May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it. (I Thessalonians 5:23-24)
Attendees: Dee, Claudia and Alysha
As women, You know of our many struggles with self-esteem. Lord, we ask You to help these ladies live in truth and not belittle their value by dwelling on Satan’s lies. Give them discipline, perseverance and creativity to take care of their bodies and nourish their souls. We ask that You help them find healthy ways to deal with their stress. We pray that they will feel renewal as they have times with You on a day-to-day basis. May their time at the retreat lift their spirits and affirm their value and femininity. May they be reminded that they are unique and beloved daughters of the King.
We bring before you Lord, the country of South Africa today. We thank you that the transition from white-rule and apartheid to a non-racial democracy was achieved peacefully. Thank you that the strenuous efforts by local churches to roll back centuries of discrimination, oppression and pain have borne fruit. We praise you for the many South African Global Women serving abroad. We also give thanks for the effective multiplication of Christian ministries to help the disadvantaged, the slum-dwellers, victims of rape, crime, AIDS, etc. We lift to You the needs of a stable government, ongoing healing and reconciliation, economic betterment and the need for effective policing and administration of justice. We pray that the believers will have adaptability in the face of rapid social change and a strong prophetic voice for the Church in a society that no longer holds to moral absolutes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
One of the attendees said this about South Africa: “The most difficult challenge we face in South Africa is the level of crime and racism. We constantly have to set alarms and lock doors, gates, etc. One never feels “safe.” Racism continues to plague South Africa, and it is hard to make in roads with the different cultures.
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