TEARFUND PRAYER DIARY AUGUST2017
Fendithion O Gymru: 6 – 12 August
Join us this week in Wales as we give thanks and pray for those who enable Tearfund to follow Jesus to the places of greatest need
Ymunwch â ni yr wythnos hon yng Nghymru wrth i ni rhoi diolch, a gweddiö dros y rhai sy'n galluogi Tearfund i ddilyn Iesu i ble mae'r angen mwyaf.
Sunday 6 August
There has been a rich history of support for Tearfund throughout Wales. Give thanks for Tearfund Wales staff, past and present, who have passionately shared the word of the Lord, and inspired generations to join in with Tearfund. Pray for our volunteer speakers who give talks in churches and chapels around Wales, for safety as they travel and for a sense of God's presence as they speak.
Monday 7 August
Pray for the Tearfund Wales Ethiopia Partnership through Tearfund's Connected Church scheme, which links Welsh churches with rural areas of south-west Ethiopia. Pray that this link will grow across Wales, and pray for the transformational work in Ethiopia through our partners there.
O High King of Heaven, have mercy on your land/ Revive your church/ Send the Holy Spirit for the sake of the lost, the least and the broken/ May your kingdom come to our nation/ In Jesus' mighty name Amen(Caleb Prayer for Wales from Ffald y Brenin)
Tuesday 8 August
Pray for the Tearfund Wales advisory team, chaired by Reverend Elfed Godding, National Director of the Evangelical Alliance in Wales. This small group of professionals voluntarily give their time to provide advice and guidance for the Tearfund Wales team. Pray for Elfed, also a
Tearfund Vice-President, as he juggles many responsibilities and commitments.
Wednesday 9 August
'Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you, he will never let the righteous be shaken.'
Psalm 55:22
Today, we lift up to you Heavenly Father, those who are weary and burdened all over the world and we thank you for the promise that we who are in Christ can cast all our cares on you.
Thursday 10 August
Tearfund Wales has enjoyed bringing Tearfund overseas staff to Wales to speak at events and in churches, inspiring churches about our work. Join us today as we pray for all Tearfund international staff – that they may know the mind of Christ as they serve in 50 countries, often in very difficult circumstances.
Friday 11 August
There is a large volunteer network in Wales of church representatives, fundraisers, campaigners and prayer groups. We give you thanks, Lord, for the dedication of these people and ask you to bless them in the name of Jesus.
Saturday 12 August
We are thankful for the continued support from church leaders in Wales – join with us today as we pray for church leaders, for wisdom and courage, discernment and energy as they seek to share the gospel which is the hope for our nation.
Spending Your Summer: 13 – 19 August
Schools and universities have broken up for the summer, which means, for a large part of the population, it's holiday season. But for Tearfund's Global Volunteering team it's the busiest time. We've got volunteers on placements in more than ten countries around the world. Please join us in praying for the teams and our amazing partners.
Sunday 13 August
As you read this, our team of volunteers are winging their way through the air to Peru, where they'll spend two weeks living and learning from our partner, Warmis. Pray for the rural communities that Warmis are supporting as they continue to develop their own resources to tackle poverty.
Monday 14 August
Praise God for the incredible vision of our partner in Malawi, Scripture Union, who are working with their local communities to see improved living standards, education and health. Pray for our family teams currently volunteering alongside Scripture Union, that they will have a wonderful chance to exchange knowledge, as well as have lots of fun.
Tuesday 15 August
Our partner Red Viva works outside the city of Baranquilla, Colombia. Through education and sports clubs, Red Viva is helping hundreds of boys and girls escape the lures of gang life, violence, drugs and crime. Praise God for lives being saved. As you pray, our volunteers are working alongside Red Viva for two weeks, joining in with their transformative work.
Wednesday 16 August
Join us in praying today for our teams of youth groups from across the UK who are heading out to volunteer for two weeks with our partners around the world. It's an amazing opportunity for young people to be inspired and encouraged in their faith as they meet with young people from very different backgrounds. Pray that they will come home invigorated in their walk with Jesus.
Thursday 17 August
A level results are out today. Join us praying for the many Christian young people who are receiving results today and making decisions about next steps. Whether they head to university, start an apprenticeship, volunteer overseas or something else, pray that they will sense God's calling in their hearts and follow his leading.
Friday 18 August
Join us today in lifting up all of our in-country volunteers who take time out to join our Tearfund International Citizen Service (ICS) programme. Praise God for outlooks changed. 'The ICS journey has taught me that the road to personal development consists of lessons, hard work, sacrifices and determination. My self-confidence, self-esteem, self-assurance and working with others have improved through this programme,' says Thembelihle who volunteered in South Africa.
