Czech Republic: Easter outreach

Mission partners Lea and Petra Williams lead the Anglican congregation in Brno and Lea also supports a student ministry. Building on their successful outreach at Christmas, Christians studying at local universities will be handing out Easter eggs and gospel tracts at Easter. Please pray for boldness and for encounters at each university campus that lead to real encounters with Jesus.

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How should we pray for Iran and the Middle East?

We invite you to join us in prayer for the Middle East as the situation across the region continues to deteriorate, bringing significant hardship and uncertainty to the whole region.

It can often be hard to know just what to pray in times of crisis, so our colleagues working across the Middle East offer these pointers to guide and resource our prayers.

Download an updated slide deck to share with your church

Prayer update on Lebanon

In Lebanon, the situation has become a serious and growing crisis. Ongoing war and attacks from Israel have displaced nearly one million people from South Lebanon, most of them Lebanese Shia. Many have fled toward Beirut and surrounding areas and are now living in the streets, in their cars, or wherever they can find temporary shelter.

Hospitals are overwhelmed by the large number of injured. With limited capacity, some have begun prioritising Lebanese patients, leaving others – including many injured Syrians – without medical care.

The economic situation is also extremely difficult. Fuel prices have risen from $0.90 to $1.50, driving inflation in basic necessities, including food. Many people are unable to work due to the ongoing missile attacks and bombing, while schools remain closed and daily life grows increasingly unstable.

In response, the Lebanese church has opened their doors to receive members of their congregations who fled from the South, hosting them in church retreat centers in the mountains.

At the same time, many Syrians who had previously fled war in their own country and found refuge in Lebanon are now facing new hardship. Some are being forced out of the homes they rent so that displaced Lebanese families can move in, leaving them with limited options for shelter.

In parts of the Gulf, the war has also caused airports to close, and the ongoing missile attacks across the region continue to create fear and uncertainty.

Prayer requests for Lebanon and the region

• Please pray for the large number of displaced people from South Lebanon who are now living in the streets and in extremely difficult conditions as they seek to survive during this crisis.
• Please pray for the Syrian community in Lebanon, who are facing increasing hardship and prejudice as many lose their homes and are unable to receive medical care when needed. Pray for the church as it seeks to serve and support many among them.
• Please pray for the church in Lebanon, that it will be strengthened and equipped to continue helping those in need – not only for their congregations, but also people from different backgrounds – demonstrating Christ’s love and compassionate care.
• Even in the midst of pain and suffering, many are knocking on the doors of churches, sensing that the church offers a different hope. Ask God to strengthen those serving them to faithfully reflect the love, compassion and peace of Christ to all who come seeking help.
• Please pray for peace in Lebanon, and specially that the country would be protected from civil conflict between Sunni, Shia, and Christian communities, and that people would not turn against one another or blame each other for the current situation.
• Please pray for the wider region, that the missile attacks and violence would cease and that stability and peace would be restored.

Pray for peace, protection and wisdom:

• for diplomacy, dialogue and de-escalation: for violence to cease, for protection from harm and for peace in Iran, Lebanon and across the Middle East
• for respect for human rights and the dignity of God’s children to prevail
• for leaders and decision-makers worldwide to act justly, quickly and decisively to provide much-needed practical support for suppressed civilians

Pray for justice and freedom:

• for the Lord’s protection for Christians imprisoned in Iran on account of their faith and for them to soon be released
• for conditions allowing freedom of religion in Iran, including for all Christians to be permitted to gather for worship freely and establish churches in Iran
• that Christians across the Middle East would not face increased persecution because of heightening instability

Pray for Iranians in exile:

• for Iranians living outside the country who long to return to live or to visit, pray they would soon be able to return without fear
• for Iranians who have been forced to flee in recent years, and are ‘in limbo’ seeking asylum and safety in other countries

Pray for Christian witness:

• for God’s light to shine through the church in Iran, bringing true freedom, healing, dignity and hope
• thanking God for the growing church in Iran, pray for the Body of Christ in Iran to thrive
• that Christians in Iran, Lebanon and across the Middle East would be a compelling testimony to others at this time of turmoil, pointing more and more of God’s children to the Lord

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Iran: peace in uncertainty

Please pray for peace, protection and wisdom for the people of Iran amid violence and uncertainty. Pray for unfair arrests to cease and for innocent prisoners to be released. Pray for leaders and decision-makers worldwide to act justly, quickly and decisively to provide much-needed practical support for suppressed civilians. Pray for God’s light to shine through the church in Iran, bringing true freedom, healing, dignity and hope.

