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Written Prayers of Humility

Week commencing 11 June – Story & Prayers from Sierra Leone

In 2000, rich and poor nations around the world made a commitment to the Millennium Development Goals. The 8 Goals tackle the basics of economic and social injustice – hunger, lack of schooling, diseases, slums, access to clean water and unfair trade rules.

Can we halve global poverty by 2015? Economists say we can.

Over the next four weeks Micah Challenge will present a special focus on global poverty and on God’s call for us to speak out for the poor and marginalised.

Our action will help to bring half a billion people out of hopeless poverty and give them a chance to contribute fully to the long-term development, security and stability of our world. Surely this outcome is worth every effort.

Bible verse:

Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed”, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:15 – 17

Millennium Development Goal 1:

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger: reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than US$1 a day and those who suffer from hunger.

Story from Sierra Leone:

When God created the world, the little bit of it now called Sierra Leone (Mountain Lion) was favoured with abundant resources. Tragically, this former British Colony of was torn apart by a brutal civil war that began throughout the 90s. The economy and social structure left in tatters.

Kadie Sesay, an 11-year-old girl, lives with her widowed mother and two younger siblings in a regional town north of the capital Freetown. Her father and two older brothers were killed during the civil war.

It’s hard to imagine how tough life is for Kadie and her family. Every day Kadie goes out onto the streets to sell food cooked by her mother. This is her family’s only source of income – the four of them have to survive on just $US1.50 a day!

Kadie and her siblings will never go to school. They have no money for school fees, uniforms or books. Kadie will probably be married within the next couple of years to a much older man who already has two other wives.

Background on Sierra Leone:

Civil war between 1991 and 2003 left 50,000 people dead and 2 million people displaced (over 25% of the total population).

The average life span of a Sierra Leonean is 38 years for men and 42 years for women. 57% of its people live in desperate poverty (less than US$1 a day) and 75% live on less than US$2 a day. The 2006 United Nations Development Program places Sierra Leone 176 out of 177 countries in terms of human development.

The film, “Blood Diamond” was set in Sierra Leone. It was revenue from the diamond mines that sustained the war.

Prayer from Sierra Leone:

Adapted from a prayer by Sirajin Rollings-Kamara, Micah Challenge Coordinator, Sierra Leone.

Our Father in heaven: You created Sierra Leone and endowed it with numerous resources. We thank you.

But today we grieve for Sierra Leone:

For of the many years of conflict; For the leaders who have traded the joy of their people for untold sufferings; For the killing and maiming of innocent children; For a resource-rich country that has been impoverished by those who don’t care for its people; For the many who are forced to live in abject poverty; And for a land once known as the “Athens of West Africa” which now has a literacy rate of only 21 per cent.

Lord Jesus, we call on you to have mercy on Sierra Leone.
We call on you to restore what the locusts have eaten. We call on you to provide a leadership after your own heart; that will detest corruption, nepotism and other vices; and will enable the people to enjoy the fruit of the land.

Let the fortitude of the mountain (Sierra), and the prowess of the Lion (Leone), be restored once more. We pray for a day when the leaders and people of Sierra Leone will turn to you in worship, awe and reverence. Amen.

Week commencing 18 June – Story & Prayers from Indonesia

The 2004 Asian Tsunami affected Indonesia more than any other nation. Over 130,000 people died (half the total number of deaths) and 650,000 people were left homeless.

In the years since, landslides, drought, volcanic eruption, flood, earthquakes and smaller scale tsunamis have continued to hit most areas of the nation.

Where is God in the midst of such tragedy? The tsunami was not an act of God - it was a natural disaster with a scientific explanation. It revealed the frailty of humanity yet showed the best of humanity in our generosity.

It reminds us of the silent "tsunami" that happens every day: 29,000 children dying from the effects of poverty every day. Our compassion, both on the personal and on the political level needs to be patient and enduring.

Support for our Christian brothers and sisters in Indonesia is crucial as they contend with the demands of serving the suffering, and show the character of Jesus in the most populous Moslem nation on earth.

Adapted from a reflection by Dr Thorwald Lorenzen

Bible verse:

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. Matthew 4:23

Millennium Development Goal 6:

Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases like TB.

Story from Indonesia:

It is not only natural disasters that impoverish the lives of Indonesians. Many die from Dengue Fever, HIV/AIDS is spreading rapidly and Indonesia has had more reported cases of Avian flu than any other country.

Some disasters are man-made. Illegal logging has caused erosion and flooding, while inefficiency and corruption hampers some aid efforts.

Micah Challenge Indonesia is a wonderful example of people from many different Christian backgrounds coming together to speak out about issues affecting their nation. It is not easy to lift your voice in a new democracy where a corrupt military ruled for over a generation. It is not easy to speak wise words to communities with tensions between Christians and Moslems. It is not easy to forgive the perpetrators of horrific violence. It is not easy to provide for those fleeing from disaster when your own family is at risk.

But that is exactly what Christian communities in Indonesia are trying to do.

Background on Indonesia:

Indonesia’s total debt is US$61 Billion (2005), from only US$2.05 million in 1965. Such debt is ruining the basic standard of living. Debt repayments take up nearly 30% of the nation’s annual budget, whilst 19.05% of the budget goes to education, and only 6.96% for health.

One in every four Indonesians lives on less than US$1 a day and two-thirds live on US$2 a day.

Indonesia had low HIV rates until the late 1990s, when the situation began to change rapidly. Massive economic and political disruption in recent years has produced dramatic changes in Indonesia’s HIV/AIDS risk, as more people move from home to find jobs and communities are disrupted.

Prayer from Indonesia:

Written by Micah Challenge Indonesia

God of mercy, justice and love,

We pray for churches to be involved in actions of service and justice so that your values are proclaimed in our nation.

We pray that churches and Christian networks would join in challenging oppression of the poor and speak the truth with a gentle manner.

We pray that we would stand with the majority of the nation who are poor Moslems, to cry for justice.

We pray that the government of this nation delay no more in acting to end poverty. Give us wisdom, grace and persistence dear Lord. Amen

Prayer:

God of healing and mercy,

We pray that the millions of people who suffer with HIV/AIDS would be comforted by your love.

We pray that families torn apart by the disease would be strengthened.

We pray that children orphaned or abandoned because of AIDS would find security and love.

We pray that churches in AIDS ravaged communities would overcome fear and judgement to show concern and care.

We remember that compassion for all people is the essence of our faith. Amen

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