Pray

In response to The World Day Against Trafficking in Person on 30 July, let us pray:

• May the Lord release those imprisoned, set the oppressed free, and may the victims of human trafficking see the light of God from the darkness
• May the comfort of the loving Lord come to all survivors and heal their wounded bodies, minds, and spirits, and restore their lives
• May the Almighty Lord protect those combating human trafficking and enable them to triumph in the battle

Partners & Ministries
The internal conflict in Kachin state in northern Myanmar intensified as it has spread throughout the entire state, with airstrikes bombing many areas, forcing over 100,000 civilians to flee their homes and become internally displaced persons in Kachin state. CEDAR has decided to allocate funds to provide emergency food and medical assistance to the refugees in Myanmar. We pray for the provision of the refugees’ needs and for them to find the strength to endure the prolonged internal conflict amidst the despair of their destroyed homes and uncertain future.

The World & Our Neighbours
On 3 April, Hualien City in Taiwan suffered an earthquake of 7.2 on the Richter Scale. Ongoing aftershocks followed, with one registered 6.3 of magnitude on 23 April. The earthquakes inflicted severe damage to numerous buildings and infrastructure and even caused casualties. We pray for God to comfort those families who have lost their loved ones and heal the injured. May God bless the local government and relevant organisations with wisdom and resources to rebuild the earthquake-stricken areas effectively, allowing people to rebuild their homes.

CEDAR Team & Needs
Please pray for us as we are currently formulating the yearly plan and budget for 2024-2025. In a world with unstable situations, severe poverty and limited resources, we pray for God’s guidance, blessing us with confidence and wisdom to develop appropriate strategies. May we also collaborate with churches to witness the Lord’s grace in this unsettling situation.

Partners & Ministries
Immanuel Foundation Thailand (IMF), CEDAR’s partner in Thailand, won this year’s Best Anti-Human Trafficking Organization Award from the Thai government. It is one of the seven award-winning organisations in the country. Thank God for using our partner to rescue victims of trafficking. Pray that the Lord will continue to help our partner exert their influence in society, rescue victims, help survivors recover, and raise public attention to the issue of human trafficking.

The World & Our Neighbours
Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan passed the third reading of amendments to the Law Governing the Legislature’s Power on 28 May. As early as 24 May, this issue triggered more than 100,000 Taiwanese people to protest and express their concerns. Pray that the Lord will keep everyone in Taiwan calm in the face of conflicts and be willing to listen to the voices of all parties. May God grant wisdom to the people of Taiwan and allow society to work hard to uphold justice.

CEDAR Team & Needs
Recently, two of our staff members have experienced health issues within their families, necessitating frequent hospital visits. We pray to the Lord to heal them and grant them good health. At the same time, we ask the Lord to give us peace and increase our staff’s strength and spirit to care for their families.

Partners & Ministries
The internal conflict in Kachin state in northern Myanmar intensified as it has spread throughout the entire state, with airstrikes bombing many areas, forcing over 100,000 civilians to flee their homes and become internally displaced persons in Kachin state. CEDAR has decided to allocate funds to provide emergency food and medical assistance to the refugees in Myanmar. We pray for the provision of the refugees’ needs and for them to find the strength to endure the prolonged internal conflict amidst the despair of their destroyed homes and uncertain future.

The World & Our Neighbours
On 3 April, Hualien City in Taiwan suffered an earthquake of 7.2 on the Richter Scale. Ongoing aftershocks followed, with one registered 6.3 of magnitude on 23 April. The earthquakes inflicted severe damage to numerous buildings and infrastructure and even caused casualties. We pray for God to comfort those families who have lost their loved ones and heal the injured. May God bless the local government and relevant organisations with wisdom and resources to rebuild the earthquake-stricken areas effectively, allowing people to rebuild their homes.

CEDAR Team & Needs
Please pray for us as we are currently formulating the yearly plan and budget for 2024-2025. In a world with unstable situations, severe poverty and limited resources, we pray for God’s guidance, blessing us with confidence and wisdom to develop appropriate strategies. May we also collaborate with churches to witness the Lord’s grace in this unsettling situation.

Partners & Ministries
Nepal is currently facing an intensification of religious hatred and a tense situation. Local Hindu extremism is on the verge of eruption, leading to social discrimination and the exclusion of non-Hindus. Our local partners, as a Christian community, face a more hostile environment when engaging in public ministry. Despite this, our partners persist in their efforts to protect the voices of other marginalised groups and promote their ministry. May the Lord grant them strength, wisdom, and courage to face these challenges and keep them safe.

