During the meeting of the Mennonite World Conference Executive Committee in Bandungan, Indonesia, in August 1999 representatives from various regions of the world submitted prayer concerns from their churches, countries and continents.

As we prepare to celebrate the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, we invite you to include in your Advent calendar the prayer requests mentioned below. With our brothers and sisters from far and near let us pray for God’s guidance and empowerment as we together seek to be instruments of God’s love and Shalom in this needy world.

1. African countries suffer from injustices done by political leaders, which result in violence, war, starvation and the displacement of many people. Pray that government leaders will come to their senses and live with a sense of accountability. (Bedru Hussein, Ethiopia)

2. Pray for protection and guidance as a Meserete Kristos (Mennonite) church is planted in Eritrea. Pray also for peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia. (Bedru Hussein, Ethiopia)

3. Pray that the Meserete Kristos College in Ethiopia will become a center for Anabaptist teaching in Africa (Bedru Hussein, Ethiopia)

4. Mennonite World Conference has many programs and projects; some of them still under study and others already underway. Pray for the leadership of MWC and for the participating congregations around the world. (Bedru Hussein, Ethiopia, and Nicolás Menéndez, Nicaragua)

5. The Netherlands, a small country (200 by 150 kilometers), is receiving 40,000 war refugees every year. We feed them, clothe them, and give them a roof, but they are not allowed to work. The acceptance process for refugees sometimes takes up to three years. We feel that we should keep on receiving refugees, but the country is getting very crowded and there are almost no jobs for them. Pray that we may see light in this darkness in which so many people are suffering. (Ineke Reinhold, The Netherlands)

6. Pray for peace among the people in Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia and Macedonia, and for all the places in Europe where war refugees are waiting to return home. Pray also for peace between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland. (Ineke Reinhold, The Netherlands)

7. Pray that Mennonites can serve more and more as people who respond nonviolently against their enemies. Pray that they will be able to look the adversary in the eye and have the courage to resist without violence (Ineke Reinhold, The Netherlands)

8. Our congregation is newly planted. The Christians are few but devoted. Pray that they may continue to grow in faithfulness and that through their testimony others may come to follow Jesus Christ. Pray also that their efforts to raise funds for a church building may be effective. (Joram M. Mbeba, Tanzania)

9. Harmony has not been achieved yet at Kanisa La Mennonite Tanzania. Pray that there may be agreement, reconciliation and friendly, loving relations between members. (Joram M. Mbeba, Tanzania)

10. We are trying to develop a training program for leaders. Pray that an adequate curriculum may be devised which contemplates the needs of our congregations, and pray that gifted teachers may be available and ready to get involved. (Joram M. Mbeba, Tanzania)

11. Pray for peace in Congo and in so many other African countries (e.g. Central Africa, Sudan) and other situations of conflict. Pray that wars may cease and that people will consider others as they themselves wish to be considered. (Fimbo Ganvunze, Democratic Republic of Congo)

12. Pray for those responsible for the churches of the Communauté Mennonite au Congo, for myself, for our family; that God may protect and help us during this difficult period. Pray that women and children won’t have to die from hunger and from diseases produced by poverty. (Fimbo Ganvunze, Democratic Republic of Congo)

13. Pray for our three Mennonite churches in Congo, that members will take more responsibility for their congregations and the projects which they have undertaken, e.g. construction. (Fimbo Ganvunze, Democratic Republic of Congo)

14. Pray for the reduction of crime and for the increase of adequate housing and jobs for minority peoples in the United States. Pray that we will spend less money on prisons and more on education. Pray also for children around the world who in many cases lack adequate health care, education, food and housing. (Alberto Quintela, USA)

15. Pray for the respect of Native Indian lands and resources in North America and for assistance to Hmong refugees to resettle. And pray for the opening of doors for immigrants who seek a better life. (Alberto Quintela, USA)

16. Pray for unity between the Mennonite Church and the General Conference Mennonite Church in North America. (Alberto Quintela, USA)

17. Pray for unity and spiritual growth in our area. Pray also for recovery from crisis and for the witness of the Christians: that they may be strong and able to express Christ’s love amidst persecution. (Beny Utomo, Indonesia)

18. Pray that restricted access countries may become more open for the Gospel. (Beny Utomo, Indonesia)

19. Corruption is the cause of much uffering in Nicaragua and in other Latin American countries. Pray for our governments, that they use the power entrusted to them responsibly. (Nicolás Menéndez, Nicaragua)

20. A group of 35 children attend Bible school every Sunday at Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Montevideo. Pray that we may continue serving a full breakfast for every child. (Hugo Moreira, Uruguay)

21. Pray that our government will create more sources of work for our people, and pray also that the rich countries and the private banks will find a way to put an end to the external debt of our impoverished countries. (Hugo Moreira, Uruguay)

22. Pray that the relationship between the German and the Uruguayan conferences may be strengthened in Uruguay. (Hugo Moreira, Uruguay)

23. Pray for more effort among the Christians in Africa to interrelate in order to strengthen each other. Pray also that in spite of everyone’s busy schedule we may find time to pursue matters of the Kingdom. (Doris Dube, Zimbabwe)

24. Pray that the economic situation in many parts of the world will improve so that all people may live above the poverty line, and that there may be an end to the wars which in addition to being the cause of unnecessary deaths, are also the cause of poverty. We wish for peace. (Doris Dube, Zimbabwe)

25. When Jesus was born the wise men from the East came to worship him. They also gave him presents. In 1898 four Brethren in Christ missionaries arrived in Zimbabwe. They brought the gift of the Good News to the African people. In August 1998, a century later, the Zimbabwean church sent a gift to Botswana. It was in the person of Doubt Ndlovu, who is now serving as missionary to the Botswana people. Pray for Doubt and his family, that their efforts may bear fruit. Pray also that we may be faithful in the way we give financially so that the missionary family of Doubt Ndlovu may be supported well and that the work of church planting and the nurturing of souls in Botswana may not suffer. (Doris Dube, Zimbabwe)

At their recent general assembly, members of Muria Christian (Mennonite) Churches of Indonesia (GKMI) took up an offering and then invited other Mennonite groups to add contributions. The money will go to the Indonesia Council of Churches. The Council is providing food, tents, medical care, clean water and pressurized lamps for displaced people from East Timor and Ambon. Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has given $10,000US. Most Indonesian Mennonites live on the island of Java. MCC works mainly in Java and Irian Jaya; the agency has no programs in East Timor. (From an MCC news release)