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Prayer Focus December 2019— January 2020

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting

Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Sunday 1st – Saturday 7th: This week we pray for our Christmas appeal - for our new project in Syria - and the Big Give Christmas Challenge which starts this week, and we remember International Volunteer Day on 5th December.

On Sunday give thanks for our Syrian partners, House of Hope, who provide School Clubs for vulnerable children living in a suburb of Damascus. Pray for their safety and good health and pray for blessing in their work.

On Monday pray for children attending School Clubs, pray for their emotional and physical healing from past and present traumas, and pray they receive the extra support they need to achieve their full potential at government schools.

On Tuesday pray for a generous response to our Christmas Appeal for the School Clubs, especially via the Big Give Christmas Challenge which starts at midday today. Gifts donated via the Big Give website until 10th December will be matched, £1 for £1, up to £20,000*.

On Wednesday pray for families returning to Syria and learning to survive in the aftermath of years of war and displacement. Pray for an international response to continuing struggles for Syrians living in poverty without access to adequate necessities and effective infrastructures.

On Thursday, International Volunteer Day, give thanks for Global Care volunteers who give their time, energy and expertise to support the work of Global Care. Pray for blessing as they support our work to improve the lives of vulnerable children around the world.

On Friday give thanks and pray for volunteer teams working in our charity shops, our UK office and overseas, and for volunteer fundraising groups.

On Saturday give thanks for our Trustees, who are all volunteers. Pray for vision and insight as Trustees and staff consider potential new international partnerships and programmes for the coming year.

Sunday 8th – Saturday 14th: This week we give thanks for the work of Global Care in 2019 and pray for our UK work, staff and supporters.

On Sunday pray for our UK staff, for renewed inspiration and enthusiasm as they look forward to the holidays and then return to work next year. Pray for God’s guidance as we work for justice and equality for vulnerable children.

On Monday pray for staff in our Coventry office readjusting after several team changes during the last few months. Pray for efficiency and effectiveness in new teams and roles.

On Tuesday give thanks and pray for our Patrons, faithfully giving time and energy to support and promote the work of Global Care.

On Wednesday pray for the team leading applications for funding. Pray they develop efficient procedures in this increasingly competitive environment. Pray their efforts will be successful in 2020.

On Thursday pray for wisdom and insight for the Management Team as they plan the year’s management visits to international partners. The team spend several weeks overseas each year, give thanks and pray for their families.

www.globalcare.org/resources/prayer-focus

Global Care, 2 Dugdale Road, Coventry CV6 1PB | Tel: 030 030 21 030 | Email: info@globalcare.org | Registered Charity No. 1054008

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On Friday thank God for all our supporters and pray His blessing for their faithful generosity, whether of time, money or skill. Pray for successful fundraising initiatives this year.

On Saturday give thanks for the generous response to special appeals this year and pray for God’s wisdom as we respond to extra needs in our overseas projects in 2020.

Sunday 15th – Saturday 21st: As Christmas approaches, we remember the desperate circumstances of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and pray for children born into poverty, forced to flee in the night or living in violent communities.

On Sunday pray for our teacher training project in South Sudan. Give thanks for this opportunity which supports young people to gain a qualification enabling them to find alternative employment and not rely on working for the militia.

On Monday pray for Syrian refugees who fled from desperate situations and now see their country in ruins and with continued fighting and tension. Pray for children at our Shack School in Lebanon. Pray for the light of Christ to shine in their darkness.

On Tuesday pray for our partners in India supporting Dalit children and families who fled rural poverty or ‘modern slavery’ to seek a better life in Mumbai but who continue to experience discrimination, injustice and crushing poverty.

On Wednesday pray for our work in Guatemala supporting children who live on the streets, or at risk of living on the streets. Give thanks and pray for the mentoring service which helps children make wise choices.

On Thursday pray for healing for women and children at Heavena Transitional Home in Sri Lanka, a refuge for women who have suffered domestic violence. Pray for self-sufficient, safe, futures.

On Friday pray for our partners in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand, North Africa and Zimbabwe, caring for abandoned and unwanted children whose families can no longer care for them.

