Prayers of gratitude and intercession

We pray against the violence and the disappearance of primarily women. We pray that the political parties in Mexico act truthfully.
—submitted by Ofelia Garc”a Hern·ndez
Photo: Kus Darianto

Pray for the ministry through gospel magazines in India in many languages: Telugu, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya and Nepali.
—submitted by Raja Rao SomayaJula
Photo: MCI Singpur

Pray for the expansion of the Mennonite Church in West Africa – Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea (Conakry) – and for new workers on mission.
—submitted by Timothy Koiba
Photo: Tiz Brotosudarmo

Mexico and Central America face serious political and socioeconomic conflicts. These pose serious challenges to the mission of the church. Pray for the wisdom of the Spirit as churches use Anabaptist-Mennonite lenses to rethink how to live out their presence, mission and pastoral tasks.
—submitted by Willi Hugo Perez, MWC regional representative, Central America
Photo: Juan Francisco Novoa

Ongoing rainfall irregularities in Northern Kenya and Southern Ethiopia have led to severe food insecurity. Pray for humanitarian assistance.
—submitted by Jumanne Magiri Mafwiri, MWC regional representative, East Africa
Photo: Eduard Klassen

With the ongoing war in Ukraine, Anabaptist-Mennonite churches are discerning in practical ways what it means to be a peace church. Pray for creativity and inspiration to live out the gospel of peace with wise words and effective actions.
Photo: Preshit Rao

Pray for Mennonite young people in Myanmar. The stresses of living under a violent military dictatorship cause despair and some wish to join armed resistance. Praise God for a recent youth conference where they could be encouraged and learn about peace. Pray for the church members who continue to suffer violence in the ongoing civil war. Some experience shortages of daily food and displacement from their homes.
—submitted by Amos Chin, Myanmar
Photo: Sam Abhinav

In Burkina Faso, the security situation continues to deteriorate and the number of people killed and displaced is increasing. In this context, the government is asking the entire nation to contribute to the war effort through individual, collective, civil and religious mobilization. The Federation of Evangelical Churches and Missions (FEME) has asked its members (including the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Burkina Faso, EEMBF) to contribute to the war effort by setting an amount for each church. 

EEMBF president Calixte Bananzaro and Pastor Siaka Traoré (also of the EEMBF, and at the same time MWC’s representative for Central/West Africa) are planning a meeting with the president of the FEME to explain the non-violent position of Mennonites which conflicts with this request. They ask for the prayerful support of the global church in these steps. May God prepare this meeting, and give wisdom and discernment to all in the discussion. 
— submitted by Anicka Fast, Secretary of MWC Faith and Life Commission, in consultation with Calixte Bananzaro and Siaka Traoré
Photo: Siaka Traoré and Calixte Bananzaro will represent the peace stance of Burkina Faso’s Mennonites in response to new military taxation. Photos provided.

Pray for our broken world, especially regarding deaths happening at gunpoint in the USA without justice.
—submitted by Ruth Anne Friesen
Photo: Kristina Toews

God of mercy, Jesus our brother, Spirit our comforter, 

Grant to these brothers and sisters faith through daily hardships,  
hope amid challenges and dangers, peace despite violence,  
and encouragement to persist in faithfulness from the solidarity of the global family. 

We pray for all people of faith in this region who are persecuted for their beliefs. 
We thank you, God, for the servants you have and are equipping as ministers of the gospel.  
May you multiply the seeds for sowing and increase the harvest (2 Corinthians 9:10). 

Kyrie eleison, Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer!
In the name of Jesus, our peace,