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North Africa: drawing close to God this Lent

Please stand in prayer with mission associates leading a church in North Africa as they host a Lent course looking at forgiveness. The course includes a range of activities designed to deepen course participants’ understanding of the Scriptures. Please pray for each member of the group to be able to draw close to God through this course and to experience and celebrate his forgiveness this Lent.

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Ukraine: four years of war

Tuesday 24 February marks four years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A recent update from mission partner Alison Giblett paints a devastating picture of fear, freezing temperatures and lack of power across Kyiv and the wider country. Ask God for breakthrough, for lasting and trusted peace for Ukraine. Pray for Alison’s protection as she continues to serve the spiritual and material needs of her community through her church. 

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Ethiopia: successful training

Recently, partners Chris and Suzy Wilson, who work with Christian leaders in peacebuilding, asked for prayer for an upcoming training course for Christian leaders in refugee camps.

Chris and Simon were due to spend two weeks investing in a group of Christian leaders all from Simon’s ethnic group, teaching in their own language.

Now having completed the training, Chris writes, “It was, by some distance, the most impactful training course we have been involved in during our time in Ethiopia. All three instructors observed a clear change in the sermons the trainees preached during the course.”

Praise God that the training was such a great success, and please pray for these church leaders as they serve their congregations through volatile times. 

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Jordan: training for young Christians

Please pray for training for 17 young people taking place at the beginning of February near the Dead Sea. Across the Middle East, thousands are eager to explore faith in Jesus, but seekers and new believers need to be supported and discipled. Pray for these 17 young people, from the province of Alexandria and the Diocese of Jerusalem, to grow in their giftings and callings as they spend five days building their toolkits for leadership and discipleship.

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In 2017, Johanni was one of the first at-risk children in Honduras to receive vital care and mentoring from mission partners Lindsey and Steve Poulson. Several years later, thanks to steadfast support, she’s on a path to a bright future.

“When I was eight years old, I spent most of my time out in the street. My parents didn’t send me to school. No one was looking out for me except myself.”

These are the words of Johanni, a 16-year-old girl in Honduras. But it’s not just her story – many thousands of children in Honduras are living this today. Many children’s parents don’t have the capacity to care for them properly. Many children don’t go to school for one reason or another. Many children try to find a sense of belonging on the street and are drawn into gangs.

Back in 2017, aged eight, Johanni used to spend a lot of time in a local park. One day, she met some young adults who were different. They listened to her struggles and told her Jesus loved her. They invited her to play some fun games. Over time, these people, mission partners Lindsey and Steve Poulson, helped Johanni and 14 other children register for school. It was the beginning of a new life chapter for Johanni as well as the start of what would grow to become a life-changing project for children.

Mentoring makes the difference

This group of 15 children were the beginning of Proyecto Alas, a programme that supports at-risk children to continue in education and make good choices for the future. A key part of this programme is that each child was assigned a mentor, a safe adult to meet with for an hour a week to talk about anything and everything.

Mentors also visit them at home and pray with children’s families when possible. “My mentor listens to me, encourages me and helps me make positive decisions,” Johanni says.

Now 16 years old, Johanni is an aspiring nail artist. “Most girls my age don’t make it to high school, so I’m really proud of my achievement and growth.” She is sure she wouldn’t have made it this far without her mentor at her side, supporting her all the way. Johanni still spends time with the kids she used to play with in the park – but now, they do their homework together at Proyecto Alas.

