TEARFUND PRAYER DIARY JULY 2017
Hunger Steals, The Church Gives: 2 – 8 July
Hunger is a killer but it's also a thief. It can steal your dreams, hopes for the future, relationships, self-esteem and sense of belonging. However, all around the world, local churches are ready to lead
their communities out of lives impeded by hunger into fulfilled lives with food, education, training, sanitation and so much more.
Sunday 2 July
Hunger robs people in virtually every area of their lives. The local church often has the power to help lift their communities out of hunger – helping them rebuild their whole lives. Just an hour's drive from Sylvia's village, another community is facing different challenges. Praise God that, thanks to training through the local church, they are having to decide what best to do with their abundance...
Monday 3 July
‘I had a very difficult life before,’ says Polly, who is married with three children. ‘We did not have enough food for our family. Even just buying clothing was a big challenge.’ But, thanks to agricultural training from Tearfund partner AG Care, today Polly's life is very different. Thank God that, despite this year's drought, Polly harvested nine bags of maize.
Tuesday 4 July
‘I was very happy when we were able to sell our excess grain,’ says Polly. ‘I said to my husband that we will not waste the extra income.’ Foundations for Farming is the name of the method of working the land that AG Care promotes to poor farmers. Ask God to continue to bless this work.
Wednesday 5 July
‘I believe my children will be educated because AG Care have given me a gift,’ says Polly. ‘When my children go to secondary school, I can sell livestock to pay the school fees.’ The effect of having enough food is much more than full stomachs. Praise God that people's whole lives and outlooks are changing.
Thursday 6 July
‘I was feeling very happy that now I'm moving on in my life,’ says Polly. ‘I was very poor, but now I'm moving on from being a poor person.’ Another transformation that is happening is the way that people like Polly think of themselves. Praise God that the church and AG Care are restoring dignity and self-esteem.
Friday 7 July
‘In the past I had no hope’, says Polly. ‘Back then I did not think about God. But now, because of the way the church has helped me, I have turned back to God.’
Foundations for Farming teaches people to work the land using passages and inspiration from the Bible. Ask that it will encourage more farmers to come back to God.
Saturday 8 July
Reflect back on the difference in the lives of Sylvia and Polly – two women made in the image of God, whom he loves and desires for them to live life to the full. Lord, thank you for using AG Care to bring life and hope to desperate families. We ask you to bless their work, and through it, release more lives from hunger's grip.
Africa Emergency: 9 – 15 July
Countries in East and southern Africa have been facing many challenges from natural and manmade disasters. This week we lift up political turmoil in South Sudan and Burundi, drought in the Horn of Africa and South Africa. When disasters strike, the poorest people suffer the most, but – thanks to your prayers – Tearfund is helping families in greatest need.
Sunday 9 July
Despite signing a peace treaty in August 2015, manmade conflict has forced one in five people to flee their homes in South Sudan. A third of schools have closed and one in three people are suffering from food shortages. Violence, displacement and bad weather have devastated harvests and destroyed people's livelihoods. Pray for an end to the conflict and for lives to be restored.
Monday 10 July
Praise God that Tearfund's team has continued to provide life-saving support, such as essential nutrition to infants and breastfeeding mothers, in some of the most dangerous places in South Sudan. Pray that the team stays safe and has the resources it needs to continue its life-saving work.
Tuesday 11 July
Burundi was thrown into turmoil in 2015 when President Nkurunziza stood for a disputed third term. The ensuing political violence forced half a million people to leave their homes and some, their country. Insecurity, economic decline, inflation and below-average rains all mean that in early 2017, more than two million people face food insecurity. Pray for our partners and staff who are bringing relief in a difficult environment.
Wednesday 12 July
Ethiopia, parts of Somalia and northern Kenya suffered drought for several seasons. Thank God that, since January this year, the number of people in desperate need of food aid in Ethiopia has reduced from 10.2 million to 5.6 million. Pray for Tearfund's work to support communities through these challenging times, and for consistent rains to come.
