Keep praying for Cote d’Ivoire. It doesn’t appear to be getting better. Au contraire, it’s getting worse, much worse!
- Normally the world’s biggest producer and exporter of chocolate, now the export of chocolate in Cote d’Ivoire has virtually come to a standstill. But worse that this are what the Ivorian people are experiencing.
- Hundreds of thousands of Ivorians are fleeing their country because of all the escalating violence.
- Cote d’Ivoire is on the brink of civil war. Some would say that Cote d’Ivoire is already in a civil war. I would agree.
- Close to 500 recorded deaths since the presidencial election that began this mess.
- Now it is reported that hundreds of liberian “mercenaries” have gone on rampage of rape and looting in the region of Guiglo, in western Cote d’Ivoire. That region of Cote d’Ivoire is a lawless zone, they say, because there are no functioning police there.
- In Abidjan, there are homeless children between the ages of 9 and 14 who wander the street, doing what they can to survive. Sadly, what they have lowered themselves to do is give sexual favors with adults in exchange for a couple coins, a small bit of food or a piece of new clothing.
Life is extremely hard for Ivorians. This is probably an understatement. Pray for Ivorians.
Pray for Ivorian Christians. I can’t help but think that the presense of Christians in a region like this should be an encouraging things. Life is extremely hard for Ivorian Christians as well. And yet, God can help these Christians surmont the difficulties and their testimonies can be an encouragement to many others.
Pray for Ivorian Christians concerning the Gbagbo – Ouattara debate. Many Christian Ivorians had the sense that Gbagbo should have won, because they believed the Ouattara supporters had made death threats and had forced people to vote for Ouattara. Gbagbo also happens to be from a “Christian” background, as opposed to Ouattara with his Muslim background. So it has been hard for Ivorian Christians to know what stance to take. Even in the evangelical churches, it was not easy because church members may have differing opinions about this subject. Even to this day, it is still not easy for Evangelical Christians.
So please pray that God give Ivorian Christians wisdom and discernment, mercy and grace. May these Christians be united, on the same page, like-minded, having one desire : that God have His perfect way, that His love is demonstrated to the on-looking world and that He is glorified.
Please pray for Praise’s 40-some pastors and their families. That God strengthen them, that God will speak Truth through them, that His Grace would flow out from their words and behavior.
Thanks for your prayers for Praise International.