drc/congo prayer calendar - Food for the Hungry

Pray for President Joseph Kabila as he endeavors to lead the Democratic Republic of the Congo toward peace and stability. Joseph Kabila became the Congo’s president when his father, Laurent Kabila, was assassinated in 2001. On November 27, 2006, Joseph Kabila was confirmed as president following the July 2006 general election.
Pray for peace in this fragile nation. Since the outbreak of fighting in August 1998, an estimated 5.4 million people have died either as a direct result of fighting or from non-violent causes such as malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition. Although many have returned home as violence has slightly decreased, there are still some 1.5 million internally displaced people or refugees.
Pray for safety and wisdom for Food for the Hungry staff as they continue to assist vulnerable people during these challenging times.

Pray that Christian leaders will resist the temptation to compromise their convictions. During Mobutu’s reign, many Christian leaders felt they had to compromise in order to survive. Fortunately, the church has maintained its credibility and now is playing a vital role in rebuilding the Democratic Republic of the Congo by operating schools and hospitals in the area.
Pray that Christians will grow in their faith. Pray that believers will live in a way that separates them from the darkness around them.
Pray that Food for the Hungry’s partnership with local churches in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will continue to bear fruit. By partnering with ECC, a regional Protestant Christian group, Food for the Hungry helped provide meals for nearly 7,000 people. Several Catholic churches and Muslim mosques also joined in the effort, allowing Food for the Hungry staff to share their faith and the love of Christ with many nonbelievers.

Pray that parents will be able to provide for their families. Because of war and corruption, most families don’t have basic tools for survival. Parents often are unable to provide food or shelter. Children cannot attend school. Nearly 100 out of every 1,000 babies die at birth. Pray that living conditions will improve.
Pray that children and youth will have hope for the future. As the education system collapses and the number of jobs decreases, many do not believe life will get any better. Pray that things will improve and that young people will put their hope in Christ.
Pray for families and individuals affected by the AIDS virus. Due to promiscuity and lack of sanitation, the virus is spreading rapidly. More than 1 million Congolese have been infected with the virus, leaving more than 680,000 children orphaned. Pray that the church would be effective in teaching children and adults the importance of abstinence and faithfulness.

Pray for God’s blessings as Food for the Hungry implements food security projects that provide thousands of families with seeds and tools to grow their own food and increase their income. We also help rebuild infrastructure that affects food security, such as roads and bridges. Additionally, we will help rebuild homes that were destroyed by the civil war. Pray that the region will remain stable as we begin this new program.
Pray that the Pygmy people will be more accepted by the Congolese.