In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray, Dear Lord, see us through these hard times. In these troubling times, we are filled with unspeakable fear. We reach out our hands to You now, and ask You to walk beside us.
We cannot carry all our burdens, but we know You can, and we have faith You will. Please walk beside us. Please guide us. Please help us to hold on strong, through the trials and storms. Help us to hold on to our faith, in even the darkest hour. Stay with us Lord, and show us Your way.
In your love and Holy Spirit we abide.
Amen.
Prayer is from More Than Life.
"As tensions escalate amid anti-government protests across Venezuela, International Mission Board missionaries and their Venezuelan Baptist partners are ministering to Venezuelans on both sides of the conflict.
"One Venezuelan Baptist pastor goes to the front lines of the protests, praying with demonstrators and their opponents at barricades protesters have erected in Caracas, the capital city. He also visits Venezuela's National Guard and police stations to pray for their forces, even though some of them have been accused of alleged human-rights violations against protestors.
"At a barricade where he went to pray with demonstrators, the pastor "put the skids on an attack on protesters," reported Matthew Starr*, IMB missionary in Caracas.
"Residents of a nearby barrio (slum) approached, carrying sticks and stones, ready to attack demonstrators. The barrios of Caracas -- stretching up the mountains surrounding the city -- are considered bastions of support for the socialist government.
"'He went across to the attackers and said he was a Baptist pastor and was praying with folks from both sides, sharing their need for God to take control of the situation," Starr recounted. "This diffused the [conflict] and they didn't carry out the attack."
"'Pray for this pastor as he's making this his ministry during this crisis," Starr added. "He's also asking other pastors to get involved.'"
Please read Ministry Spreads Amid Unrest in Venezuela, by Maria Elena Baseler, at Baptist Press.
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