News
As more people face famine today than any time in modern history, the World Council of Churches (WCC) together with the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and a range of faith-based partners and networks invite a Global Day of Prayer to End Famine on 21 May 2017, in response to the hunger crisis.
“Famine has been declared in areas of South Sudan, with Somalia, Nigeria, and Yemen on the brink of famine,” WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit says. ”More than 20 million people are at risk of starvation in these four countries alone. And globally, millions more suffer from drought and food shortages. But famines are much more than simple lack of food. They are the result of conflict, drought, poverty and global inaction, and in most cases they are preventable.”
“We believe the churches have a prophetic role in calling to mobilize their members, the wider society and governments, and make a difference during this unprecedented period of suffering,” Tveit adds, reflecting that the Church has a key role to play both in providing emergency relief and support, and in building peace, thus putting an end to the violence and hunger that affects both current and future generations.
To encourage people of faith and good will around the world to observe the global day of prayer on 21 May, the WCC is making available a collection of liturgical resources, prayers, photos and suggested songs to be used in faith congregations worldwide.
“Food is more than a human right; it is a divine gift that cannot be impeded,” Tveit concludes. “As people of faith on a Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace, we are called to respond to the hunger crisis through prayer, and we encourage communities of all faiths to organize themselves around the issue of access to food.”
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35.)
WCC resource pack - Global Day of Prayer to End Famine
Letter of invitation, by Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit and Rev. Dr André Karamaga
Join the Global Day of Prayer to End Famine, 21 May 2017
Facebook event for the Global Day of Prayer to End Famine
Global partners in the Global Day of Prayer to End Famine:
All Africa Conference of Churches, Anglican Alliance, Christian AIDS Bureau for Southern Africa (CABSA), Caritas in Veritate International, Catholic Union of Superiors General, Christian Connections for International Health, Christian Conference of Asia, Faith & Justice Network of the Mano River Basin Countries (Western Africa), Fracarita International (Brothers of Charity), Global Ministries of the Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ, IMA World Health, Lutheran World Federation, Medical Mission Sisters, Methodist Church of Southern Africa, Oikotree movement, PRISMA, Organisation of African Instituted Churches, Salvation Army International, United Evangelical Mission, United Methodist Church-Global Ministries, UMCORE, Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa, World Communion of Reformed Churches, World Council of Churches, World Evangelical Alliance, World Vision International
Country-level partners in the Global Day of Prayer to End Famine:
ADRA Canada, American Friends of the Episcopal Church of the Sudans, ARISE Church New Zealand, Armenia Interchurch Roundtable, Association Évangélique pour la santé au Tchad, Association of Franciscan Families of India – AFFI, Bread for the World (USA), Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Christian Council of Nigeria, Church of Sweden, Ecumenical Council for Drought Action and Water Management-India, Eglise Protestante Méthodiste du Bénin, Epimu Epimaque Munyankindi-Rwanda, Evangelical Association of Malawi, Ev.-luth. Missionswerk in Niedersachsen (ELM) Hermannsburg, Evangelical Church of India Kolkata Diocese, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Evangelical Presbyterian Church-Ghana, Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland, Evangelisches Missionswerk in Deutschland, Galewood CUCC, Gospel Fellowship of India, German Protestant Church in Thailand, Institute of Church and Society-Ibadan, Jamaica Council of Churches, Lippische Landeskirche, Lutheran Church of Australia, Mennonite Church in India, National Council of Churches of India, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, Protestant Youth Federation in Germany (AEJ), South Sudan Council of Churches, St. Alban's Church (Washington, DC), UCCP Bulanao Capitol Church (Philippines), United Christian Action New Delhi, United Church of Canada, Verband der Evangelischen Studierenden Gemeinden in Deutschland (ESG), Vuga Bible School (Tanzania), Wellspring Community Australia, World Relief Canada, YWCA Kenya, Zimbabwe Association of Church related Hospitals, Zimbabwe Council of Churches
