Thursday, 06. May 2021
EMS urgently asks for support and prayers for India
Living. Solidarity. Worldwide. Together Against Corona
Members of the international fellowship of the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) are following the development of the COVID-19 pandemic in India with great concern. The second wave of infections is leading to a frightening increase in deaths and great human suffering. The number of infections is rising dramatically and the health system is completely overstretched. There is a lack of everything: beds in the hospitals, oxygen for the sick, equipment and medicines. Thousands of people remain without life-saving treatment. There is far too little vaccine to contain the infections.
The General Secretary of the Church of South India (CSI), Adv. C. Fernandas Rathina Raja, has made an urgent appeal to the global community: "We are really worrying in writing about the alarming situation of COVID-19 second wave, which is severely hitting on the lives and livelihoods of the people of India. India has been reporting a record rise in daily cases. The virus seems to have become more transmissible in the second wave. A lot of young people aged below 40 are getting sick. The situation is alarming. The entire country is potentially at risk."
Indian churches are trying to help: Mission hospitals and educational institutions, as well as the churches' health and education professionals are involved in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Conference centres, hostels etc. were already given for the rehabilitation works. Churches are providing basic food and other necessary supplies such as masks and disinfectants to those in need without any discrimination. They are particularly concerned about the most vulnerable, often living in hard-to-reach regions.
The CSI General Secretary writes: “In this situation, we kindly request you to uphold the Nation as well as the Church and its healing and rehabilitation engagements towards the Covid affected people. We earnestly solicit your active prayers and timely accompaniment with us to combat the adverse situation.”
The Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) is asking for donations for the EMS Corona Relief. The EMS Corona Relief supports the work of EMS member churches that are particularly hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Donation account:
Evangelical Mission in Solidarity e.V.
Evangelical Bank
DE85 5206 0410 0000 0001 24
BIC: GENODEF1EK1
Purpose "EMS-Corona-Hilfe" (EMS Corona Relief)
Press contact: Dr Dieter Heidtmann, heidtmann@ems-online.org, Tel +49 711 6367821
- Prayer for India
We are observing the development of the Corona virus pandemic in India with great concern. The second wave of infections is leading to a frightening increase in fatalities and great human suffering. The Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) asks for your prayers for those infected, their families, medical staff, church workers involved in the fight against the pandemic. Pray for God's protection for the people of India.
God, we bring our prayer before you
Eternal God,
You are the hope, sustainer and healer of your people.
We bring before you the people of India who suffer from the second wave of Covid-19. We pray for the infected, their families, and the suffering community.
Please strengthen those who suffer the pain,
comfort those who are mourning the loss of loved ones,
encourage those who are living in fear of this disease.Loving God,
please shield and protect over friends, families, members of congregations, neighbours and all people in India.
We ask for your special protection for the poor, for the marginalised and people living in margins who are affected by this pandemic.
We pray for the lonely, we pray for all people who are trapped in despondency and despair.Gracious God,
Please give wisdom to authorities in diligently handling this crisis.
We pray for medical professionals, for the people fighting the pandemic on site, for the church staff. We also pray for the funeral teams who are accompanying the deceased and their families as they say goodbye.Merciful God,
You are the hope of the world.
We ask for your grace to guide all efforts in India and the prayers, help and solidarity of all partners in the world.
Bring healing to the people of India.You, God, have promised us:
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 ESV)Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Amen.