40 Days of Prayer - Day 17

Day 17 – Food Insecurity

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” – John 6:27

Food security remains a serious issue in many of the most vulnerable communities that Hands at Work serves. The local Hands at Work teams are committed to providing a nutritious meal daily for the most vulnerable children. Ask God to give the wisdom, discernment and resources needed to be able to effectively provide this care.

For the past three years the Kabwe region of Zambia has faced severe drought, which has had serious implications on individuals’ abilities to plant their fields and yield a harvest. Recognising the desperation of people living in our communities, particularly in Balaka, the Zambian Regional Support Team knew they needed to respond. With the realisation that many people were going without food and faced an additional level of vulnerability, they identified all of the Care Workers and Primary Caregivers in need of extra support and Hands at Work committed to supporting each family with one 25kg bag of maize per month for three consecutive months. This will help to ease the most vulnerable families’ level of food insecurity until their crops are ready to be harvested.

40 Days of Prayer - Third Sunday

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

"When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, 'The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.' And the disciples were filled with grief" – Matthew 17:22-23

40 Days of Prayer - Day 16

Day 16 – Teams

‘But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.’ – 1 Samuel 12:24

On a yearly basis, many of our partners send teams to Africa. Pray for those coming to Africa in 2020. Ask God to prepare their hearts in expectation of all that He wants to do in and through them. May they serve as examples of Christ’s love and hope, and experience a spiritual awakening and transformation in their own lives. Ask God to embolden people to share the stories of the most vulnerable as they return to their home countries.

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.