The World & Our Neighbours
On 19 March, the World Meteorological Organisation released the ‘State of the Global Climate 2023’ report, confirming that 2023 was the hottest year on record. The report indicates that multiple records were again broken, including greenhouse gas levels, surface temperatures, ocean heat and acidification, sea-level rise, Antarctic sea ice, and glacier retreat. Additionally, extreme weather has exacerbated food insecurity. The number of people severely affected by global food insecurity has more than doubled, from 149 million before the COVID-19 pandemic to 333 million in 2023. We pray for God’s mercy upon those affected by poverty and call upon the conscience of affluent regions to recognise their responsibility in addressing climate issues.

CEDAR Team & Needs
We want to encourage brothers and sisters to cultivate a heart of creation care and to pay collective attention to climate justice issues. To this end, we will hold a ‘Caring for the Created World, Upholding Climate Justice’ ministry sharing and prayer meeting (Chinese only) on 26 April. We are grateful to have invited Dr. Amos Tai, Associate Professor of the Earth and Environmental Science Programme at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and our General Secretary to share on the topic. We pray that the Lord will move us to see the needs of communities affected by climate change and to sign up for the prayer meeting. Additionally, please pray for recruiting co-workers in various departments so that the Lord may lead suitable brothers and sisters to join our team.

Partners & Ministries
Myanmar has been in a state of emergency since the coup in February 2021. Myanmar’s military government enforced a compulsory military service law on 10 February 2024. It allowed the army to call up all men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 to serve for at least two years. This move will not only force civilians to go to the front line but will also seriously endanger the safety of our local partners and hamper the progress of community development projects. Pray that the Lord will protect our partners and the people of Myanmar. Not only keeping them safe but also praying that the Lord will save them from the flames of war and evil people and answer their calls for justice and peace.

The World & Our Neighbours
The United Nations Environment Assembly is a biennial meeting that allows all member states to confront environmental issues collectively to restore harmony between humans and nature and improve the lives of vulnerable communities worldwide. The sixth session was held from 26 February to 1 March this year at the headquarters of the Environment Agency in Nairobi, Kenya. The central theme of the meeting will be multilateral environmental agreements and how they can help overcome the triple planetary crisis of climate chaos, biodiversity loss and pollution. Pray that the Lord will guide those in power to have wisdom and a heart to care for disadvantaged communities, formulate policies that effectively improve the global environment, and put them into practice.

CEDAR Team & Needs
In this era of talent scarcity, we have encountered recruitment challenges. At CEDAR Fund, we are still recruiting new staff, and we ask the Lord to guide suitable believers to join our team.

Partners & Ministries
Last December, Cyclone Michaung wreaked havoc in India, causing widespread rainfall-induced disasters in the southern regions. The floods resulted in at least 25 deaths and extensive collapse and inundation of homes. A significant number of disaster victims had to be urgently evacuated from low-lying areas to safer locations, leaving their lives in disarray. CEDAR launched the ‘India Cyclone Michaung Relief’ project. May God protect the relief project, show mercy to the victims, and help them overcome the current difficulties.

The World & Our Neighbours
Bangladesh’s general election was held on January 7. Sheikh Hasina, who has always attracted controversy over human rights violations, was elected prime minister for the fifth time. According to the United Nations, around 25,000 opposition leaders and supporters were arrested, while some were tortured and denied treatment. Human rights experts urged Bangladesh’s government to undertake key reforms to reverse ‘repressive trends’ and restore dialogue. May God protect the people of Bangladesh and ask those in power to use their power to serve the people instead of suppressing them and formulate policies that will benefit them.

CEDAR Team & Needs
In this era of talent scarcity, we have encountered recruitment challenges. At CEDAR Fund, we are still recruiting new staff, and we ask the Lord to guide suitable believers to join our team.

Partners & Ministries
As winter approaches, please remember the rebuilding efforts of our partners in Afghanistan and Syria after the earthquakes. We seek the Lord to move the hearts of the church members to donate and pray together so that the displaced refugees may receive essential relief supplies such as daily food, temporary shelters, and fuel.

The World & Our Neighbours
In regions such as India and Nepal, millions of Dalit people have been subjected to generations of oppression and discrimination as ‘untouchables’ due to the unequal caste system. From birth, they face severe discrimination in all aspects of life, being deprived of equal opportunities and rights compared to others, leading to a life filled with darkness and despair. We pray for God’s revival in these areas so that through the gospel, people may know that each individual is a unique creation of the Lord, not to be distorted or exploited by others. May the caste system be abolished soon, granting liberation to those bound in labour and servitude. 

CEDAR Team & Needs
Please pray for CEDAR’s ministry plans for the coming year. Each department of our organisation is still recruiting staff. Pray that the Lord will guide suitable individuals to join CEDAR so that we may be united and work together as vessels of Christ to serve the poor.