Global Day of Prayer and Fasting 29th March 2020
23rd March 2020
Greetings from Evangelical Fellowship of India,
Our world today is faced with a major challenge in the form of COVID-19. As we write this letter over 355000 people have been infected with this deadly virus and over 15500 people are dead. COVID-19 has spread fast around the world and is affecting 192 countries and territories around the world as well as 1 international conveyance (the Diamond Princess cruise ship harboured in Yokohama, Japan).
Amid the global pandemic that affects the lives of millions directly and indirectly, the Church is called to be a source of hope. The World Evangelical Alliance together with many partners are offering resources to better understand the crisis and find ways to respond in big and small ways. But most of all, we can pray!
The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has designated Sunday, March 29 as a Global Day of Prayer & Fasting amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage you to pray to God that the crisis will pass quickly.
The Evangelical Fellowship of India, as the National Alliance of India and a charter member of the WEA is calling Christians in India to participate in this Global effort of prayer. You can connect with EFI on our website: www.efionline.org as well as on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EFoIndia/
A website for the Global Day of Prayer has been developed (https://covid19.worldea.org/) and contains ideas and resources to help guide you through the whole day, lifting up your concerns, your community, your nation and the whole world before God at this time. If you cannot commit a full day, pick some activities and spend what time you have available to join us all in faith and hope, calling out to God for help.
The best way to encourage one another is by sharing stories of faith and hope as we walk through troubles together. A Facebook group has been set up for the purpose of sharing our God-stories with others. Follow this link, click +Join Group, answer three questions and we’ll add you to the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/covid19globalprayer/
As people of God we are called to view this crisis as an opportunity to pray and to serve sacrificially. Let us be bearers of hope. Let us be a non-anxious presence and show the difference that Jesus makes in our lives in the face of crisis.
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Warm regards,
Rev. Vijayesh Lal
General Secretary
Evangelical Fellowship of India
You can download the PDF of the letter HERE