Prayer
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Pray for Carla Nelson
Gracious God:
You have invited all who are weary to come to you, to lay before you our burdens, and to take on your yoke of rest. So, I come.
I come bringing before you my wrestling heart.
Forgive my self-pity over the inconvenience of being home-bound and mask-adorned while basking in the comfort, safety and privilege of my circumstance.
Change my selfish heart to focus on those facing real hardship and devastation.
And widen my capacity to hold the bigger picture.
I come bringing before you those in our world who are the most vulnerable.
Hear their cries for peace and for security.
Heal all who are sick.
Deliver them from the anxiety of tomorrow.
Protect them from those who injure and kill.
Feed their children.
Make way for health through clean drinking water, medicines and vaccinations.
Prepare the land so that it may be able to produce food.
Comfort those who mourn.
And provide for them both through your miraculous ways and through us, your servants.
I come bringing before you our church partners in Africa – in South Sudan, in the DR Congo, in Kenya and in Rwanda.
Receive their worship of you, O God, for they know from whom all blessings flow.
Grant them wisdom to navigate the challenges that are before them.
Support their ministry initiatives.
Look after their leaders.
Care for the widows, the widowers and the orphans.
And protect their joy, optimism and kind-heartedness.
I come bringing before you our Canadian Baptist Christian witness in Canada and around the world.
Bestow on us generosity of spirit.
Honour the efforts of service done in your name.
Impart to us your direction.
Supply to us your Spirit’s fruits and gifts.
And furnish us with your companionship.
And I come bringing my desire to be your person in this place and at this time.
May it be so.
Amen.
Carla Nelson
Pray for Michael and Melanie Waddell
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