54 Days of Prayer for the Healing of AfricaSample

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC [IMAGE CONTENT] COLONISED BY FRANCE (1894–1960) The region was the site of much slave trading activity in the 19th century and was then heavily economically exploited in the early 20th century. The poverty in CAR today is attributed to the raids and kidnappings carried out by rival tribes in league with European slavers in the centuries before. So traumatised were the early tribes, they found it was safer to remain in small groups rather than develop the larger communities vulnerable to raiders. With its natural wealth of gold, diamonds, timber and uranium, the CAR should be thriving and rank as one of the world’s richest nations, but instead it suffers from abject poverty and competition between rival warlords. HOW DID CHRISTIANITY GET THERE? The Roman Catholic Church arrived in 1894 as the French were taking full control of the country, with the Protestants coming later in 1920. CHURCH TODAY: In 2012, Christians started attacking Muslims, chasing them away from their country. One story that captured media attention: With the anti-Balaka (a rebel group in CAR) killing Muslims, a Catholic priest opened up his church for the Muslims to hide in and pray in. Half of the population professes Christianity, with 15% being Muslim. As Christianity is often mixed with animistic beliefs, there is a limited grasp of Biblical truth. The CAR was one of the world’s most evangelised nations, but the upheavals there mean the progress in some regions has reversed. Muslims grow rapidly in influence, especially in the cities. Few Christians feel equipped to reach out to them. The risk of genocide is high in CAR. ### PRAYER POINTS * Pray for deep healing, repentance, restitution and restoration regarding the wounds caused by slavery and colonialism. * Pray for the different tribes to repent to one another for all the war, fighting, bloodshed and injustices of the past. * Pray that the Muslim refugees will have encounters with Jesus and turn to Him. * Pray for all the resources and creativity needed to fulfil the intentions of God in the nation of Central African Republic. * Ask God to heal this nation and to raise up righteous men and women across the nation. * Pray that the church of Central African Republic will fulfil Jesus’ prayer from John 17: to be one with one another and with Him, the Father and the Holy Spirit. * Ask God to bless Central African Republic and pray as the Holy Spirit leads you. ### PERSONAL REFLECTION WEEKLY WORLDWIDE MORAVIAN WATCHWORD Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Isaiah 44:6 PRAYER Lord, we will lie down in peace and rest in safety for You are our ever-present protector. Whether we are threatened by foes real or imagined, we will rest in the shadow of Your wings. Nightmares have no power over us when You stand ready to scatter them away. When morning comes, we will thank You for never leaving us. Amen.