Prayers of gratitude and intercession

For centuries, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been plundered for its wealth and by the greed of those in power, whose sole concern is their own enrichment.

This affects the way people live together and the national cohesion. In the province of Grand Bandundu, where a large number of Mennonites live, there is armed unrest between the Bayaka and Bateke tribes.

In the east of the country, on the Rwanda-Burundi border, where Mennonites are gradually settling in, an armed rebellion is destabilizing the province. The collapse of the economy has given rise to tensions. Conditions are ripe for ethnic cleansing, which has already begun.

Please pray for the eradication of greed and corruption, and that the Mennonite Christians of DR Congo will give an example of peace in a troubled country. We need your prayerful support.
—submitted by Reverend Professor …rik Kumedisa, Director of the Centre Biblique Anabaptiste, Kinshasa, DR Congo
Photo: Karla Braun

Most of the Southern Africa has received limited rains so far. Crops are showing signs of moisture stress or have already become unviable. In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, dams supplying the city with water have not had any significant inflows so far. Some areas around the city are going for weeks without receiving water! We are concerned that diseases such as cholera can easily spread within the region. Pray that God show compassion to our region and provide rains. The situation is dire.
—submitted by Danisa Ndlovu, regional representative for Southern Africa
Photo: Kristina Toews

28 BIC Nepal church members‘ houses and the building for worship were destroyed in Rangeli Municipality, Morang District, Nepal, after an electric short circuit sparked a large fire.  

“Now they do not have any shelter to live and nothing left to eat except some burned rice and even most of their cooking vessels are damaged,” writes Shemlal Hembrom, general secretary of Nepal BIC Church/Brethren in Community Welfare Society. “Some people from the neighbouring village and the local youth club members have provided food to the victims. Other local organizations and local churches including BIC church Nepal have planned to provide one month’s food relief, utensil, cooking gas, a pair of clothes, beds, mattress, bed sheets and two plastic tents for temporary shelter to each family.  

“Please pray for all the fire victims and God may open the way specially to support our believers to rebuild their houses and the church building.— 

“Be merciful to me, O God; be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by.——Psalm 57:1 

Please pray for our neighbour Haiti. The first country in the region to become independent, its early development was stymied by punitive reparation payments and ostracization. Today, it is one of the poorest countries in the world where frequent disease, violence, and internal displacement make life very difficult for most residents. Pray for the church struggling to live out the gospel of peace in challenging conditions.
—submitted by William George Broughton, MWC regional representative for the Caribbean
Photo: Canva

There is disruption from protests across Europe concerning European Union decisions, especially regarding agriculture the agricultural sector. Pray for clear eyed perspectives on regulations for building a more just and compassionate society. Pray that people with passion would also cultivate the capacity for deep listening so the sharing of difference can lead to understanding and solutions instead of polarization.
Photo: Canva

We pray for members of the human family who are in the midst of war or violence in their nations. At this time, our hearts cry out especially for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Myanmar, Ethiopia, Ukraine and Palestine. Lord, deliver them and silence the guns and bombs in those countries.
Photo: Merle Good

One of the common challenges facing our communion of churches in North America is leadership. Six of 10 national MWC member churches in North America have undergone or will experience senior staff leadership changes in the coming year. Congregations are aging – including their leaders. We are facing a wave of pending pastoral retirements. National churches are concerned about engaging younger generations and are trying to develop emerging leaders‘ programs (e.g., mentorship, coaching, bi-vocational) and job networks for those interested in Anabaptist theology and pastoral ministry. We invite you to pray for current leaders, and that new leaders would be raised up to guide the church in the years to come.
—submitted by Gerald Hildebrand, MWC regional representative for North America
Photo: Patrick Fore/Unsplash

Myanmar is in the worst situation due to wars. The civil war is intensifying and spreading across the country. There is inflation and lack of employment. Due to the disruption of trade routes and insecurity within the country, a third of Myanmar (more than 18 million people) are in need of food. Among them, more than 200 Mennonite families are in dire straits.

The war between the Myanmar military and the revolutionaries continues with losses for the government. The military junta announced 12 February 2024 that every citizen (ages 18 to 35, regardless of gender) must serve in the military. Young people are banned from leaving the country and face a 5-year prison sentence for refusing conscription. That law will cause suffering for all citizens. Unrest is growing. Some young people many flee to avoid military service. Others seek refuge in the revolutionary groups.

The conscription law poses a special challenge for our Mennonite youth. They are also afraid to attend church and venture outside.

Our country faces many problems, but on the other hand, God is also opening a great door for the spread of the gospel and peace movement. We are doing great in here by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Please pray for us and for peace in Myanmar.
—a message from the leaders of Bible Missionary Church, Mennonite

For the DR Congo, pray for families who are scattered, especially fathers who are separated from their children due to war and the widowed women who struggle to have enough to survive. Pray for the soldiers who use sexual violence as a weapon: may God touch them to respect their fellow human. As the election results from December are settled, may the government and the people learn to love each other as neighbours even across party lines, and may the leaders develop a heart for the poorer citizens whom they govern. Pray for the Mennonite Bible training institutions to have partners to improve their service.
—submitted by Robert Irundu, Communauté Mennonite au Congo
Photo: Siaka Traoré

High rainfall caused the collapse of one of the irrigation dams in Central Java. The resulting flood submerged many residential areas, many farmers‘ rice fields, and even cut off access to highways connecting several cities in Central Java. Pray that this will handled well, so that the displaced people can return to their homes, their damaged rice fields can be re-worked and access between cities can be restored, as well as aid supplies to the victims can be distributed properly. No GKMI congregations are in the affected area, but nearby ones are responding with aid and offering shelter. 
—submitted by Agus Mayanto, MWC regional representative for Southeast Asia 
Photo: Irma Sulistyorini