We are mindful of the many persons – doctors, nurses, family members, friends – who are caring for those who are suffering from COVID-19. We give thanks for their self-giving, and pray for their safety and on-going energy. May the Risen One be there at the bed side, in the hospital, along with them.
Pray for Communauté des Églises des Frères Mennonites au Congo (CEFMC) which continues to struggle with the loss of an older generation of leaders. Since January, the conference has mourned the loss of 5 pastors. Pray for the families and congregations mourning the loss of Reverend Muyombo from Kikwit, Reverend Mavungu from Kinshasa, Reverend Ndala from Kinshasa, Reverend Mukidi from Panzi, and Reverend Kasombo from Kajiji. May God comfort those who mourn.
Planting and harvesting is disrupted by the global pandemic, and some farmers are eating their seed stock out of necessity. Pray for an equitable distribution of food in the months to come, and that wealthy countries would not look only to their own interests.
Social isolation increases the vulnerability of many people. Pray for those who do not have safe homes to shelter in.
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12). May the Spirit show us how to continue to be one body despite our physical separation at this time. May we continue top put our trust in Jesus Christ our hope.
Loving God, who walks alongside the neediest and the little ones of this world, we give many thanks for helping us to accompany our refugee and migrant brothers and sisters. We wish to assist them with bread, with comfort, with a willing and attentive ear and heart. We also desire a more just and humane world where we all have a place to be with dignity and joy. Thank you for your faithfulness; at no point has the oil run dry. Just as you did for the widow and the prophet, you have generously provided. We also thank you because we have felt your presence more closely, and we have become more aware of your being God with us.
—Refugee and Migrant Peoples Project, Iglesia Menonita de Quito, Ecuador
Starting 23 February 2020, India has gone through reprehensible violence that has resulted in 45 deaths. Vested political interests and forces of hate have driven rioting on the streets, homes and mosques of the national capital.
We urge the global church to uphold the people of Delhi in prayer for peace and harmony to prevail and for violence to cease. Pray for families who have lost loved ones. Pray for congregations in the Delhi national capital region to open their hearts and facilities for the afflicted and to come to the aid of the helpless and distraught.
Pray for the authorities to ensure the rule of law and the security of vulnerable people of Delhi also for political parties to discipline members who make inflammatory remarks.
—Vikal Rao, Mennonite Church India leader and MWC Deacons commission member
We are so thankful for the good rains that are covering the whole country of South Africa. They have come late for good crops in areas, but we are glad to get water. The countryside is good and green. We are very thankful. We do need our dams to fill up though.
—submitted by MWC regional representative for Southern Africa Barbara Nkala
Pray that MWC member churches would be open to the moving of the Holy Spirit. May our churches experience individual and corporate renewal. May our hearts turn away from the allure of individualism, toward the call of God to act interdependently as God’s shalom builders in our communities.
Malawi’s constitutional court overturned the 2019 presidential election result citing poll irregularities. Our brothers and sisters in Malawi call us to pray that all parties will accept the news peacefully.
Mennonite World Conference calls for Anabaptist and Mennonite congregations around the world to unite in prayer and to exercise precautionary measures in the church. Pray for people who are isolated, afraid or ill, especially in Wuhan, Hubei Province and mainland China. Pray for wisdom for Chinese government and health authorities working to contain the outbreak, and for courage, compassion and safety for healthcare workers who work tirelessly to save lives. Also pray for wisdom for all governments and health authorities working to prevent the spread of the virus. May they act with compassion and caution.
Thank you, God our Creator, who seeks to restore fallen humanity by calling us to faithful fellowship, worship, service and witness together. We worship you, Jesus, Son of God. Through your life, teachings, cross and resurrection, you showed us how to be faithful disciples, redeemed the world, and offer us eternal life. We call upon you, Holy Spirit, to empower us to trust God in all areas of life. May we become peacemakers who renounce violence, love our enemies, seek justice, and share our possessions with those in need.
Give thanks that Anabaptists around the world are united in faith in God’s kingdom across language and cultural differences. Pray that MWC member churches who are suffering persecution and hardship may have courage and hope to persevere.
Click here for World Fellowship Sunday worship materials on Jesus Christ: our hope.
As the world sees more extreme weather patterns due to climate change, Australia has been fighting widespread bushfires and some cities in Indonesia have suffered flooding from excessive rainfalls. In both countries, more than a dozen people have died and thousands more are displaced.
Mennonite World Conference calls brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for the calamities to be brought under control, for the displaced to soon return to their homes, and for protection for the response teams as they work to save others.
As stewards of God’s creation, let us also pray that governments will create more environmentally-conscious policies to mitigate further climate risks.
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.
As we see escalating conflict between Iran and the United States following the killing of Iran’s top general Qassem Soleimani, let us pray that both governments exercise restraint and focus on a peaceful resolution; that they would “not merely look out for their own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).
The Spirit of Jesus empowers us to trust God in all areas of life so we become peacemakers who renounce violence, love our enemies, seek justice, and share our possessions with those in need.
“Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation; for a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples. I will bring near my deliverance swiftly, my salvation has gone out and my arms will rule the peoples; the coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope” (Isaiah 51:4–5).
Praise God for the salvation we find in Jesus, who crossed the barrier between God and people to show us how to live justly. This Christmas, may we share this good news across barriers with neighbours, friends, and family.
Africa Inter Mennonite Mission reports 16 dead, 57 injured and 1600 buildings destroyed after torrential rains damaged the hospital, churches and schools at the Ndjoko Punda Mennonite mission station in DR Congo 22 November 2019. Pray for the rebuilding efforts and trauma recovery and for Communauté Mennonite au Congo (Congo Mennonite church) as they respond.
Unrest continues in Hong Kong. Pray for the MWC Deacons delegation who will visit in December. May the presence of the global Anabaptist family through these representatives be an encouragement to the Mennonite church in Hong Kong and a witness to the Prince of Peace.
Latin Americans long for peace in countries where conflict and suffering endures. Pray for Bolivia where a toppled president has left political uncertainty in his wake. Pray for Venezuelans who continue to suffer from economic and political crisis. Pray for the people of Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti and Chile who are also experiencing political difficulties and violence. In the midst of national difficulties, may MWC member churches heed Jesus’ call for the churches to be one body together, valuing instead of demeaning our differences as expressions of the diversity God created.
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