On Saturday pray for local partners who arrange children’s Christmas parties and celebrations. Pray for children and families in all our projects, for whom these gatherings provide a break from routine and for many, their first experience of receiving a Christmas gift.

Sunday 22nd – Saturday 28th: This week we celebrate Christmas and commit various aspects of Global Care’s work into God’s care.

On Sunday give thanks for Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and pray in 2020 we see miracles of reduced global conflict. Pray for individuals in need of Jesus’ peace, pray especially for children subject to physical and emotional abuse.

On Monday thank our Everlasting Father for the “good news” of Jesus. Pray God makes Global Care ‘good news’, practically and spiritually, throughout the year ahead. Give thanks for families whose lives were changed through Global Care this year.

On CHRISTMAS EVE give thanks for our humble Saviour Jesus and pray that He forever challenges us through His life choices, living alongside the poor, the sick and the despised.

On CHRISTMAS DAY give thanks for Jesus Christ who was born and died in poverty and humiliation. Praise our Mighty God that he rose from the dead and celebrate His gift of eternal life for the lost.

On BOXING DAY pray for people for whom Christmas is challenging and stressful. Pray for those unable to celebrate, or with no means to celebrate. Pray that Jesus the Wonderful Counsellor brings hope and light into their lives.

On Friday pray for children in all our projects without parents or extended family to care for them. Pray they receive love and acceptance through local teams, and know they belong to the Global Care family and the family of Christ.

On Saturday pray for our international staff and partners, for inspiration and encouragement, and that they would continually seek God’s guidance, as individuals and professionals. Pray for health and strength for their families.

Sunday 29th December – Saturday 4th January 2020: This week we celebrate the New Year and continue to pray for different aspects of Global Care’s work including potential new projects.

On Sunday pray for local partners risking their own safety to support vulnerable children and families. Thank God for partners working to ensure children receive much needed support from outside agencies.

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On Monday pray for clarity in discussions as we seek to develop a partnership with an organisation in Malawi, made up of Christians from different churches in a rural community.

On New Year’s Eve pray for our children worldwide. Pray God’s blessing on each of them, for peace and hope, strength and sustenance in Him in 2020.

On New Year’s Day thank God for this New Year, bringing new opportunities and challenges. Pray that God will give us a clear vision, wisdom, compassion and clarity of action.

On Thursday thank God that He makes all things new and brings hope and peace into our lives. Pray that all our staff, volunteers and supporters, and overseas partners, communities and families will see the wonders of God in the coming year.

On Friday pray for wisdom as we seek the best way forward for profile raising, fundraising, communication and donor development activities in the coming year and as we work on our budgets for next year.

On Saturday pray for children unable to fully benefit from our overseas projects as their parents need them to work, help at home or look after younger family members. Pray more families understand the long-term value of education for their children.

Sunday 5th – Saturday 11th January: This week, we pray for our work in Bangladesh as CEO John White and Head of Operations Steve Wicking travel to Oslo to meet Joshe, our Bangladesh partner, and we pray for our project in North Africa.

On Sunday give thanks for Joshe and the team at Love Your Neighbour (LYN) providing education and welfare support to desperately poor children and families. Pray for their initiatives to promote self-sufficiency.

On Monday pray for the LYN team as they explore alternative long-term solutions to enable orphaned and abandoned children to be cared for within family environments.

On Tuesday pray for John and Steve travelling to Oslo for the day. Pray for wisdom and insight as they meet Joshe, and Steve begins managing the Bangladesh project. Pray for discussions and planning for the year ahead.

On Wednesday pray for families and whole communities, that they will learn to value and love children without discrimination, and pray for an end to worldwide laws denying rights to illegitimate children.

On Thursday pray for our North African partners and for encouragement and protection for the children they support, who face social prejudice, personal loss and abandonment by families shamed by their illegitimacy.

On Friday give thanks for the progress children in this project are making in local schools, despite the many challenges they must overcome.

On Saturday pray for an end to children being punished for the manner of their conception or birth. Pray this year international agencies make huge progress in enabling all children to access quality education without prejudice.

Sunday 12th – Saturday 18th: This week we pray for our project at New Day Centre in Bathore in Albania.

