From political unrest to climate impact, countries across West Africa face extreme conditions every day. This week, lift up this region, home to nearly 500 million people, in prayer.
Sunday 5 July
Sierra Leone has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. As recently as 2024, for every 1,000 live births, just over 68 babies didn’t survive to their fifth birthday. Families across Sierra Leone endure this heartbreaking reality. Father God, we pray that you will improve child healthcare in the country. Amen.
Monday 6 July
Pastor John lost two young children. ‘There wasn’t a single latrine in the whole community,’ he says. ‘We realised that the lack of these toilets creates a lot of problems for the lives of our people, causing so many deaths.’ Pray that knowledge, funds and access to safe and hygienic ways to dispose of human waste will spread across Sierra Leone.
Tuesday 7 July
Pastor John took part in Tearfund’s Transforming Communities training. Praise God that the church and community are working together to bring about incredible change. ‘Now, after the training, 90 per cent of our households have a latrine. We constructed a road network to access the main motorway. People were surprised that we managed it because it had seemed like such a hard thing.’
Wednesday 8 July
Pray for peace in Mali. Ariel Diallo, Tearfund’s Programme Support Manager, says, ‘Since 2012, the country has faced extremist attacks across most regions. This has hindered humanitarian efforts. Pray that the current authorities govern wisely and with consideration for all citizens, particularly people in danger of attack, as the nation navigates a period of transition and considerable political tension.’
Thursday 9 July
Imagine trying to provide three meals a day for 11 wider family members when you barely have enough for your children. That was the daily reality for Edith in Côte d’Ivoire before Tearfund helped her. ‘I felt a deep duty to care for each of them,’ Edith says. ‘I worried every day.’ Father God, we pray for the 3 million people still facing hunger across Côte d’Ivoire.
Friday 10 July
Praise God that help came from a Tearfund Transforming Communities savings and loans group. ‘We focus on helping each other and ourselves grow,’ explains Edith. ‘Every member puts in 11,000 CFA francs [£14.50] each month.’ The savings enabled Edith to buy 500 plates and 500 glasses, which she hires out for parties and events.
Saturday 11 July
‘Transforming Communities has taught us to think about the natural resources and purposes God has given us,’ says Edith. ‘This is a message I now want to share with all women.’ Pray that Edith’s journey inspires many others to realise their God-given potential, embrace self-reliance and take charge of their own lives.
