Our Lord and our God,

We want to begin by offering you our praise and adoration for your unending love, compassion, and forgiveness, which you generously and graciously give to each one of us. You are good and your love endures forever.

Today, we want to pray for the Philippines. As a nation, they experience numerous natural calamities every year that cause injury and death, and widespread damage to homes and livelihoods. On top of challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are also struggling due to recent typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions that have negatively impacted their lives. We ask that you grant healing and comfort to those who are hurting and in need.

We want to lift up our partners in the Philippines, Kabuganaan Philippines Ministries (KPM), led by Rev. Job and Phoebe Santiago. We pray that you give them what they need, and sustain them, as they continue serving the needs of the poor and marginalized in Capiz province, and as they provide organizational leadership both to KPM and to the Capiznon Association of Baptist Churches. We pray that you would continue to bless KPM and their Board of Directors, headed by Rev. Jerry Lamazon.

We are thankful for the strong and fruitful partnership between Kabuganaan Philippines Ministries and Canadian Baptist Ministries, and as we begin a new year together, we want to pray for the various programs and initiatives that are being implemented. We pray specifically for the Continued Theological Education Program for Pastors that is entering its final year. We also want to pray for FOOD for LIFE and BUGANA Livelihood Center, and Faith & Work initiatives being developed through our partnership. FOOD for LIFE and BUGANA faced a difficult year because of the pandemic, but they came through it and continue to grow, and are making a difference in the lives of those involved.  We pray for Jethro, Ezekiel, and Pastor Jerry as they provide leadership to these business initiatives.

We especially want to pray for Indigenous people of Tapaz in Hopevale and other communities, who are mourning the senseless loss of nine of their community members and the arrest of several others due to unjust “red-tagging” or profiling that led to military raids of their homes.  We ask that you intervene and put an end to the extra-judicial killings happening in the Philippines against poor and indigenous people. We ask you to comfort those who are hurting, heal those who are traumatized, and protect those who are most vulnerable.

Lastly, we pray for our family, as we remain in New Brunswick due to safety concerns and travel restrictions related to the pandemic. This has been a difficult season for us, but we are thankful for your presence in our lives. We ask that you give us wisdom as we make decisions regarding our future and potential return to the Philippines.

We pray all of these things in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Michael and Melanie Waddell