The Archbishop of Canterbury asks you to pray

Recently on his Facebook page, The Archbishop of Canterbury asked you to join him in praying for South Sudan. 

Posted to Facebook on 20th February 2017

We are acutely aware of the dire situation facing millions of South Sudanese people. Today, the UN and the government estimate that 100,000 people face starvation, with more than a million on the brink of famine. 

Millions have been displaced from their homes and communities as a result of the ongoing violence. In the last three weeks alone more than 50,000 people have fled from Kajo-Keji to northern Uganda as fighting intensifies. The UN Refugee Agency says 1.5 million South Sudanese refugees have now fled the country, making it Africa’s largest refugee crisis and the third largest in the world. 

We stand prayerfully alongside the South Sudanese people and their leaders – particularly those in the Church who are providing emotional, physical and spiritual support. We pray for those on the ground who are delivering humanitarian assistance, that there will be an opening up of humanitarian corridors for the aid that is so desperately needed. 

We pray for those who are trying to coordinate efforts to the regions that are most badly affected – particularly through the South Sudan Council of Churches and the Episcopal Church in South Sudan. We applaud the ecumenical efforts of the churches working together to ensure that aid reaches the right people. 

This week I’m travelling around the neighbouring countries to South Sudan. I’ve seen first-hand the consequences of the volume of refugees attempting to cross the borders to find safety, and the crisis facing those neighbouring countries as well as those in South Sudan. I’ve also been speaking with Anglican and other church leaders about the urgent need for a ceasefire in South Sudan.

Please join me in praying for peace, for security, for relief, and for the Holy Spirit to comfort those who need it most.