Interceding for Kenya

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The headlines you have seen about troubles in Kenya should concern all of us. We have brother and sister Anglicans all across Kenya, and from all its tribes. The dangers for them are real. Among the estimated 600 dead and 250,000 displaced are certainly many Christians and many Anglicans.

Make Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, his clergy and people matters of urgent intercession. They have supported and prayed for those of us in North America for years, we can do no less in this hour of their great need.

Pray for the government and opposition leaders to meet and negotiate. Pray for the port to reopen so that economic chaos and hunger do not overwhelm the country.

Pray especially for the safety and courage of Kenyan Christians and for church leaders whose leadership has great power to make a difference in the outcome. Archbishop Benjamin needs our special support as he negotiates with the government to bring about the meetings that can bring the violence under control and restore public order.

Kenya is a country of 36 million people from 40 ethnic groups or tribes. The Church of Kenya serves as spiritual home to almost 5 million Anglican Christians spread across nearly all of Kenya’s tribal groups. Because this conflict has a strong tribal component, pray in particular that Kenyan Anglicans can maintain their unity even as their tribes clash. We are encouraged by reports from bishop Bill Atwood, that the church not only consistently speaks out against tribalism, it has passed canon laws to forbid it within the church.

+Bob Pittsburgh
Moderator of the Common Cause Partnership