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The Republic of Ecuador (Republic of the Equator), is found in north-western South America. It borders Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. “Ecuador also includes the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific, about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) west of the mainland.” The Capital City of Ecuador is Quito. Its population stands at 15 million people. Ecuador uses the United States Dollar (USD) for its currency. 

[1]“What is now Ecuador was home to a variety of Amerindian groups that were gradually incorporated into the Inca Empire during the 15th century. The territory was colonized by Spain during the 16th century, achieving independence in 1820 as part of Gran Colombia, from which it emerged as its own sovereign state in 1830. The legacy of both empires is reflected in Ecuador's ethnically diverse population, with most of its 15.2 million people being mestizos, followed by large minorities of European, Amerindian, and African descendants.

“Spanish is the official language and is spoken by a majority of the population, though 13 Amerindian languages are also recognized, including Quichua and Shuar. The capital city is Quito, while the largest city is Guayaquil. In reflection of the country's rich cultural heritage, the historical center of Quito was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Cuenca, the third-largest city, was also declared a World Heritage Site in 1999 as an outstanding example of a planned, inland Spanish-style colonial city in the Americas.

Ecuador has a developing economy that is highly dependent on commodities, namely petroleum and agricultural products. The country is classified as a medium-income country. Ecuador is a democratic presidential republic. The new constitution of 2008 is the first in the world to recognize legally enforceable Rights of Nature, or ecosystem rights. Ecuador is also known for its rich ecology, hosting many endemic plants and animals, such as those of the Galápagos Islands. It is one of 17 megadiverse countries in the world.”

“According to the Ecuadorian National Institute of Statistics and Census, 91.95% of the population have a religion, of which: 80.44% Catholics; 11.30% Protestants; 1.29% Jehovah's Witnesses; 6.97% Other; 7.94% Atheists; and 0.11% Agnostics.”

[2]“Ecuador is a small nation filled with incredible diversity. Within hours you can travel from Andean peaks to the deep Amazon jungle or find yourself on white sandy beaches of the Pacific coast. Ecuador’s people are as diverse as the countryside. Over 65 percent of the total population is made of Mestizos, the mixed descendants of Spanish colonists and indigenous Indians, and 25 percent are from various indigenous Indian groups that still hold to the dress and culture of the forefathers.

Since 1896, when the first permanent missionary presence arrived in Ecuador, there have been limited results. Over the years, Ecuador has been known to have the slowest growing evangelical church on the continent. However, that is currently changing. God is moving, and for the first time in years, many people are beginning to question the religion of their fathers and seek answers. 

With 95 percent of the population claiming to be Catholic and less than 3 percent following different forms of Protestantism, there is a great need for sound Biblical teaching and church planting. It is ABWE’s desire to be used of God in establishing beacons of truth throughout the country.

Ecuador was opened as an Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE) field in the fall of 2005. Efforts are underway to bring together families and individuals who would be called of God to reach Ecuadorians. The vision is to establish a team of church planters who will begin their effort outside the capital city of Quito, in the Tumbaco Valley.”

On April 18th, 2016, the Ecuador earthquake hit the country. Death toll jumped to over 500 and more than 2,500 injured. More people died since them and many were left homeless and injured.

Prayer for Ecuador:

1. For the continued growth of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ in Ecuador

2. For recovery efforts from the April quake

3. For Bibles to reach to affected areas

4. For the resolve of the Ecuadoreans to recover from this tragedy

5. For salvation by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ to reach everyone in Ecuador

In 2 John 1:3-5 we read: “Grace, mercy, and peace be with us in truth and love from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father. I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us. And now I urge you, dear lady—not as a new commandment to you, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.…” This is our prayer for Ecuador, dear Lord through our Risen Lord Jesus Christ.

We pray that God You will establish Ecuador from the ashes of the quake to the spring of Your mercy and favour. That despite the disaster, Your people will recover speedily so that the good work that You have begun there will not be stifled. 

We pray for the Church of our Lord Jesus to emerge even strong and crush the head of the serpent. We pray that no weapon formed against Your people and the Church in Ecuador shall prosper according to Your Word.

We pray that many millions of people will willingly accept the message of salvation and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Lord protect Ecuador from future disasters and allow Your blessings to flow in this land unhindered.

All these we pray and ask through the Most Powerful Name of Our Lord and King, Jesus Christ, Amen
   

[1] Information taken from Wikipedia (retrieved: June 5, 2016)

[2] http://www.abwe.org/serve/countries/ecuador (retrieved: June 5, 2016)

New Zealand is found on the continent of Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. New Zealand consists of two main volcanic and glacial islands. Its Capital City is Wellington, and is found on the North Island. The population of New Zealand is around 4.5 million people and its currency is the New Zealand dollar.

According to Wikipedia, “The history of New Zealand dates back at least 700 years to when it was discovered and settled by Polynesians, who developed a distinct Māori culture centred on kinship links and land. The first European explorer to sight New Zealand was Abel Janszoon Tasman on 13 December 13th, 1642.”

According to Newzealand.com, “Māori were the first to arrive in New Zealand, journeying in canoes from Hawaiki about 1,000 years ago. A Dutchman, Abel Tasman, was the first European to sight the country but it was the British who made New Zealand part of their empire.

“In 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, an agreement between the British Crown and Maori. It established British law in New Zealand and is considered New Zealand’s founding document and an important part of the country's history. The building where the treaty was signed has been preserved and, today, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds are a popular attraction.

“You'll find amazing Māori historic sites and taonga (treasures) - as well as beautiful colonial-era buildings - dotted throughout the country. A walk around any New Zealand city today shows what a culturally diverse and fascinating country we have become.”

