February 16 - Pray for: Angola

Luanda and other major cities attracted the displaced but had no capacity to shelter them properly, so squalid squatter camps rapidly sprung up. A large proportion of the rural population fled to urban areas due to food shortages and lack of security. The government is accused of failing to care for these unwilling refugees. There are large numbers of orphaned and abandoned children; many are falsely accused of witchcraft by relatives as a pretext for getting rid of them. Others are forced or sold into prostitution to feed themselves. Pray for those working with the urban poor and the children at risk.

The challenge to biblical faith is great. Explosive growth is worthless if the Church is permeated with false beliefs and ignorance of the Bible. Witchcraft and animistic practices continue to infiltrate and pollute many churches and lives. Islam's assertiveness, simple message and financial backing cause it to grow. Those who claim to follow Christ need to be taught what such a claim truly means.

Young people and children. Their numbers dominate Angola's population, despite the huge odds stacked against them. 40% of children under 5 years old suffers from chronic malnutrition. The legacy of Marxism and war is a generation of parents burdened with many scars and often deprived of educational opportunity and physical security for themselves. May their children have a completely different experience! Most of Angola's Christians are under age 25; ministry focused on them must occur for the sake of the Church's future. Pray for:

• Primary and secondary schools to be rebuilt, well staffed and full. This generation is the first in a long time to know peace; pray that solid education might bring hope for the future.
• Ministry to students. Pray for the impact of Scripture Union, CEF, IFES and other such groups in schools once hostile to Christianity.
• Churches to increase their vision for evangelizing and discipling children and young people. OM, YWAM, AIM and the Brethren are just a few of many working in this capacity.