Thursday 13 July
Many countries in southern Africa have experienced challenging weather conditions, some severe drought, others floods. These mean it's a challenge to grow enough crops to last until the next rainy season. Pray for families in Malawi and Zimbabwe who are struggling to grow enough food.
Friday 14 July
Alongside helping people in emergency situations, Tearfund staff and partners support communities to overcome poverty, and be more resilient to
natural and manmade disasters. Praise God for the dedication of our teams in Africa and pray that they will be able to demonstrate God's love in very difficult circumstances.
Saturday 15 July
Dear Lord, we ask for your compassion in these challenging situations. As Isaiah 49:13 says, 'Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.' Thank you that that is still true today. Amen.
Hardship In Egypt: 16 – 22 July
Home of the pyramids and known for its ancient civilisation, modern-day Egypt faces huge challenges relating to poverty, inequality and, most recently, an unstable economy. With prices rising daily and increasing inflation rates, life is becoming more and more difficult in Egypt – particularly for poor communities.
Sunday 16 July
Tearfund partner Council of Services and Development (CSD) hosts workshops on job—searching skills and awards small loans to enable young people like sisters Nesreen, Mariam and Nermen, to pursue their dreams in the midst of a tough economic climate. 'Together, we are achieving our dreams,' says Nesreen after a loan helped to launch their small business. Praise God for these sisters who dreamt big and with CSD's help, have been able to improve their lives.
Monday 17 July
Rising food and living costs, coupled with increasing unemployment, are leading to times of particular hardship for poor communities. Tearfund is working through local partner, Think and Do, to help people gain skills to improve their employability. Pray that through these interventions we will help more people find jobs so that they can provide for their families.
Tuesday 18 July
Farida is one person who has been supported by Think and Do. She trained to be a hairdresser and the partner gave her the equipment she needed to start her own business. Now, Farida is thriving. 'I am the only women's hairdresser in my community,' she says. 'It generates a very good income for me.' Give thanks for Farida's story and we pray that her business will continue to grow.
Wednesday 19 July
Pieter Bakker, Tearfund's Logistics Adviser for Egypt, told us, 'For me, Farida's story is an incredible illustration of how broken lives can be made new by God's love in action.' Thank God for the work of our partners like Think and Do, and pray for more opportunities to reach people in great need across Egypt.
Thursday 20 July
Pray for our staff and partners, working in challenging economic times, who have been personally affected by the plummeting value of the Egyptian pound. Ask that the Lord would provide abundantly for their families at this time.
Friday 21 July
Ask God to equip the country's leaders with great wisdom, as they work to bring Egypt through this difficult season. Pray that those in power would consider the needs of the poorest in all their decisions and policies relating to Egypt's economic future.
Saturday 22 July
Heavenly Father, we lift up the nation of Egypt to you. We thank you for your faithfulness and ask you to be near the Egyptian people – particularly the poorest – who are struggling in the face of the plummeting value of the Egyptian pound. In faith, we ask you to meet every need at this time. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Rebuilding Nepal: 23 – 29 July
It's been more than two years since the massive earthquake which struck Nepal on 25 April 2015. Join us as we pray for Tearfund's important livelihoods programme which is giving people agricultural training as well as in careers such as tailoring and electrics – helping many people get back into work, earn an income and provide for their families.
Sunday 23 July
The earthquakes buried seeds and food stocks, destroyed crops, killed livestock – leaving many without the resources to provide for their families. Yet we know there is always hope when we trust in God. John 1:5 says, 'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it'. Pray for the light to shine for earthquake-affected communities in Nepal.
Monday 24 July
Tearfund is bringing people with similar livelihoods together in groups so that they can work alongside each other, share challenges and provide support. Laxman and his wife Sita have joined one of 18 local farmers' groups in Makawanpur District. Thank God for these farmers' groups, for the relationships and connections being built in local communities.