In a document titled “How government works,” the New Zealand (NZ) government explains, thus, “The Government is formed after a democratic election held every three years. NZ is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. This means that our head of state is a sovereign (currently Queen Elizabeth II). The Queen is represented in NZ by the Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mateparae. NZ uses a Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system which makes it unlikely that any one political party (eg National, Labour, Greens) will win a majority of the seats in the House. The party with the most votes usually needs to form a coalition or agreement with another party or parties. NZ also uses the system of ‘responsible government’. This means government can only be made up of Ministers who are first elected members of the House of Representatives. The government can only stay in power while it has a majority of members in the House of Representatives. This is known as having the confidence of the House. The system of government works by having three separate branches of government. This ‘separation of powers’ makes sure no one part of government has too much power. The different branches of government are the legislature (Parliament) – this is the House of Representatives (where all the MPs sit) and it includes select committees. The House’s role is to: supply the government (the political party or parties in power) with MPs make new laws and update old ones by carefully looking at and talking about bills -which become laws when they’re passed represent New Zealanders by giving a voice to different ideas from people and organizations examine and approve the government’s taxes and spending check the actions of the Executive; the Executive branch – this is the Government. It runs the country and makes day-to-day decisions on how and what NZ should spend its money on. It brings proposed laws to parliament, and decides policies which get put into practice by government departments. It is made up of Ministers of the Crown supported by government agencies; the Judiciary – the Judiciary are judges and the courts. Judges interpret the law in cases that come before the courts by hearing and deciding cases, and they can review decisions of government.”

The three official languages of New Zealand are English, Maori and NZ Sign Language. English is the language of day-to-day business within New Zealand, a remnant of ties to the British Commonwealth. Maori is a Polynesian language similar to the languages of other Pacific Island cultures, such as Hawaiian, Tongan, and Samoan. Over 157,000 people in New Zealand speak Maori. The country has no formal class structure. 

New Zealand has a mixed economy which operates on free market principles. It has sizeable manufacturing and service sectors complementing a highly efficient agricultural sector. Exports of goods and services account for around one third of real expenditure GDP.  According to heritage.org, “New Zealand’s modern and competitive economy benefits from a strong commitment to open-market policies that facilitate vibrant flows of trade and investment. Transparent and efficient regulations are applied evenly in most cases, encouraging dynamic entrepreneurial activity in the private sector. Financial markets, although relatively small, provide adequate access to financial resources. In 2016, Economic Freedom Score for NZ was 81.6; Economic Freedom Status was Free; Global Ranking was third; Regional Ranking was third in the Asia–Pacific Region; Notable Successes were the Rule of Law, Open Markets, and Regulatory Efficiency. The strength of New Zealand’s economic and social institutions is enhanced by robust protection of property rights and an independent judiciary that enforces anti-corruption measures. While many large advanced economies have been struggling with growing debt burdens caused by years of heavy government spending, New Zealand has kept its gross public debt under control.”

New Zealand is a modern, secular, democratic society, and freedom of religious beliefs is guaranteed by law. Over half of New Zealanders identify themselves as being Christian. The main Christian denominations include Anglican, Catholic and Presbyterian (NZ government).

In an article entitled, “Christians no longer a majority in New Zealand,” Christianity Today reported that, “For the first time in over a century, less than half of New Zealanders call themselves Christians. According to details of the 2013 census released recently, Christians now only make up approximately 47% of the four million-strong population who gave details of their religion (1.93 million people), dropping from 56% in 2006 (2.03 million). Within the statistics, the most troubling data set is that of the Anglicans. The numbers show them as having lost almost 100,000 members in the space of six years, down from 0.55 million in 2006 to 0.46 million in 2013. Anglicans have attributed this in large part to age, but have admitted that does not tell the full story.”

Although church and state have always been separate in New Zealand, most people were religious until the 1960s, and the first Labour government described the introduction of the welfare state as ‘applied Christianity’. However, in the 2000s religious influence was waning (John Stenhouse).

Prayer Items for New Zealand:

1. Pray against the increasing presence of other religious and spiritual options in New Zealand;

2. Pray for the Holy Spirit to humble an independent and secular people;

3. Pray for committed Christian leaders to be raised up from the Maori;

4. Pray for immigrant believers to be bold proclaimers of the faith;

5. Leaders - Pray for governmental, civic and spiritual leaders (1 Tim 2: 1 - 2). Pray for the laws of our land, and any changes which may be made to them.

6. For cities and towns - pray for peace in the land, for our cities and towns; and pray against violence and crime;

7. For the Church - pray for pastors, elders, deacons and other church leaders. Pray for unity within, and between churches. Pray for the proclamation of the truth. Pray for national repentance and confession;

8. For evangelism and mission - pray for the unsaved, for evangelism and evangelistic organizations, that many people will be drawn by the Holy Spirit to the Saviour. 

9. Pray for industry - pray for industrial relations, employers and employees and Trade Unions. Pray for industrial harmony. Pray against laziness and greed. Pray for the unemployed and the poor.

10. Pray for the media - pray for radio and television broadcasting, films, videos, books, magazines and newspapers. Pray that the truth will be presented. Pray against pornography and everything which would encourage immorality, violence, the demonic, etc. Pray for the Christian use of the media to be effective;

11. Pray for victory over the powers of darkness - pray against all forms of immorality and sexual perversion, drugs, alcoholism, the occult, idolatry and worship of false gods. Pray that the veil over the minds of unbelievers will be lifted; that people will see, hear, understand and receive Jesus as their Lord, Saviour and Deliverer; 

12. Pray for the youth - pray for the young people, that they will find the Lord at an early age, will be filled with the Spirit and walk with the Lord. Pray that they will be kept from the wiles and temptations of the enemy; that they will know the truth that sets them free and not become enslaved to lies and deceptions. Pray for schools, colleges, universities, Sunday Schools, Bible classes and Bible colleges;

13. Pray for justice - pray for justice in the land - legal, justice and social justice. Pray against racial and other wrongful discrimination. 

14. Pray for families - pray for the homes and families. Pray that marriage will always be held in high honour. Pray against those things which encourage family breakdown and divorce. Pray for single parents who struggle to bring up their children on their own, and for children who live with only one parent; 

15. Pray for missions - pray that New Zealand will always be a strong missionary-sending nation. Pray for all Christians who are serving the Lord overseas, sharing the Gospel with those who are lost. Pray for those who are persecuted for their faith so that they will stand strong in the faith; 

16. Pray for Christian literature - pray for the writing and distribution of Christian literature, and especially the Word of God itself. Pray for the upholding of the truths of God’s Word and of Christian principles and standards as laid down in the Bible;

17. Pray that New Zealand will not be a drug cartel or a dumping ground for drugs. In July 2016, the BBC reported, “New Zealand police say they have made their biggest ever seizure of cocaine, hidden inside a novel kind of drug mule. They intercepted the $10m (£7.6m) worth of cocaine inside a huge diamante-encrusted statue of a horse's head. The shipment of 35kg (77lb) bricks was air-freighted from Mexico to the city of Auckland in May. An American and two Mexicans were arrested over the weekend following a six-week investigation. The horse's head weighed 365kg and was 1m (3ft) tall, the New Zealand Herald reported.”