The Poulsons are grateful to have walked alongside Johanni since the beginning of the programme in 2017 and to have seen her and others grow and flourish over the years. More recently, the Alas team have also set up a transition to adulthood programme for those who have graduated from secondary school, and Empresas Alas, a business arm that aims to make the project more sustainable. Now, 65 children and young people are connected to the mentoring programme, 10 young adults are in the transition programme and Alas’s businesses – a barbershop and a coffee shop – aim to provide employment for young adults.

Faith is an integral part of everything they do. The mentors, who are all Christians, are committed to demonstrating and proclaiming who Jesus is. “If we do that well, it’s kind of inevitable that people will want to know him,” Steve says.

One step at a time

Rather than expecting lives to change overnight, Lindsey and Steve and other mentors with Proyecto Alas invest in incremental development – walking alongside at-risk children and young adults over several years as they take one step at a time. The Alas team begin by help meeting children’s most basic practical needs, supporting them to build secure relationships and to continue their education. Without this foundation, ideas of living a stable, independent life and going to university will remain distant dreams.

It’s slow, steady work for both the mentors and the children themselves. Lindsey, Steve and others involved with the project have always known that the long-term, slow-burn work of mentoring is worth it, but seeing someone like Johanni come this far is the ultimate reward.

As Johanni’s words at the beginning of this article stand for many children’s stories, we hope the following words of hers also reflect the stories of many other children: “At Proyecto Alas, I have finally found a place where I belong, where I can be myself, and where I can begin to dream about my future.”

Pray together

Give thanks for the life-changing work of Proyecto Alas.

Pray for God to strengthen and encourage Lindsey and Steve and to bring many more children to the programme.

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DR Congo: one year since rebel attack

This coming Monday, 26 January, will mark one year since the M23 rebel attack in the city of Goma. More than 3,000 lives were lost and a further 700,000 people were displaced. Even so, mission partner Martin Gordon, Bishop of Goma says God is at work in and through the Church.

In Martin’s words, “The 2025 invasion adds one more layer of trauma to more than 30 years of conflict…. But amidst the suffering, we testify daily to God’s faithfulness, and we continue to put our trust in him, as the one who will ultimately bring about peace.” Click to read CMS’s full press release with more information from Martin.

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Tanzania: SAFI cafe and crafts shop

We give thanks with Ben and Katy Ray that the SAFI (See Ability First International) cafe and crafts shop opened its doors to the public in October and is a great success!

Ben and Katy are based in Usa River, near Arusha, where they are building a community for people with disabilities to belong, explore faith and receive training so they can earn a living.

The SAFI cafe and crafts shop is run by a team of deaf waiters and staff, who are earning a living while reducing stigma around disabilities.

Pray for staff to continue to grow in their skills and to feel loved by the community, and for those who visit the cafe and shop to also feel welcome and valued.

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UK: men on the margins in Carlisle

Over the past five years, mission partner Garry Ion has been supporting people on the margins, especially men, through practical work in Carlisle’s Community Shed.

At the end of October, the Shed closed down, making it harder to come alongside people in the community who need support.

Pray for conversations around relaunching the Shed, particularly for concerns around sustainability, running costs and staffing to be resolved.

Give thanks that Garry and others from the Shed are able to meet at the Restore Charity Shop in the centre of Carlisle in the meantime.

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UK: Shine Your Light

This year, CMS is endorsing Shine Your Light, an outreach movement aiming to bring the message of hope and joy to communities across the UK.

Please pray for the movement to touch hearts across the nation and stir curiosity, especially among people who may have never considered that the Christmas story is more than just a fictional story.

Pray for God to work powerfully through an online carol service due to reach 56,000 prisoners on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Andy Roberts, CEO of CMS, says, “Singing carols fills so many with hope, so let’s move outside our comfort zones and take that hope out onto the streets for all to hear.” (Read more from Andy and go to shineyourlight.org.uk to register as an individual, a church or ministry organisation.

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