The call for a Global Day of Prayer comes from the All-Africa Council of Churches, the World Council of Churches and the World Evangelical Alliance, which invites Christians to “stand in solidary with our sisters and brothers to support them to realize a future free of extreme poverty, hunger and violence.”
The day’s purpose is to unite faith communities around the world as a prayer and spiritual movement to:
- Promote prayer, reflection and action with information and suggestions.
- Bring awareness regarding famine’s impact on the most vulnerable children and families, and help address its root causes.
- Connect with church-related and other humanitarian organizations that are currently working to bring immediate relief and positive long-term change so children and families can live out God’s aspiration for a dignified, peaceful and violence-free future.
- Help communities and congregations uphold each other in prayer and support, by sharing experiences, challenge and solutions.
They state that after years of steady progress in reducing world hunger, the number of hungry people globally has started to climb. “Famine, drought and armed conflict are making millions of our sisters and brothers hungry, homeless and vulnerable to conflicts, violence and abuse,” they state in the release.
“We are glad to be able to join with people of faith around the world in praying for an end to hunger,” says World Renew Canadian Director, Ida Kaastra-Mutoigo. “Prayer is an important way Canadian Christians can follow Christ’s example of standing in solidarity with sisters and brothers around the world who do not get enough to eat. Prayer also opens our eyes and hearts to recognize the global forces of conflict and economic injustice that are an increasing reason for hunger and food insecurity. There is a need to pray for peace and advocate for more just policies that support small-scale farmers and their families who are affected by hunger.”
“Prayers of solidarity rooted in our hearts and minds lead to action as we seek to live out the teaching and example of Jesus,” says Foodgrains Bank executive director Jim Cornelius.
June 10 is the second annual Global Day of Prayer to End Famine. Last year’s day was organized in response to over 20 million people in South Sudan, northern Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen being at risk of famine, a number unprecedented in modern history. Although famine was mostly averted through the provision of critical humanitarian assistance, risk continues to be high for millions of people to experience famine or severe hunger in 2018.
Resources to help congregations and individuals pray can be found on the Global Day of Prayer website and on the Foodgrains Bank website.