Tearfund Prayer Diary May2014
TEARFUND PRAYER DIARY MAY2014
GOOD NEWS IN BURKINA FASO: 27 APRIL – 3 MAY
Alice Keen, co-editor of Footsteps, our magazine for Tearfund partners and local churches across the world, visited Burkina Faso in West Africa last year. Let’s join her in prayer for Tearfund’s partners.
SUNDAY 27 APRIL
Working with churches, women’s groups and communities, Acts is improving people’s understanding of their own health, including issues such as HIV and sanitation. They have translated a number of Tearfund’s community information resources into Moore, one of Burkina Faso’s major languages. Pray for more skilled community learning facilitators and for people to be open to change.
MONDAY 28 APRIL
When we visited a tiny village church, we saw their crops almost ready to harvest. With training in new agricultural techniques, their yields have improved. They asked us to pray for more income for their families this year so that they can extend their church and feed their families until the next harvest.
TUESDAY 29 APRIL
Radio EvangileetDéveloppement (Gospel Development Radio) is a radio station with a difference. They broadcast in 20 local languages, reaching thousands of people with the good news of Jesus. Rural communities can listen to educational dramas, health information and Bible talks. Pray that those who tune in will hear words which bring life to their communities.
WEDNESDAY 30 APRIL
Credo has been training rural communities to ensure their voices are heard by local government. On issues from land ownership to subsidised fertiliser for their crops, they are now more confident in presenting their case to those in power. Pray for justice for those who are poorest, including a fair distribution of land for all.
THURSDAY 1 MAY
Only a third of people in Burkina Faso can read. Tearfund partner, Antba, is doing literacy training and local language translation work. Most of these languages are being written and read for the first time. Pray for encouragement for those learning to read and energy for the teachers and translators making this work possible.
FRIDAY 2 MAY
While worshipping at a local church, we listened to the pastor’s wife give a talk about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. She challenged us to think about what that means for us today, and to reflect on loving those around us in humility. Ask God to show you new ways and places you can serve him.
SATURDAY 3 MAY
Dear God, we praise you for those individuals, churches and organisations bringing your good news of spiritual and material hope and well-being in Burkina Faso. We pray for justice, life and hope to flourish here and across the whole of West Africa. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Welcome to the weekend – creative prayer idea
Find a Bible verse or passage which reminds you of how God sees poverty, for example Proverbs 14:31 or James 2:15-16. Write one out and stick it on your fridge, noticeboard or even on your toilet door! Memorising his truth will help us pray for countries such as Burkina Faso, and keep alive a passion to see things change for good.
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: 4–17 MAY
Tearfund works in about 40 countries and, for the next two weeks, we offer a snapshot of how the work you support in prayer, campaigning and giving is releasing people from poverty. We reflect on the breadth of Tearfund’s work around the globe, from helping street children in Africa to supporting indigenous groups in Latin America.
SUNDAY 4 MAY
Supporters of our Toilet Twinning initiative are making a big impact on people such as 55-year-old TirameAyago from Ethiopia, who says, ‘Our lives are very greatly changed because we have a toilet. We still struggle to grow enough to eat and life is hard but the toilet has made such a difference.’ Give thanks that Toilet Twinning is the quality of life for people in poverty.
MONDAY 5 MAY
City growth and urbanisation in Colombia can mean that indigenous groups are forced from their traditional lands. Tearfund Inspired Individual Carolina Rodríguez works with young people from the Wounaam tribe who’ve been displaced due to economic interests. Pray that Caroline’s educational work with the Wounaam will help them adapt to urban life and find sustainable livelihoods.
TUESDAY 6 MAY
Tearfund believes local churches are the key to unlocking people’s potential and tackling poverty around the world. Please pray for pastors in Mozambique undergoing training to work with their communities in Sussundenga. Pray this will lead to them working together to use resources at their disposal better, to improve lives materially and spiritually.
WEDNESDAY 7 MAY
Tearfund’s campaigning app, Nudge, has been going for nearly a year and has certainly shown its worth in connecting supporters with justice issues. Praise God for its success and pray it will help us reach new supporters and increase the power of our campaigning in order to bring about change that pleases the Lord.
THURSDAY 8 MAY
You don’t have to wander far around the streets of the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, to encounter street children. Our Inspired Individual DieudonneNahimana runs a project called New Generation Burundi to help these kids leave behind poverty and exploitation. Pray this will have a life-changing impact on these vulnerable children, restoring their hope, in the name of Jesus.
