Pray for South Africa
My readers who are not in South Africa may not be aware of the terrible, terrible things happening in South Africa at the moment: Since May 11th, South Africa has been swept by an outbreak of violent, xenophobic attacks. Refugees from all over Africa are being attacked by locals angry at the perceived invasion and loss of job opportunities that the presence of refugees threatens. The official death toll is above 70, those beaten, raped and burned number in their hundreds, and it is estimated that more than 50 000 people have been driven from their homes.
A quick search online will show you video and picture footage of what is going on. For example:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7415374.stm
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iAOMAv1Kp2LQYCMazdn3Q-MZ4bdQ
My home church in South Africa have 19 refugees currently staying on the property. Friends of ours (a newly wed couple) in South Africa who work more directly with refugees have more than 100 people in their care in a community hall... this made all the more significant by the fact that the wife in this couple was herself shot in the stomach 6 weeks ago by a man stealing her handbag.
Jeremy and I join with our South African friends and family in being outraged and bewildered by what is going on. We are ashamed of being South African. Tragedy due to cyclones and earthquakes are terrible... but this is something more: it is human evil! People burning their neighbors! Mob mentality.
This is a long post, but could I ask you please to pray for South Africa?
A friend working at my home church, shared these specific prayer points:
A quick search online will show you video and picture footage of what is going on. For example:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7415374.stm
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iAOMAv1Kp2LQYCMazdn3Q-MZ4bdQ
My home church in South Africa have 19 refugees currently staying on the property. Friends of ours (a newly wed couple) in South Africa who work more directly with refugees have more than 100 people in their care in a community hall... this made all the more significant by the fact that the wife in this couple was herself shot in the stomach 6 weeks ago by a man stealing her handbag.
Jeremy and I join with our South African friends and family in being outraged and bewildered by what is going on. We are ashamed of being South African. Tragedy due to cyclones and earthquakes are terrible... but this is something more: it is human evil! People burning their neighbors! Mob mentality.
This is a long post, but could I ask you please to pray for South Africa?
A friend working at my home church, shared these specific prayer points:
* Please pray that the government would get the UN Aid involved.
* Pray for wisdom to know what
to do & how to help
* Pray for peace
* Pray for those displaced and who are homeless and who don't know what
to do: pray that they would come to know the Lord in this time
Thanks friends. We feel so at a loss to know what to say and do at the
moment, but we do believe we have a mighty God who cares about justice
and righteousness, and who answers when we call. Please, please pray
with us.
posted by Bronwyn at 10:51 am
2 Comments:
I actually thought of your friends and family in South Africa after reading the news on BBC recently. We'll pray for peace for sure!
Thanks for making me aware of the issues facing South Africa right now. Prayers for peace are definitely needed!
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