So, Heavenly Father, we pray for Your name to be honoured in the islands that form New Zealand, that You will again be recognized as the Lord, the redeemer. Father, we ask that the Church will intensify its spreading of the Good News to all the peoples of NZ in all their diversity. Father, listen and hear us and grand all the 17 prayer requests mentioned above for NZ. These all we pray and ask in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen!

The Democratic Republic of Poland is found in north-central Europe, a land of 117,571 square miles or about 304,509 square kilometres. Poland has a population of about 38 million people. The Capital City and largest city is Warsaw, with about 1.7 million people. The other large city is Krakow with about 756,000 people. Poland’s currency or monetary unit is the Zloty. Most of the country is a plain. Poland has no natural boundaries with the exception of the Carpathian Mountains in the south and the Oder and Neisse rivers in the west. Among its important rivers are the Vistula, Warta, and Bug. According to Mark Baker in Lonely Planet, “Poland's southern border is defined by the upward thrust of the Carpathian Mountains. Europe's second-biggest mountain range after the Alps, the Carpathians sweep over central Europe in an arc from the Czech Republic in the west to Ukraine and Romania in the east.”

According to (http://www.infoplease.com/country/poland.html), “Great (north) Poland was founded in 966 by Mieszko I, who belonged to the Piast dynasty. The tribes of southern Poland then formed Little Poland. In 1047, both Great Poland and Little Poland united under the rule of Casimir I the Restorer. Poland merged with Lithuania by royal marriage in 1386. The Polish-Lithuanian state reached the peak of its power between the 14th and 16th centuries, scoring military successes against the (Germanic) Knights of the Teutonic Order, the Russians, and the Ottoman Turks.

“Lack of a strong monarchy enabled Russia, Prussia, and Austria to carry out a first partition of the country in 1772, a second in 1792, and a third in 1795. For more than a century thereafter, there was no Polish state, just Austrian, Prussian, and Russian sectors, but the Poles never ceased their efforts to regain their independence. The Polish people revolted against foreign dominance throughout the 19th century. Poland was formally reconstituted in Nov. 1918, with Marshal Josef Pilsudski as chief of state. In 1919, Ignace Paderewski, the famous pianist and patriot, became the first prime minister. In 1926, Pilsudski seized complete power in a coup and ruled dictatorially until his death on May 12, 1935.

“Despite a ten-year nonaggression pact signed in 1934, Hitler attacked Poland on Sept. 1, 1939. Soviet troops invaded from the east on Sept. 17, and on Sept. 28, a German-Soviet agreement divided Poland between the USSR and Germany. Wladyslaw Raczkiewicz formed a government-in-exile in France, which moved to London after France's defeat in 1940. All of Poland was occupied by Germany after the Nazi attack on the USSR in June 1941. Nazi Germany's occupation policy in Poland was designed to eradicate Polish culture through mass executions and to exterminate the country's large Jewish minority.

“The Polish government-in-exile was replaced with the Communist-dominated Polish Committee of National Liberation by the Soviet Union in 1944. Moving to Lublin after that city's liberation, it proclaimed itself the Provisional Government of Poland. Some former members of the Polish government in London joined with the Lublin government to form the Polish Government of National Unity, which Britain and the U.S. recognized. On Aug. 2, 1945, in Berlin, President Harry S. Truman, Joseph Stalin, and Prime Minister Clement Attlee of Britain established a new de facto western frontier for Poland along the Oder and Neisse rivers (The border was finally agreed to by West Germany in a nonaggression pact signed on Dec. 7, 1970.) On Aug. 16, 1945, the USSR and Poland signed a treaty delimiting the Soviet-Polish border. Under these agreements, Poland was shifted westward. In the east, it lost 69,860 square miles (180,934 square kilometres); in the west, it gained (subject to final peace conference approval) 38,986 square miles (100,973 square kilometres).

“The constitution in 1952 made Poland a “people's democracy” of the Soviet type. In 1955, Poland became a member of the Warsaw Treaty Organization, with its foreign policy identical to that of the USSR. The government undertook persecution of the Roman Catholic Church as a remaining source of opposition. 

“Solidarity members won a stunning victory in 1989, taking almost all the seats in the Senate and all of the 169 seats they were allowed to contest in the Sejm. This gave them substantial influence in the new government. Tadeusz Mazowiecki was appointed prime minister. Lech Walesa won the presidential election of 1990 with 74% of the vote. In 1991, the first fully free parliamentary election since World War II resulted in representation for 29 political parties. Efforts to turn Poland into a market economy, however, led to economic difficulties and widespread discontent. In the second democratic parliamentary election of Sept. 1993, voters returned power to ex-Communists and their allies. Solidarity's popularity and influence continued to wane. In 1995, Aleksander Kwasniewski, leader of the successor to the Communist Party, the Democratic Left, won the presidency over Walesa in a landslide.

“In 1999, Poland became part of NATO, along with the Czech Republic and Hungary.” In 2016 NATO summit was held in Poland. The Warsaw summit was dominated by plans for a military response to potential Russian aggression against Poland and Baltic countries, and Britain leaving the European Union (Brexit).

The Polish constitution guarantees freedom of religion to everyone. However, according to (http://www.explore-poland.pl/religion-in-poland.html), “Throughout the history of the Polish State, the Roman Catholic Church has played a very important role. Because of the Roman Catholic Church, Poland was able to continue its existence in history. The decision of choosing Roman Catholicism as Poland's first and only religion under the auspices of the Church in the Czech Republic, as opposed to coming under the authority of the Church hierarchy in Germany, allowed Poland to keep its independence and later play an important role in Central Europe. Poland then recognized Saint Peter as its first patron saint. At various times, when the country was in danger from foreign powers, the Polish people appealed to this religion as their saving agent, uniting the whole nation. It helped the Polish nation survive even when the Polish State disappeared from the map.

