Pray for the people of Central America who were affected by Tropic Storm Sara: mostly Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras where there are 6 MWC national member churches. In several places, government institutions, social-humanitarian organizations and churches have been providing help through shelters, food and other material aid. For many, these natural disasters aggravate their existing socioeconomic situation. In the midst of all this, people of faith continue to believe, trust and hope in the Lord, facing these situations with a resilient and hopeful attitude. Let us pray that God, with his immense love and tenderness, accompany and help these people and countries, and help them recover from the flooding, landslides, displacement or isolation and material losses. Let us pray together that affected people and communities can find the strength, the means and the solidarity to overcome this tragedy, recover from damages and loss, be restored, and find comfort, security and hope.
Photo: Members of Iglesia Evangélica Menonita Central de La Ceiba in Honduras clean chairs after their church building was flooded by heavy rains from Tropical Storm Sara
Prayers of Gratitude and Intercession
Pray for world leaders, decision-makers, civil society and all participants who will gather for COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, 11–22 November 2024.
God’s “gathering up all things in heaven and on earth in Christ” (Eph 1:10) reminds us of our deep unity with the whole of creation, a unity of all things in Christ. We rejoice in creation’s beauty and its bounty. But we also share in God’s grief when creation suffers, especially when it is at our hands.
So we confess and repent of our refusal to listen to the suffering of creation and our failure to live up to Jesus’ mandate to us as disciples, namely, to proclaim the gospel of salvation to all creation (Mark 16:15).
Dutch Mennonite Marijke van Duin will post summary reflections during COP 29, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, 11-22 November 2024.
Photo: Karla Braun
Our sisters and brothers in the USA will have a national election on 5 November 2024. The USA like many countries is facing the challenges of division and polarization. Pray that the elections would proceed peacefully, and that the outcome would unite the country for good.
Photo: Canva
We rejoice about the upcoming event to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement and General Council meetings in Switzerland. MWC’s General Council is the decision-making body made up of delegates from each national member church. The Global Anabaptist Networks are meeting in the weeks before the 500th anniversary event. This year also marks the 100th anniversary of MWC.
Pray for the preparations for this event. May our time together help us live into our vision to be a communion (koinonia) of Anabaptist-related churches linked to one another in a worldwide community of faith for fellowship, worship, service, and witness.
Pray for church leaders and the members of musical ensembles from these countries who need to obtain visas to travel to the Schengen zone: Angola,Belize, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Burundi, Cuba, DRC, DR, Ecuador,Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal,Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam,Zambia, Zimbabwe.
“But they cried out to You, and You heard them from heaven.”(Nehemiah 9)
Pray for peace on the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo. There's a genocide going on that has not been named.
Pray for Mennonites in DR Congo. May the life and actions of our churches bear witness to the fundamental values and beliefs of Anabaptist Mennonites.
Pray for the future of Christian education: that Christians and church leaders take a greater interest in Bible classes; that funds be found for the material organization of courses, on a regular basis, and that Bible study tours with church leaders in the provinces be facilitated.
—Reverend Professor Érik KUMEDISA, Director, Centre Biblique Anabaptiste
Photo: Siaka Traoré
Let us not forget the atrocities that have been and are still being committed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. O God, open our eyes and ears to suffering. Accompany and inspire us and all those involved in the conflicts, and may we remain prayerful!
—submitted by Charles-André Broglie, Switzerland
Photo: Mennonite Action
Pray for world leaders, decision-makers, civil society and all participants who will gather for COP16 on biodiversity “Peace with Nature” in Cali, Colombia, 21 October – 1 November 2024.
God’s “gathering up all things in heaven and on earth in Christ” (Eph 1:10) reminds us of our deep unity with the whole of creation, a unity of all things in Christ. We rejoice in creation’s beauty and its bounty. But we also share in God’s grief when creation suffers, especially when it is at our hands.
So we confess and repent of our refusal to listen to the suffering of creation and our failure to live up to Jesus’ mandate to us as disciples, namely, to proclaim the gospel of salvation to all creation (Mark 16:15).
Photo: NEOM/Unsplash
Flash flooding in and around the capital in Nepal at the end of September did not directly affect congregations of MWC member church Brethren in Christ Nepal. However, due to their reputation after more than 10 years of relief response, serving the community without discrimination on caste or creed, BIC Welfare Society has been called upon by the local government to support flood victims in Jahada Rural Municipality of Morang district, Koshi Province. Pray that they would be equipped for the task and that the love of God would shine through their every action.
