Our Correspondent
Kohima | April 26
Expressing deep concern over the second wave of COVID-19 cases, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) on Monday appealed the people of Nagaland to pray together on May 1.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought our world to an unprecedented fear and uncertainty. Never before, and not in our lifetime, have we witnessed a virus that threatens every one of us—those close and those far. The world has been united in panic and crisis and requires the believers to stand up in prayer seeking God’s mercy,” stated NBCC General Secretary Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho.
“We believe that all are praying for God's mercy in the resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic all across the world and particularly in India,” he stated adding that India is looking at a grim forecast so also our region.
The situation calls for the believers to stand up to the occasion and pray, he stated adding, “As a family, we want to earnestly appeal to all the Baptist individuals and churches across Nagaland, and others as well, to pray together on May 1, 2021 (Saturday), 5:00-7:00 am.”
Some can come to mission centers, and those residing near the church can come to the church maintaining strict SOPs for corporate prayers, but the rest can all pray at home as a family, or individually, he stated.
He stated that India needs to break the chain of COVID-19 infection immediately.
Closer to home, Kohima and Dimapur are seeing an alarming number of cases every day. If we go at this rate, we will soon find ourselves in a most critical situation, he stated. “As we look back, we must acknowledge that God has answered our prayer in so many ways. As we come to Him in thanksgiving, let us beseech Him to be merciful to us again as we face the second wave of the pandemic. More than any other time we need God's powerful intervention into our crisis and to be gracious to us. He alone is our True Help. Therefore, let us pray and pray!” he stated.
The NBCC requested the executive secretaries/directors to circulate this appeal to all the pastors and churches.
PRAYER POINTERS:
- Let us praise God for His sovereignty and give thanks that He is in control and that no purpose of His can be thwarted (Job 42: 2)
- Pray for the containment of the virus. He is rich in mercy (Eph 24)
- Pray for healing and protection (Exodus 15:26, Joel 2:13, Ps 86: 5)
- Pray for the affected and infected people to recover completely
- Pray for those who are in critical situation that God will bring healing to them soon
- Pray for those who have lost their loved ones for comfort
- Pray for local, national and international leader for wisdom and wise dispensation of policies (I Tim 2:1-2, Prov 28: 2, Rom 13)
- Pray for health professionals, caregivers and frontline workers (the paramedics, police, press fraternity, the bankers etc.) who risk their own safety for others
- Pray for those affected in other ways by the pandemic
- Pray for those with mental health challenges who feel isolated, anxious, and helpless God provide them every necessary support
- Pray for our children whose lives are adversely affected
- Pray for the scientific community, leading the charge to understand the disease and communicate with gravity and clarity God give them knowledge and wisdom.
