MOZAMBIQUE: Pray for peace and for the church to be strengthened 

Bishop Vicente from the Diocese of Zambezia in Mozambique, has asked for prayer for Christians in northern Mozambique following Islamic State terrorist attacks. The situation has deteriorated since the end of 2023 when insurgents attacked soldiers and their boats. People have been killed, houses burned, and market stalls destroyed.

The region where the violence is taking place is Cabo Delgado and is already known as ‘the land of fear’ because of repeated Islamist terror attacks since 2017. According to the UNHCR, almost a million people have been displaced to other provinces since then and the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) reports over 4,000 people have died.

The Diocese of Zambezia has distributed food to displaced families, and they are providing pastoral care along with help to re-establish an income.

Please pray: 

• Praise God for the generosity of Anglican Aid supporters who have given to support Christians fleeing persecution from Islamic State in northern Mozambique. 
• Give thanks for our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Zambezia who are showing God’s love to those in great need by providing food, counselling, and pastoral support. Please pray for encouragement for Bishop Vicente and those he serves. 
• Pray for God’s comfort for those who are grieving the loss of loved ones and for his continued provision for those who have been displaced. 
• Ask for an end to the violence in northern Mozambique. Pray that attackers will be brought to justice, and they will ultimately come to faith in the Lord Jesus.  Pray for wisdom for the Government in Mozambique to bring order and peace.  
• Pray that God will strengthen his church in northern Mozambique, with Christians maintaining their faith in Jesus and holding out their hope in the gospel to others. Pray especially for young people to be protected, and strong in their faith. 

Find out more about emergency relief in Mozambique. 

NIGERIA: Pray for persecuted Christians following deadly attacks 

In mid-April, Fulani tribe members attacked nine Christian villages in Plateau State, south of Jos. Thirty-eight deaths were reported, along with the burning of homes and at least one church. Kaduna, Benue, and Enugu States also reported attacks. People from this Islamic tribe of cattle herders have been responsible for some of the most extreme violence against Christians in Nigeria.

Despite this troubling news of violence, God is still at work in Nigeria. Some members of the Fulani tribe are turning to Jesus and boldly proclaiming the gospel in Plateau State villages. In one mission alone, around 800 Fulani Muslims turned to Christ.

Rev Canon Patrick Cole from Canberra-Goulburn Diocese visited Jos in May and spoke with villagers who are being supported by the Diocese and Anglican Aid. He said: “This is a precious opportunity to reassure those who have lost so much and experienced so much trauma that they are not alone, and that their Christian sisters and brothers in Australia stand with them in their tears.”  

Please pray: 

• Praise God that Fulani tribe members are putting their faith in Jesus. Pray for the protection of evangelists and new believers and ask the Lord to turn many more hearts away from violence and despair to the love of our Saviour.  
• Give thanks for Rev Canon Patrick Cole’s safety while he visited Nigeria in May.  
• Pray for increasingly effective government protection of rural communities by the Nigerian army and police.  
• Pray for energy and protection for Archdeacon Chimezie Anukam and his team of Jos Diocese relief workers who are caring for Christians who have lost loved ones, homes or livelihoods. 
• Pray For comfort for the bereaved, and healing for those injured and traumatised. May they experience our Heavenly Father’s care in the midst of their grief.

Find out more about supporting persecuted Christians in Nigeria

NEPAL: Pray for training leaders for Christian witness 

Anglican Aid supports the training of church leaders in countries where Christians are in the minority, living in the context of major religions including Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. Bible training helps strengthen the witness of the church in these places, enabling believers to stand firm in the face of discrimination and persecution. 

Early this year, 145 pastors, leaders, and theology students from Nepali Anglican parishes gathered at the Anglican Training Centre in Kathmandu for a three-day training course. Supported by Anglican Aid, the course taught the church leaders to read and teach the Bible well. Participants said the course helped them to see the Bible as God’s word. It also taught them to approach reading the Bible with prayer and meditation, and how to observe and interpret the text.

Please pray: 

• Give thanks for the three-day leadership training course attended by Nepali pastors and Christian leaders.
• Praise God that the course has helped church leaders to understand God’s word more deeply and to teach from the Bible more clearly. 
• Pray that those who attended will use the depth of knowledge they have gained to win souls for Christ and to faithfully lead and disciple Nepali Christians. 
• Churches in Nepal are experiencing persecution from the government and the community. Pray for Nepali churches to be strengthened and firmly established in the truth of God’s word. 

Find out more about Training Church Leaders in Nepal 

Anglican Aid prayer

Heavenly Father, 

Whose will it is that all people will be saved, and come to a knowledge of  the truth, and whose will it is that we care for the poor, needy, widows, orphans and refugees. 

We pray for the work of the Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid. 

We pray for your grace to fulfil every good work that you have prepared for us in advance to do as we anticipate the triumphant return of our King and Saviour, in whose name we pray. 

Amen.