Prayer into 2019

Tearfund is a Christian relief and development charity; introducing themselves saying; ‘we’re following Jesus where the need is greatest. Working through local churches to unlock people's potential and helping them to discover that the answer to poverty is within themselves. When disasters strike, we respond quickly. We won't stop until poverty stops’.

In the Prayer Focus at the beginning of the year Nigel Harris Tearfund’s CEO drew attention to five countries where the needs are particularly deep and where people desperately need our prayers; Nigeria, Yemen, East Africa, Venezuela and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

If you wish to read the full article see www.tearfund.org 2019 Prayer Focus. The overwhelming need of these and so many other countries is peace. Prayer is foundational to all Tearfund’s work, so your prayers for each of the countries mentioned is the greatest contribution you can make to building the dreams of people who have so little.

Nigeria

?The growing humanitarian crisis in Nigeria has forced many people from their homes as conflict between herders and farmers shows little sign of ending.

An estimated 7.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. In seven years of conflict, more than 20,000 people have been killed in Boko Haram-related incidents.

‘Despite Nigeria having one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, it is a nation with the largest number of people living in poverty in the world. For 2019, Tearfund will continue to work towards changing this paradox,’ says Paul Mershak, our Nigeria Country Representative.

How you can pray for Nigeria:

  • For the elections planned for February and March to be fair and peaceful.

  • For people in need of humanitarian assistance, that our partners will be able to reach them.

  • For peace between herders and farmers, bringing the violent clashes to an end.

Yemen

Ongoing conflict means Yemenis continue to face dangers on several fronts – from potential famine and cholera, to the impact of transport systems and health facilities destroyed by conflict.

In September 2018 the head of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) declared that the situation in Yemen remains the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Across the nation, 22.2 million people are in need of humanitarian aid, and 8.4 million are at risk of starvation. This will continue unless a peaceful resolution to the conflict is found.

‘Tearfund will work through our partners to respond to the potential famine and to the needs that exist right now. We’re also potentially seeing another large spike in the cholera situation, so our partners are scaling up to respond,’ says Kieren Barnes, Middle East Response Director.

How you can pray for Yemen:

  • For peace to come to Yemen.

  • For people suffering from severe food shortages, that it will be possible to get emergency supplies to those in most need.

  • For an end to the cholera outbreaks deepening the crisis.

Venezuela?

Thousands of people are fleeing every month due to instability. The IMF predicts the inflation rate will reach 10 million per cent this year, meaning essentials - food and medicine will be increasingly hard to come by.

A project supported by Tearfund called ‘The Venezuela we dream’ is helping children draw their dreams and hopes for Venezuela. ‘Children in Venezuela dream of living in a safe, peaceful place,’ says Loida Carriel, Tearfund’s Advocacy Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean. ‘They hope for a life where their family is together, and they do not have to travel far to get food, medicine or jobs.’

How you can pray for Venezuela:

  • For children who dream of a better future, that there will be the stability for this to happen.

  • For those who have fled the country, that they will stay safe and be able to return home.

  • That political leaders will have wisdom in their decision making.

Mandy McIntosh