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Prayer Requests
November
“Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!
Remember the wondrous works that he has done …”
(1 Chronicles 16:11–12a, ESV).
Africa
Terrorism is overtaking the nation of Cameroon. Intercede for the leaders to have wisdom and understanding to lead the country to peace and safety, and to be united in bringing effective eradication of corruption.
Join Gato Munyamasoko, Canadian Baptist Ministries’ peace and reconciliation specialist in Africa, as he prays for his family’s faith to remain strong. Pray for those following Gato’s peacebuilding modules to become catalysts of peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and for the ministry to gain more supporters.
Asia
Thank God for the birth of a first grandchild to bless Conrad and Fiona Kwok, Canadian Baptist Ministries’ Chinese Ministries team leaders. Pray for their adaptation to life in Canada, and for the health and spiritual growth of their adult children.
Lift up the suffering citizens of Myanmar, that they will turn to God, and the staff and students of Thailand Bethel Theological Institute, all of whom must pursue courses online, that they will persevere. Pray that vaccines will become available globally, and that doors to travel abroad safely will open, enabling the Kwoks to visit Chinese Ministries staff members in person.
Praise God with CP Raju, Canadian Baptist Ministries’ senior program coordinator in India, for many successful CBM projects: a tailoring training centre; income generating activities empowering Soura widows; a COVID-19 relief program for pastors; a poultry rearing unit providing scholarships to poor students; as well as a Faith+Work program for unemployed youth.
Intercede for the millions in India who have lost loved ones due to COVID. Plead with God to stop the spread of this disease and heal the nation as the churches there proclaim the good news of Jesus through word and deed.
Europe
With a fourth wave of the pandemic hitting Europe, incoming Chinese students are not willing to attend church in person nor are they interested in online gatherings. Lewis and Felain Lam, who serve on Canadian Baptist Ministries’ Chinese Ministries team in Germany, ask for prayer for health and wellbeing during these challenging times in ministry.
Middle East/North Africa
Pray for the Lebanese population, still mourning losses from the 2020 explosion into which investigation has been minimal. May they be comforted knowing God is their refuge and their hope.
Give thanks that Emad and Almess Botros, CBM field staff at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, were able to travel with their sons to visit family in Egypt. Emad asks for prayer for healthy relationships between Christians and Muslims and for God’s Word to be understood and accepted.
Latin America
Bathe Haiti in prayer: following two natural disasters in August and two centuries of corruption, 1.5 million children are without basic necessities, and armed guards are in control of much of the island. Canadian Baptist Ministries’ partners are ill-equipped to provide management and monitoring of distributions.
Tim and Kallie Hutton, field staff in Bolivia with Canadian Baptist Ministries, request prayer for wisdom, strength, and perseverance as they teach courses at the Baptist Theological Seminary, and for rural farmers, that their beekeeping endeavours will be profitable.
As we remember International Children’s Day (Nov. 20) and World Toilet Day (Nov. 19), we give thanks for latrines that Canadian Baptist Ministries built in El Salvador and for CBM-sponsored children’s programs like Casa de la Amistad (Friendship House) in Bolivia. Pray for resources to continue these projects.
In Bolivia, many thousands of lives have been lost due to COVID-19, including many pastors and the father of CBM National Field Staff Patty Nacho. Pray for comfort for those who mourn, healing for those suffering, and blessings on women’s ministries.
Canada
Moreen Sharp, who began her role as president of Canadian Baptist Women on September 1, covets our prayers as she adjusts, senses God’s leadership, and leads Canadian women forward in serving him.
Remember to pray for local church involvement in the Canadian Baptist Ministries-sponsored educational project, “Kids Care,” and CBM’s Hopeful Gifts for Change fundraising catalogue.
Pray for our neighbouring Canadian Baptist Women in Quebec and Ontario and their new executive director, Helena Bergen, as she leads them in support of CBM and testifies to God’s goodness.
Cover our school children, teachers, school bus drivers, and all areas of the school grounds in prayer, asking for God’s protection over them physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Ask the Lord to bring healing to our land after the deep generational trauma that our Indigenous people have endured. Ask that we understand the part that we can play in this restoration process.
Atlantic Canada
Pray that many Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada (CBAC) pastors will benefit from pastors’ retreats to be Uphold Rev. Cheryl Ann Beals, CBAC’s director of clergy formation and wellness, as she facilitates the retreats.
Many leaders and volunteers in the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada and other local ministries are suffering from COVID fatigue and burnout. Ask the Lord for rest and restoration for workers, and more volunteers to relieve staff.
Reflect on and give thanks for freedoms we enjoy which are ours at the expense of lives maimed and sacrificed during two world wars. Remember also the brave soldiers who have returned from postings in Afghanistan and continue to suffer from the trauma. Pray for comfort and strength for the families living with PTSD victims or mourning the loss of loved ones.
Praise God with the staff at the Open Door Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for God’s abundant provision during COVID, which enables them to exceed expectations. Pray for the pornography recovery division, now called Infinite Pornography Recovery, for more volunteers, and a new counsellor to provide support for the Helping Exploited Youth and Pregnancy Pathways divisions.
Pray for the planning team for Atlantic Baptist Women’s annual interMISSION event, who have goals to be met this month, and for students, alumni, and staff of Acadia Divinity College, Wolfville Nova Scotia, as they minister in their area of service. Remember Dr. Danny Zacharias, a seminary professor at ADC and faculty member with the North America Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies.
Pray that Atlantic Baptist Women members will consider their role in positive change regarding racism, and be helped by the discussion guide, “From Empathy to Action,” found on the ABW website. Lift up Joanne Sweet, ABW’s home missions coordinator, and her team as they prepare next year’s project.
The staff at the Pregnancy Resource Center of Saint John, New Brunswick, asks for prayer for a successful online auction this month. They urgently need board members, especially a treasurer, and please lift up two clients who are seeking spiritual guidance.
Pray for completion of the Mother’s Home sponsored by the Island Pregnancy Centre in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, which currently houses one mom and baby, with potential for three more mothers. Also pray for additional mentors to come alongside clients.
Global
November 7 is International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, plead with God to grant courage and endurance to those who risk their lives for their faith. Remember Christians in Afghanistan where extremely violent persecution is taking place, and in the Soura region of India where persecution of Christians is on the rise and taking place openly.
Praise God for the appointment of Merritt Johnson to the position of executive director for Baptist World Alliance Women, replacing Moreen Sharp who had been serving as interim. Ask his blessing on Merritt as she transitions into this role and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for Moreen's excellent service.
Pray that the new initiative, “End Domestic Violence,” launched by Baptist World Alliance Women, will be effective in reaching Baptist families at home and abroad, helping them to recover and live lives that please God.
Lift up the Empowerment Networking sessions offered online the first Thursday of every month by the Baptist Women of North America. Ask that many women will participate and benefit from these sessions.
Jonathan Wilson, senior consultant for theological integration with Canadian Baptist Ministries, asks for prayer for those he is mentoring in Kenya, Canada, and Russia, and for his work with the International Baptist Theological Study Center to bear fruit.