On Sunday give thanks for Evis, the project director, and the staff team at New Day Centre. Pray they continue to see positive changes for the disadvantaged families they support.

On Monday pray for children from extremely poor families attending Kindergarten at the centre. Pray for children with autism receiving inclusive education and therapy at Kindergarten. Pray all the children progress to local primary schools.

On Tuesday pray for children attending the Play and Learn Club. Pray that extra educational and social support equips these children to perform academically alongside their peers and be motivated to attend and enjoy school.

On Wednesday pray for empowerment for the women’s group. Pray the women learn ways to deal with everyday family and social problems and how to support each other in their struggling community.

On Thursday pray for children receiving Physiotherapy at the centre. Pray they are enabled to achieve a measure of independence and supported to access formal education.

On Friday pray for young people attending the Youth Group, pray they gain skills and education to equip them for adulthood and enable them to help break the poverty cycle for their families.

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On Saturday pray for wisdom and vision as UK and Albanian teams seek to develop a way for the project to become more self-sustaining whilst at the same providing some employment for local semi- illiterate women.

Sunday 19th – Saturday 25th: This week John travels to Sri Lanka on Sunday, visiting the Morning Star Care Centre and other initiatives, and then flies on to Mumbai, India. We pray for John, and for our partners in Sri Lanka and Mumbai.

On Sunday give thanks for the Community Concern team. Pray for strength, safety and good health, and for continued wisdom, inspiration and encouragement as they go about their work.

On Monday pray for children attending MSCC, living in rudimentary homes without access to basic necessities. Pray for the health and safety of children at risk from abuse and neglect. Pray that through counselling children gain self-worth and hope.

On Tuesday pray for Heavena, and for women and children supported after being abused, homeless or trafficked. Pray for peace and restoration for children receiving psychological support and pray they learn to live without fear and understand their own value

On Wednesday pray for John as he flies to Mumbai, where our partners provide education support for Dalit children. A resurgence of Hindu nationalism in India is leading to a resurgence of anti-Dalit prejudice - as the lowest group in the Hindu caste system, higher castes consider Dalit children to be worthless and uneducable.

On Thursday pray for our partners, led by Simon George, as they battle entrenched prejudice and advocate for Dalit children, in schools, with authorities, and with local people from higher castes.

On Friday pray for our current landlord, to accept his property being used to educate Dalits and not succumb to pressure to change his mind. We recently relocated, after the last landlord told our partners they could have the room for free if only we would promise not to educate Dalit children.

On Saturday pray for John as he flies home. Pray for safety, and for strength, energy and encouragement after a busy week.

Sunday 26th – Friday 31st: This week we pray for our partners and their work at Spurgeons Academy in Kibera slum outside Nairobi, Kenya.

On Sunday give thanks for the staff team at Spurgeons Academy. Pray for blessing and inspiration as they seek to support families living in extreme poverty with little opportunity for employment and limited access to basic necessities.

On Monday in an economy with ever increasing prices, pray teachers are motivated to stay at the school and not look for posts with higher wages at government schools. Pray for children who are unsettled by high rates of staff turnover.

On Tuesday pray for children affected by abuse and violence at home. Pray for the children’s safety and protection and for emotional and physical healing. Pray that perpetrators of abuse are brought to justice.

On Wednesday pray for children directly or indirectly affected by HIV/AIDS and children with medical problems. Pray for effective treatment and for healing and good health for all the children.

On Thursday pray for families who are constantly moving home as a result of increasing rents or environmental damage such as flooding or fire. Pray for children whose safety is compromised by poor housing.

On Friday give thanks for the consistently good results achieved at the school. Pray that problems associated with the introduction of changes to the school curriculum do not affect children’s ability to move on to higher education.

Please note: Donations to our Christmas appeal must be made via the BIG GIVE website from 12 noon 3rd December to be eligible for match funding.

Follow the link from our website at www.globalcare.org/Christmas2019

www.globalcare.org/resources/prayer-focus

Global Care, 2 Dugdale Road, Coventry CV6 1PB | Tel: 030 030 21 030 | Email: info@globalcare.org | Registered Charity No. 1054008