How can I pray for the regions where Tearfund works right now?

From Dima in the Eurasia and Northern Africa region:

‘At an office level, there have been a number of changes in roles and staff in the region. For me, that involves helping them to carry out their functions. Please pray for a settled season for us.

‘Regarding the region, many of the countries have experienced years of crises, conflicts and disasters. In some cases, communities will just start to feel that they are getting back on their feet again, and then be knocked down by the next disaster. Please pray for peace and for rebuilding – particularly after the destruction of war.

‘Lebanon is one place that has suffered many crises, but we have often looked to them as an example of resilience in the region. To see Lebanese people becoming refugees for the first time recently has been very difficult. And Jordan [where Tearfund’s office is based] has traditionally been a haven for so many from neighbouring countries, but to see missiles across the skies has been very worrying. Pray for peace and for resilience for people throughout the region.

‘Please lift up refugees. Many people have fled their homes to seek safety in other countries, particularly women and children who are vulnerable to abuse and are often taken advantage of. Many families have sold everything they own. Some have had to leave relatives behind in unsafe places. The specific contexts are different, but everyone affected in this way needs support and the opportunity to rebuild to survive.

‘In all of these situations, the strain that they place on people’s mental health is immense. Please pray for the psychosocial programmes that Tearfund is running to respond to this critical need.’

You can read recent stories from the region here and here.

From Chloe in the Asia region:

‘With many ongoing conflicts in the region, it can make it difficult for humanitarian workers to operate. There is also added scrutiny of aid organisations in some places which can make it more challenging to reach people who need support. Pray for protection and for access for staff and partners to respond to the needs of people facing extreme poverty.

‘We’ve also seen, firsthand, the terrible impacts of the worsening climate crisis. The Philippines has recently been hit by five typhoons, and forecasts suggest that there may be more on the way. Bangladesh is still trying to recover and restabilise after terrible flooding there and Nepal has recently experienced more flooding. The region is extremely vulnerable to more frequent and more intense climate disasters, and each time these happen they rob people of loved ones, of belongings and of livelihoods and push them further into poverty. Pray for comfort for those who have faced loss, and for the courage and resources to rebuild. Ask God for solutions to the wider problem of climate change and to protect people who are most vulnerable to the negative effects of it – many of whom are already living in poverty.

‘Please also pray for India, where toxic air pollution levels have kept children out of their classrooms and made breathing dangerous. Pray for an end to the causes and the problem.’

You can read recent stories from the region here and here.

From Lucie in the West Africa region:

‘We have a project in West Africa right now that I am really excited about called FAST which is about faith-driven security transformation in Africa. It’s working to help reshape security narratives by empowering faith leaders and community leaders in the countries to find non-violent solutions, promote justice and collaboration. Pray for wisdom and for strong engagement with the leaders so that there will be a big change in the region.

‘With so much violence in the region, many people have been displaced – either within their own countries. Please pray for these people, particularly children and women, especially in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Pray for God’s provision and his protection from violence or flooding as Niger and Mali have also experienced significant flooding.

‘Please ask God for peace and stability for the Sahel [the semi-arid region of western and north-central Africa]. After decades of violence, pray for peace to prevail and that communities can live in safety and stability.’

You can read recent stories from the region here and here.

From Diane in the East and Central Africa region:

‘Pray for peace where there is conflict in the region – a sustainable peace that will allow people to rebuild their lives and to have an opportunity to thrive.

‘Ask God for livelihood opportunities for people so that individuals, families and whole communities can refresh their economic situations.

‘Pray for solutions to climate change. The region is feeling the negative effects of this and families are being really badly impacted.

‘What we do can sometimes feel like a drop in the ocean when we see the scale of need. Please pray for the release of more funding and resources so that we can reach many more people who need help.

‘Please also lift up our work with church leaders to bring transformation in their communities through the local church. We want to equip them to support sustainable development in their communities and also be ready to respond when there are emergency needs.’

You can read recent stories from the region here and here.

From Patricia speaking about the Southern and Eastern and Africa region:

‘Please pray for all those who have been displaced within Malawi and other countries in the region because of the hunger crisis they are facing. Many communities have not been able to harvest anything because of changes in the climate.

‘In Zambia, the Zambezi River – the fourth longest river in Africa and a source of water and energy for millions of people, is drying up. It is the main source of energy for people in Zambia and Zimbabwe and many people have been left without power. Pray for solutions to this crisis and for there to be enough water, power and rain at the right time.

‘Lift up all those who have been affected by the hunger crisis – particularly women and children. Ask God to provide for communities being pushed back into poverty by this situation in the region.’

From our team in Latin America and the Caribbean:

‘Conditions of violence, inequality and human rights violations persist, forcing many people to migrate. By mid-2023, there were 22.1 million displaced people in the Americas, including 6.6 million Venezuelan refugees.

‘Latin America, with eight per cent of the global population, accounts for half of worldwide homicides. Lord, we ask that your church be a beacon of hope and light, actively working to prevent violence and promote peace in our communities. Guide our efforts to protect people who are the most vulnerable.

‘Pray for the children of Latin America and ask God to protect their lives, grant them peace and hope, and inspire churches, communities and leaders to work together to eradicate violence and build a safer and more just future for them.’