Let us pray and work for both peace and justice – for all people in the Holy Land. Please pray for the following: 

1. That there would be an immediate and lasting ceasefire (with care for those wounded in body or spirit). 
2. That all people – Jewish, Christian, Muslim – who work for a just peace in the Middle East would be bold and effective. 
3. That God would empower and protect Christians in Palestine. (We think especially of the Christian community we know in Bethlehem.) 
4. That Christians around the world would care as much for Palestinians as we care for Israelis.

Ethnic or religious nationalism influences people to marginalize or even act violently against those who are outside their group. This is especially happening now in the USA, India and Indonesia. We pray for Christians to open their eyes to the harm of such philosophies. We pray for wisdom to counter such philosophies with truth and grace.
Photo: Prateek Gautam/Unsplash

Colombia is experiencing a revival of dedication to God's work, and we ask prayer that new servants will join this work every day. May the churches unite in a common vision. May our churches in Colombia find unity as we are divided into three regions that prevent us from thinking together and planning how best to work in Christ's name. Please pray for the security and protection of our country in the face of ever-increasing violence. Many armed groups are taking the law into their own hands. May our leaders be in good health, for some of them are elderly and suffer from health problems, while others have no health insurance to cover their medical expenses. Finally, please pray that God will accompany us in our evangelistic activities and in the planting of new churches across the country, especially in Tolima, a department where we do not yet have a presence.
—Juan Francisco Novoa Duque, Iglesias Cristianas Hermanos Menonitas Region Central
Photo: Canva

We ask churches and individuals to pray that the violence will end and that conciliation can begin.

• Pray for the hostages to return safely to their homes and families.
• Pray for those who mourn to be surrounded by loved ones as they grieve.
• And pray that peace workers, negotiators and government staff will put people’s lives and human dignity above political or military gains.   

Although this conflict has been going on for decades, let us unite in asking our God to have mercy on Israel and Palestine, and for a just, peaceful and sustainable resolution to this crisis. 

A pastoral letter for peace in the Holy Land

Pray for those affected by wildfires, especially in Spain and Italy where there are Anabaptist-Mennonite churches.
Photo: Estreito da Calheta, Portugal. Michael Held/Unsplash

Dear brothers, we ask you to pray to the Lord about our situation in Cuba. It is almost impossible to live here. There is an extreme lack of food, medicine and everything else necessary for survival. The population is really suffering: there are barely enough medical staff to treat people in the hospitals; there are no first-aid supplies either; children don't have enough to eat; people are starving to death in the streets. A mass exodus is underway, even to Haiti. Many people die on the journey, while others want to try to leave, but lack the resources to do so. There are no smiles or joys left in my city, only drawn faces. Only God knows how to solve this problem. Please pray for us.
—Beatriz Mendez Vidal, Concilio Menonita en Cuba, president
Photo: La Iglesia Shekinah, Cuba

Pray for the plan to plant a Mennonite church in Bounouma in N’zérèkoré forest region of Guinea and other locations (Yalenzou, Demou, Bossou, Laapah et Nzoo) in 2023. Pray that God would open doors for evangelizatistic materials and smooth out the great mountains that stand in front of the vision for church growth.
—submitted by Timothy Koiba, Mennonite Church West Africa
Photo: Rhoda Shirk

Praise God that CAMCA (Mennonite Anabaptist Consultation of Mexico and Central America) is planned for 21-6 November 2023 in Guatemala, the first such gathering since the pandemic started. Pray that the gathering would strengthen the bonds of relationship, unity and communion between conventions and churches of diverse origin. May the theme from Isaiah 43:16-19 encourage the church to live out its calling as a sign and agent of light, life and hope amid adversity, uncertainties and social challenges.
—submitted by Willi Hugo Perez, MWC regional representative, Latin America − Central America
Photo: Ebenezer Mondez

Pray for leadership challenges in some of the Indian member churches.
—submitted by Cynthia Peacock, MWC regional representative for Southern Asia