Prayers of Gratitude and Intercession
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“Let us pray for peace, because this war impoverishes us,” says Siaka Traoré, MWC regional representative for Central West Africa. In Burkina Faso, the government enlists young people to serve their country through the military, providing a dilemma for young Christians.
Photo: Virginia Lackinger/Unsplash
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Pray for the young leaders participating in YAMEN (Mennonite Central Committee and MWC's joint exchange program). Several months into their program, the barrage of new experiences may become exhausting instead of exciting. Pray that they would cultivate friendships – in their placement location, back at home and with other program participants – to manage their homesickness. Pray that they would have the energy and curiosity to continue to make connections in their placement location: at church, in the neighbourhood and in their work.
Photo: Blessing service during Latin American YAMEN orientation in Guatemala/YAMEN
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Lord, have mercy on the Volta region of Ghana where river flooding has affected people in the Eastern region. Several farms, fish cages, properties were condemned and many people become homeless in Sogakope, Mepe, Akuse, Agave, Ziweonu, Galo, Sota, Gborgblenukpo, Hawui, Tademe, Sokpoe and many other areas, reports Francis Dzivor, Ghana Mennonite Church president and MWC General Council delegate. Mennointe congregations in Tademe and Dalive were affected.
Photo: Canva
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Pray for the churches in Northeast Asia: congregations in Japan and Hong Kong especially are aging. Pastors are retiring. Pray for a living spark to renew churches and to draw younger people to choose to follow Jesus in the fellowship of others.
Photo: Tottori Mennonite Church/Atsuhiro Katano
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Let us pray and work for both peace and justice – for all people in the Holy Land. Please pray for the following:
- That there would be an immediate and lasting ceasefire (with care for those wounded in body or spirit).
- That all people – Jewish, Christian, Muslim – who work for a just peace in the Middle East would be bold and effective.
- That God would empower and protect Christians in Palestine. (We think especially of the Christian community we know in Bethlehem.)
- That Christians around the world would care as much for Palestinians as we care for Israelis.
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Political and ethnic unrest in the state of Manipur has resulted in thousands displaced, living in refugee camps or having fled to other states. Pray for a halt to hate speech and violence. Pray that different groups would be willing to learn about the other. Pray for peace in the state.
Photo: Tiz Brotosudarmo
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Ethnic or religious nationalism influences people to marginalize or even act violently against those who are outside their group. This is especially happening now in the USA, India and Indonesia. We pray for Christians to open their eyes to the harm of such philosophies. We pray for wisdom to counter such philosophies with truth and grace.
Photo: Prateek Gautam/Unsplash
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Pray for those who are persecuted and those who lack justice; for those who are going through difficult times of crisis, like those in Eastern DR Congo. M23 rebels have committed unlawful killings, rape and other wire crimes in the region. Churches and homes have been destroyed. Pray for a de-escalation of violence. Pray for emotional healing for those who have been affected, both as victims and as perpetrators.
Photo: Lina Trochez/Unsplash
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Colombia is experiencing a revival of dedication to God's work, and we ask prayer that new servants will join this work every day. May the churches unite in a common vision. May our churches in Colombia find unity as we are divided into three regions that prevent us from thinking together and planning how best to work in Christ's name. Please pray for the security and protection of our country in the face of ever-increasing violence. Many armed groups are taking the law into their own hands. May our leaders be in good health, for some of them are elderly and suffer from health problems, while others have no health insurance to cover their medical expenses. Finally, please pray that God will accompany us in our evangelistic activities and in the planting of new churches across the country, especially in Tolima, a department where we do not yet have a presence.
—Juan Francisco Novoa Duque, Iglesias Cristianas Hermanos Menonitas Region Central
Photo: Canva
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Praise the Lord for Christian schools from primary to graduate, where students can receive not only education but also formation in Christian ethics and spiritual transformation. We pray that our Anabaptist schools will be places of light, hope and peace in our community. We pray for teachers who sense God’s calling to mentor and inspire our students. We pray for boards and leadership teams who keep our schools moving toward our mission.
—submitted by the Global Anabaptist Education Network (GAEN)
Photo: IEP Promesa school/Henk Stenvers
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We ask churches and individuals to pray that the violence will end and that conciliation can begin.
- Pray for the hostages to return safely to their homes and families.
- Pray for those who mourn to be surrounded by loved ones as they grieve.
- And pray that peace workers, negotiators and government staff will put people’s lives and human dignity above political or military gains.
Although this conflict has been going on for decades, let us unite in asking our God to have mercy on Israel and Palestine, and for a just, peaceful and sustainable resolution to this crisis.
A pastoral letter for peace in the Holy Land
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Pray for leaders in Kenya to embrace tolerance and peace come what may for the growth and development of the nation.
—submitted by Samson Omondi, Kenya Mennonite Church
Photo: Kristina Toews
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Pray for those affected by wildfires, especially in Spain and Italy where there are Anabaptist-Mennonite churches.
Photo: Estreito da Calheta, Portugal. Michael Held/Unsplash
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Pray that God would raise people to financially support training at Sikalongo Bible Institute and the building project for Chilenje BICC in Zambia. Pray for church planters and for bishop Thuma Hamukang'andu and staff members at the Bible institute. Praise God for the successful Zambian General conference. Praise God for the sacrificial service of pastors, some who are faithful despite failing to put food on the table. Praise God for the peace we are enjoying in Zambia.
—submitted by Donald Munachoonga, BICC, Zambia
Photo: Canva
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Dear brothers, we ask you to pray to the Lord about our situation in Cuba. It is almost impossible to live here. There is an extreme lack of food, medicine and everything else necessary for survival. The population is really suffering: there are barely enough medical staff to treat people in the hospitals; there are no first-aid supplies either; children don't have enough to eat; people are starving to death in the streets. A mass exodus is underway, even to Haiti. Many people die on the journey, while others want to try to leave, but lack the resources to do so. There are no smiles or joys left in my city, only drawn faces. Only God knows how to solve this problem. Please pray for us.
—Beatriz Mendez Vidal, Concilio Menonita en Cuba, president
Photo: La Iglesia Shekinah, Cuba
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My prayers continue for God’s peaceful reign across the globe, especially in my homeland of the USA where gun violence continues to escalate and where the love of guns seems to be greater than our love for God and fellow human beings.
—submitted by Warren Tyson
Photo: Karla Braun
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Pray for the plan to plant a Mennonite church in Bounouma in N’zérèkoré forest region of Guinea and other locations (Yalenzou, Demou, Bossou, Laapah et Nzoo) in 2023. Pray that God would open doors for evangelizatistic materials and smooth out the great mountains that stand in front of the vision for church growth.
—submitted by Timothy Koiba, Mennonite Church West Africa
Photo: Rhoda Shirk
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Pray for Christians in the Manipur region of India who have suffered from religiously motivated violence.
Pray for firmness of faith and oneness of hearts amongst the churches in India.
—submitted by Vipin Bansiar
Photo: Henk Stenvers
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Praise God that CAMCA (Mennonite Anabaptist Consultation of Mexico and Central America) is planned for 21-6 November 2023 in Guatemala, the first such gathering since the pandemic started. Pray that the gathering would strengthen the bonds of relationship, unity and communion between conventions and churches of diverse origin. May the theme from Isaiah 43:16-19 encourage the church to live out its calling as a sign and agent of light, life and hope amid adversity, uncertainties and social challenges.
—submitted by Willi Hugo Perez, MWC regional representative, Latin America − Central America
Photo: Ebenezer Mondez
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