World Prayers for Nov. 8-14: Central Africa

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A fishermen's beach launch area in Sao Tome and Principe. Wikimedia Commons.

Bread for the World believes prayer is central to the work of ending hunger by 2030. Hunger happens in every corner of the world. In this blog series, we will provide a prayer for a different group of countries each week and their efforts to end hunger.

This prayer series will follow the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, a list compiled by the World Council of Churches that enables Christians around the world to journey in prayer through every region of the world, affirming our solidarity with Christians all over the world, brothers and sisters living in diverse situations, experiencing their challenges and sharing their gifts.

We will especially be lifting up in prayer the challenges related to hunger and poverty that the people of each week’s countries face. In prayer, God’s story and our own story connect—and we and the world are transformed. In a prayer common to all of us—the Lord’s Prayer/the Our Father—we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” This line from this prayer can also be a prayer for the end of hunger.

We invite you to join Bread in our prayers for the world’s countries to end hunger. And we encourage you to share with us your prayers for the featured countries of the week or for the end of hunger in general.

For the week of Nov. 8-14: Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Sao Tome and Principe

Lord, we look to you, the almighty, as we ask prayers of healing, justice, and comfort for those living in the Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Sao Tome and Principe. We give thanks for those Christians who continue to witness to their faith even when it is disadvantageous to do so. And those who work with people living with HIV and AIDS and who are searching for ways to defeat the disease.

May there be an end to violence and instability in the Republic of Congo. That all leaders use their power justly in service to all of the people, and to refrain from corrupt practices. We also pray for an end to autocratic rule.

May those involved in subsistence agriculture bear plentiful crops and have enough food to eat and clean water to drink. We pray for the many women who often bear the brunt of poverty and receive less education than men and fewer opportunities.

Lord, we ask for an end to deforestation and desertification, and for the sustainable and responsible use of natural resources. We ask you to watch over those responsible for the just sharing of these countries’ natural resources, particularly oil, so that all the people reap the benefits of what God has given and not just those in power, or international corporations.

Amen.

Percentage of the population of these countries living below the national poverty line (2014 figures):

Republic of Congo: 46.5
Gabon: Not available
Sao Tome and Principe: 61.7

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators as found in the 2015 Hunger Report.

Prayer is a central part of Bread for the World’s work. Learn more about how you can get involved with prayer at Bread.

Photo: A fishermen’s beach launch area in Sao Tome and Principe. Wikimedia Commons.

 

 

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