Until the 16th century, Polish culture developed according to the Church's needs. There were no secular paintings, and the majority of Polish literature was created for the Church and was mainly written by clergy. Monks and priests were the only educated people in those times.

During the partition of Poland, in the 19th century, it was religion that helped to maintain the hope that independence would be gained again. After the Second World War, the Roman Catholic Church remained the only alternative organization to the Communist Party and the political opposition against the Communists was organized around the Church. At that time, the Catholic Church was in a state of permanent conflict with the government.

The Roman Catholic Church continues to hold a very strong position in Poland. It is one of the richest social organizations, owns schools, publishing agencies and other companies. It also tries to play an important role in the political life of the country. A lot of new political parties Catholic or Christian by name and ideology have been created during the last five years. Also the Catholic Church itself and its dignitaries often take the floor in the matter of politics, trying to influence voters and politicians. In the same way, there is active participation and leadership in the government by political parties, which do not have strong ties to the Church. The current president of Poland is a member of such a party, and a partner in the governing coalition is a political party without formal ties to the Church.

The Church remains an important social institution, especially in the rural areas and in small towns, where many parish cultural and sport organizations function. In addition to the Roman Catholic Church, other Catholic Churches in Poland include Greek Catholic, Armenian, and Old Catholic Churches.

Today, when freedom to confess a religion is constitutionally assured, there are a lot of different Churches in Poland, mainly Christian denominations. The largest and most important is Catholicism, which is confessed by, according to official data, more than 35 million people, or about 95% of the population. However, the majority of Polish Catholics don't practice the religion. Although they describe themselves as Catholics, many don't go to church or take part in Church life except during the most important religious holidays and exceptional occasions.

The second largest church in Poland, in size and importance, is the Polish Orthodox Church. It counts more than 500,000 followers, mainly in the eastern regions of Poland. The Orthodox Church in Poland was persecuted and discriminated against for many years to a much greater degree than the Roman Catholic Church. Now, after the fall of Communism, Orthodox Christians can without fear confess their faith and rebuild places of worship which had been destroyed in the last 50 years.

Protestant Churches are also numerous in Poland. The largest are the Augsburg-Evangelical and Pentecostals (each has about 100,000 members) followed by the Baptists, Adventists, Methodists and ending with the smallest, the Christian Congregation and Evangelical Congregation 'Zion,' each with 20 members.

Moslem and Krishna confessors number about 5,000 members each. And there are only a few practicing Jews left in Poland; the Association of Jewish Religious Communities in the Republic of Poland has only 1,222 members. After the German occupation during World War II and the systematic extermination of Jews, only about 300,000 Jews survived in Poland. There had been more than 3.5 million Jews living in Poland before 1939. Shortly after the end of the war, 290,000 emigrated from Poland to Israel.

Under “Religion and Politics in Poland,” Irena Borowik writes, “The Catholic Church supported the resistance against the communist regime for 20 years. It contributed to the regime's collapse and defended Poland's national identity. Today, Poland's Catholic Church holds closely to conservative patterns and pursues its own political aims.” She writes further, “Some 95 per cent of adult Poles identify themselves with Catholicism and the stereotype ‘Poles are Catholics’ continues to function. In spite of a rising interest in other religious traditions, especially in Buddhism among the younger population, according to empirical research the population of religious minorities does not exceed three per cent. In times of expanding pluralism and globalization, this – at least in general terms – quite steadfastly strong position of a single religious tradition comprises reason enough for investigation of the conditions of this phenomenon. This is all the more valid as considerations concerning contrasting tendencies of religious change, decline, and/or secularization are frequent and consistently popular.” 

Saint John Paul II, who was a Polish and was born Karol Józef Wojtyła, on May 18th, 1920 and died on April 2nd, 2005, was pope from 1978 to 2005. It was his earlier religious activism in Poland as cardinal which helped to liberate Poland.

Prayer Requests for Poland:

(First six requests adapted from: http://prayeurope.com/countries/poland/)

1. God is providing funding for ministry workers and also opportunities to build unity and an appreciation for God's glory. Praise God for the way He cares for each of His children both in funding and resources but also in character building. 

2. Pray for the Alpha courses multiplying throughout the country. Pray the gospel goes out with power and for many disciples. Several have started in church parishes and are reaching many with the gospel.

3. Praise for a Students Leaders Summit in Warsaw where participants went to 20 different universities to meet 1300 students and dozens wanted to meet, talk, and some had decided to be student leaders to reach other students with the Gospel.

4. As believers help others to grow, pray for them to build strong marriages, raise up spiritual leaders who can study the Word, share their faith, and multiply.

5. Pray for evangelical believers to cooperate with other denominations. Unity in the key areas of the Christian faith and grace in the smaller areas.

6. Please pray for the political leaders of Poland, for the president and the Prime Minister to be strong and lead with the fear of God.

(Items 7 to 8 adapted from: http://www.operationworld.org/pola)

7. The materialist dream of wealth post-independence proves elusive and hollow for most. Violence, immorality and the loss of a moral compass haunt the younger generation in particular, and much of the rural population remains mired in unemployment and poverty. Praise God for the stability, progress and freedom that allow the good news to be preached. Pray that the Polish quest for material advancement might be subordinated to their search for God.

8. The Catholic Church was long the guardian of Polish culture and nationalism in the face of Russian imperialism and Soviet communism. It performed this role admirably, to the point where it is difficult to separate Catholic identity from Polish statehood. Poland is one of the most religious states in Europe.

a) The Catholic Church’s popularity decreases with every attempt to control or influence Polish politics and society. Also, the ties Poles feel to Catholicism decrease each passing year since the death of the Polish Pope John Paul II. Regular mass ttendance dropped from 58% in 1989 to 28% in 2008. Despite increasing disillusionment with organized Catholicism and decreasing influence of faith in their daily lives, the vast majority of Poles consider themselves Catholic, most still committed to their faith.

b) Polish Catholicism is particularly noted for its devotion to Mary. Polish Catholics believe Mary to be the spiritual queen of Poland, co-redemptrix and intercessor between humanity and Jesus. The shrine of the Black Madonna in Czestochowa is the most important of the more than 500 shrines in Poland. Pray for appropriate honouring, but against the undue worship, of Mary. Pray that biblical teachings and values might be retained and enhanced, and Jesus rightly placed at the heart of the Catholic Church.

c) Renewal in the Catholic Church has a significant legacy, both among leaders and laity. Poland is rare in that applications for the priesthood are rising; it currently has about 6,000 priests serving in other countries. Movements such as Oasis/Light of Life had much influence in the 1980s when many came to personal faith in Christ as a result of Bible study groups. Pray for all Catholics to find spiritual vitality and new life in the person of Jesus.

