PRAYER STATION SUGGESTED TEXT PRINT-FRIENDLY VERSION

PRAYER STATION SUGGESTED TEXT PRINT-FRIENDLY VERSION

INTRODUCTION This prayer resource is designed to equip and inspire your prayers for our world and the part we have to play within it. It has been produced by Tearfund and 24-7 Prayer in partnership with Christians Against Poverty, Bethany Christian Trust and Storehouse. There are three sections which each include three prayer stations. Read the overview for a list of materials needed for each station. Print out the prayer station text and display in the corresponding prayer station. You can print out the text from this version (page 4 to 17) or from the basic print-friendly version (see www.tearfund.org/churchresource). Use the stations in the way you feel would be most suitable for your context. We recommend choosing at least one station from each section to focus prayers in different areas.

OVERVIEW SECTION 1: OUR CORE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD 1. REST Comfy chairs Worship music A slightly quieter area of your church 2. GOOD NEWS A pinboard, whiteboard, or space to stick things on a wall Pins, sticky tac or tape Squares of paper or card Pens 3. FREEDOM IN JESUS Pebbles or stones A medium bowl of water SECTION 2: LOCAL POVERTY 4. FINANCIAL FREEDOM A washing line or strong string Brown envelopes Coloured pens Blank slips of paper Pegs 5. HOMELESSNESS A large piece of cardboard with the words PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS and LOVE written on Finger paints in five different colours (or inks/felt tips) Baby wipes and a bin 6. SUPPORTING THE VULNERABLE A Bible, open at Psalm 139 Strips of paper Space to hang a paper chain Pens SECTION 3: GLOBAL POVERTY 7. HOPE AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS Three different colours of wool or string Scissors to cut the wool/string 8. OUR CHANGING CLIMATE A green plant in a large pot with soil Wooden lolly sticks Pencils or pens to write prayers Action cards for people to fill in (order as many as you need at www.tearfund.org/churchresource) Tray or box for completed action cards 9. HOPE IN THE ROHINGYA CRISIS Paper cut into the shape of a house Sticky tack A board to stick the paper on Pens

OUR CORE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD 1. REST For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord (Leviticus 25:3-4) The Jubilee laws seek to ensure that people live in ways that reflect good relationships with God, with one another and with creation. For the Israelites this came in the form of rest. Take time to stop and be still. Sit in a comfortable chair and invite God s presence to be with you. God created us to need rest; but also to rest in the presence of the Holy Spirit. As the land is replenished by rest, allow God to replenish you. Think on his word; meditate on scripture, still yourself and listen to his voice. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)

OUR CORE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD 2. GOOD NEWS The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord s favour. (Luke 4:18-19) At the start of Jesus ministry, he announces that he is the fulfilment of Isaiah s prophecy (Isaiah 61). This is good news for all people all over the world, for the world we re part of and for creation. Take a moment to stop and reflect on this passage to think about a time when God has been good news to you. Then take a piece of paper. On the paper, write down something that you are praying for Jesus restoration over a person, situation or place. As you stick your prayer on the wall, invite God to act in another request that has been placed on the wall.

OUR CORE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD 3. FREEDOM IN JESUS Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2) Because of Jesus, we can experience freedom and restoration and an ongoing relationship with God who loves us unconditionally. Take a pebble and, as you hold it in your hand, take a moment to think of anything that is preventing you from experiencing the freedom and restoration of Jesus. Then, release your grip on the pebble as a demonstration that, in Jesus, we are set free, forgiven and restored. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, Abba Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God s children. (Romans 8:15-16)

LOCAL POVERTY 4. FINANCIAL FREEDOM CHRISTIANS AGAINST POVERTY (CAP) For those struggling with financial difficulties, envelopes through the post can bring a sense of dread and fear. Christians Against Poverty (CAP) works across the UK and beyond to help those struggling with debt, unemployment and poverty. Read the testimony from CAP. On the front of a brown envelope, use a coloured pen to write a prayer of hope and transformation for those struggling with financial difficulties, either in your area or across the UK. On a blank slip of paper, write a prayer for CAP as they work to transform people s lives and place this inside the envelope. Peg your envelope to the washing line.

4. CONTINUED... TESTIMONY It was a dark place, dark and lonely. I buried my head in the sand and wanted to ignore it all not to see the bills gathering up, not to think about what we d do if we didn t have enough money to pay it all that month. I have four young children and I was skipping meals so I could feed them. I was very low. A lady in the charity shop told me about how CAP helped her that s how I first heard about them. They are the loveliest bunch of people, they made me feel so comfortable right from the start. They helped me get the paperwork organised, helped make sure I didn t lose the house, and I knew I could call them anytime I needed to talk to someone. It made me see that this doesn t need to be so stressful. A weight got lifted off my shoulders with that. I used to think I wasn t good enough to walk with God, but I realised he accepts everyone. From the day I welcomed him into my heart, I ve never looked back! After all that, being debt-free is a bonus! My family is so much more settled, and most of the time I walk about with a smile from ear to ear. ABOUT CHRISTIANS AGAINST POVERTY (CAP): UK poverty is real, with millions locked in its miserable grip. That s why we re aiming for 1,000 CAP centres covering the UK, each bringing lifechanging freedom and good news to people in desperate need. Each of these centres, run in partnership with the local church, will be out there in the community saying, If you re crushed under the weight of debt, we ll lift the burden so you can breathe again. If you ve been written off and out of work for years, there is hope. If you re a prisoner to your dependencies, freedom is waiting. If you re in the grinding battle of low-income life, we ll give you the skills to fight back. Freeing people from the miserable grip of UK poverty. Always through the church. Always hope. www.capuk.org/pray

