December Prayer & Praise

At this midway point in our Advent series of blog posts, it seems fitting to turn our and your attention to God's ever-constant promise to hear our prayers. Each month we receive prayer and praise updates from the churches with whom we partner across Zimbabwe and Zambia. Below are just a few of those updates. We hope you'll take some time to pray about these requests and praises, and remember the work of our church projects in Africa this Christmas season.

Northrise ECZ – Zambia

Praise God that many children have been inspired to achieve new educational goals with the provision of school fees!

Pray that the Lord would provide moments of dawn in the midst of discouraging times for many orphans who are attending school. Ask that God would provide encouragement in the form of friendships and pastoral care.

Echoes of Mercy Project – Zambia

Pray for a twelve year old girl who lost both parents to HIV-AIDS and has also tested positive for the disease. Pray that God would comfort her as she attends school and that He would cover her with a sense of love and purpose.

Pray that the project would continue to find new and sustainable ways to raise the required resources to serve children in their community.

Free Methodist Church – Zimbabwe

Praise the Lord that a number of woman have recently attended a literacy class in which they are receiving an education to help them better care for orphans! Ask that God would bring to bear immense fruit as a result of their studies.

Pray for the church to strive together in unity and for God to intervene in love when conflicts or pressure arise.

Pray for those who are currently looking for employment. Ask that God would bring about wholesome employment opportunities that will meet the needs of many families.

Pray for the encouragement and strengthening of local leaders who serve everyday with courage and compassion.

Why Local?

What is so great about working through the local church? Why local partners? Why local projects?

These are some of the questions I’ve been asked about the mission of Forgotten Voices International. The answer that I try best to give is that change, change which is self-sustaining and the community that is called to bring about that change is the global Christian Church. We, the global Christian church are a community called together to embody, exemplify, represent, personify, characterize, bring to life (ok you get the point) God’s redemptive relationship with creation. The church communities, both locally in the United States and in Sub-Saharan Africa are the primary social structures through which the Gospel works to change the lives of communities and individuals alike. How do we, as the church in America best fight against the seemingly entrenched causes and effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in southern Sahara Africa? We stand alongside our brother and sister churches in the region, affirming that our roles are one and the same; we are the visible expression of God’s redemptive work.

We will as one, embody the hope of Christ by providing the children of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa a chance to no longer be defined by the disease that took the lives of their loved ones, but instead be empowered by schooling, health care, counseling, income generating projects and access to clean water.

We will as one, exemplify the call of Christ by empowering the pastors of sub-Saharan Africa to stand up and lead their congregations in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

We will as one, build long-lasting relationships with orphans, pastors, theological colleges, caretakers, and churches in order to unify that visible expression of God’s redemptive work.

We will as one, make mistakes, learn from them and humbly ask for God to continue his Great work of redemption in our individual lives, communities, government structures, culture, and all of creation.

Will you, join us, as we become one global Christian Church seeking to share the love of God through physical assistance and spiritual restoration in Zimbabwe, Zambia, the United States and around the World?

Lindsay Reilly - Forgotten Voices Board Member and Research Analyst at Global Scripture Impact