9. Pray for Catholics to focus on the redemptive work of Christ on the cross and the personal relationship that He desires; for hearts open to the message of salvation among the materialistic youth; and for more national missionaries to take the Gospel to other Slavic nations (adapted from: http://prayercast.com/poland.html).

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, 

W begin with the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.” You have, indeed, being God of Poland, from distressful times of political turmoil and Communism to the peaceful times of reconstruction and democracy. You have not forgotten Your people Israel who were murdered in Poland. Your have safeguarded the honor of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, there. You have raised a royal priesthood and a holy nation within the boundaries of Poland. Thank you for standing with Your people through historically difficulty times and now.

Now we prayer for continued strength among the clergy in Poland: Protect them and give them the Spirit of Elijah, that they will stand for the truth in the strength of the Lord. We ask for continued exhortation of the Word of God in Poland, so that men and women and boys and girls will be converted to the Way of Life and find rest only in Him. We pray that the youth will not be conquered by materialism, but that they will seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness and all material things will be added unto them.

We pray for safekeeping of the interest of Poland against foreign invasion. O Lord God Almighty, stand with your people and stop the plans of the agitator and destroyer, that Your land will remain orderly, guarded and peaceful to years to come. Lord God, our Father, also keep all the world leaders gathered in Poland today and this week safe, so that they may find solutions to the gaping world problems. May they seek You first as You guide them into the right path towards lasting answers to difficult world questions.

Through the Blessed name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray and ask, Amen!

Cameroon is a Central African country located north of the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean) and bordered to the west by Nigeria, to the south by Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, to the east by the Central African Republic and north-east by Chad. North of Cameroun is Lake Chad. Cameroon has an area of ​​475,650 km² (almost the size of Spain or slightly larger than the US state of California). It has dense vegetation in its southern coastal areas, and “a vast river system and a hot, humid climate with abundant rainfall,” (http://www.nationsonline.org/). The land of Cameroun is rich in volcanic soils, favorable for agriculture and crops such as coffee and vegetable are grown there.

Also known as the Republic of Cameroon, the country was formerly called French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, and United Republic of Cameroon. Its Capital City is at Yaounde, with a population of about 2.4 million people. Other cities are Douala, major seaport and commercial capital (1.3 million), Garoua (424,312), Maroua (409,546), Bafoussam (319,457), Bamenda (321,490), Nkongsamba (166,262), and Ngaoundere (216,300).

As to government, Cameroon is a Republic, with a strong central government dominated by president. The country became independent on January 1st, 1960 for the territory formerly ruled by France, and October 1st, 1961 for the territory formerly ruled by Britain. Cameroon launched its constitution on June 2nd, 1972, which was last amended in January 1996.

Cameroon has a population of about 23 million people with about 250 ethnic groups. The languages used in Cameroon are French and English (both official) and about 270 African languages and dialects, including pidgin, Fulfulde, and Ewondo. About 53% of the people are Christian; about 22% are Muslims; and about 25% are indigenous Africans. Cameroon’s rate of literacy is pegged at 75%.

The nation’s natural resources include: Oil, timber, hydroelectric power, natural gas, cobalt, nickel. Its agriculture products are timber, coffee, tea, bananas, cocoa, rubber, palm oil, pineapples, and cotton. Among the thriving industries are: Petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair. Cameroon exports crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, and cotton. Cameroon’s exports partners are China 15.2%, Netherlands 9.7%, Spain 9.1%, India 8.6%, Portugal 8.1%, Italy 6%, USA 5.5%, and France 4% as per 2012 statistics. Its imports partners are China 18.7%, France 14.9%, Nigeria 12.3%, Belgium 5.2%, USA 4.4%, and India 4.2% as per 2012 statistics. The currency of Cameroon is Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF).

Bantu speakers were among the first groups to settle Cameroon, followed by the Muslim Fulani in the 18th and 19th centuries(http://www.infoplease.com/country/cameroon.html). “The name Cameroon is derived from the Portuguese word, Camaroes, meaning shrimps. As Portuguese sailor Ferdanando Poo arrived in 1472 at the Wouri River in Douala and discovered so many shrimps in the river he decided to call it Rio Dos Camaroes (River of shrimps, in Portuguese). It was from this word that the territory derived its name which is now spelt in various forms: Spanish spelt it Cameroes; Germans, Kamerun; English, Cameroon; and French, Cameroun. 

“The territory was colonized by the Germans in 1884 but after the end of the First World War Cameroon was mandated by the League of Nations to the French and British governments. France took the greater sector, formally known as East Cameroon, while Britain took responsibility over former West Cameroon known then as "Cameroon under British Administration". 

“On January 1st, 1960, the French Sector became independent under the new name of Cameroon Republic. Following agitation for independence by the Southern Cameroons - before the name was changed to West Cameroon - a plebiscite was held in that sector of Cameroon on February 11th, 1961 under the United Nations supervision. The result of the plebiscite was overwhelming for reunification (233,571 against 97,741) and gave Southern Cameroon automatic independence and unification, which was achieved on October 1st, 1961. Thus after the reunification of both sectors, the Federal Republic of Cameroon was born. After a referendum in May 1972, Cameroon became a United Republic and by a Presidential Decree of 1984 it became the Republic of Cameroon,”(Source: Cameroon Embassy in the Netherlands).

Christians make up about 10,737,593 (about 54%) and of these Evangelicals make up about 1,804,104 people. In 2013, the Government of Cameroon cracked down on churches it alleged were doing, “activities that have nothing to do with preaching the word of God,” (http://www.voanews.com). Cameroon's President Paul Biya ordered the closure of nearly 100 Christian churches in key cities, citing criminal practices organized by Pentecostal pastors that threaten the security of the West African nation. But Pentecostal pastors said the move was evidence of Biya's insecurity about the churches' criticism of the government. Biya had been ruling Cameroon for over 30 years.

