40 Days of Prayer - Day 15

Day 15 – Hands at Work Volunteers

‘Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"’ – Isaiah 6:8

Hands at Work has volunteers from the International Church serving on the ground in Africa as well as in their home countries. Pray for each volunteer you know by name who God has called to participate in His transforming work. Ask God to fill each volunteer with a spirit of peace, humility and unity, and to hold God’s heart for justice and the vulnerable as their calling to serve Him.

Hands at Work has International volunteers living across Africa and within their home countries around the world who have committed to serving the most vulnerable in Africa. Today, we invite you to send an encouraging message to those volunteers who you know are serving with Hands at Work, and read the stories of International volunteers living in Africa and around the world.

https://www.handsatwork.org/search?q=our%20calling%20

When we became open, we were truly able to receive the grace and love our Father had for us and then extend that same love and grace to each other. This community of believers taught us to be vulnerable, and as a result we continue to grow and find healing. Because of this community, we can raise our son in a home, that while not perfect, is a home where healing and forgiveness lives. Because of this community, we can now be a part of others’ stories of brokenness and transformation. – Tyler and Alicia Ralph, International Volunteers (Canada)

When asked about the challenges he faces as he continues to follow his calling - “trying to know what is next! So often we want to see the big picture. The problem with that is if we saw the big picture, many times it would scare us so much we wouldn't even take the first step. So, when we only see the first step we have to be willing to take it, not knowing where it might lead.” – Jed Heubner, International Office Volunteer (US)

40 Days of Prayer - Day 14

Day 14 – International Church and Partners

‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.’ – John 13:34-35

Hands at Work believes that the International Church has a responsibility to live out the Biblical mandate of caring for the most vulnerable in Africa, together with the local church. Thank God for our International Church Partners, who have heard about what God is doing throughout Africa, and have committed to supporting the most vulnerable communities. Pray for the International Church to experience a spiritual awakening that will continue to prompt a response to the crisis of poverty and injustice across Africa. Pray for more International Churches to partner with Hands at Work.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 12

Day 12 – Care Workers

‘If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.’ – Isaiah 58:10

Thank God for our Care Workers and their commitment to serving the most vulnerable children, especially when faced with persecution and negativity from people around them who don’t understand their calling. Ask God to bring encouragement, strength, boldness and unity amongst the Care Workers as they serve the children. Ask God to speak truth and life into the lives of more men and women from the local church, that they will recognise their responsibility to serve. Pray for Hands at Work to have wisdom as we try to help our Care Workers improve their capacity to provide for their own families.

“I felt a calling to serve the other children in my community. Seeing my own situation with a child, I wanted to be able to give back in some way and serve others.” – Rhoda is a Care Worker in Racecourse Community, Zambia

“I love working with children. I feel encouraged spiritually when I am with the other Care Workers.” - Victoria is a Care Worker in Amlew Community, Zambia

Today, we encourage you to think about and pray for the Care Workers across Africa who you know by name.

40 Days of Prayer - Day 11

Day 11 – The Local Church

‘And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’ – Colossians 3:15-17

Hands at Work envisions the local church in Africa effectively caring for the orphaned, the widowed and the dying. In the communities across Africa where Hands at Work serves, ask God to speak truth to the local churches about the biblical mandate to care for the most vulnerable. Pray for Hands at Work as we challenge the local church to respond to the need within their community. Pray for the church to be filled with an abundance of love, grace and compassion that overflows to the vulnerable in their community. Pray for an increase in the number of local churches that catch the vision and step up and take responsibility to serve the broken and the destitute.

Today, we invite you to watch a video of Gugu, a member of the local Hands at Work team in Hazyview, South Africa sharing about the local churches involvement in the Care Point in Sommerset, where 14 year old Safta lives. Today, remember that this church represents many churches across Africa supporting the children and the Care Workers.

40 Days of Prayer - Second Sunday

Second Sunday – On Sundays we pause to anticipate the coming of Easter Sunday and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

‘Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day, he will rise again.”’ – Luke 18:31-33

40 Days of Prayer - Day 10

Day 10 – Traditional Healing and Stigma

‘Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke?’ – Isaiah 58:6

Due to cultural practices, traditional beliefs, and the stigma around HIV/AIDS, malaria, cholera, typhoid and other diseases, many children are discouraged from visiting clinics and receiving medical care. Ask God to give comfort and a sense of belonging to individuals who have been rejected and stigmatised because of their disease. Pray that these bonds will be broken and that children will receive the life-saving care that is desperately needed.