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
Prayers of Gratitude and Intercession
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On 3 April 2024, Taiwan was struck by its most powerful earthquake in 25 years, which measured 7.5 in magnitude.
Leaders of FOMCIT (the Mennonite church in Taiwan) report that no members are injured. However, at least nine people have been reported killed, more than 900 injured, and property damage is widespread. The Mennonite hospital in Hualien is prepared to receive emergency patients.
Let us pray for comfort for those who have lost loved ones and for the people who are suffering after the earthquake. Pray for the rescuers searching for trapped people in unstable wreckage with the possibility of aftershocks. Pray for medical teams that are helping the victims.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
MWC mourns with our brothers and sisters in Myanmar |
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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
Recently Ecuador has experienced situations of extreme violence and social disorder, and the government has responded with militarization. We pray that the families and communities that are experiencing situations of violence in any form – extortion, robberies and all kinds of insecurities – may find peace in God, that the ecclesial community may be the arms of the Lord and ears to listen to how people feel, and that the churches may know how best to witness to the values of the Kingdom of God.
—submitted by Pablo Stucky, MWC regional representative for South America – Andean region, and Marina Plua, Ecuador
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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
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We pray for peace in the whole world: not only regarding wars which are cruel to humanity and also to the environment, but also corruption and ambition for power which harm people. God, deliver us from temptations to violence and power.
Photo: Ása Steinarsdóttir/Unsplash
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Pray for peace in Ethiopia, that the authorities may make decisions and take actions that will bring unity among the different highly polarized ethnic groups. Pray for the churches, that they will be strong and follow the Prince of Peace in their attitudes and actions as they face a lot of opposition. Pray for the leadership in the Seminary and the faculty and students, that a spirit of true Christian brotherhood and sisterhood might prevail and protect the unity that Christ gives. Pray for the students whose education has been disrupted due to violence in their home region, financial difficulties and psychological distress. Pray for those millions who are still suffering from famine in some parts, and for those who are seeking to help them in their desperate need.—MKC newsletter
Photo: Tigist Tesfaye
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Pray for migrants in Latin America. Some countries are both providing shelter to those who have fled and causing others to find new homes. Praise God for churches who are providing for the physical and spiritual needs of people on the move, even as they face their own challenges to have enough.
Photo: Canva
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Pray for parts of East Africa affected by heavy rains and mudslides. Earlier in December, some 80 people were reported to have died in Tanzania after mudslides carried large rocks and uprooted trees, reaching depths of up to 8 metres. In the village of Hanang, Tanzania, the church remains standing but nearly all the houses were destroyed. Mennonite churches in Kisumu and Migori, Kenya, suffered excess rains. Flooding in Kenya continued to worsen throughout December with many deaths reported in northern Kenya.
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Church attendance in Canada and the USA has shifted significantly since before the pandemic. Some people have changed congregations, others have stopped attending at all; some congregations have changed denominations; some congregations have grown, others shrunk: all need wisdom to discern the ways they are called to change to meet today’s challenges and the ways they are called to strengthen and renew convictions and practices.
Photo: Karla Braun
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The countries of the Sahel, particularly Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, are in tension with ECOWAS. The risk of clashes still persists through threats from both sides.
—submitted by Siaka Traoré, MWC regional representative for Central West Africa
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Pray for the preparations to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism in Zurich in 2025. May it be an opportunity of reflection to celebrate the movement’s strengths and repent of its failures while also seeking reconciliation with those who have been estranged.
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Pray for the spread of the Word of God. Some regions lack Scripture in their language or do not have ready access to copies of the Bible. Pray for resourcing provision.
Photo: Aaron Burden/Unsplash
Pray for parts of East Africa affected by heavy rains and mudslides. Earlier in December, some 80 people were reported to have died in Tanzania after mudslides carried large rocks and uprooted trees, reaching depths of up to 8 metres. In the village of Hanang, Tanzania, the church remains standing but nearly all the houses were destroyed. Mennonite churches in Kisumu and Migori, Kenya, suffered excess rains. Flooding in Kenya continued to worsen throughout December with many deaths reported in northern Kenya.
Officials from MWC member church Kanisa la Menonite Tanzania visited the affected people in Hanang. Pictured (l-r) are a local diocese pastor; pastor Emmanuel Hagai, KMT General Secretary; Chris Rwanga Kateti, area bishop; bishop Nelson M. Kisare, KMT Moderator; local (government) leader.
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