POINTERS for PRAYER and THANKSGIVING
November 2020
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DAILY PRAYER POINTERS
November 2020
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DAILY PRAYER POINTERS
1 SUNDAY Pray that prisoners longing to join in worship today but, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, are not able to that they may have a real sense of the Lord's presence in the isolation of their cells.
2 Pray for the Twinkle of Hope project supporting young children who are in prison with their prisoner mothers in Ethiopia. 3 Pray for the Refuge child sponsorship project in Ethiopia supporting children in the community who have a parent in prison. 4 Pray that work on the new dormitory for the women and children in Sheno prison interrupted by the current situation will be able to be continued soon. 5 Pray for Ethiopian Prison Chaplain Co-ordinators as they share the gospel message, provide Bible study opportunities, lead worship, involve local churches and also act as eyes and ears in identifying and helping to prioritise needs. 6 Pray for women in mother and baby units in UK prisons facing separation from their child when it is not deemed to need its mum 7 Pray for prisoners and their families many of whom are struggling to stay together in difficult and trying circumstances including no face to face visits. 8 SUNDAY Remembrance Sunday. Today is a time when we remember all those killed in war. Pray that that those currently in positions of leadership may make every effort to find peaceful, non life threatening ways of conflict resolution. 9 Pray for prisoners released on licence that as their lives are monitored by Probation Officers etc that they will be helped to learn responsible decision making. 10 Pray for prisoners being released after serving long sentences that they will be able to cope with all the changes that have taken place in society while they have been in custody as well as the covid-19 rules restricting family gatherings. 11 Pray for prisoners about to be released who have nowhere to live, no money, no job prospects and who feel they have no hope. 12 Pray for Community Chaplains, Resettlement co-ordinators and mentoring schemes aiming to help ex-offenders live more ordered lives. These have a vital role in reducing re-offending but can be made difficult by the covid-19 rules. 13 Pray and give thanks for churches ready to welcome ex-offenders on release from prison with all their different needs and associated risks. This has been made extremely difficult because of covid-19 restrictions. 14 Pray and give thanks for those committed to supporting former prisoners who have come to know the Lord. It can sometimes be a struggle to gain the necessary permissions for new, safe, drug free accommodation etc. 15 SUNDAY Pray for those who have come to faith during their time in prison and who are looking forward to being part of a “real church” on release especially if they find themselves hindered by the covid-19 rules. |
16 Pray for chaplains as they share news with and provide pastoral care for prisoners who have been bereaved.
17 Pray for those prisons where chaplains have run bereavement courses and that ways may be found during these difficult times of isolation to provide this resource which can be so helpful to those who are trying to cope with loss. 18 Pray for children affected by the imprisonment of a parent especially when this means long term separation due to a long sentence with visiting suspended. 19 Pray for the JFA-PFE staff in the office in Addis Ababa that as we explore some of the finer details of the work and needs - both practical and spiritual - which we have been privileged to share with them for over 20, years. 20 Pray for those prisons where there are vacancies in the chaplaincy team that the ministry of those in post may not be adversely affected by the additional work load. 21 Pray for the families of prisoners who are currently not able to visit due to the covid-19 restrictions 22 SUNDAY During the ongoing pandemic with chapel services suspended pray that ways may be found to bring God's great life changing, hope giving good news to those locked in their cells. 23 Pray for the families of prisoners who have died in custody – whether by suicide, through violence, illness, accident or old age. 24 Pray for Governing Governors of prisons as they struggle with the effects of Covid-19 on the regime with many prisoners being confined to their cells 24/7 with no purposeful activity. 25 Pray for former police, judges, prison officers etc. who are now serving prison sentences and can be very vulnerable. 26 Pray for young offenders that they will learn another way while they are still young. 27 Pray for our Trustees as they meet today by Zoom that they will know the will of the Lord. In these changing times with all kinds of regulations there are items on the agenda that require decisions. Some of these risk becoming distractions from the main focus of the work which is to see the gospel message is heard loud and clear. 28 Pray for the large number of prisoners in Britain's often overcrowded prisons who have serious mental health problems that their needs may be both better understood and then effectively addressed 29 Give thanks for the work of Bible Society, Good News for Everyone and others who help prisoners receive their own copy of the Scriptures 30 Pray for the victims of crime and that ways may be found during this pandemic for victim awareness courses such as Sycamore Tree to be run in at least some prisons to help prisoners address their offending behaviour. _____________________________________________ THE LORD SETS PRISONERS FREE Psalm 146:7 |
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TRUSTEES' MEETING
The next meeting of the Trustees is scheduled for Friday 27th November and because of the pandemic has to be conducted with the aid of Zoom. Please pray for the Trustees as they spend time reviewing the work and prayerfully looking forward to the coming year.
As well as what might be described as routine business relating to all the on-going work such as day to day admin, opportunities to share good news in places where bad news may be the norm here in the UK in these difficult pandemic affected days, there is all that is happening in Ethiopia including ongoing support for the nationwide chaplaincy team, for Twinkle of Hope and Refuge child care etc.
In addition to reviewing all of that, there are the construction projects in Bahir Dar (Chapel) and Sheno (Dormitory for women prisoners) where progress with the construction has been interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the situation needs to be monitored.
This is also the time when we begin to consider possible future projects prior to more detailed planning in the New Year. Possible projects could include such things as supporting improved health care provision in remote prisons and extending the Twinkle of Hope child care to more prisons and more!
All, of course, depend on funding being available and this might just be an opportunity to remind you all that every penny donated for the work in Ethiopia goes to Ethiopia without deduction for admin or anything else in the UK. All transfers are allocated for specific purpose and this is carefully monitored.
Please get in touch if you would like more information.
Thank you for praying.
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TRUSTEES' MEETING
The next meeting of the Trustees is scheduled for Friday 27th November and because of the pandemic has to be conducted with the aid of Zoom. Please pray for the Trustees as they spend time reviewing the work and prayerfully looking forward to the coming year.
As well as what might be described as routine business relating to all the on-going work such as day to day admin, opportunities to share good news in places where bad news may be the norm here in the UK in these difficult pandemic affected days, there is all that is happening in Ethiopia including ongoing support for the nationwide chaplaincy team, for Twinkle of Hope and Refuge child care etc.
In addition to reviewing all of that, there are the construction projects in Bahir Dar (Chapel) and Sheno (Dormitory for women prisoners) where progress with the construction has been interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the situation needs to be monitored.
This is also the time when we begin to consider possible future projects prior to more detailed planning in the New Year. Possible projects could include such things as supporting improved health care provision in remote prisons and extending the Twinkle of Hope child care to more prisons and more!
All, of course, depend on funding being available and this might just be an opportunity to remind you all that every penny donated for the work in Ethiopia goes to Ethiopia without deduction for admin or anything else in the UK. All transfers are allocated for specific purpose and this is carefully monitored.
Please get in touch if you would like more information.
Thank you for praying.
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