SAMS Prayer Line : Week beginning Wednesday 1 April

9th April 2009
PRAY

We ask prayer for some events taking place during Holy Week:

– In the Paraguayan Chaco a children’s programme is being held in three communities during Holy Week and the Easter weekend.  Pray for Ed & Marie Brice and a small team from Asunción as they and indigenous pastors minister in those and other communities.  Two of the communities where the children’s programme takes place have been targets of a Pentecostal group which has caused confusion and division (see http://www.samsgb.org/news.html#newsitemlink).

– On Tuesday a United Service for Holy Week is held in Sabadell, northeast Spain, between the Església de Crist, pastored by Sue Woodcock, and the three Baptist churches in the city (two of which are without a pastor).

Please pray for these events, and also for preparations and good weather for both a young people’s gathering and a pastors’ conference to be held in the Argentine Chaco over Easter.  More details next week.

René Pereira, who will be involved in these, asks us to pray against another bout of dengue fever in the Juárez area.  Two years ago, 70% of the town’s population contracted it and René fears that if the new outbreak reaches Juárez it could have fatal results.  Preventative measures are in hand – pray for these and for the folk of the town and region.

Finally, let’s give thanks for a wonderful consecration service last Sunday for the new Bishop of Paraguay, Peter Bartlett.  As we continue to remember him and Sally, let’s pray for a full recovery for the Bishop of Peru, Bill Godfrey, who was taken ill during his visit to Asunción and had to be hospitalised.

Prayer Line for the week commencing Tuesday 7 April

7th April 2009
PRAY

 

Last week we asked prayer concerning another outbreak of dengue fever in Argentina.  This is widespread across the north and is causing fear and concern; pray that the measures taken by the government, which may include mass fumigation from the air in an attempt to destroy the offending species of mosquito, will be successful.

 

Two major regional events for indigenous people in the Diocese of Northern Argentina take place over Easter.  From Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday a young people’s gathering is held in Juárez, and from Good Friday to Easter Monday a pastors’ conference takes place in the community of San Martín to the north near the River Pilcomayo.  Hundreds of youngsters are expected at the Juárez meeting, while 120 pastors will be in San Martín.  René Pereira asks prayer for good weather so that youngsters and pastors from all over the area can arrive and return without problems – and, of course, for God richly to bless both events and to build up his church through them.

 

Please keep in your prayers the children’s programme being held in three communities of the Paraguayan Chaco this week and over the Easter weekend, led by Ed & Marie Brice and a small team from Asunción. Also in Paraguay the 3rd year students from FEISA Teacher Training College are on teaching practice in state schools throughout this month, with the mobile play scheme making visits to six of those schools to give children in disadvantaged areas the opportunity to play and learn at the same time.  Pray for the students; and rejoice with FEISA over 28 new 1st year students this year – more than expected.

Red Box Return!

1st April 2009
PRAY

Give thanks for the return of Megan Johnston. Megan from Connor Diocese has been part of the Red Box Project during this past year.

Argentina’s Supreme Court of Justice orders a 90-day cessation of deforestation in the Province of Salta

1st April 2009
Argentina, PRAY

Yesterday (26 March) the Court ordered the provincial government to suspend permits granted for the removal of around a million hectares of native forest in the departments of Orán, San Martín, Rivadavia and Santa Victoria until a study can be made of the effect of deforestation on the environment.

The Court understood that while the granting of each permit had taken into consideration its environmental impact, no study had been made concerning the cumulative effect of all the permits.

It added that “the effect of the removal of around a million hectares is something that cannot be ignored and, in the words of the representative of the national Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainable Development at the public hearing of 18 February, it will certainly be negative”.

This decision extended the cautionary measure given on 29 December and ordered the suspension of all permits, not only those granted in the last quarter of 2007.

In addition, “it warned of the clear danger of serious damage with the possibility of significant climate change in the region, affecting not only the present occupants of the land but future generations as well. Such damage would be irreversible, as there would be no way to return things to how they were before. Care of the environment is not the enemy of development and progress; rather, the two are complementary as environmental care brings lasting enjoyment for future generations.”

The Court stated that the study should be carried out by the Province of Salta together with the national Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainable Development, “with extensive participation from the communities living in the area affected”.

Caroline’s News – Paraguay

1st April 2009
Paraguay, PRAY

April 2009 South American Mission Society
This was our big day, Sunday 29th March, the consecration of Peter Bartlett as Anglican Bishop in Paraguay. It was warm and sunny. The Cathedral was packed. Bishops from all over South America came, as well as supporters from England. It was wonderful to celebrate communion as a big family. There was a party atmosphere, everyone looking forward to the new growth and changes that Peter may promote.

