Sharing Burdens in Prayer: Wednesday

Today, we lift up Europe and Latin America. 

Europe 

Like North America, movements in Europe are asking how can they reach old and new students when everything has changed because of COVID-19. Pray also for the IFES Europe team as they prepare for the REVIVE conference in December.  

Prayer points: 

Finland: Pray for a new leadership development program. Pray also for a new full time staff member for the student and high school ministry in Oulu. 

Belgium: Pray that the students they met during their coffee deliveries will find their way to Ichtus. Pray also for new student workers for graduate ministry, communications, and administration. 

Spain: Praise God for the two powerful mission weeks they have held online. Pray for the students who want to know more about Jesus after these weeks. 

Romania: Pray that the cities who struggled last year will keep their groups together. Pray for new first year students to get involved and for these groups to experience true community. 

Latin America  

Right now COVID-19 cases are still rising in areas of Latin America. Please pray for strength as they face new variants of the disease, especially since there are not enough vaccines in some countries. Pray for provision and trust in God as they face situations of loss and unemployment. Intercede for those countries that are becoming increasingly polarized, leading to fears of a loss of democracy. Pray that the Lord will use a new missions workshop to motivate and train movements in their missionary initiatives. Pray also for those raising funds since many donors have lost their jobs and cannot give as before.  

Prayer points: 

Brazil: Brazil is nearing 550,000 deaths from COVID-19. Pray that God would guide the movements through constant grief and exhaustion of isolation. There is also an increased suicide rate in the country, so pray that the movement can support and guide students to professional help. 

Logos and Cosmos: Pray for the fruitful work of the mentors and Catalysts and for wise leadership in the different teams of the initiative. Thank God for giving the program a strong start, with 84 Catalysts in the first cohort.

This week we are quieting our hearts in prayer and lament, crying out to God over the difficult circumstances that have challenged us, bereaved us, and discouraged us over the past eighteen months. The pandemic has brought loss of life, financial instability, isolation, and disrupted plans. Circumstances like wars, natural disasters, explosions, and oppression have also added to our common grief. This week we are walking the valleys together, supporting each other and acknowledging the pain of many in our fellowship.