Latest Prayers by Bethany Children's Trust

Open Doors has published its World Watch List for 2023 today.  DRC is ranked as the 37th most dangerous country in the world to be a Christian, particularly in the Eastern Region, where Goma (LVLE) is located, because of Islamist extremists. https://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/world-watch-list/drc/   Please pray for Christians in this area to remain safe.  

The people of Goma, including BCT's local partners, are living through a period of serious civil unrest. People have been protesting against the UN’s presence in the DRC and against Rwanda’s alleged collusion with armed groups to increase instability in the region. Give thanks that our local team have been kept safe and pray for their ongoing protection.

BCT's local partners - who work extensively with disabled children - report that there is currently a shortage of epilepsy medication throughout Zambia. This of course has serious implications for the health of children with the condition. At the same time, fuel costs are rising, month on month, which is having a knock-on effect on the costs of other commodities and services. Please pray that the government will act decisively and swiftly to bring prices down, and that more epilepsy medication will soon be made available.

Food security remains a huge issue in Rwanda. Please pray for a significant improvement in food supply and a drop in food prices. Give thanks that BCT's local partners have been able to provide food for 100 families affected by disability and HIV in the last quarter. And let’s praise God that three churches the team trained in agriculture and nutrition had a good harvest. Even better, they felt able to share this harvest with 20 families who have vulnerable children but no land.

Please pray God’s blessing on our partner's face-to-face work with street-living children in and around Goma. The team are now meeting with almost 90 children over the course of a year and, at the last count, they were in touch with 22 families to discuss the possible reintegration of their children. Pray for wisdom for the team as they build trusting relationships with these children and try to help them find loving homes, away from the streets.

Our local partner continues to make every effort to raise churches’ awareness of the needs of disabled children and propose helpful steps for welcoming them. Pray that prevailing cultural attitudes towards children with disabilities will change forever because of this faithful work. Pray especially for the work of Wukwashi volunteers using our ‘Transform Disability’ resource to train churches in the Copperbelt and beyond, with the result that more and more children are supported and cherished.

At the time of writing, 35% of children in Rwanda under the age of five were chronically malnourished, according to the World Food Programme. Please pray God’s blessing over our partner's ongoing food distributions to marginalised families. About 120 families received food packages in the last quarter, including families with children who need to eat well to be able to tolerate strong medication.