Prayer Requests:

1. Many significant leaders – professional, military, police and political – to continue to be converted, giving hope for changing a society infamous for corruption;;

2. For continued influence of the Gospel in parliament, including regular prayer meetings when parliament is in session;

3. Evangelicals, especially Pentecostals, to continue to grow rapidly as has been the case in the last 23 years;

4. Greater spiritual unity and cooperation between charismatic and non-charismatic groups. Many older denominations see these younger churches as divisive, fragmented upstarts with poor theology and an unhealthy fixation on signs, wonders and money;

5. More effective discipleship in the churches. The growth of recent years and the focus on numbers of converts rather than on quality of disciples have caused a lack of trained leaders and spiritual growth. Pray for the formation of a genuinely evangelical association of churches in Cameroon that will assist with this challenge.

6. Pastors and leaders of great integrity and spirituality. Many of these churches lack accountability structures, and their leaders are often accused of being charlatans seeking wealth by manipulating the faithful. Pray that those with pure motives and hearts may see their churches grow, while the wolves in sheep’s clothing may be exposed as fakes.

7. Biblical engagement across all spheres of society. The newer churches deliberately avoid being involved in issues of politics, justice, education etc., concentrating solely on spiritual and material blessings for their members. Pray for the maturation of these groups such that they might have a holistic vision and profound impact on the nation. (http://www.operationworld.org/came)

8. Against Boko Haram attacks on Christians in Cameroon. “Christians in Cameroon say they suffer persecution from the Islamist terror group Boko Haram on a near-daily basis. ‘Every day there are suicide bombers, there is theft of cattle, there are killings and kidnapping of people and theft of goods,’ a source in Cameroon told Christian humanitarian agency Barnabas Aid.

Prayer:

Father, You are the refuge to all those who are in distress: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:1-11). May this prayer offered on behalf of all the people of Cameroon be heard and answered, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Amen!

France, as described by Wikipedia is “in Western Europe, encompasses medieval and port cities, tranquil villages, mountains and Mediterranean beaches. Paris, its capital, is known worldwide for its couture fashion houses, classical art museums including the Louvre and monuments like the Eiffel Tower. The country is also renowned for its sophisticated cuisine and its wines. Lascaux’s ancient cave drawings, Lyon’s Roman Theater and the immense Palace of Versailles are testaments to its long history.
France has a population of about 66.03 million people.

On Friday the 13th in November 2015 Paris was attached by those who claim to be ISIS militants. There were seven coordinated terror attacks in Paris carried out by militants, killing at least 129 people and wounding at 352 people. The President of France declared a state of emergency.

For us at III what we see through the Paris attacks is hate, how that one nation will rise against another, and a nation within itself. God asks us all to be makers of peace and not chaos, to love one another and not to hate. In 1 John 4:20, we read, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” So, the people of France as the people of Iraq or Syria ought to know that they are brothers and sisters and enemies to target one another and kill each other.

Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus our Prince of peace, we pray for the peace and protection of France. As a result of the killings last week, Lord, the people are hurting; the nation is in mourning. But you’re a Father to the fatherless and the healer of their wounds. We ask that you fill the hearts and minds of the people of France with love and joy knowing that even if they have been targeted, you can bring beauty from ashes. We pray against violence and terror plots still in progress that they will not succeed. We ask that you protect innocent people. We also pray that you give strength to the French leaders, especially the President François Hollande, that you will give him wisdom, strength and will power to make decisions that will be for the good not only the people of France, but of the world as well.

We invoke Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” And 1 John 3:15, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” We also invoke 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” And so in the midst of sorrow, death and confusion, reign in France with your love and that from this tragedy you will bring great triumph to the glory of the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!“Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country, including the capital Kampala. The people of Uganda were hunter-gatherers until 1,700 to 2,300 years ago, when Bantu-speaking populations migrated to the southern parts of the country.

“Beginning in 1894, the area was ruled as a protectorate by the British, who established administrative law across the territory. Uganda gained independence from Britain on 9 October 1962. The period since then has been marked by intermittent conflicts, including a lengthy civil war against the Lord's Resistance Army, which has caused tens of thousands of casualties and displaced more than a million people.

“The official language is English. Luganda, a central language, is widely spoken across the country, and several other languages are also spoken including Runyoro, Runyankole, Rukiga, and Lango.”

Uganda gained independence from Britain in October 1962. The President of Uganda is both head of state and head of government. Wikipedia reports that, “Transparency International has rated Uganda's public sector as one of the most corrupt in the world. In 2014, Uganda ranked 142nd worst out of 175 and had a score of 26 on a scale from 0 (perceived as most corrupt) to 100 (perceived as clean). The GDP of Uganda stands at US$22.6 billion (2013). The currency of Uganda is the Ugandan Shilling (UGX). Both manufacturing and mining industries are prioritized in Uganda, especially the mining of petroleum products and the manufacture of cement, and so on.

“As of January 2014, homosexuality is illegal in Uganda and carries a minimum sentence of two years in prison and a maximum of life. Sodomy laws from the British colonial era are still on the books, and there is an extreme social bias against homosexuality, with the murder rate for LGBT people being significantly higher than other groups. Gays and lesbians face discrimination and harassment at the hands of the media, police, teachers, and other groups.

According to an article titled, “A History of Christianity in Uganda,” by Kevin Ward, “Christianity came late to Uganda compared with many other parts of Africa. Missionaries first arrived at the court of Kabaka Muteesa in 1877, almost a century after the missionary impetus from Europe had begun. And yet within 25 years Uganda had become one of the most successful mission fields in the whole of Africa. What were the causes of this phenomenal success? 

“Any discussion of Christianity in Uganda--the creation of colonialism at the end of the 19th Century--must begin with Buganda--the ancient independent kingdom on the northern shores of the lake which the Baganda call Nalubaale (the home of the balubaale gods) and which the British christened "Victoria." Over the centuries Buganda had evolved a complex system of government under a Kabaka (king), a system unusual for its high degree of centralization and internal cohesiveness. Another feature of Kiganda society, of importance in explaining the eventual success of Christianity, was its remarkable adaptability and receptivity to change. 