Tuesday 25 July
Traditional low-yield crops and agricultural methods have been inherited and repeated through generations. But Tearfund partners are training farmers to use better, environmentally—friendly agricultural methods. Thank God these groups are equipping farmers with knowledge and skills. Pray that their enthusiasm and willingness to learn will continue.
Wednesday 26 July
Through the farmers' groups Tearfund's partner has introduced a new variety of tomato, Srijana, which is resistant to wilt. 'The tomatoes are very attractive,' says Laxman. 'People come to look at my crops.' Thank God for new crop varieties and pray that God, in his mercy, will bless Nepal with abundant harvests.
Thursday 27 July
'I hope to use the technology in a commercial way and on a larger scale in the future,' says Laxman. Pray for him and other farmers who are working to scale up their businesses. Ask God for wisdom and discernment to help farmers trust and draw strength in the Lord.
Friday 28 July
Tearfund is linking farmers' groups to government services which aim to help agricultural workers increase production, and negotiate better prices for their goods. Pray that these links would be effective and sustainable to meet the needs of the farmers and their families.
Saturday 29 July
Heavenly Father, we lift up the recovery and reconstruction efforts in Nepal to you, as we remember families still without permanent homes. We pray for wisdom for the government of Nepal as it works to implement the new constitution, and for good relationships between the government, international and national organisations and local communities. Amen.
Cycle Of Hope: 30 July – 5 August
In February a team of Tearfund supporters cycled across the 'Land of a thousand hills', as part of Cycle of Hope. Many will know of Rwanda because of the 1994 genocide, in which more than one million people were killed. The cyclists raised funds to help more than 800 people move from a cycle of despair to a cycle of hope.
Sunday 30 July
It is difficult to understand what leads to the kind of brutality that ravaged Rwanda more than 20 years ago. Pray for continued healing in the country – for a spirit of reconciliation to bring about a lasting peace in the land, uniting neighbours and family members.
Monday 31 July
'The Lord is close to the broken—hearted and he saves those who are crushed in spirit' Psalm 34:18
Thank you, Father, that you promise to be near those who suffer. Make yourself known as Emmanuel, God with us, to those who still deal with the aftermath of loss and trauma in Rwanda.
Tuesday 1 August
While in Rwanda, the Cycle of Hope team met Consolata, who once was only able to afford bananas to feed her six children. Thank God for her self-help group who reached out and enabled her to open a small business, which means her family is now thriving. Consolata offered the team bananas as a welcoming gift!
Wednesday 2 August
In his letter to Timothy, Paul asks for prayers for leaders of the day. Ask God to guide those in government in Rwanda. Father, bless Rwanda's leaders with wisdom and inspire them with compassion and creativity as they make decisions that, we pray, will benefit those in need.
Thursday 3 August
The Cycle of Hope team faced many challenges because of the changing weather patterns. Climate change is having a much bigger impact on Rwandan farmers. One of the women we met, Anastasia, spoke of how her community, enabled by Tearfund, is exploring alternative agricultural methods and is receiving resilience training. Lord, thank you for this work and we ask that you would speak to us about how our choices can help or hinder our brothers and sisters around the world.
Friday 4 August
Pray for the Tearfund staff in Rwanda, led by country representative Emmanuel Murangira. Give thanks for the way God has called the Rwanda team to this work. Ask God for safety, courage and provision for Emmanuel and his six staff members. Guide them, hearten them, and protect them, Lord.
Saturday 5 August
Heavenly Father, we pray for peace in Rwanda, and in nations facing conflict around the world: come and sweep away the divisions that ensnare us and endanger the most vulnerable. We ask for the peace of Christ to live in us. May we be people 'who sow peace' – peacemakers who flavour the Earth with your kingdom. Amen.
Tearfund Prayer Diary July 2017 –