LOCAL POVERTY 5. HOMELESSNESS BETHANY CHRISTIAN TRUST For those who are homeless, hope can be hard to find. Yet, organisations like the Bethany Christian Trust are working alongside homeless people to restore their value, worth, and dignity. Read Joe s story. Then pray for those who experience homelessness as well as the charities helping individuals all over the UK. Often, cardboard is the only protection that homeless people have; but we believe in a God who not only protects, but redefines and restores us. Pray for God s peace, patience, kindness, goodness and love for those struggling with homelessness. As you pray, add a fingerprint beside each word on the cardboard to ask God to fill them with each attribute. Add your fingerprint around each word in a different colour as you pray for each quality. ABOUT BETHANY CHRISTIAN TRUST Bethany Christian Trust works tirelessly to ensure that homelessness becomes a thing of the past across Scotland. We know that homelessness can be overcome and we believe that each person affected by its issues can have a future and a hope. www.bethanychristiantrust.com

5. CONTINUED... JOE S STORY: HOMELESS NOT FAITHLESS Joe had a hard time growing up. He learnt very quickly that he couldn t trust anyone in his life and this affected how he formed relationships, particularly at school. Joe ended up drinking very heavily and doing drugs as a way to deal with the fact that he didn t like who he was. Joe also got on the wrong side of the law and was sent to prison six times. Whilst in prison, Joe was introduced to heroin. Joe s heroin usage soon became out of control, with him overdosing 30 times. Joe recalls how he has woken up in several different kinds of places alleyways, people s gardens and in hospital beds. Joe s life turned around when he met a Bethany support worker. Joe s encounter with Christians and Bethany staff was a positive experience. Joe describes being really moved by them and saw them as genuine and loving people who helped him tear his barriers down. For Joe, trust was the biggest obstacle to overcome but the folk at Bethany helped him to grow in trust and confidence. Joe stayed at the centre for two and a half years where he saw himself undergo drastic change and personal transformation. While the courts and the system treated Joe like a lost cause, Joe says that Bethany never gave up on him and instead offered to give him further chances. Joe decided to exchange his relationship with drugs for a real life-giving relationship with Jesus. Joe shared a verse to sum up his life today: Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. (1 Peter 1:8) Today, Joe no longer turns to alcohol and drugs to deal with life s ups and downs and is living in his own flat in Edinburgh. He is involved in his local church and has paid work at a social care organisation. The most important thing I have learnt through all of this is that there is no life outside of Christ, says Joe. Thanks to Jesus, I can experience his peace, patience, kindness, goodness and love on a daily basis.

LOCAL POVERTY 6. SUPPORTING THE VULNERABLE STOREHOUSE For people all over the UK, the cycles of poverty can feel overwhelming and difficult to escape from. They don t just impact quality of life, but individual selfworth, identity and self-esteem. Organisations like Storehouse in Belfast don t just provide practical and material support, they celebrate individuals as God has created them to be. They exist to see dignity and hope restored to those caught in poverty, through the provision of the basic essentials of life. The staff at Storehouse have a deep resolve that everyone deserves to know they are seen and loved and celebrated. They believe that, beyond the physical circumstances we find ourselves in, each individual carries a unique significance. They seek to welcome and serve those who step through their doors in a way that calls out that God-given value.

6. CONTINUED... One community member recently said that he had spent over 12 years in cycles of homelessness and addiction. Speaking of that time, he said: All my life I was told I wasn t worth anything. So I figured, Why should I think any differently? It s this marred and broken identity that holds so many trapped in poverty on the streets, holding out no hope for change. But when people know they are seen, not as a significant problem to be fixed, but as a significant individual, loved as they are; hope can be restored and change can come. In light of this, read Psalm 139 and reflect on the way God has carefully formed and created us as individuals. Then, write your prayer on a strip of paper. When you re finished, add it to the paper chain to symbolise that everyone is celebrated in God s eyes, and to show that we are all connected to one another. ABOUT STOREHOUSE For almost ten years now, Storehouse has been bringing together more than 50 churches, schools and local businesses to provide food, clothes, furniture and household goods to the most vulnerable in the Greater Belfast area. They offer each of their service users, referred by more than 180 partner agencies, whatever physical help they can, but also an invitation into many different community environments seeking to help them flourish. www.storehousebelfast.com