“In 1856 Kabaka Muteesa inherited a kingdom which was already the strongest in the region. During his long reign of 28 years he consolidated and enhanced that power. A major part of Muteesa's strategy as rubber was to open up Buganda to the outside world. Swahili and Arab traders from Zanzibar were encouraged to trade their cotton cloth, guns and luxury items for ivory and slaves. But outside influences did not stop at trade; Islam was soon exerting a profound religious and cultural influence on Buganda. By the time Christianity arrived, the impact of Islam had already been felt for a generation.

“The events of this violent period in Buganda's history are sometimes characterized as a "Christian revolution"--by which is meant the fact that a fundamental change occurred in Buganda in which Christianity was the motivating force and the chief beneficiary. It was a revolution with several phases: a revolution of the 'new dini' (1888), a 'Muslim revolution' (1888-9), a 'Christian counterrevolution' (1889), a 'Protestant seizure of power' (1892), and finally the consolidation of the revolutionary changes by the British take-over and loss of Buganda's sovereignty (1894/1900).

“The Protestant schools were the breeding ground for the rising nationalism of the 1950s. In Uganda, nationalism was complicated by the conflicting claims of Buganda nationalism and Ugandan nationalism. It was, by and large, the Protestants who made the running in both kinds of nationalism. But the hierarchy of the Anglican Church was often attacked for identifying itself too closely with the colonial authorities. It was widely believed that the new bishop of Uganda, Leslie Brown, was involved in one way or another with the deportation of the Kabaka in 1953, though he has always strenuously denied any such involvement. The Anglican Church lost a lot of support in those years when Kiganda traditionalist sentiment was running high. 

But Catholics too were under attack in these years from the traditionalists. After long years of being passive in political matters, as Independence approached, the Catholic hierarchy increasingly saw the Democratic Party as a suitable party for Catholics to support, more acceptable than either Buganda's traditionalism (as finally embodied in Kabaka Yekka) or the secular and left with ideology of the Protestant dominated nationalist parties (which finally coalesced into the Uganda Peoples' Congress).”

Christianity Today reports that Uganda makes a distinction between ancestral worship and Christianity, “We value our ancestors because we are connected to them,” Church of Uganda archbishop Stanley Ntgali said in a statement. “But, we must always trust only in God. We no longer need to go through the spirits of the dead because Jesus is our hope and protector.”

Intercessions for Uganda

Awake and be gracious to Your land, the nation of Uganda, O God of our salvation.

The sun shines in the wide skies for all the peoples of the world, bad and good.

You have never rescinded Your kindness upon those who rise in vengeance against Your will.

Your goodness knows no boundary, no partiality and does not discriminate, one nation against another.

So Lord of Peace and Power, the nations are laid bare before Your watchful eye,

And their challenges and successes do not by-pass Your good and observable face.

You have appointed seasons for all the regions of the world, so that all peoples can enjoy bounty.

You have placed minerals, water bodies and natural resources in every land created by Your power.

Even when in times of great famines and lack and calamities, You have spared the lives of many.

For sure You are not the author of poverty, misery is far from Your governing throne.

You look down with pity upon the children of men, and You extend Your favor to them wise.

You have not judged any nation according to its deeds, for none would pass Your standards.

You will not watch and see Your own creation struggling in sin, disease and all manner of war.

Lord of Hosts, You have placed in every nation people who pray and call upon Your holy name.

These You have set as watchmen against the wiles of Satan, whom you have judged eternally.

But for those who fear You, You extend Your face to save them from their enemies.

The love You have for the nation of Uganda, O Lord, is an eternal and everlasting love.

And for the following requests I lay before Your righteous throne, so that You may answer.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We pray that in Uganda, You will bring lasting peace and a move towards true democracy where the people have real power to elect whosoever they want. I pray that its democratic process will be transparent, that the president will allow for real change in order to court the variety of leaderships and leaders that You have placed within the land of Uganda.

We pray that Uganda will be a fruitful and prosperous land – a land teeming with lush forests, loamy soils and sustainable nature. These are vital so that the crops can grow, new minerals can be discovered and mined and the improvements in living standards can be instant.

We pray for the employment of the youth (national definition, 18-30 years) so that the staggering 60 plus percentage of unemployed youth may find good jobs in Uganda.

May Uganda be blessed with adequate budgetary resources, with reduced capacity gaps in education, with adequate physical infrastructure such as schools and scholastic materials, classroom blocks, water and sanitation, and power supply, and with adequate sports facilities and equipment.

We pray that there will be as many doctors as patients and that the government bureaucracy will be streamlined to reduced excesses in centralization and empower the people for economic performance.

We pray that the women of Uganda will no longer be facing the challenges of discrimination, low social status, lack of economic self-sufficiency, and greater risk of HIV/AIDS infection. May peace and end to anarchism abound much and flowing in Uganda.

Thank you, Father, that You have heard in Jesus’ name, Amen!

According to Wikipedia, “Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the southwest by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. Uganda is the world's second most populous landlocked country after Ethiopia. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda is in the African Great Lakes region. Uganda also lies within the Nile basin, and has a varied but generally a modified equatorial climate.

“Uganda takes its name from the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south of the country, including the capital Kampala. The people of Uganda were hunter-gatherers until 1,700 to 2,300 years ago, when Bantu-speaking populations migrated to the southern parts of the country.

“Beginning in 1894, the area was ruled as a protectorate by the British, who established administrative law across the territory. Uganda gained independence from Britain on 9 October 1962. The period since then has been marked by intermittent conflicts, including a lengthy civil war against the Lord's Resistance Army, which has caused tens of thousands of casualties and displaced more than a million people.

“The official language is English. Luganda, a central language, is widely spoken across the country, and several other languages are also spoken including Runyoro, Runyankole, Rukiga, and Lango.”

Uganda gained independence from Britain in October 1962. The President of Uganda is both head of state and head of government. Wikipedia reports that, “Transparency International has rated Uganda's public sector as one of the most corrupt in the world. In 2014, Uganda ranked 142nd worst out of 175 and had a score of 26 on a scale from 0 (perceived as most corrupt) to 100 (perceived as clean). The GDP of Uganda stands at US$22.6 billion (2013). The currency of Uganda is the Ugandan Shilling (UGX). Both manufacturing and mining industries are prioritized in Uganda, especially the mining of petroleum products and the manufacture of cement, and so on.

