Gracious Father, we give you thanks because you listen to our prayers. We thank you for meeting us in and helping us persevere through deep challenges. We thank you Lord for the faithfulness of all those in the CBM family, supporting churches and partners in Canada. We are thankful for the gifted and thoughtful leaders in our partner churches in Latin America and the Caribbean. Bless their work, protect their health, and give them wisdom as they lead the local church to love you Lord, to love each other and to love their neighbours.

We pray specifically for our partners throughout Latin America and the Caribbean:

All our partners in El Salvador and particularly for Asociación Bautista de El Salvador (ABES) as several leaders recover from injuries in a recent car accident.

Pray for our partner in Cuba, Fraternity of Baptist Churches in Cuba (FIBAC). We know our friends are suffering from shortages of food, medicine, frequent interruptions in power supply, poor communications systems, and economic issues that have led to an increase in the cost of basic goods and services beyond the ability of people to afford. We pray for Cuba’s COVID vaccine production to be effective and reach everyone in that country as they manage this most recent COVID wave on top of the economic upheaval.

We pray for our new partner churches in Guatemala serving in areas with very low vaccination rates and high active COVID cases. We pray that countries with excess vaccine will share with those struggling to provide even a first dose.

We pray for our partners in Bolivia, where the country is struggling to provide care for those affected by this latest wave of COVID. We praise you because the churches are stepping into new opportunities to serve their communities to be a witness of your love. Lord, strengthen those who are weary and raise up new workers.

We hold up our partner Iglesias Bautistas de República Dominicana (IBAREDO) in the Dominican Republic where many of our partner churches are providing educational programming for the most vulnerable children as they have been unable to attend school. We pray that children will be encouraged and equipped to continue their studies once schools fully reopen.

Father we ask that you remove this virus. We pray for those who are ill to be able to breathe and for those suffering the loss of loved ones as they grieve. We pray Lord that systems of illness can be replaced with systems of care, and that fear and misery be replaced with joy and dignity in communities around the world.

We pray for our Canadian brothers and sisters as we continue to learn of the terrible injustices of the past that have resulted in deep generational trauma for our Indigenous people and impacts the lives of all Canadians. Help us Lord to understand the part we play today in this ongoing trauma. Bring healing to our land, Lord.

We pray for the church today to shift its focus from inside the church to outside the church so that we can be used by you, Jesus, to bring the kingdom of God from heaven to earth. Lord may the church have impact for good, regardless of what restrictions we face.

Lord we praise your many names – Comforter, Redeemer, Healer. Lord as you work your righteousness and justice for all the oppressed, for all who are suffering from illness and every type of poverty, continue to equip us and to use each one of us in this work. Help us to trust that you Lord, are bringing healing to your people. Father, we thank you for what you have done and will continue to do through your servants.

We pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.