Prayer Room
He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. - Isaiah 40:29
Today, we invite you to pray for the vulnerable children who are busy writing their year end exams. It has been a difficult year for many as children try to catch up after many months of missed school due to COVID restrictions.
Pray that they will have the energy and focus needed to study and do well on these exams.
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. - Revelation 21:4
Belvie* caught the eye of the Care Workers and support team in Goma, not because her physical appearance was uncommon, but because of the rigid look of pain in her eyes. Standing on the outskirts of the Care Point in Buhimba, she watched other children engaged and embraced in care and eating nutritious food. When the local Care Workers were actively discerning which additional children they could be caring for, Belvie’s obvious desperation caught their attention and gripped their hearts. On that day, they walked Belvie home to a mother dying of cancer with no medical treatment available. They learned that Belvie is one of six children in the household in desperate need of many physical aspects of care, and also of nurturing and healing. The local support team in Goma gave this report of her progress after she was added to the program: “The photo is from the first day the Care Workers met her, but to see her laughing after only a couple weeks, that itself is a miracle.”
Thank God for the work that He is doing in the lives of the most vulnerable children across Africa like Belvie. Pray that each child will come to know God's love and will experience His healing and restoration.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. - Galatians 5:1
From November 1st – 5th, there will be a Maranatha Workshop for the Care Workers in Chilabula Community, Zambia. The purpose of the workshop is to share about who Jesus is and can be in their lives and what it means to care for the vulnerable in their community.
Pray for the Care Workers to come with a heart that is willing and open to hearing God and His word.
Pray for our Care Workers to experience healing and freedom from the pain and trauma that they have experienced in their lives.
Ask God to give each Care Worker a deeper understanding of what it means to serve the most vulnerable.
Pray for each person who will be facilitating the workshop. Pray that they would be sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
“Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” – Acts 14:17
When there is too much or too little rain, it has a direct impact on the day-to-day lives of the most vulnerable across Africa. In many countries, the rainy season will start in the next month and continue until April. Please pray for the rain needed to ensure that crops grow well, and for people to have a sufficient harvest, allowing them to provide for their families until the next harvest. Yet also pray that there will not be so much rain that the crops are ruined and the homes of the most vulnerable families are destroyed.
"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." - Matthew 25:40, NIV
As Hands at Work, we are continually seeking ways that we can grow in our ability to holistically care for the most vulnerable children. One way that we are doing this in the coming year is through intentionally investing in our children aged zero to five.
Recognising that a significant amount of a child’s development happens between the ages of zero to five, Hands at Work is keen to maximise the time that children spend at the Care Point with the Care Workers. Instead of simply coming to the Care Point for lunch, the children will come in the morning for breakfast, and then after have a safe place to play, have naps and learn basic skills while their older siblings are in school.
Please pray for the local Hands at Work teams across Africa as they share this vision with the Care Workers and Primary Caregivers. Pray that they will grasp the vision and see the importance of investing in the zero to fives. Pray that the Primary Caregivers will want to be involved in what is happening at the Care Point.
He LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. - Zephaniah 3:17
Across Africa, an ongoing challenge is early marriage and teenage pregnancy. This issue has only been increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent closure of schools for much of 2020 and 2021. In some circumstances, girls have left school to work because of the economic situation and wanting to support their families. In others, they have entered into unhealthy relationships or been pressured to get married as a way for their families to earn an income.
In the midst of these challenges, there is hope as men and women commit to serving the children with Christ-like love.
Today we invite you to join us in praying for:
Our girls to experience the love and hope of Christ. Pray that they will know their worth and value.
The Care Workers to continually grow in the way that they relate to the girls. Pray that they will be voices of truth, hope and encouragement in their lives.
The Care Workers and the local Hands at Work teams across Africa as they seek to find creative ways to engage the girls in the day-to-day activities at the Life Centre.