FRIDAY 9 MAY
Remember our political leaders who’ve made ending poverty a priority: last year, 0.7% of the UK’s national income was pledged in aid for the very first time. Pray that, in their busy lives, they may heed the quiet call to be a voice for the voiceless despite the challenges and obstacles in their way.
SATURDAY 10 MAY
Jonathan Jansen describes the community near Cape Town, South Africa, where he grew up as ‘a gang- and drug-infested community’, the kind of place those in the know think it’s crazy to visit. Jonathan is a Tearfund Inspired Individual working with a project called Fusion to release young people in his hometown from the hold of drugs and criminality. Pray God’s blessing on this outreach and pray this community will be transformed so it’s not known for the wrong reasons.
Welcome to the weekend – what you can do
Add your voice to our campaigns seeking justice for those struggling in poverty by downloading and using our free app, Nudge. Find out more at
SUNDAY 11 MAY
We Have Hope is the name of a South African ministry founded by Tearfund Inspired Individual Heather McNiel. Based around an impoverished community outside Stellenbosch, it helps children who’ve experienced the traumas of domestic violence, sexual violence or other forms of abuse. Pray Heather and her staff will have wisdom as well as emotional and physical strength to carry out their work.
MONDAY 12 MAY
Congregations in Wales are developing supportive relationships with communities and individuals in rural areas of south-west Ethiopia through a valuable partnership. Helped by Tearfund partner the Kale Heywet Church, it’s bringing lasting transformation spiritually and physically to people in poverty. Pray the partnership results in more communities being transformed in the name of Jesus.
TUESDAY 13 MAY
What do you do when your country has so many children needing foster care but not enough families to take them on? Jeanne Muhongayire from Rwanda set up a community mentor-based system to look out for child-headed households; the scheme has proved so successful that it’s won praise from Unicef. Give thanks that vulnerable children are receiving love and guidance and pray these children will be fully integrated into their communities.
WEDNESDAY 14 MAY
Three years ago, SahraJamaDuale, who lives in Somaliland, lost all her livestock when drought gripped the region. With her livelihood gone, Sahra was driven to the verge of destitution until our partner, World Concern, provided food and other basic goods to stabilise her situation; this enabled her to start a business selling tea. Give thanks that support for our East Africa food crisis appeal has saved lives and restored hope.
THURSDAY 15 MAY
Guatemala has the highest levels of violence against women in Latin America. Tearfund supports Pamela León, a lawyer and Inspired Individual who is passionate about defending women’s rights and inspiring the church to raise its voice against attacks on women. Pray for Pamela’s work to change entrenched and harmful attitudes.
FRIDAY 16 MAY
When a churchgoer in Lebanon prayed about the plight of refugees from Syria’s conflict, little did he realise how God would answer his prayers and the solution would be so close to home. Soon afterwards, a link with a Tearfund partner enabled his church to start providing food for the displaced and now 600 families a month benefit. Thank the Lord for his faithfulness and pray that churches in Jordan and Lebanon will continue to bring hope and practical help to refugees.
SATURDAY 17 MAY
Give thanks and pray for staff at the Torch Trust, who produce the Braille version of Tear Times and the Prayer Diary. Their work gives vital support to people losing their sight and serves blind and partially sighted people all round the world with Christian literature in audio, very large print and Braille formats.
Welcome to the weekend – creative prayer idea
Keep your prayers about Tearfund’s work bang up to date by signing up to our weekly prayer email, One Voice, at
RESTORATION AFTER THE CYCLONE: 18-24 MAY
Cyclone Phailin smashed into India’s east coast in October 2013. Homes, livelihoods, crops and infrastructure were devastated, but the loss of life was much reduced thanks to a higher level of disaster preparedness in the area than ever before.
SUNDAY 18 MAY
Cyclone Phailin was India’s biggest cyclone in a decade, bringing torrential rains and 125 mph winds. The destruction was huge, but the death toll was relatively low. About 45 people were killed, in stark contrast to a cyclone in 1999 when more than 10,000 people lost their lives. Pray for those mourning, but thank God that so many lives were spared.
