A deadly Ebola outbreak is tearing through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Cases have already been reported in Uganda, and neighbouring countries are at high risk. And for this strain of the virus, there’s a 50 per cent mortality rate and no cure.
What to pray for…
With armed conflict, displacement, and extreme poverty potentially accelerating the spread of the virus, it can be hard to know where to begin praying.
We’ve prepared some prayer points to guide you in prayer over this crisis.
Pray for healing
- God’s healing hand: Ask the Lord to bring restoration over those suffering from this virus – that he eases their pain and gives them quick recovery.
- Divine comfort: Pray for those mourning the loss of loved ones. Ask that God bring his comfort to families, friends, and neighbours of those who have died.
- Medical breakthrough: Pray for a solution to be found through vaccines and treatment. Pray for a swift and safe development of the treatment needed to stop this virus from taking more lives.
Pray for hope
- Peace beyond understanding: Ask God to calm anxious hearts for those concerned that the virus might come to their community, their home and their family.
- Continued hope: Pray that peace would win over fear. Even as so many challenges have hit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over the past few years, pray that Ebola responders, communities, donors, and churches maintain hope.
- Active faith leaders: Pray for faith leaders to be active in their communities, spreading messages of hope. Pray that faith leaders can inspire and inform communities, combining scripture and medical messaging to keep people safe.
Pray for protection
- Shielding vulnerable communities: Ask that people and communities who are living in fear and anxiety of this disease are protected.
- Containment: Pray that the virus is contained and doesn’t spread to claim more lives.
- Safe delivery of aid: Pray for Tearfund staff and our partners to be safe from the virus. Many will be working to prevent further infection. Pray for resilience, strength, and protection as they courageously respond to help others.
- Life-saving resources: Ask for the protection and endurance of Tearfund’s existing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions, as these expand to more health centres and border points, providing crucial access to clean water and other necessities for people’s health and hygiene. Pray that these resources can reach further in this time of greatest need.
A prayer for the crisis
Heavenly Father,
We come before you with heavy hearts, lifting up all those who are suffering from this disease. May you bring healing to the sick and comfort to those who mourn the loss of loved ones.
We pray for faith leaders, local churches and organisations working in these communities. Give them the wisdom and compassion they need to share vital health guidance and advice alongside your message of hope.
Lord, we ask that you guide the researchers and medical workers as they search for vaccines and treatments for this strain of Ebola. Where human knowledge falls short, may your wisdom prevail.
We pray for the protection of Tearfund staff and our partners working on the frontline. Shield them from harm as they give so much of themselves to prevent further suffering.
And finally, Lord, we pray for hope. That even in eastern DRC, a region that has known so much hardship in recent years, your peace would overcome fear. May people hold on to the knowledge that you are present, and that your love never fails.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Ways to pray…
You can try some of these ideas while praying for the Ebola crisis:
- Pray with a map of the region to guide your prayers.
- Pray with our prayer slides to aid you, your group or your church.
- Meditate on Bible verses around healing and peace to focus your prayers on God’s promises in the Bible.
- Go on a prayer walk. Any time you might cross a path or road, pray that the crisis would not cross borders, so the virus remains contained. If you have a river, lake or pond locally, go there and pray for clean water, healing and provision of hygiene and sanitation supplies for those affected.
Thank you for praying with us.