Saturday 19 August
Put aside a bit of time today to listen to God. Is he calling you to spend some time overseas? Or is he laying a name of someone on your heart who might benefit from time spent volunteering overseas? We have many different placements, for all ages and backgrounds. Find more details at
Growing Groups: 20 – 26 August
Tearfund launched self-help groups (SHGs) 15 years ago with just five groups in Ethiopia. In 2017 there will be an estimated 27,000 in east and southern Africa alone. SHGs are low cost, empowering and easy to replicate. We are helping them to grow in number and quality – lifting people out of poverty.
Sunday 20 August
Ethiopia, where our SHG work started, has around 21,000 groups. It has become a centre for staff and partners from other countries to come to learn and be supported by our SHG coordinators. Thank God for the role they play encouraging good practice, so that groups across the region can grow and thrive.
Monday 21 August
Self-help groups set up by local churches are offering agriculture and business skills training in Malawi. Tearfund now supports more than 2,000 groups that are having an incredible impact on poor communities. Praise God for this life-transforming work, with people released from poverty – experiencing the love of Jesus in a tangible way.
Tuesday 22 August
A mother of four children, Immaculée from Rwanda doubted she'd have enough to save money each week with her SHG. But she did, taking a loan after two months to purchase a water tank. 'The training has opened my eyes to see beyond,' she says. Pray that Immaculée will continue in her journey out of poverty.
Wednesday 23 August
Tanzania's 1,000 Pamoja ('togetherness') groups support members to save and generate more income. Tearfund partners are planning and praying that the number of groups will grow to 5,000 by 2020. Pray that this ambitious target will be met.
Thursday 24 August
Zambia has a small but growing number of SHGs supported by Tearfund partners. Ruth Lungu saved with her group for a year and was able to buy a bicycle, build a new and better house and pay her children's school fees. She says, 'I am more confident and inspired to achieve more because my SHG has taken me there.' Pray for women like Ruth who are seeing personal empowerment as well as economic growth through SHGs.
Friday 25 August
Mozambique and Zimbabwe are two countries who have recently had staff and partners visit Ethiopia to learn how the SHG model can work in their countries. Pray that this will lead to new groups being established and more people learning to save and support each other.
Saturday 26 August
Dear Lord, we thank you for the spread and improvement of self-help groups. We pray for greater learning and sharing between countries so that more lives will be transformed through SHG membership. Let's pray this for all our SHG members and their families.
Walking With The Displaced: 27 August – 2 September
'I feel like I'm helping my family, as I am displaced too so I know what these other displaced people are suffering from,' says Faisal, a Tearfund staff member working in northern Iraq providing assistance to his fellow countrymen fleeing from the so-called Islamic State (or ISIS). Tearfund has been supporting refugees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from Syria and Iraq across the Middle East since 2014.
Sunday 27 August
When ISIS came to his village, Sardar and his family made a perilous escape, finding refuge in an unfinished building with no plumbing, until Tearfund installed a water tank and latrine in their home. 'It is safe here, and now we have water to drink and a toilet to use and we are grateful' says Sardar. Praise God that Sardar and his family are now safe, and pray that the building will soon feel like home.
Monday 28 August
The ongoing conflict in Syria has left 3.3 million people internally displaced; the majority are now living below the poverty line. Our partners are on the ground, serving the most vulnerable through the provision of monthly food parcels. Please pray that aid might reach even those living in the most dangerous parts of the country.
Tuesday 29 August
As hosts to over 1,750,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon have become places of refuge for their neighbours. Praise God for their hospitality, and pray for those struggling to adjust to life in a new country, away from family.
Wednesday 30 August
Tearfund partners host reconciliation and peacemaking programmes in Syria, to equip participants to become agents of positive change in the wider community. Pray that through these workshops, a new generation of bold and envisioned people will emerge – passionate about ending conflict in Syria.
Thursday 31 August
Tearfund's cash assistance programme has so far helped around 50,000 displaced people in Iraq. With a cash grant, Adnan was able to buy a heater and clothes for his family. 'When I arrived, the Tearfund staff treated us with so much respect. They even had water for us and were able to make copies of our documents,' says Adnan. Thank God that we were able to reach out to Adnan, and pray for more opportunities to support families through this programme.
Friday 1 September
Give thanks for our staff and partners who work tirelessly in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq to serve vulnerable refugees and IDPs. In particular, pray for our staff based in northern Iraq, many of whom have been affected personally by conflict, and remain separated from loved ones.
Saturday 2 September
'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.' Isaiah 54:10
Heavenly Father, we commit all those displaced by conflict across the Middle East into your hands, and ask that you bring comfort to those who are suffering great loss. Guide us as we continue to serve, pray and advocate for communities affected by violence and trauma. Amen.
Tearfund Prayer Diary August 2017 –