DAY 151: World Prayer Focus: Lesotho

DAY 151

Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic

A series of daily reflections for people of faith, by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland – pastorrobert@paxpres.org

Week Twenty-two Wednesday 12 August 2020

World Prayer

Focus: Lesotho

Lesotho is a small, landlocked constitutional monarchy created in 1966 in the middle of South Africa with a population of a little over 2 million. While it is approximately 90% ‘Christian,’ many  churches do not preach a clear need for a born again experience which is resisted by cultural influences within, and exacerbated by a syncretism that allows for African folk religious practices and beliefs to find widespread acceptance within the church.   

PRAY FOR LESOTHO

+ “AIDS is the greatest challenge facing Lesotho. It has devastated the population with an HIV infection rate of 23%,…leaving over 100,000 orphans….Pray for a balanced ministry approach that brings life to the whole person.”

+ “Pray for the Holy Spirit to sweep out impurities from the churches and bring new life.” The three greatest challenges infecting the church are nominalism, traditionalism and syncretism.

+ Pray for the newer evangelical, renewal and Pentecostal/charismatic groups for:

• Increased availability of solid Bible teaching and training for leaders;
• Discernment in areas of theological purity – the ‘prosperity gospel’ weakens some churches and appeals to the poor and the uneducated, the majority of members;
• Unity amongst the many small churches: “Pray for a spirit of humility and cooperation.” 

+ “Christian literature in Sesotho (the mother tongue for most) is in shorty supply.” Pray for missionaries and indigenous ministries to catch the vision for the power of the printed word.

+ “The mountain population of 600,000 are among the poorest and most vulnerable. Nominally Christian, they have little contact with the life-giving gospel.” Pray for an increase in vision for ministries able to reach them and for a Holy Spirit initiated revival in their churches.      

          

Jesus’ Prayer Request each Wednesday:

“’The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest,

therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38.

For the full country profile and prayer needs for Lesotho visit: operationworld.org.

Reflective question: Which prayer need most speaks to your heart? Will you pray it each day?

Reflective Scripture: Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.”

Reflective hymn:

“I am Watchful for the Lord” - Hymn from Lesotho, source unknown

I am watchful for the Lord to rest by His feet

To be taught by Him so that my soul may be comforted.