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Prayer Requests
January 2023
“I waited patiently for the Lord…. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:1a, 3a, NIV).
Africa
Give thanks for the meaningful time Darrell and Laura Lee Bustin, Canadian Baptist Ministries’ global field staff in Rwanda, had in Canada last summer. Lift up Laura Lee as she organizes CBM SENT teams which will be recommencing to Rwanda in 2023.
Heavenly Father, CBM’s African partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, and Rwanda face many challenges related to the pandemic, political unrest, and the war in Ukraine. Give them strength and enable CBM to encourage them on their journey.
We praise you, O God, for CBM’s new relationships with Baptists in Liberia and Togo. We anticipate, by your grace, transformed lives and positive feedback from the CBM Africa Vennture Conference held in Rwanda in December.
Omnipotent God, undertake for the millions suffering from famine in Somalia and other African countries. Thank you for the Canadian government’s $14 million grant to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to help provide emergency and nutritional services.
Asia
CBM’s International Partnerships staff give thanks for new partnerships formed in 2022 and request prayer for strong, fruitful starts to their 2023 projects.
Praise God for the programs run by Canadian Baptist Ministries’ partners in India that are benefiting youth and giving them hope, and for the witness of the Chendhurthy Baptist Church in their community. Pray that CP Raju, senior program coordinator for CBM in India, will be kept safe as he travels to visit projects.
Europe
Holy God, our hearts are heavy when we hear of basic Christian values not only being ignored, but laws being made against them. We beg you to guide your children and the upcoming generation of young Christians to maintain a clear set of values.
God of Peace, we present the people of Ukraine to you, pleading for their freedom from war and destruction. Provide security and stability to these devastated people; keep the worldwide Church strong amidst turmoil and uncertainty.
Middle East/North Africa
Elie and Mireille Haddad are Canadian Baptist Ministries’ team leaders for the Middle East-North Africa region. Please pray with them for several needs: for the people of Lebanon, combating economic and political crises; for churches there to provide a message of hope; and for the safety and security of staff, faculty, students, and graduates of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary.
Latin America
Shepherd-King, lead Byron Velásquez, CBM national field staff in Guatemala, as he shepherds pastors; protect them, and provide for them and their families. Bless CBM SENT teams going to El Salvador and Guatemala in 2023, and equip CBM Global Field Staff Kathryn Scott with language skills as she goes forward in her first term in Latin America.
Bruno and Kathleen Soucy, CBM’s team leaders in Latin America, request prayer for the church in Cuba: it is suffering the effects of economic crisis and mass migration, resulting in a lack of youth and young families. Along with the Soucys, offer praise for the fast growing, youth-filled churches in Guatemala.
We praise you, Almighty God, for the successful Union of Latin American Baptist Women’s Leadership Conference held in Rio, where over 50 per cent of the attendees were under 45 years of age!
Encourage, we pray, Cuban churches as they prepare for the Cuba National Congress to be held February 2−4.
Canada
Gracious God, we thank you for the $1.1 million donated by churches supportive of Canadian Baptist Ministries to bring hope and healing to refugees and displaced persons over the past year. We are thankful for the commitment of the executive director of CBM, and her executive assistant to your work. Be their guide in 2023.
Praise God for the faithfulness of Baptist churches to respond with Canadian Baptist Ministries to a broken world “in word and deed.”
Atlantic Canada
Glorious God, we praise you for the three international students now attending Crandall University in Moncton, New Brunswick, under a William Carey Global Scholarship. Bless these and all students with good physical, mental, and spiritual health as they begin a new semester. Encourage and energize returning students at Acadia Divinity College in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, to persevere.
Pray for Atlantic Baptist Women’s home mission project coordinator, and the churches who are considering hosting Vacation Bible Schools in 2023.
Praise our loving Father for 2022 Day of Prayer offerings which will also help support Island Pregnancy Centres with their globally-reaching ministry on Prince Edward Island.
God of Compassion, glory to you for the generous donors in 2022 to the Pregnancy Resource Center of Saint John, New Brunswick. Thank you, Lord, for the important courses they offer. Lead women facing unexpected pregnancies to find help, healing, and hope at these centres.
Global
Intercede for the two million flood victims in the Philippines, who are in desperate need, asking that they put their trust in the Lord and that he will put a new song in their hearts.
We praise you, Lord, for CBM’s global partners’ determination and resilience during the pandemic. We continue to pray against hunger and injustice prevalent in CBM’s partner countries.