Considered by many as the “definitive prayer guide for the nations,” Operation World is one of the most exhaustive compilations of information, statistics, and prayer needs of every nation of the earth. Previously published by Patrick Johnston, Operation World is now in its seventh edition under the direction of Jason Mandryk.

For years, Operation World has encouraged informed prayer for the nations. The nearly 1,000-page book contains information on the geography, people, economy, politics, and religions of each nation, along with challenges and answers for prayer.

In partnership with Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society), Operation World has launched a 60-day prayer experience designed to engage congregations in a new global vision for prayer. According to Mike Dworak from Biblica, just one percent of the global church is involved in any kind of global prayer outreach.

“Imagine,” he says, “if we could move that needle from one percent to two percent and double that. Just imagine what God would do!”

“It has been said,” Dworak adds, “that the work of missions is prayer.”

Daily Prayer Experience

In 2010, David Platt (author of Radical) challenged his church to pray through Operation World every day for a year, with the goal of encouraging all 3,000 members to develop a habit of continual prayer for the gospel to be spread around the world. The experience was so successful that it is now offered to other churches as one of five components of “The Radical Experiment” (radicalexperiment.org).

The 60-day prayer experience is a version of this challenge, designed to encourage a global prayer vision in a church of any size. A church can launch this campaign by registering at operationworld.org/churches, which then allows members to sign up for daily email reminders to pray for various nations. Those daily reminders can also be posted on the church’s website or Facebook page to encourage unified prayer. Videos featuring prayer points for different nations (from prayercast.net) can be used each Sunday during the 60 days.

Additional resources designed specifically for the 60-day prayer experience include four weeks of sermon notes and outlines by David Platt, bulletin inserts, campaign email templates, and web banners. Copies of Operation World can also be purchased at discounted rates.

Tom Doyle, Middle East and Central Asia director for e3 Partners, has used Operation World in his prayer life and ministry for more than 20 years. “Operation World gives believers informed prayer requests. Even in the most difficult places in the world, believers are praying and God is answering.”

To learn more about the 60-day prayer experience, go to operationworld.org/churches.