Photo: BIC Nepal
Please pray for the national church leaders of the 10 North American MWC national member church bodies (5 in Canada and 5 in USA). Leaders have the opportunity of forging a path of mutual understanding, collaborative service and reciprocal support. Pray that our leaders will recognize and help their communities to live into the unity we have been given in Christ by the Spirit.
—submitted by Gerald Hildebrand, MWC regional representative, North America
Photo: Irma Sulistyorini
Please pray for Nepali government to rule without discrimination to Christian people and for the Christian community to serve God without fear. Please pray for economic resources in Nepal, especially for the BIC churches in Nepal who serve various community with the gospel through word and deed. Please pray for young people for their future and their lifestyle.
—submitted by Hanna Soren, Brethren in Christ, Nepal
Photo: Kris Garris
MWC Chief Events Officer Liesa Unger shares prayer requests for the 500th anniversary event of MWC.
Our coming annual European Mennonite Leadership Conference will take place between17 and 20 October 2024 in Woking/Surrey, UK. We have 27 attendees from 14 European Conferences. Please remember the preparation of the program, also the travelling and the items we want to talk, specially the 2025/ 500 years preparation and also MERK 2026.
—submitted by José Arrais, MWC regional representative, Europe
Photo: Liesa Unger
The church in Ukraine continues to share the gospel despite the challenges of living amid war. There were camps for youth this summer.Chaplains continue to minister at the front where many are in need of inner healing. Praise God for the opportunity to minister side by side with pastors from other churches (denominations). Pray for deep spiritual nourishment and physical strength for the church leaders who seek to live out the vision the Beatitudes (Matthew 5-6).
Photo: Canva
Burkina Faso* is going through a dark period. On 24 August 2024, while the people of the village of Barsalogho, some 150 km from the capital Ouagadougou, were working together, they were attacked by terrorist assailants. More than 100 civilians and soldiers were killed. Around 150 people were injured.
The following day, Sunday 25 August 2024, while the country was mourning its dead, another attack took place in a village called Kounla in the north-west of the country. This massacre took place in a church, killing 26 men. After ordering the women and children out of the church, the terrorists executed 26 men.
The pastor of this church, who had studied with one of our pastors at the Maranatha Institute in Bobo-Dioulasso, was killed.
These cruel acts have a profoundly traumatic effect on women, children and many others. Let us pray for healing.
—Siaka Traoré, MWC regional representative, Central and West Africa.
*Burkina Faso was ranked first on the Global Terrorism Index in 2023.
Photo: Karla Braun
Pray for churches suffering persecution in India. Anti-Christian groups have tried to disrupt worship in Mennonite congregations in Raigarh and Durg (Chhattisgarh). Anti-conversion laws bring challenges to churches and harassment to new believers. Attempts are being made by some fundamentalist groups to confiscate and transfer church property for their own use.
Photo: Amosh Ganjboir
Pray for the upcoming presidential elections in the United States. Pray for wisdom especially in the Mennonite World Conference member churches, that as historic peace churches, they could counter polarization by demonstrating unity amid diversity, and care for the needs of others.
Photo: Canva
Pray for the growth of CITA (Community of Anabaptist Theological Institutions), comprising educational centres in various countries in the region with its joint Biblical and theological projects. Praise God for new courses, materials and knowledge exchange at the in-person CITA meetings, in Mexico City 19-22 February. Pray for the development of short lectures regarding Anabaptist history, and theological currents, in celebration of the500 anniversary of our faith family.
Photo: Canva
As we commemorate 500 years of Anabaptism, may we rightly remember our shared past.May we renew our commitments to following Jesus, living out unity in community with others, and building peace. May we also invest in our common witness with other members of Christ’s global body.
Pray for cultivation of an Anabaptist identity rooted in following Jesus together as church communities,becoming peacebuilders. Pray that we would reach across barriers that divide us, listening patiently to those with whom we disagree, and de-escalating violence. Pray for courage to confront injustice.
Photo: Irma Sulistyorini
Migration to the USA is negatively impacting those who stay, especially among younger people. Puerto Rico churches are becoming a retirement community for those who spend their working years in the USA and retire “back home”. The others struggle to keep their young leaders “at home” when they are inspired by better opportunities elsewhere.
Photo: Irma Sulistyorini
We ask for your prayers that God will help us to train young people and leaders who wish to proclaim the gospel here in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and also to plant new teams of young ambassadors for peace in the East of our country.
—Napoleon Chance, youth leader, Église Adonai Bukavu, DR Congo
Photo: Tiz Brotosudarmo
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