For praise

  • I thank God for the welcoming generosity of the churches I visited early this year and for the support you give to my ministry in Paraguay. Just now, several sewing workshops are working well under Paraguayan leadership. There is positive interest and support for two fundraising initiatives I’m involved in – a retreat house for the churches on a lovely piece of land and the development of a diocesan library.
  • In 2 weeks, I’ll have a replacement of the identity card which was stolen with my purse in December. I was dreading the process. It can be long, drawn out and not very pleasant but new President Lugo’s reforms in the police, schools and hospitals are taking effect. Every department is more efficient and pleasant to deal with. Taxi drivers, who know everything, say there are visible signs of improvement in all three areas.

For prayer

  • The heat is tremendous. There has been little rain. The situation is becoming quite desperate in the arid Indian areas. No rain now means no reserves in the dry months ahead. Please pray for rain
  • There has been a lot of unrest in the country as the recession is biting hard. Lugo’s government is being blamed for all the problems. The country people have been marching and demonstrating in front of the Congress building in town most of the past week and hundreds are camped in a city square. Riot police have been on standby. The sesame producers have been up in arms about poor prices for their seed and have been demanding subsidies from the government. Please pray for peace here and that Lugo`s government can resolve the difficulties satisfactorily. Also that they would press through other improvements
  • Easter is very near. My Bible reading notes talk about Jesus on the road to the cross like a person going into a dark situation handling it by taking one step at a time. Because he is the Light of the world (John 12:34-36) and paid for our redemption, we have the firm hope of salvation to hold onto through all circumstances. This is Easter thinking that lasts all year through.

With love in Him, Caroline

Consecration of New Bishop in Paraguay

1st April 2009
Paraguay, PRAY

Peter Bartlett was consecrated as Bishop of Paraguay on 29 March at a service held at the cathedral church of San Andrés in Asunción. It was a warm and sunny day and the Cathedral was packed. Bishops from all over South America came, as well as supporters from Europe. Pray for Bishop Bartlett as there are many dimensions to the challenges which are faced in Paraguay.

New future for theological education in Paraguay

27th March 2009
Paraguay, PRAY

In 2009, there will be new theological leadership training opportunities available for clergy and lay leaders in the Anglican Diocese of Paraguay 

New English Bishop, Peter Bartlett, arrives on 23rd March 09 with a mandate to strengthen theological training across the diocese’s city, urban and rural churches. He will be preparing the way long term for national leadership of the church. Recently retired Bishop John Ellison established an excellent foundation to build on through weekly training in the capital, Asuncion, and a cascade system in the widespread and isolated indigenous churches.

A Paraguayan graduate from the Anglican theological centre in Santiago, Chile, which serves the Anglican province of the southern cone, has a vision for church youth training. With 2 centre congregations, 6 urban and 10 indigenous churches in the diocese, the potential for leadership growth is enormous.  Already there are two students in the church wanting to pursue the theological degree course at the Mennonite Evangelical University. The course is popular but there are not enough key study texts to go round.  The Anglican Church is keen to provide for its own students and future key workers so that it can become a more integrated part of the wider South American theological community.

SAMS Prayer Line for the week commencing Wednesday 25 March

27th March 2009
PRAY

Our prayers this week focus around events in Paraguay, starting with the meeting of the Provincial Executive Committee of the Southern Cone.  This began yesterday in Asunción under the chairmanship of Bishop Greg Venables; pray that the discussions of the leaders from the different dioceses over the next few days will help forward the work of the Anglican Church in the countries represented.

 

The meeting leads into another major event at the weekend.  On Sunday Peter Bartlett will be consecrated Bishop of Paraguay at a service at the Anglican cathedral.  Please uphold Peter and Sally who arrived in Paraguay on Monday and are settling in and preparing for this momentous day.

 

Among the invited guests will be Philip & Rosemary Tadman from SAMS GB.  Pray for their flight out tomorrow (26th), their week-long visit and their involvement in the service.

 

In Lima, Peru, Paul & Sarah Tester ask prayer for the Youth Alpha course in Surco, which was restarted last Friday.  They write: “We really want young people from the upper and middle classes to hear about Jesus.  Please pray for God’s guidance”.

 

Finally, remember the SAMS GB home staff as they respond to the implications of forthcoming office closures and significant personal changes in the light of the merger with CMS.

 

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