The
Rt. Rev. Dr. Bill Atwood has issued a call to prayer and fasting for riot-torn
parts of Kenya
Below is
an urgent letter from The Rt. Rev. Bill Atwood regarding the current situation
in
Dear Brothers and Sisters
in Christ,
Greetings in the
wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I’m sure by now you have
heard about the terrible violence and upheaval following the recent, very closely
contested election in
Today as this is
written, there have been no organized demonstrations, but the
situation is still very tense and very difficult. Tragically, some have enflamed
the
situation with longstanding tribal tensions. The ACK bishops and other leaders have
rightly denounced tribe-on-tribe violence, but anxiety has remained extremely high.
A
violent gang called Mungiki has taken advantage of the polarization and is attacking
people from another tribe. The Mungiki has been outlawed since 2002, but the group
still has many areas of stronghold.
The bishops and other
leaders have called for peace and have welcomed help from the
President of
people want peace. Peace is not only good for
Virtually one hundred percent of the petrol supply for
port city of
are impacted as well.
With 200,000 homeless
and many businesses looted and burned, there is no telling
how long it will take
It is critically
important to remember, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”(Eph 6:12)
The only way to make a
difference in a spiritual conflict is through intercession, prayer,
and fasting. Please use the attached information to help guide your prayers. Please
also consider this urgent request from Bishop Bill Murdoch and me to not only all
churches linked with the Anglican Church of Kenya, but also all Common Cause
Partner churches to get involved. The Archbishop and other leaders of the ACK have
been absolutely heroic in reaching out to orthodox believers in the West. It is
our
fraternal responsibility to respond.
Yours in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Dr.
Bill Atwood
Suffragan Bishop
Kenyan Office:
Office: +254 (0) 202-714-753
Fax: +254 (0) 202-718-442
US Office:
Office: +1 (972) 446-2267
Fax: +1 (972) 200-5621
A
practical guide to praying and fasting for Kenya from The Ekklesia Society
Prayer and Fasting for
the People of
In this terrible time of violence following the contested election in
600 lives have been lost, more than 200,000 are homeless, and many businesses
have been burned. The devastation to the nation goes far beyond political chaos.
Anger,
bitterness, and revenge have led to awful suffering. As Christians, we know that
true
peace comes from the Prince of Peace. You are invited to use (and share) this outline
to invite others to pray. We hope it will also be helpful to guide your prayers.
Scripture
Christians know that conflict is a part of our journey in this fallen world, but
we must
not lose heart. If you read the following Scripture, even though it was originally
written
for
written on pages of glass, and look through them to the people caught in this crisis.
The possibilities for
tribes.
Ezek. 37:21 “Then say to them, “Thus
says the Lord
GOD: ‘Surely I will take the
children of Israel from among
the nations, wherever they have
gone, and will gather
them from every side and bring
them into their own land;
22 and I will make them one
nation in the land, on the
mountains of Israel; and one
king shall be king over them
all; they shall no longer be two
nations, nor shall they ever
be divided into two kingdoms again.
23 They shall not
defile themselves anymore with
their idols, nor with their
detestable things, nor with any
of their transgressions;
but I will deliver them from all
their dwelling places in
which they have sinned, and will
cleanse them.
In this next section, pray for leadership that will love and lead
the Prince of Peace does. Scripture exhorts us to pray for leaders. Their
responsibility is great. Pray that they fulfill it faithfully.
Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God. Ezek.
37:24 “David My servant shall be
king over them, and
they shall all have one
shepherd; they shall also walk in My
judgments and observe My
statutes, and do them. 25
Then they shall dwell in the
land that I have given to Jacob
My servant, where your fathers
dwelt; and they shall dwell
there, they, their children, and
their children’s children,
forever; and My servant David
shall be their prince
forever. 26 Moreover I will make
a covenant of peace
with them, and it shall be an
everlasting covenant with
them; I will establish them and
multiply them, and I will set
My sanctuary in their midst
forevermore. 27 My
tabernacle also shall be with
them; indeed I will be their
God, and they shall be My
people. 28 The nations also will
know that I, the LORD, sanctify
is in their midst forevermore.” ’
”
Remember God’s promise in 2
Chronicles 7:14 to act in a nation when people pray.
If My people who are called by My name will humble
themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from
their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin and heal their land.
Prayer
In praying in the context of spiritual tensions/warfare, remember that Jesus is
Lord of
all. When He is welcomed into a situation, He comes with the peace “that passes
understanding.” That doesn’t mean that all the circumstances become lovely, but
that
we can draw on our relationship with the Lord to experience quietness in our heart.
Here are some things to pray for:
For the political leaders of all parties
For the Bishops, wives and the Archbishop Nzimbi and Mama Alice of the ACK
For other Christian leaders
For tribal and cultural leaders
For economic progress and adequate resources to restore stability
For basic needs to be met for food, clothing, and shelter
For the Peace of Christ to settle over the nation and the region
Intercession
There is a wonderful image of the throne of God in Revelation 5:8.
Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and
the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a
harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of
the saints.
Imagine that every time we pray, the level increases in the golden bowl. When God
wants to “put out a fire” spiritually, imagine that He tips the bowl so the
contents spill
out. How tragic it would be if the intercessions were insufficient to address the
fire He
has called for us to address.
Fasting
Those who are used to fasting will not need this little introduction. They can just
fast
and pray for the situation. If fasting is a new discipline for you, here are some
things to
keep in mind.
In fasting (i.e., giving up a type of food or all food for a meal or a time period)
it is
important to be wise. If you have any significant health problems be sure to check
with
your doctor first.
Make sure that something positive is done with the time you free up by not eating.
Take
time to read the Bible and to pray. A vital part of prayer is getting still and
taking the
time to listen to what God is saying.
It is really important that we understand that fasting is not an attempt at leverage
to
try to get God to see things our way and do what we want Him to do. It is an act
of
discipline that helps us get in line with what God wants. Many people find that
when
they fast, things surface in their life that they know are not pleasing to God.
That is
completely normal and is, in fact, one of the greatest benefits of fasting. The
idea is to
refrain from certain foods, or for a time from all food.
Types of fasts:
Daniel Fast-Daniel was offered the rich foods and luxuries of the Babylonian kingdom
but refused them, insisting instead on eating vegetables and drinking water.
Nazarite Fast-This is a fast from wine and strong drink.
Liquid Fast, sometimes called a Juice Fast-Consuming only liquids for a period of
time.
Many people drink fruit juices while fasting.
Partial Fast-Often associated with Lent, this is refraining from a certain food
or type of
food. Contrary to widely held popular belief, no one has ever perished from fasting
from
chocolate.
Twenty-four hour Fast-Simply fast from breakfast to breakfast or from dinner to
dinner.
A fast can be from anything. Some people’s lives would change dramatically if
they
began to “fast” from internet blogs and invested the time in Bible study,
prayer, and
worship.