Tearfund’s global advocacy work aims to tackle three crucial issues of our time: ending extreme poverty, living within the earth's limits and tackling inequality. This week, pray for the success of this important work, which brings together grassroots (often church and youth) movements around the globe, supporting them to drive change.
Sunday 30 April
Last April, the Green Anglicans movement in southern Africa joined together with the Anglican Diocese of Cape Town to launch the Green Teens Climate Activist programme. This will inform and empower young people from Cape Town and surrounding areas on how to respond and speak up about the climate emergency. Pray that the programme will inspire many young people.
Monday 1 May
Local churches in Kenya are leading the way in speaking out and taking action to care for creation through a programme called Alongsiders. Churches in ten counties in Kenya have formed a network, Green Churches, led by young people. Pray for the success of the programme, which hopes to triple in size to reach 30 counties this year.
Tuesday 2 May
Malawi Creation Care Network ran a briquette- making workshop for young people from the Phalombe Youth Arms Organisation. They also gave the group a machine that compresses blocks of coal dust or other material to make the briquettes. Give thanks that this will reduce deforestation in the area and create jobs.
Wednesday 3 May
A denomination in India has decided to include care of creation as part of its Sunday School syllabus. They are also developing an environmental policy for all their denomination across the state. Pray that more leaders of such networks will be encouraged to do the same and put their faith into action.
Thursday 4 May
Tearfund Nigeria is working alongside the Jos Green Centre, which inspires entrepreneurs to develop sustainable businesses and innovative ecological ideas. Praise God for recent successes, including a young woman entrepreneur who turns farming waste into fuel briquettes as a more eco-friendly replacement of charcoal.
Friday 5 May
Earlier this year, Tearfund updated our Climate Emergency Toolkit, which inspires local churches and Christian organisations to respond to the climate emergency. Praise God that this has resulted in more than 100 churches in the UK declaring a climate emergency and taking action. Pray that more churches (maybe even yours?) will use the toolkit and make crucial changes to become more sustainable.
Saturday 6 May
‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.’ (Psalm 24:1)
Lord God, we give you thanks and praise for all that you have provided on the earth for us to live fruitfully in harmony with your creation. We lift up churches, young activists and all people across the world who are taking action in response to the climate emergency. Inspire all of us to be people who respect and care for the world around us, to reduce the impact on those hit hardest by climate change. Amen.