MONDAY 19 MAY
As part of Chartiburti village’s committee for disaster preparedness, Basudev was in charge of early warning systems. So when he heard on the radio that a cyclone was approaching, Basudev visited his neighbours and told them to get ready. Praise God for Tearfund partners training individuals such as Basudev to transform and preserve lives locally.
TUESDAY 20 MAY
When warning fellow villagers to evacuate, Basudev suggested that everyone should pack some food and water and move to a safer site, just as they had rehearsed in their evacuation drills. With their children, elderly relatives and any money they had saved, everyone made it to safety. Thank God and pray for the vital work of Tearfund’s partners as they enable communities to be prepared for disaster.
WEDNESDAY 21 MAY
Although not one life was lost in Basudev’s village, many lost everything else - homes, businesses, crops and so on. Please pray for them and the 12 million others affected by Cyclone Phailin, that they will receive hope, peace and strength from God.
THURSDAY 22 MAY
The chaotic and uncertain aftermath of a disaster is a risky time for many: aggressive moneylenders and loan sharks are ready to capitalise on panic, and child traffickers ready to exploit the most vulnerable. Pray against these risks, and pray for divine protection for those at risk of exploitation.
FRIDAY 23 MAY
Our partners were quick to respond to Cyclone Phailin. They reached out to families with emergency supplies including food and temporary shelters. Now, their focus is on helping communities rebuild, which includes restarting livelihoods such as fishing. Pray for our partner staff as they give their all to helping villages get back on their feet.
SATURDAY 24 MAY
Dear God, in times of crisis and disaster, we can feel small and helpless, but we praise you that, as shown through Basudev’s story, you’ve made us capable of great things, for your glory. We pray for all those still recovering from Cyclone Phailin, and all those committed to helping them. Amen.
Welcome to the weekend – what you can do
Basudev’s story goes to show that, when it comes to disasters, preparedness is absolutely crucial in saving lives. If you feel able to make a gift to Tearfund, visit and help us to help more villages like Basudev’s survive when disaster strikes.
TRAFFICKING IN MEKONG: 25–31 MAY
In the Mekong Sub-region, an illegal trade in goods and people runs in parallel with legitimate business. Ongoing conflict is causing people to relocate and is putting children particularly at risk of exploitation. This week, we pray for Tearfund partners working with children in the region.
SUNDAY 25 MAY
The reality of economic and social poverty creates stress, sometimes resulting in family breakdown. Please pray that God will protect and strengthen vulnerable migrant families. Pray also for the work our partners are doing to build community cohesion among those affected by conflict.
MONDAY 26 MAY
Duangmany, 15, is one of many young people who travelled to Thailand in search of work. She experienced abuse while working in a restaurant and returned home due to ill health. On her return, a Tearfund partner supported her to find a safer local job. Pray for wisdom as our partners work out how best to work alongside vulnerable young people to prevent them being exploited.
TUESDAY 27 MAY
Our partners are offering hope to young people such as Duangmany. By providing vocational skills training, such as tailoring, they are reducing the risk of young people being abused and exploited. Give thanks that our partners are able to offer practical alternatives to migration.
WEDNESDAY 28 MAY
Sisters Bang, 13, and Phou, 14, dropped out of school to help their dad work in the rice fields. The risks of sexual exploitation and forced labour are very real for girls such as these. Pray God would protect vulnerable migrant workers and their children in the Mekong Sub-region.
THURSDAY 29 MAY
Young single mother Jiengkham contemplated migrating so she had a better chance of feeding her son. WCL persuaded her to join its Youth Development Programme instead and she now teaches others about the risks of migration. Pray that WCL will help many other children and young adults realise their potential.
FRIDAY 30 MAY
Local churches on the Thai/Myanmar border are being mobilised to identify and tackle trafficking in their communities. Thank God for our church partners as they help to create a culture that says ‘no’ to trafficking.
SATURDAY 31 MAY
Maesai Grace Church on the Thai border runs a rehabilitation centre and school for former child soldiers. Pray that God’s love would pour out of this church and bring healing and restoration to children traumatised by conflict.
Welcome to the weekend – creative prayer idea
The World Weekend Of Prayer (7-8 June) a global initiative that brings together hundreds of thousands of people to pray for children at risk. Whether you attend a nationwide event, plan something with your church, go to a prayer breakfast, or spend a quiet few minutes praying in your own home, we would love you to join us in interceding for the world’s children. Visit for ways to get involved.
Tearfund Prayer Diary May 2014