40 Days of Prayer

Day 12 - Care Workers

“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn’t do anything to help you?’ Then he will answer, ‘I assure you that when you haven’t done it for one of the least of these, you haven’t done it for me.’” – Matthew 25:44-45

Thank God for the volunteer Care Workers and their families, who are committed to sacrificially giving of themselves to serve the most vulnerable children. Pray that they will have the courage to advocate on behalf of the children and their families, even when this goes against the cultural norm. Ask God to give each Care Worker the spiritual eyes to see what is happening in the lives of the children. Pray that they will build relationships of trust and love.

The local Hands at Work team in Nigeria reflects on Sis Moji, one of the Care Workers in Temitope Community, Nigeria, who is caring for some of the most vulnerable children.

“When we first met Sis Moji, she was really struggling. We did a Holy Home Visit at her home and told her about the ‘Jesus We Know’ and also what God wants us to do for the orphans and the most vulnerable children in our community. After hearing about the vision, she decided to join as a Care Worker. And since she joined, she has not regretted it because God is always making a way for her.

She is always happy when she is playing with the children and when they are close to her. The children are happy when they see her, and that makes her happy. She sees the Care Point as her home. She loves caring for the children.”

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Day 11 - The Local Church

Poor persons will never disappear from the earth. That’s why I’m giving you this command: you must open your hand generously to your fellow Israelites, to the needy among you, and to the poor who live with you in your land.” – Deuteronomy 15:11

Hands at Work is committed to helping the local church in Africa to fulfil the Biblical mandate of caring for the orphans and widows in their distress. Ask God to open the eyes of each church leader across Africa to see the needs of the vulnerable around them. Pray that they will be filled with love, compassion and generosity. Pray for the local pastors and church leaders to rise up and take responsibility for the most vulnerable children and their families – acting as the hands and feet of Jesus.

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Day 10 – Corruption

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky – Philippians 2:14-15

In many of the poorest communities and countries the government systems are susceptible to corruption, creating an even greater level of desperation in the most vulnerable families. Pray for those in positions of power and influence across Africa to have grace and compassion for those they have committed to serving. Pray for the church to be a voice of truth in these challenging situations, and pray that they will advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable. For those who are victims of oppression, pray that they will see God’s hope and love in their lives.

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Day 9 – Climate Change

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. – Hebrews 10:23

Over the last several years there has been an increase in natural disasters and extreme weather events. Without the support infrastructure in place, and with little means to gain additional security, the most vulnerable are most affected when a crisis comes. Pray for each person who has been impacted by these crises. Pray for Hands at Work to continue to find creative ways to build resilience and self-sustainability in our communities, so that when a crisis comes they are better equipped to withstand it.

In February, many areas in Southern Africa experienced high winds and heavy rainfall. In Zambia, the Kabwe and Chisamba regions were hit very hard. There has been significant damage caused to a number of homes within the communities where Hands serves. In some cases, homes collapsed in the night, leaving families with nowhere to go. Mary, pictured here, is the Primary Caregiver for one of these families in the Chisamba region.

When the local Hands at Work team in Chisamba, alongside the Regional Support Team and the Care Workers, began walking in the community, they discovered that there were families whose homes were in danger of collapsing.

Mary’s home was one of those homes. What had been a small crack in her mud-brick home was getting worse as the rains came down. Care Worker Brenda came to check on Mary and her family and invited them to come and stay in her own home for a few nights, out of concern that Mary’s house would collapse.

The next morning, when they returned to Mary’s house, the roof had caved in and one of the walls had crumbled in the night. It was an answer to prayer that the family had been in the safety of Brenda's home when their house fell.

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Marys home when it collapsed.

Mary and her families temporary home.

Day 8 – COVID-19 Pandemic

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for people worldwide. For those living in already difficult circumstances it has further compounded their sense of fear and uncertainty in how they will provide for their families. In the midst of this crisis, Hands at Work is committed to caring for our children as well as equipping our Care Workers and Primary Caregivers with the resources that they need, so that when a crisis comes, they are better able to withstand it. Ask God to give Hands at Work leaders wisdom and guidance as we continue caring for the children. Pray for God’s peace and comfort to come around those who are consumed with fear. Pray for open borders to enable people to travel and support the most vulnerable.

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