Prayers needed for Madagascar

Earlier this week Marc Ravalomanana, the former Madagascar president deposed in a military coup, returned from exile. He was soon thereafter taken into custody by the military and removed to an unknown location. He has not been allowed to be in contact with his family or lawyer.

The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, a member of the WCRC and for whom Ravalomanana serves as lay vice president, is calling for calm and has urged the government and military to fully respect the human rights of all of Madagascar’s people, including former President Ravalomanana. The church held a national prayer service on Tuesday and has called for more prayer in the coming days to invoke God’s guidance in the midst of this turmoil.

The church specifically asks prayers for:

• the security and well being of Madagascar’s people who are very upset about this situation and ready for an uprising
• the Christian Council of Churches, which has already started its effort towards a reconciliation process in the country, as it seeks to witness for peace and justice in the midst of deep political divisions
• the leaders of Madagascar, that they will make wise and fair decisions that will promote stability, healing and reconciliation for the nation
• the Malagasy security forces, that they will exercise restraint and respect the rights of the people whom they are charged to protect
• the safety and justice for Marc Ravalomanana and his family

Read the full prayer request from the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar:

• English [PDF]
• French [PDF]
• German [PDF]
• Spanish [PDF]