The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing a horrific humanitarian crisis due to ongoing conflict, with more than 20 million people needing help to recover and rebuild their lives since the conflict began.
The situation has worsened recently because of escalating fighting in eastern DRC, bringing a new level of fear and devastation to people already suffering. You can use this prayer guide to stand with people facing desperate need in the DRC and cover them in prayer.
What to pray for…
Your prayers for people facing the appalling consequences of violence in the DRC are needed more than ever. Here’s how you can pray:
- Pray for an end to the violence in eastern DRC. Ask God to bring peace and for people to be able to return safely to their homes and lives.
- Lift up all those who have faced the loss of loved ones, belongings, homes and livelihoods. Ask God to give them comfort and provide for them.
- Pray for Tearfund staff and partners and their families. Ask God to protect them and allow them to continue to work safely.
- Pray for the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable women and children who are particularly at risk in this crisis.
- Pray for the restoration of essential services like healthcare, education, banks and markets that have been disrupted by the conflict.
- Pray for healing for people who have experienced deep trauma and injury from the conflict.
- Our work in the DRC receives some significant support from the US government, but their overseas funding review has increased the challenges for the Tearfund team who are responding. Please pray for our team in light of these challenges.
A prayer for the DRC
Lord,
Let your mercy minister to those overwhelmed with fear.
Let your peace prevail when injustice tears lives apart.
Let your hope reign when despair feels all-consuming.
And in this time of crisis, when life is full of loss, please comfort and restore those who are afraid and in pain.
Amen.
Ways to pray…
Try some of these ideas while praying for the DRC:
- Choose a route in your local area, perhaps passing places like your health centre, local school, or shops. As you walk, pray for people in the DRC who cannot access health care, whose children cannot attend school, and for people who do not have access to food.
- Gather stones and feel their weight as you pray. Think of the burdens people in the DRC are carrying as they carry their belongings to find places of refuge and safety.
- Paint, draw, write poetry or compose music as a way to express your prayers and intercessions for people suffering in the DRC.
- Choose one verse from the Bible about peace and meditate on this. Speak it out loud slowly and repeatedly and let the repetition remind you of the promises of God in scripture.
Thank you…
Your faithful prayers are vital. You make a difference every time you stand with suffering people in prayer, because you stand with the Lord Jesus. This is the God who stood at Lazarus’ tomb and wept at suffering and death. The God who is outraged by injustice. Thank you for standing with people in the DRC and praying for people affected by this crisis.
