Prayers of gratitude and intercession

  • May our hearts and souls hold all of our global brothers and sisters in prayerful attendance while each of us struggles with the realities and consequences not only of the pandemic but of severe and violent oppression, economic disruption etc.

    May our hearts and souls be opened to the small everyday miracles and huge kindnesses in the world directly surrounding us.

    May our hearts and souls be filled with patience and gentleness towards all the people working so hard to help ease our way out of this pandemic.

    May our churches find new and hopeful ways of being church in a world that changes rapidly.

    May our focus be not on quantity but on quality, on gentle kindness instead of targets, on prayerful silence instead of barricades.

  • Farmer God who brings forth life from the earth,

    We lift up to you the women and men whose livelihoods grow from the soil.

    • For those unsettled by a changing climate;
    • For those who wrestle when land stewardship and market realities clash; 
    • For those who find joy in farming but have no land;
    • For those who have land and skills but lack markets and successors.
    • And for those who have no access to fresh, healthy food.

    Christ who knelt in the dust,

    We offer the broken places in our food system to your healing touch.

    —Jennifer Halteman Schrock, a member of the Creation Care Task Force.

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  • Pray for the emerging Mennonite Brethren conference in Ukraine (Association of Mennonite Brethren Churches in Ukraine – AMBCU).

    Pray for the churches and for the small groups doing Bible studies and worship.

    The churches are also meeting on Zoom.

    Pray for those that are suffering from the virus. Pray for people suffering economically and the churches distributing food.
     

  • Reports from church leaders in Southern Africa

    • Praise God for good rains. Most families will have enough food from their own fields this year.
    • Let us pray for peace before, during and after upcoming elections in Zambia.
    • BIC Church Zimbabwe is planning to hold District Councils in May 2021. Pray also for the BICC Zimbabwe General Conference this year to become a reality this year (Proverbs 16:3).
    • Pray for the BIC church school students and all the schools in Zimbabwe to be protected from COVID-19 infection (Psalms 91: 9-10).
    • Pray for profitability in the church business units as they begin to recover after the lockdown.
    • We thank the Lord that BICC South Africa managed to get a piece of land.

  • In the USA particularly, where racial injustice is a daily reality, may church members to engage in costly peacemaking, rooted in radical discipleship, seeking to dismantle systems of oppression anywhere we witness them.

  • We pray for healthy development of congregations, renewal where faith or togetherness has become encrusted, and good handling of conflicts where disputes have taken place.

    Differences regarding COVID-19 compliance have caused disagreement between church members. Pray that the leaders of the church have wisdom to act wisely so the unity can be saved.

    COVID-19 and the missed opportunities to meet in presence are changing congregations. Pray with us, that congregations will emerge stronger from these times

  • Waves of infection, an extra-contagious variant, high deaths have resulted in a humanitarian crisis in Brazil. Pray for Anabaptist-Mennonite churches struggling with reduced finances to continue to show love to their neighbours. Pray for wisdom about how to hold church services in a low-risk manner.

  • God delivers the needy when they call,
    the poor and those who have no helper. . .
    From oppression and violence he redeems their life;
    and precious is their blood in his sight.
    Psalm 72:12-14

    God of compassion, have mercy on all who are in danger or who live in fear in Colombia.

    Soften the hearts of government and military leaders, and turn them away from violence. Protect your people from physical or spiritual harm. Strengthen your church to follow the way of Jesus in these difficult days.

    Give followers of the Lamb vision and courage to be ministers of reconciliation.

    Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

    In the name of Jesus, Prince of Peace, amen.

    J. Nelson Kraybill
    President, Mennonite World Conference

    Click here to read the president’s pastoral letter to Anabaptist-Mennonites of Colombia

  • Pray for the increased attention of congregation members from the three Mennonite synods in Indonesia to support Assembly 17 in July 2022. Pray for the efforts of Indonesian research centres to produce a COVID-19 vaccine to support the government’s target of reaching 70 percent of the population by the end of 2021.

  • We thank God for keeping us safe despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Though with challenges, the church has continued worshipping God. We eagerly await being together again.

    Pray for spiritual revival of the congregants (Psalm 85:1-6). We pray that the world may know Christ the Saviour.

    Pray for wisdom for national church leaders as they give guidance and counsel to the church.

    Pray for economic recovery and that government leaders will have the fear of God as they lead so that there will be peace (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

    God owns the silver and the gold (Haggai 2:8). Pray for new ways of fundraising for the Lord’s work in light of the COVID-19 challenges. May God restore and open up opportunities even during difficult time for his people who people lost incomes.

    We have lost church members including the leaders due to COVID-19. Let us pray for comfort, spiritual strength and provision for widows in the church and the families of all the deceased” (James 1:27).

  • We call upon the Lord for India and for all nations in pandemic distress:

    Living God, how long can this tsunami of suffering and death prevail? Reach down from on high to draw your children out of mighty waters.

    Bring healing and salvation.

    Sustain exhausted pastors, medical staff and other caregivers.

    Comfort those who mourn, and supply what each nation needs to come through this torment.

    Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer!

    Click here to read a pastoral letter from the MWC president to Anabaptist-Mennonites of India

  • “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice!” (Psalm 130). 

    We hear accounts of military forces torturing and killing peaceful protesters, raiding houses and destroying property in Myanmar. A democratically elected government has been displaced. COVID-19 has caused suffering and death, and the people of Myanmar now face increased food and fuel costs at a time of high unemployment. 

    God grant our sisters and brothers strength to follow the way of Jesus, “wise as serpents and gentle as doves” (Matthew 10:16). 

    Kyrie eleison, Lord have mercy!  

    Click here to read the president’s pastoral letter to the church in Myanmar