“As of January 2014, homosexuality is illegal in Uganda and carries a minimum sentence of two years in prison and a maximum of life. Sodomy laws from the British colonial era are still on the books, and there is an extreme social bias against homosexuality, with the murder rate for LGBT people being significantly higher than other groups. Gays and lesbians face discrimination and harassment at the hands of the media, police, teachers, and other groups.

According to an article titled, “A History of Christianity in Uganda,” by Kevin Ward, “Christianity came late to Uganda compared with many other parts of Africa. Missionaries first arrived at the court of Kabaka Muteesa in 1877, almost a century after the missionary impetus from Europe had begun. And yet within 25 years Uganda had become one of the most successful mission fields in the whole of Africa. What were the causes of this phenomenal success? 

“Any discussion of Christianity in Uganda--the creation of colonialism at the end of the 19th Century--must begin with Buganda--the ancient independent kingdom on the northern shores of the lake which the Baganda call Nalubaale (the home of the balubaale gods) and which the British christened "Victoria." Over the centuries Buganda had evolved a complex system of government under a Kabaka (king), a system unusual for its high degree of centralization and internal cohesiveness. Another feature of Kiganda society, of importance in explaining the eventual success of Christianity, was its remarkable adaptability and receptivity to change. 

“In 1856 Kabaka Muteesa inherited a kingdom which was already the strongest in the region. During his long reign of 28 years he consolidated and enhanced that power. A major part of Muteesa's strategy as rubber was to open up Buganda to the outside world. Swahili and Arab traders from Zanzibar were encouraged to trade their cotton cloth, guns and luxury items for ivory and slaves. But outside influences did not stop at trade; Islam was soon exerting a profound religious and cultural influence on Buganda. By the time Christianity arrived, the impact of Islam had already been felt for a generation.

“The events of this violent period in Buganda's history are sometimes characterized as a "Christian revolution"--by which is meant the fact that a fundamental change occurred in Buganda in which Christianity was the motivating force and the chief beneficiary. It was a revolution with several phases: a revolution of the 'new dini' (1888), a 'Muslim revolution' (1888-9), a 'Christian counterrevolution' (1889), a 'Protestant seizure of power' (1892), and finally the consolidation of the revolutionary changes by the British take-over and loss of Buganda's sovereignty (1894/1900).

“The Protestant schools were the breeding ground for the rising nationalism of the 1950s. In Uganda, nationalism was complicated by the conflicting claims of Buganda nationalism and Ugandan nationalism. It was, by and large, the Protestants who made the running in both kinds of nationalism. But the hierarchy of the Anglican Church was often attacked for identifying itself too closely with the colonial authorities. It was widely believed that the new bishop of Uganda, Leslie Brown, was involved in one way or another with the deportation of the Kabaka in 1953, though he has always strenuously denied any such involvement. The Anglican Church lost a lot of support in those years when Kiganda traditionalist sentiment was running high. 

But Catholics too were under attack in these years from the traditionalists. After long years of being passive in political matters, as Independence approached, the Catholic hierarchy increasingly saw the Democratic Party as a suitable party for Catholics to support, more acceptable than either Buganda's traditionalism (as finally embodied in Kabaka Yekka) or the secular and left with ideology of the Protestant dominated nationalist parties (which finally coalesced into the Uganda Peoples' Congress).”

Christianity Today reports that Uganda makes a distinction between ancestral worship and Christianity, “We value our ancestors because we are connected to them,” Church of Uganda archbishop Stanley Ntgali said in a statement. “But, we must always trust only in God. We no longer need to go through the spirits of the dead because Jesus is our hope and protector.”

Intercessions for Uganda

Awake and be gracious to Your land, the nation of Uganda, O God of our salvation.

The sun shines in the wide skies for all the peoples of the world, bad and good.

You have never rescinded Your kindness upon those who rise in vengeance against Your will.

Your goodness knows no boundary, no partiality and does not discriminate, one nation against another.

So Lord of Peace and Power, the nations are laid bare before Your watchful eye,

And their challenges and successes do not by-pass Your good and observable face.

You have appointed seasons for all the regions of the world, so that all peoples can enjoy bounty.

You have placed minerals, water bodies and natural resources in every land created by Your power.

Even when in times of great famines and lack and calamities, You have spared the lives of many.

For sure You are not the author of poverty, misery is far from Your governing throne.

You look down with pity upon the children of men, and You extend Your favor to them wise.

You have not judged any nation according to its deeds, for none would pass Your standards.

You will not watch and see Your own creation struggling in sin, disease and all manner of war.

Lord of Hosts, You have placed in every nation people who pray and call upon Your holy name.

These You have set as watchmen against the wiles of Satan, whom you have judged eternally.

But for those who fear You, You extend Your face to save them from their enemies.

The love You have for the nation of Uganda, O Lord, is an eternal and everlasting love.

And for the following requests I lay before Your righteous throne, so that You may answer.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We pray that in Uganda, You will bring lasting peace and a move towards true democracy where the people have real power to elect whosoever they want. I pray that its democratic process will be transparent, that the president will allow for real change in order to court the variety of leaderships and leaders that You have placed within the land of Uganda.

We pray that Uganda will be a fruitful and prosperous land – a land teeming with lush forests, loamy soils and sustainable nature. These are vital so that the crops can grow, new minerals can be discovered and mined and the improvements in living standards can be instant.

We pray for the employment of the youth (national definition, 18-30 years) so that the staggering 60 plus percentage of unemployed youth may find good jobs in Uganda.

May Uganda be blessed with adequate budgetary resources, with reduced capacity gaps in education, with adequate physical infrastructure such as schools and scholastic materials, classroom blocks, water and sanitation, and power supply, and with adequate sports facilities and equipment.

We pray that there will be as many doctors as patients and that the government bureaucracy will be streamlined to reduced excesses in centralization and empower the people for economic performance.

We pray that the women of Uganda will no longer be facing the challenges of discrimination, low social status, lack of economic self-sufficiency, and greater risk of HIV/AIDS infection. May peace and end to anarchism abound much and flowing in Uganda.

Thank you, Father, that You have heard in Jesus’ name, Amen!