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.
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.
Reports from church leaders in Southern Africa
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 |
Since the military seized power in Myanmar in February, waves of protest have been violently suppressed, with reports of more than 400 citizens killed. Even before the pandemic, poverty affected many households. The political situation has led to even greater economic turmoil, and many households have no financial income. Most church members are in a food crisis.
“Greetings from the crying land of Myanmar,” writes an Anabaptist church leader in Myanmar to the global family. “This is a special request for you to pray for our country, particularly for the vulnerable 400 families of our church people in Yangon and delta region. We believe that prayer can make a difference. God bless you all.”
As a world-wide community of faith and life we transcend boundaries of nationality, race, class, gender and language. We seek to live in the world without conforming to the powers of evil, witnessing to God's grace by serving others, caring for creation, and inviting all people to know Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. (Shared Conviction #7)
May God give us wisdom to move forward in the midst of this health emergency and economic and psychological crisis. Peru will hold elections on 11 April 2021. Pray that the process would be transparent and there would be no election fraud. Pray that the new president of our nation and the new congressional leaders would govern with the fear of the Lord.
--submitted by Antonio Garcia, Conferencia Peruana Hermanos Menonitas
Yesus berkata: berbahagialah orang yang lemah lembut, karena mereka akan memiliki bumi.
Tuhan, kiranya kami dapat menghadirkan kerajaanMu dengan kerendahan hati dan kesabaran.
Yesus berkata: Berbahagialah orang yang murah hati karena mereka akan memperoleh kemurahan.
Tuhan, kiranya kami memiliki kemurahan hati satu sama lain, terutama bagi mereka yang berbeda pendapat dengan kami.
Yesus berkata: Berbahagialah orang yang membawa damai, karena mereka akan disebut anak-anak Allah.
Tuhan, kami ingin dikenal sebagai umat-Mu melalui kasih yang kami berikan untuk semua orang dan melalui kemampuan kami untuk dapat berjalan dengan tenang di dalam suatu konflik sehingga dapat memahami dan mengubah keadaan yang ada.
Tuhan, ajari kami untuk menjadi garamMu di tengah perpecahan, terutama di dalam gereja dan keluarga, dan membawa keadilanMu yang mencerahkan, terutama di mana ada diskriminasi secara sistemik terhadap mereka yang miskin atau orang memiliki warna kulit yang berbeda.
Gereja-gereja Mennonite di Indonesia dengan senang hati menerima tamu-tamu yaitu saudara-saudari Anabaptis dari seluruh dunia yang akan datang menghadiri Temu Raya. Doakan agar tim penggalangan dana dapat menemukan solusi untuk menutup kekurangnan anggaran dan juga upaya penggalangan dana yang dilakukan untuk Global Youth Summit (GYS) dan Temu Raya ke-17.
Doakan juga percepatan proses vaksinasi COVID-19 sehingga semua negara telah terbebas dari virus sebelum akhir tahun 2021. Doakan agar pemerintah Indonesia dapat membuat pilihan bijak dalam menentukan prioritas siapa saja yang harus divaksin dan juga pengadaan akan vaksin tersebut.
Tuhan, Engkau telah membentuk umatMu dengan keragaman di dalam tubuh Kristus. Namun hadiah dalam bentuk keragaman ini terkadang tidak kami inginkan untuk menerimanya. Banyak saudara dan saudari kami memiliki pendapat dan praktik yang berbeda dengan kami, yang kadang membuat kami merasa tidak nyaman. Terus ajari kami melalui RohMu untuk terus memahami bagaimana kami tetap satu walau tanpa harus seragam.
Tuhan, Engkau memanggil kami untuk berbicara satu sama lain dengan jujur dan menegur dengan tulus ketika ada pelanggaran. Beri kami keberanian untuk melakukannya dengan rahmat dan kasih sayangMu. Bimbing kami juga untuk menyelidiki hati kami sendiri akan kegagalan yang telah kami lakukan dan tuntunlah kami ke dalam pertobatan.
Tuhan, Engkau telah menempatkan kami sebagai pemelihara ciptaanMu di bumi ini. Tunjukkan kepada kami kemuliaanMu lewat apapun yang ada di sekitar kami, baik dalam kelimpahan maupun kerapuhannya. Ampunilah kami yang sering mementingkan diri kami sendiri. Ajari kami untuk merendahkan hati kami saat kami diberi kedudukan untuk berkuasa dan ingatkan kami bahwa tindakan kami dapat membawa pengaruh bagi orang-orang di sekitar kami.
Tuhan,
Saat kami berdoa untuk keadilan iklim, kami berdoa agar Engkau memperkuat komitmen jangka panjang kami terhadap keadilan, perdamaian, dan keutuhan ciptaanMu.
Perubahan iklim telah mengancam hak asasi manusia yaitu sebagai hak universal dan tak terpisahkan bagi semua orang: yaitu hak atas makanan, hak atas air; kesehatan dan perumahan yang layak; politik dan hak-hak sipil lainnya.
Kami ingin mendengarkan suara orang-orang menjadi korban dengan apa yang terjadi saat ini. Tolong bantu kami untuk memahami masalah perubahan iklim ini sebagai masalah sosial sehingga kami dimampukan untuk menghormati martabat manusia demi kebaikan bersama.
Kami berdoa untuk keadilan - antara dunia Utara dan Selatan – yang melampaui generasi - melampaui jender - bagi yang terpinggirkan – bersamaan dengan bagian-bagian lain dari ciptaanMu.
Tuhan, jadikanlah kami alat keadilanMu sehingga kami bukan lagi bagian dari masalah, tetapi bagian dari solusi.
Amin
Ditulis oleh Rebecca Froese, anggota Satuan Tugas Peduli Ciptaan MWC dan jemaat Mennonite Church Hamburg-Altona, Germany.
Thank you, Father God, for always being attentive to us, your sons and daughters, and for listening to all those who call out to you with a humble and contrite heart.
Thank you for having redeemed us from judgement and death through the precious blood of Christ, our Saviour.
Loving Father, we ask you to protect us from all illness and every evil, in the name of your beloved son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
—submitted by Elvia Sanchez Torres, Iglesia Berna Menonita, Bogota, Colombia
The national health system in Portugal has been very brave, but in January, Portugal’s case numbers rose to the highest per capita in Europe. Hospitals are overwhelmed and protective equipment is in short supply. Pray for intervention.—José Arrais
“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).
Bishop Safari Mutabesha, president of Mennonite Brethren Church Malawi, calls for prayer. Coronavirus cases increased drastically in December with many deaths resulting. Most of his church members are day labourers who live far from medical facilities. “Some of our members are infected (tested positive) and are staying in isolation but have no food,” he writes. Food is scarce in January and February and harvests are far off.
Pray for Gilgal Mission Trust. President Paul Phinehas writes: “Our pastors in our conference are undergoing a lot of financial crises due to lockdown and COVID-19 restrictions. From March 2020 to December 2020 all our churches were closed. All our congregation livelihood opportunities are completely shattered. Many of our congregation are daily labourers and many are working in textiles companies [where demand has dried]. Prices have gone up, but unemployment is more now. Mostly youths lose their studies and youngsters become jobless. Everyone is in a difficult situation both financially and mentally. We kindly request you to pray for us to overcome this situation.”
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