By Jericho Walls International Prayer Network
The past few days have been marked many different challenges within cities, towns and communities, especially across the Western and Southern Cape. The trauma of losing family members and friends or the only safe refuge you have, is overwhelming.
Let us continue to unite in prayer as different challenges across our nation continue. We are reminded again of the encouragement as we gathered to pray on 22 April in Bloemfontein, “not to fear, but to speak hope, to declare to every situation; BUT GOD”.
Knysna Fire Update: Humanitarian support is being coordinated for an estimated 8 000 to 10 000 residents of the greater Knysna area, after devastating fires. This morning, June 8, the united Incident Command Centre was assessing damage to almost 20 suburbs. Pray for each person suffering immediate need, to find their way to a safe place, and receive the necessary relief. Suburbs in need of prayer: Early estimates included severe devastation to the following suburbs of Knysna: Brenton-on-Lake, Brenton-on-Sea, Nanie, Eastford, Knysna Heights, Fisherhaven, Brakenhill, Belvedere Heights, Green Pastures, Greenfield, Jood se Kamp, White Location. Pray for each of these suburbs and others you may know by name, asking for relief to reach them, for Christians within all these suburbs to minister the comfort and love of Jesus to one another while awaiting help. Declare: Psalm 102:17 He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer.
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Ongoing fires: At the time of this post, the fire continues to burn on two broad fronts – fought by all available resources. Please pray for wisdom on how to safeguard returning residents in every suburb. Pray for the additional resources being deployed which include eight specialist vehicles from CapeNature. Pray for winds to scale down, and also for rain to come to their aid.
Cape Storm update: The City of Cape Town Metro Municipality reports approximately 827 Informal settlement structures were damaged due to flooding and roofs blown off. Humanitarian relief has so far been offered to 2 502 people across the metro. Several trees were uprooted in the metro. Widespread electrical outages reported across the metro are being assessed. Pray by name for each of the suburbs you know in the Cape Town area, asking the Lord for help for those in desperate need.
Verify all info: Pray that people will not exploit social media by treating photos and videos of the disasters as entertainment, but that they will participate in prayer with hope and faith, verify all reports they receive before forwarding it (See resources mentioned below), and contribute to the aid that is needed.
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First 48 hour emergency: The first 48 hours after a disaster are critical. Please pray for the donations of food, clothing etc. to be received in safe conditions, for volunteers to help with sorting, allocating and effective distribution of the resources. Pray for quick setup of disaster centres, temporary shelters and for enough medical and emergency aid to be provided. Pray: Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Immediate relief to the displaced. Literally thousands are currently displaced due to loss of their homes or places of refuge. Pray for every place of shelter to receive all that is needed to feed and clothe those in need. Ask for more churches to set up places to temporarily house displaced people, giving them shelter, food, clothing and a place to sleep. Declare: Psalm 91:2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
Social services. Some hospitals were evacuated, children’s homes and safe houses burnt down or were devastated by strong winds. Please pray for sufficient and effective medical care to reach those in need, especially in residential areas. Ask for emergency services to receive voluntary help and for the restoration of basic services of electricity and clean water. Pray for municipal services to operate effectively in re-opening roads, removing rubble, rebuilding structures and to restore the flow of traffic. Declare: Deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.
Looting and crime. Everyone is vulnerable after the heavy rains and fires. Pray for all residents and visitors to the disaster areas, to be touched by the Holy Spirit and to have compassion on other people, to help, support, protect and help restore those in need. Pray that the activities of criminal networks, gangs and syndicates will shut down and that members will be convicted to rather help than destroy. Declare: Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.
Shock & trauma. It is impossible to describe the devastation, shock and trauma of those who lost everything. Please pray for the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Ask for numerous opportunities to openly share the love of the Lord Jesus with everyone, and for many to put their hope in Him. Please pray that the church will use this opportunity to unite, to solve their differences, to actively work together and to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Declare: Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. Psalm 119:76 Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant.
Rebuilding & restoring. Pray for the rebuilding of the houses, communities and towns that suffered complete destruction. Pray for the quick resolving of all insurance formalities, procedures to be followed in municipality wards, the implementation of temporary service delivery and the restoring of communication lines, electricity and water purification. Declare: Psalm 80:3 Restore us, O God; Cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!
Remaining drought stricken areas. Large areas of the Namakwaland and Northern Cape have received less than 10 mm rain the past week. Livestock farmers daily encounter animal deaths due to heat, cold, lack of water and food shortages. Most bore holes on farms have run dry. Pray for hope and faith in God to remain. Ask for God’s mercy and answer to prayers for gentle, continuous saturating rains in every drought stricken area in our nation. Declare: Psalm 71:14-15 But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits. Jer.14:22 “Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not He, O LORD our God? We set our hope on You, for You do all these things.
National drought to be broken. Generally a drought is officially ‘broken’ when the underground water tables are restored to normal. At least three years of sufficent seasonal rain are needed. Let us continue to pray for the consequences of the drought of the past 5 years to be reversed, for continued rains within every season, for restoration of the soil, the multiplication of live-stock and increased produce of the fields and trees. Declare: Psalm 104:14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth… Psalm 144:13 That our barns may be full, supplying all kinds of produce; that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields…
Spiritual rain, salvation and revival. Our nation is still in desperate need of revival. Please pray that all these circumstances intended for destruction, devastation, and to invoke fear and hopelessness, will be turned around. Pray for reconciliation between people of different races in every place and circumstance, for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the hearts and minds of people. Strong prayer networks exist for a number of years in every area stricken by the disasters of the past week. Faithful believers have been crying out to the Lord for years. Pray that these networks will now be strengthened, even for 24/7 prayer watches to be established in more communities than ever before. Acts 2:1-4 … And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Sources, resources, donations, voluntary workers:
Western Cape Government Facebook page: How to prepare for a flood, what to do during & after a flood. Western Cape Emergency numbers: 0861 142 142, 079 769 1207 or service@westerncape.gov.za
Donations to Knysna community for those living in Cape Town: Drop off point; 16 Gamka street, Stikland. Tel.021 917 1325
Media queries: Spokesman for Western Cape Local Government MEC Anton Bredell – James-Brent Styan – 084 583 1670
Lets pray that all this will turn around and come to positive outcomes and prosperity for all those who are suffering in this time.