Prayer Update January 2018

Erica meeting today in Thika with the executive leadership 

of the Africa Christian Church and Schools.

Kenyans are praying for peace as the opposition coalition has announced that it will swear in its leadership in a self-appointed inauguration. The NASA's People Assembly will declare Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka as the 'people's president' and 'people's vice president' on January 30. The government has accused their actions to be unlawful and unconstitutional. 

After the controversy of the August 2017 election, most of Kenya wants to just move forward. Religious leaders across the country are urging people not to take part in the violence that is feared to erupt in the coming days.

We are encouraging our Kenyan church partners to be voices of calm and forces for unity within their communities. 

As we pray for Kenya, we also pray for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A surge of violence by armed groups in Eastern Congo has sent a large influx of 10,000 refugees into Uganda over the past days. Years of instability have displaced over a million of people from this region. 

We pray for our local partner, the Baptist Community of Central Africa (CBCA) who are providing emergency health services and support to people affected by the violence. 

Erica and I will be traveling to Goma to meet with our partner and participate in the swearing in of new leadership in the coming month. Please pray for safety and security as the leaders from this denomination gather together for this important national assembly.

A young South Sudanese refugee cooks food 

at a camp in Northern Uganda

Photon Credit: UNHCR/Will Swanson

Our partner in South Sudan also asks for prayer:

"We will appreciate your prayers for South Sudan and the people in Narus, in particular. The road liking Narus-Kapoeta-Loki has finally been closed after a series of attacks and killings. There has been increased rebel activities around Kapoeta and Narus. It is one of the aims of the armed opposition to close the road linking Kenya to South Sudan and that means suffering to the civilian because it is a lifeline road."

This area is a vital link between Kenya and South Sudan, providing access for organizations like FEBAC and CBM to bring humanitarian aid and assistance to this region. We pray for an end to these attacks and for security to be restored.

We also remember the families of the victims killed along this roadway. A close friend of the leader of our partner was among the people murdered in December as he braved this road between Kenya and South Sudan. We pray for peace and for the peacemakers.