GLOBAL POVERTY 7. HOPE AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS God s word says we are all equal. (Birungi, 22) In countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), being born into a poor family means that you have fewer opportunities; and being a girl means that your options are even more restricted. Read Birungi s story of hope and transformation before praying for the work of Tearfund to transform lives like Birungi s. As you pray, take a piece of each coloured string and plait them together to form a bracelet. The three different colours represent restoration, hope, and peace. Take the bracelet with you as a reminder to continue to pray for restoration, hope and peace in the DRC, and for Tearfund as they work all over the world. `Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. (Lamentations 3:21-24)

7. CONTINUED... BIRUNGI S STORY Despite being rich in natural resources, the DRC is one of the world s poorest countries. Turmoil is ongoing and the country is fragile. The need is great but so is the opportunity and desire for restoration. As a child from a poor family and a girl 22-year-old Birungi wasn t given the opportunity to go to school. In her own view, and the view of her community, she had nothing to offer. However, Birungi s uncle saw potential in her and stepped in to help. He had heard of a skills workshop for young adults run by Tearfund s partner, Action Entraide. Birungi applied, and was accepted. Birungi learnt a number of skills including sewing, which she excelled at. She grew in faith too, and her understanding of God God s word says we are all equal, she says. At the end of the training, Birungi was provided with a sewing machine which she took home and used to start a clothes-making business. She used the money she earnt to buy a better sewing machine, which she used to make more money. She then bought a piglet with the money she saved, and once it was big enough, she sold it and used the profit to buy a calf. Birungi now plans to breed and sell cows a stable livelihood in the DRC as well as grow her sewing business. Now I m able to buy food and clothes and to take care of myself, she says. Not only has Birungi experienced economic independence, but she now feels restoration and freedom.

GLOBAL POVERTY 8. OUR CHANGING CLIMATE Our earth s climate is changing fast. People living in poverty who are least responsible are often the most vulnerable to its impacts, including disasters and flooding. This simple green plant needs the right amount of water. Too little and it will dry out; too much and it will be drowned. Flooding all over the world, caused by erratic weather patterns, means that plants and homes are being destroyed. Pray for the issue of climate change: for governments to respond and take climate change seriously; for those impacted by the effects of climate change; and for Tearfund partners reaching out to those who have been affected. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God... (Romans 8:19-20) Write your prayer on a lolly stick, and plant it into the soil. TAKE ACTION Please fill in a Tearfund action card to call on the World Bank to invest in local, clean and renewable energy to reduce poverty and shift the balance of funding away from supporting polluting fossil fuels. Please put your completed cards into the container provided, to be returned to Tearfund.

GLOBAL POVERTY 9. HOPE IN THE ROHINGYA CRISIS Last year, the plight of the Rohingya refugees shocked the world. Hundreds of thousands of people fled violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar, into neighbouring Bangladesh. Most had to flee with a moment s notice and just the clothes on their backs. Read the The ongoing situation. Take a house-shaped piece of paper and write three things you would miss if you had to flee your home and leave everything behind, then stick it to the wall. Then pray for the refugees who have had to flee for safety. Next, read Help is at hand and thank God for Tearfund s partners serving in these camps. Re-read what you have written on your house-shaped paper, and thank God for all the gifts he has given us.

9. CONTINUED... THE ONGOING SITUATION Since August 2017, thousands of people have crossed over the border into Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar. The conditions in the refugee camps in Bangladesh are dreadful and yet they are home to more than half a million Rohingya people the only home they have. Tents are made from bamboo and bin bags and provide little protection from the powerful monsoon rain or intense heat. In the refugee camps, there is also no way of getting in touch with relatives to find out about their loved ones they can only hope and pray they are still alive. Please pray for comfort and hope for the Rohingya refugees. Pray for protection from extreme weather, and for families to be reunited. HELP IS AT HAND But there is hope in these situations. Tearfund s partners are distributing cooked food, safe drinking water and medicine to people in desperate need. One of the foods they are distributing is chicken a crucial source of protein. One mother, holding her baby in one hand and a chicken in the other, said she was delighted. Tonight I will be able to make the family curry for the first time in many weeks, she said. Pray for Tearfund s partners in Bangladesh as they provide ongoing support to those in refugee camps: for strength, wisdom and for the right resources to be available to those that need it the most. Pray for an end to the violence that has been happening in Rakhine State. 100 Church Road, Teddington TW11 8QE T 020 3906 3366 E churches@tearfund.org Scotland: T 0141 332 3621 E scotland@tearfund.org Northern Ireland: T 028 9073 0060 E ni@tearfund.org Wales: T 01437 721 139 E cymru@tearfund.org www.tearfund.org/churchresource Registered Charity No. 265464 (England & Wales) Registered Charity No. SC037624 (Scotland) 31845-(0118)