’ve included a resource from Prayercast on how to pray for Iran, along with a helpful video overview (click video below or the link here: https://prayercast.com/prayer-topic/iran/ )
The very next morning after I spoke with my Iranian driver, news broke of escalating tensions in the Middle East, and several of our friends and colleagues found themselves stranded in the region as airspace closed and missile warnings sounded during the night.
Many Christian leaders have been traveling through the Middle East and are stuck in hubs until further notice. In one case, more than a hundred leaders were unable to leave Dubai while drones were being intercepted overhead. In another location, friends of mine sent this photo right outside their hotel room window. (see photo)
This is a stark reminder of how dangerous it can be for these folks in light of what has already taken place.
CALL TO PRAYER
The need for peace in our broken world...
Please join us in praying for peace in the region, for our friends and colleagues navigating the uncertainty, for my Iranian driver and his family, and that even in times of upheaval, many would encounter Christ. Even when the nations are unsettled, God is still at work.
Along with praying for those in our own community who are impacted, let us continue praying for the wider regions and the conflict overall. Here are a few specific prayer points to guide us:
- The church in Iran to be strengthened during this time (Matthew 16:18, 2 Timothy 2:8-9)
- Spread of the Gospel: We have seen time and time again God move His Kingdom forward in mighty ways during times of unrest and upheaval (1 Peter 1:6–7, Luke 21:9-19)
- Protection for the citizens of Iran (Psalm 91, Psalm 46: 6, 10)
- Peace throughout the Middle East (Psalm 122:6)
As Jesus reminded us, even when the world feels shaken, the fields remain “white for harvest” (John 4:35).
Online Prayer Gathering for the Middle East
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026
• Option A: 14:00 UTC (9am ET / 6am PT)
• Option B: 24:00 UTC+1 (7pm ET / 4pm PT)
“The prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective.”
— JAMES 5:16
Sign up for one of our online prayer gatherings!
Join Janelle Stoops (A3’s new U.S. President), me, and other A3 leaders as we gather together online for 45 minutes to pray for Iran and the Middle East. We will offer two time slots:
THU, MAR 5, 2026
Option A: 14:00 UTC (9am ET / 6am PT)
THU, MAR 5, 2026
Option B: 24:00 UTC+1 (7pm ET / 4pm PT)
Please join us by standing in the gap.
Trusting Jesus,
Rev. Joseph W. Handley, Jr., Ph.D.
CEO, A3
@jwhandley
@jwhandley
@JosephWHandleyJr
@jwhandley
More Information
- Register for Option A » 14:00 UTC (9am ET / 6am PT)
- Register for Option B » 24:00 UTC+1 (7pm ET / 4pm PT)
- Cover photo and video thumbnail screenshots courtesy of Prayercast
- Photo of fire from hotel window courtesy of Takeshi Takazawa/A3.
