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Prayer Requests
April
“Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’ ”
John 20:21 (NIV)
Asia
Lift up religious minorities in Myanmar who are in grave danger following a military coup in February when a year-long state of emergency began. Ask for healing, peace, and reconciliation to overcome this situation again.
Pray for God’s peace for Conrad and Fiona Kwok, CBM’s Chinese Ministries team leaders, as they depart Thailand and relocate in Toronto this month. Pray, too, for Lilian Yang, CBM’s national field staff in the Golden Triangle region.
Thank God for his grace and peace amidst challenging times for Michael and Melanie Waddell, CBM global field staff serving the Philippines virtually from New Brunswick. Continue to pray for their family and for CBM’s partner in the Philippines, Kabuganaan Philippines Ministries. Lift up KPM’s leaders Rev. Job and Phoebe Santiago, and KPM’s Faith +Work initiatives.
Canadian Baptist Ministries Team Leader for India Suraj Komaravalli requests prayer for the 10 million migrant workers who had to return home at the outset of the pandemic. Also pray for his team who serve with CBM’s partners to bring healing to the broken, transformation to the lives of widows and children, community acceptance to girls rescued from human trafficking, and direction to those in pastoral and leadership training.
Europe
Praise God that since the beginning of the pandemic, Chinese students seeking to know Jesus Christ in Germany have been more engaged in congregations, and the sense of community and caring for each other has been strengthened. Ask that ministry partners’ passion and willingness to serve will remain strong and that they will return when borders open.
Middle East &
North Africa
Pray for economic and political stability in Lebanon, where one-sixth of the population are Syrian refugees. Look to the Lord for direction and guidance for those in power, for hope, peace, and rest for anxious citizens, and for the ongoing relief work among refugees.
Intercede for Canadian Baptist Ministries Team Leaders for the Middle East and North Africa Elie and Mireille Haddad, who are based in Lebanon. May the Lord protect Elie as president of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary. For CBM staff Joe Bridi and his family, pray for complete healing from COVID, and may God provide Christian growth and joy-filled lives to CBM staff Emad and Almess Botros and their sons.
Africa
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has the second-largest hunger crisis in the world, with 21.8 million people being food insecure. Take this crisis to the Lord, asking him to show you what he would have you do. Pray also that any misunderstandings about COVID-19 and vaccinations would be countered with truth.
Praise God for CBM Peace and Reconciliation Specialist Gato Munyamasoko and the effective teaching modules he has been able to facilitate online during the pandemic, building a strong sense of community.
Pray for patience for Darrell and Laura Lee Bustin, CBM’s global field staff in Rwanda, and potential church leaders aged 25–40 there; they await confirmation that meeting in person for module three of the Emerging Leadership Initiative will be possible this month after being on hold in 2020.
Latin America
Keep Patty Nacho, CBM’s global discipleship coordinator in Bolivia, in prayer as she mourns the loss of her dad due to COVID-19. Patty covets more faith and strength for the local churches as they adapt to the new normal.
Join CBM Latin America Team Leaders Bruno and Kathleen Soucy in asking God to comfort the suffering, heal the sick, bring justice to those with no income or access to medical care, and support children unable to attend school. Thank God for the generosity of Canadian Baptists, enabling partner churches to minister to these needs.
Canada
Pray for Jennifer Lau and the staff at the Canadian Baptist Ministires office for guidance and support as they lead ministries that embrace a broken world through word and deed.
Pray for the governments of Canada and the provinces and territories as they make decisions regarding the vaccination rollout.
Atlantic Canada
As the academic year ends, lift up the students of Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and Crandall University in Moncton, New Brunswick, praying that they may experience God’s peace during exams and obtain meaningful summer or full-time employment.
Ask God’s blessing on Atlantic Baptist Women’s officers and committee members as they have been holding Zoom meetings at various times this month prior to the April 17 ABW executive meeting. Thank God for technology which makes these meetings possible and pray for a spirit of unity to prevail.
Pray that many ladies will involve their churches in the 2021 ABW walkathon in support of the African United Baptist Association Rev. Tracey R. Grosse Ministerial Bursary for Females Pursuing Ordination.
Lift up Dr. Rhonda Britton, new president for the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada, and the 450 local Baptist churches to whom she will give guidance. Pray for Oasis, the CBAC convention to be held August 12–14, 2021, at Acadia University, and for keynote speaker Major Danielle Strickland who is a spiritual leader, justice advocate, communicator, and peacemaker.
Uphold Erica Kenny and Rev. Tammy Giffen as they prepare to speak at the ABW interMISSION, which will be held virtually May 29, 2021. Also lift up other participants, including the discussion on racism panelists that they will be filled with the Holy Spirit and bring a message of transforming hope to those who attend.
Continue to pray for the organizers and participants of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada’s July 8-11 Undercurrent, a leadership program designed for youth to connect church and community. Pray also for churches to host Daily Vacation Bible Schools and for the young people who will be DVBS leaders.
Give thanks to the Lord for the doctor who has come forward to meet the medical needs of residents at TREY (Trauma Relief for Exploited Youth). Praise him, too, for the inquiries made regarding volunteer opportunities, and for the encouragement from board members who have come alongside the frontline workers.
Pray for five new moms, clients at the Saint John Pregnancy Center, New Brunswick, who gave birth in January. Ask the Lord for adequate donations to fund a marketing campaign aimed at abortion-minded women and for acceptance of the grant application to hire two summer students.
Praise God with Randy Stanton, CBM’s Atlantic regional representative, for faithful Christians in Atlantic Canada whose support for local and global missions is outstanding. Pray for the 55 member organizations of which the Canadian Christian Relief and Development Association is comprised, as they reach out to meet the basic needs of the marginalized around the globe.
Global
On Refugee Rights Day, April 4, intercede for all refugees, especially those from Iran who face deportation after converting to Christianity.
April 7th is World Health Day. Ask God to have mercy on the masses who continue to suffer from COVID-19, starvation, poor sanitation, unclean water, and inadequate health care. Be thankful for the Canadian Baptist Ministries COVID Relief Fund and the health benefits we are privileged to have in Canada.
Join Elijah Brown, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, and Baptists around the globe in praying for equitable global access to vaccinations against the coronavirus.
Praise God that the position of secretary for Baptist Women of North America has been filled and for the virtual Empowerment and Networking sessions offered by the BWNA on the third Thursday of each month. Pray for enthusiastic participation in this training.
Pray for the many translators who will be translating material and videos for the Global Conference of Baptist Women to be held in July; ask the Lord that all those attending this virtual experience will be blessed.
Thank you for praying!
May the Lord bless you as you lift up these requests before him.
These prayer requests come from many sources including: CBM Website, CBM Prayerline, CBM Calling (Facebook), blogs and newsletters from CBM representatives and field staff, and email with representatives in ministry.