Prayers For Justice - A Prayer GuideUzorak

Pray For People Ravished By War

A decades-long conflict in Uganda left horrifying devastation in its wake, including the forced displacement of millions of people, mass looting of property, the abduction of boys to become child soldiers, the abduction of girls to become sex slaves and the deaths of close to 200,000 people. Hardly anyone was spared from the impact. 

Pastor Apollo and Pastor Washington of Victory Outreach Church in Lira, Uganda, both lost family members to the violence. They explained that there was conflict over communal lands. Orphaned children roamed the streets begging for food. Men and women had no work to do. And there was fear that the rebels would return.

Every villager had been adversely affected. The atrocity left survivors with physical, spiritual and mental scars. The pastors knew it would take concerted efforts to bring healing. Although war had come to an end, the work of the church had really just begun. In the aftermath of all this violence, Victory Outreach Church sprang into action.

The church established the Victory Outreach Ministries Agricultural Program (VOMAP) to help small-scale farmers. They equipped farmers with basic tools and seeds. And taught them sustainable ways to increase their output and efficiency. They also offered families small-scale savings and loan groups so that families could raise their purchasing power. Their agricultural programs allow locals to produce crops such as yams, cassava and millets.

The war destroyed many significant water sources too, and the villagers were suffering from water- and mosquito-borne diseases as a result. So, the church also led water and sanitation projects to help prevent these illnesses.

But it is the spread of HIV that has taken the biggest toll in the community. The HIV spread quickly as the soldiers took advantage of girls and women in the camp. When Victory Outreach Church partnered with Compassion in 2007, the severity of the HIV/AIDS pandemic was becoming increasingly clear.

The stigma of HIV/AIDS was rife. Currently, more than 75 percent of parents and guardians of children registered in the Compassion program at the church are living with HIV/AIDS. They receive consistent love and care from the church.

Since 2007, Victory Outreach Church has reached more than 8,000 people living with HIV or AIDS. They also have established several other churches within Lira. Each minister to thousands of people every week through a practical approach to the gospel.

God, You’ve asked us to not turn away when we see hurting people. I ask You to break my heart in such a way that I act upon Your calling. Today, I pray specifically for war-torn countries who are overflowing with hurting people. Some of them are trying to survive physically. Provide for them. Others are dealing internally with hurts so deep only You can understand. Be their comfort and their healing. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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