Sunday Reflections (#40Days2025)

Kupa, Regional Support Team Leader (Zimbabwe) reflects on the role of the International Church and the Local Church working together to care for the most vulnerable:

"I look at it as the international church coming in like Aaron and Hur. When Moses was in battle and as he was getting tired, Aaron and Hur were there to lift up his hands so that he could continue with the battle. So likewise, the international church is there to help lift up the local church, even when they get tired. I'll give an example of when Clinton and Greg from Australia came to Mozambique, they had time as the international church to meet with local pastors and stand with them; supporting, encouraging, and rejuvenating them in the work. So in the same way, that is the major role that the international church plays. I know it’s easy to look at the financial role, which is a huge role, but there is also that encouragement. One thing I've realised is when the international church comes in, it energises and encourages the local church that, you know, someone from outside has come and is loving on our children, is loving on our communities. It gives them a renewed energy to continue soldiering on, to continue pushing and working with our communities, knowing full well that they are not alone in this battle, that they are not alone in this work, that they have the full backing of other churches praying with them and providing for them so that they are able to care for the community well."

Day 10 – Pray for Our Children in Zimbabwe (#40Days2025)

Within Zimbabwe, there are 370 children being loved and cared for. The Honde Valley and Mutare Service Centres invite you to pray for the children in their region:

• “Stand with us in prayer against early marriage especially in one of our communities, Tsatse. This community is dominated by white robe churches. Most of the time it's difficult to get into their issues because the parents and their churches they support that practice.” – Jane sharing on behalf of the Honde Valley Service Centre team.

• “Pray for our kids to avoid drugs and that God would help them not to be initiated in witchcraft.

• Pray that our kids behave well at the Care Point and at home.

• Pray for our children to accept Jesus.” – John, Service Centre Member (Zimbabwe) sharing on behalf of the Honde Valley Service Centre team.

To learn more about Zimbabwe, the communities that we serve and about our Service Centres (local Hands at Work teams), please visit: https:

Day 9 – Pray for Care Workers and Primary Caregivers in Zimbabwe (#40Days2025)

Day 9 – Pray for Care Workers and Primary Caregivers in Zimbabwe

In Zimbabwe, there are 55 Care Workers who have committed to caring for the most vulnerable children. In many communities in Zimbabwe and across Africa, the Care Workers are also the Primary Caregivers of the children they serve. A Primary Caregiver is the mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings or other relatives who live with the children coming to the Care Point.

The Honde Valley and Mutare Service Centres invite you to pray for the Care Workers and Primary Caregivers in their region:

• “Pray for all our Care Workers as most of them belong to the white robe church and believe in their prophets instead of Jesus. Pray for them to accept Jesus.

• Secondary school is not possible for most children many reasons in Zimbabwe. For some, this lack of alternatives together with other reasons can lead to risk-taking behaviour like drugs and also being taken advantage of for early marriage. Pray for the Care Workers and Primary Caregivers not to lose heart.” – Priscilla, Service Centre Member (Zimbabwe) sharing on behalf of the Mutare Service Centre team.

• “Sometimes the Care Workers hesitate to challenge the Primary Caregivers if something wrong happens to the children because they want to protect their relationship. The Primary Caregivers can struggle to open up to the Care Workers. Pray that our Care Workers and Primary Caregivers have a good relationship and build trust.’ – Jane, Service Centre Coordinator (Zimbabwe), sharing on behalf of the Honde Valley Service Centre team.

Day 6 – Pray for the Church within Zimbabwe (#40Days2025)

Hands at Work envisions the local church in Africa effectively caring for the orphaned, the widowed and the dying in partnership with the International Church.

Today we invite you to join us in praying for the local church in Zimbabwe:

⁠- “Please pray for the church in Zimbabwe that knows and understands the undiluted truth of the gospel to be bold and stand up and speak truth as there has been a lot of deception.

- ⁠In recent years there have been splits in some major churches in Zimbabwe due to disagreements around money and properties and corruption. Please pray that the love of money and corruption stops within the body of Christ as this has caused sheep to scatter.

- ⁠Zimbabwe has a big number of white robe cult churches that preach false doctrines especially in the vulnerable communities. Please pray for boldness in the body of Christ to share true doctrine to those that follow these churches, in the vulnerable communities. We find a lot of our Care Workers and Primary Caregivers follow these churches.” – Kupa, Regional Support Team Leader (Zimbabwe)

Sunday Reflections (#40Days2025)

Alicia, Hands Leader, reflects on the role of the International Church and the Local Church working together to care for the most vulnerable:

“The call for us as the church is to care for ‘widows and orphans in their distress.’ Whether we were born in Canada or Nigeria, the mandate is the same. The beautiful thing about being a part of Hands at Work is we get to live out this calling hand-in-hand. Disciples of Jesus, both inside and outside Africa, get to witness God moving in our communities. We, His beloved church, get to partner together to bring the good news, to do miracles and be witness to the radical transformation of people's lives that only comes through being seen and loved by the Living God. And all we had to do was to say ‘yes’ to His call.”

Day 4 – Pray for our Care Workers, Primary Caregivers and Children in Nigeria (#40Days2025)

In Nigeria, there are 59 Care Workers who have committed to caring for the most vulnerable children. In many communities in Nigeria and across Africa, the Care Workers are also the Primary Caregivers of the children they serve. A Primary Caregiver is the mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings or other relatives who live with the children coming to the Care Point. The Lagos and Ibadan Service Centres invite you to pray for the Care Workers and Primary Caregivers in their region:

• “Most of the land and sand that they use for farming, has been taken by people building houses. This has affected our Primary Caregivers and Care Workers because they are unable to plant and harvest the palm seeds that they need to produce palm oil. Pray that God will make a way and give a place where they can do farming and earn an income.

• Many Primary Caregivers and Care Workers are widows and because of this, they have been deprived of their rights to have land. This has caused frustration and many have lost hope as it is difficult to make ends meet. Pray that God will help them and give them a place to plant.

• Within the Ibadan communities, there is a stronghold of witchcraft and our Primary Caregivers and Care Workers have been impacted physically, emotionally and spiritually. Pray that they will believe in Jesus, that in Him all things are possible. Pray that they believe that Jesus has power in the darkness and pray that the light of God will shine in the communities.” – Toyin, Service Centre Coordinator (Nigeria) sharing on behalf of the Ibadan Service Centre team

• ”Please pray that the Lord will encourage our Care Workers and give them a heart to serve the children with joy. Please pray that the Lord will give our Care Workers and Primary Caregivers a spirit of unity among themselves at the Care Point and in the community.

• Please pray for the restoration of perfect health as many are sick, family relationships are severed, a heart of love for fathers and mothers experiencing disagreement and have even gone their own ways. Please pray for Love to be restored.” – Vivian, Service Centre Coordinator (Nigeria) sharing on behalf of the Lagos Service Centre team.

Within Nigeria, there are 555 children being loved and cared for. The Lagos and Ibadan Service Centres invite you to pray for the children in their region:

• “Please pray for God to give our children the spirit of obedience. Obedience to their parents and to elders.

• Please pray for the spirit of excellence to rest upon our children. Please pray for good health and long life for our children.” – Esther, Service Centre Member (Nigeria) sharing on behalf of the Lagos Service Centre team.

• “Pray for our youth in Oloba, that God should touch their hearts because it is very tough for us to connect with them.

• Please let pray for the success of our children in Onilemo Care Point as they are preparing to do their common Entrance Examination.” – Toyin

To learn more about Nigeria, the communities that we serve and about our Service Centres (local Hands at Work teams), please visit: https: