Prayer Diary
May – August 2015
May
The next step
Please pray...
for the young people graduating from secondary school this term
Hope Secondary School near Bethlehem gives underprivileged children the chance to receive an excellent quality education. During this summer term, the final-year students are preparing to move on to the next stage in their lives – whether that's university, apprenticeships or employment. Please pray for their success and happiness.
A safe space
Please pray...
for the at-risk girls receiving support from Beit el Nour in Lebanon
The Dar al Amal centre, run by the Lebanese NGO Beit el Nour, offers a haven for girls vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. As well as practical help such as hot meals, the attendees receive counselling, educational opportunities and a variety of activities to help them build friendships and self-worth.
United against prejudice
Please pray...
for all those fighting to change the negative attitudes towards disabled people
The Deaf Unit in Cairo works in the education and training of children and adults with hearing impairment. They challenge the negative stereotypes associated with deaf people in Egyptian society, working with families and communities to promote equality and respect.
A fruitful future
Please pray...
for farmers working to make an independent living
In the Tulkarem district of the north West Bank, our partners at the International Christian Committee lead a food security programme for farmers who have lost their land to the separation barrier. By providing livestock, seedlings and fruit trees suitable for the remaining areas of ground, we help the farmers return to self-sufficiency.
June
Creativity in action
Please pray...
for the continuing success of Al-Kafaàt's craft workshops
Among the wide range of projects at the Al-Kafaàt Foundation in Beirut are the sheltered workshops employing people with learning disabilities. The workshops produce ceramics, screen printed items, intricate mosaics and many other beautiful crafts that are sold to provide an income for the employees.
Mobile medicine
Please pray...
for all who are affected by illness and injury in Gaza
Gaza remains in a bleak situation, with thousands too poor to rebuild the homes destroyed in the 2014 conflict. Malnutrition and disease are prevalent, and our partners at Al Ahli Hospital are tireless in their mission to help those in need of medical care. Their mobile clinics reach even the least accessible communities, ensuring early diagnosis and treatment of conditions that would otherwise be neglected.
A sisterhood for peace
Please pray...
for the women mobilising against conflict in Israel and Palestine
Israeli and Palestinian women work together through Musalaha Ministry for Reconciliation to become agents of change amid the devastating conflict that overshadows their communities. They would appreciate your prayers for courage and resilience as they uphold their dream of peace in such a challenging situation.
Safe journeys
Please pray...
for our partners' health missions to isolated Egyptian villages
Through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity Egypt, we improve housing conditions and health services in remote communities. Thanks to your support, our partners can provide medical examinations, treatment, and hygiene awareness seminars. Sometimes the staff's journeys to the villages can be affected by political unrest and strikes; please pray for their safety.
July
Acceptance for the rejected
Please pray...
for the marginalised people gaining help from Aviv Ministry
In Tel Aviv, we support the Aviv Ministry's drop-in centre, which gives homeless people, drug addicts and sex workers a place to have hot meals and showers, and to rest away from the dangers of the streets. Please pray for this important work with those struggling on the very fringes of society.
A dignified life
Please pray...
for the residents of the Four Homes of Mercy and the staff who support them
The Four Homes of Mercy in Bethany provides full-time care for people with profound disabilities. The current residents range in age from four to 96, and each receive an individual programme of care that ensures they can live their lives with dignity and enjoyment. Your prayers are a great source of encouragement to both staff and residents.
The lost generation
Please pray...
for the Syrian children uprooted from their homes and schools
As the Syrian war shows no sign of abating, millions of displaced people are surviving in temporary accommodation. In Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development is not only providing emergency humanitarian aid but also running a school for Syrian refugee children, ensuring that they do not miss out on their education in spite of their tragic situation.
An end to violence
Please pray...
for the Zabaleen volunteers working to stop domestic abuse in their community
The Zabaleen people live on the outskirts of Cairo, making a meagre living by sorting rubbish. The Salaam Centre offers a variety of medical and social services, and is running a scheme to raise awareness of domestic abuse prevention. Volunteers from within the community distribute information and encourage women to attend seminars to learn about their rights and find out how to get help.
August
Overcoming challenges
Please pray...
for young people growing up in situations of conflict
Our partners at the Palestinian Bible Society run a youth centre in Jericho, West Bank, offering psycho-social support to disadvantaged children and young people. Their activities, study sessions and home visits help children stay in education, learn about social issues, and deal with the psychological trauma of life amid conflict.
Life-saving unit
Please pray...
for the staff and patients of Harpur Memorial Hospital's new ICU
Harpur Memorial Hospital in Menouf, Egypt, serves a disadvantaged population who would otherwise struggle to access good quality medical treatment. The hospital is about to open a new intensive care unit to provide post-operative care for critically ill surgical patients, and would appreciate your prayers that this service will help save even more lives.
A bold new era
Please pray...
for all at the Helen Keller School as they move forward
Our partnership with the Helen Keller School is changing shape as we hand over its ownership to Palestinian Christians. Please pray for the Principal, Suad Younan, and her staff team as they embark on a new phase in the school's mission.We will be continuing to support them in providing the very best education for children with visual impairment and other disabilities.
A confident future
Please pray...
for Lebanese women determined to improve their lives
We support the Inter-Church Network for Development and Relief's women's empowerment projects in two Lebanese communities. Women who have married non-Lebanese men lose their status as citizens and are particularly vulnerable to isolation and abuse. The projects enable them – and those marginalised for other reasons – to learn vocational skills, increasing their financial independence.