New York, NY – May 14, 2014
The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) calls for prayer for the more than 200 girls who were abducted by Boko-Haram, a militant Islamist group, on April 14 in northern Nigeria. The incident marks the latest in a series of attacks against the education of girls over the past decades.
“Please join the WEA and many others around the world in praying for the safe release of these innocent girls who have been taken from their families,” said Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, Secretary General of the WEA. “It is outrageous that a militant group uses these inhumane tactics as a means to cause fear and insecurity among people in their attempt to exercise their political will.”
“We appreciate the worldwide media attention that this latest incident has received as well as the rising awareness in the international community, even though we are aware that this terrible practice has been going on for decades in smaller numbers,” he added.
The WEA highlights the underlying issue that these attacks are targeted especially against the education of girls in Nigeria, in light of the fact these 16-18 year olds girls were taken from their school.
As part of the WEA’s commitment to participate in the Millennium Development Goal on Education1, the WEA has recently joined the Global Faiths Coalition for Education, which emphasizes that ‘education is a fundamental right and the key to expanded opportunity and a source of peace, prosperity, employment, and social cohesion.’
On behalf of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa (AEA), one of the WEA’s regional bodies, AEA General Secretary Aiah Foday-Khabenje said: “The kidnap of the Nigerian schoolgirls is not concealed from God and we believe He can move, in the name of Jesus through his Holy Spirit, to bring back the girls. My prayer is that Boko Haram – which is also made of up people created in the image of God – will themselves have the fear of God and voluntarily release the girls to go back to their homes and families. I ask the Church to continue praying fervently until the girls are released.”
The WEA encourages believers to use the following prayer written by the Evangelical Alliance of the United Kingdom2. Included are names of the girls that are presently kidnapped for personal prayer: http://eauk.org/current-affairs/media/press-releases/christians-called-to-unite-in-prayer-for-missing-girls.cfm
God of grace and comfort, we pray for your mercy.
We pray for the girls brutally kidnapped in Nigeria.
We ask that you might be with them.
In their times of deepest darkness, be a bright beacon of hope.
We pray for your protection of them and ask that they may be freed quickly.
Lord, guide those searching for them.
Grant wisdom and discernment and perseverance.
We pray for the parents, family and friends of the girls.
Lord, strengthen them in their time of sorrow and fear
and give them hope and the consolation of your presence.
Lord, we pray for all victims of violence: those who feel abandoned and forgotten;
the nameless abused.
May they know that you love them and that others care.
In Jesus' name
Amen.
1 The second Millennium Development Goal of the United Nations states: “Achieve universal primary education: Ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling.”
2 written by Fred Drummond, director of prayer at the Evangelical Alliance UK.
See also:
> Association of Evangelicals in Africa
> Global Faiths Coalition for Education (GFC Education)
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
[email protected]
+1 212.233.3046
Over two billion Christians in the world today are represented by three world church bodies. The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is one of those, serving and representing more than 600 million evangelicals. Launched in 1846 to unite evangelicals worldwide, the WEA continues to be a dynamic movement with 7 regional and 129 national Evangelical Alliances, and over 150 member organizations. WEA's mission is to speak as a trusted voice, to equip members and leaders for global impact and to connect its members and others for common action in the furtherance of God’s reign. For more info e-mail at [email protected] or go to Worldea.org.
Stay Connected