Friday March 1
from: Calvin Theological Seminary: Exams
Senior students will be taking their oral comprehensive exams this month as they prepare for graduation and ministry beyond seminary. Pray that the exams will not cause undue anxiety but will bless these students in recalling how much they have learned in their studies.
Saturday March 2
from: Thrive: Interclassis Safe Church Conference
Pray for attendees and presenters at the Interclassis Safe Church Conference taking place today in Ontario. As participants are equipped in abuse awareness, prevention, and response, they are encouraged to build communities where the value of each person is honored, where people are free to worship and grow in faith free from abuse, and where the response to abuse is compassion and justice, which foster healing.
Sunday March 3
from: Resonate Global Mission: Volunteers
“We praise God for volunteers serving in more than 15 countries around the world. Pray for them as they serve and as they return to their sending communities—that they may have opportunities to share what they have learned and in turn bless those who have sent them,” asks Gillian Bruce, Resonate’s volunteer programs leader.
Monday March 4
from: World Renew: Weather
Across Latin America and southern Africa, the rainy season has come, but many regions are receiving less than average rainfall, leading to poor harvests. Pray that more rain may come and that the crops harvested will be sufficient for each family's needs until the next season. Give thanks that fewer hurricanes and floods have come this year, and pray for tranquility in the coming year.
Tuesday March 5
from: ReFrame Ministries: Taiwan
Jerry An, our Chinese ministry leader, shared, “After recent presidential elections in Taiwan, we are expecting the relationship between Taiwan and China to further deteriorate. Please pray. Pray also as our Chinese ministry team works on a related project called “Under the Shadow of War,” a biblical response for the worldwide Chinese church.
Wednesday March 6
from: Resonate: Cambodia
Many people have decided to follow Jesus through Resonate’s ministry in Cambodia. “Please pray that new believers may have the opportunity to study the Word of God and increase their faith,” ask Resonate missionaries Ly Chhay and Navy Chann-Chhay.
Thursday March 7
from: Calvin University: Students
Rejoice with us for increased enrollment, vibrant campus ministries, and faculty and staff who disciple students daily. Pray with us as prospective students receive aid packages soon and make decisions about where to attend. Pray for a large incoming class full of young adults who love the Lord and long to serve him!
Friday March 8
from: Thrive: Hospice
Hospice chaplains assess and care for the spiritual needs of patients and their loved ones. Anticipatory grief is an ever-present reality in this setting. Often questions about God, eternity, and concern for loved ones left behind are raised. Pray for our chaplains who walk with individuals and families in these settings while sharing the peace and love of God.
Saturday March 9
from: Resonate: Spain
“We praise God for the friendships we have made in our community with Spanish nonbelievers and for the opportunity we are having to share with them about our ministry and our faith!” say Resonate missionaries Gary and Rachel De León, who serve in Spain.
Sunday March 10
from: World Renew: Trauma healing
Participants we encounter often feel “stuck” as they try to process their experiences of illness, loss, abuse, terror, or violence. World Renew’s trauma-healing programs are able to reach people in many communities—both for healing and to train facilitators. Please pray that the peace of Christ may heal all who are hurting so that they can move forward in hope.
Monday March 11
from: ReFrame: India
Pray for members of ReFrame’s Hindi ministry team who follow up with listeners and visit their villages. “Pray that the team may guide listeners properly in discipleship and lead them to churches,” shared our Hindi ministry leader.
Tuesday March 12
from: Resonate: North America
Resonate and the denomination helped to plant eleven new churches within the past year throughout Canada and the United States. Ask the Holy Spirit to draw people into these faith communities. Pray for open doors into communities so that these churches may share the love of Christ.
Wednesday March 13
from: Thrive: CRC Annual Day of Prayer
Synod has designated the second Wednesday in March as the Annual Day of Prayer. On this day each year, all CRC congregations are requested to take time to ask for God’s blessing on the world, our nations and communities, crops and industry, and the church worldwide.
Thursday March 14
from: Candidacy Committee: Prospective candidates
We give thanks for the men and women working toward candidacy in 2024! Please join us in prayer asking the Lord to lead and counsel them as they take their next steps toward a call. In Psalm 32:8 the Lord says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you."
Friday March 15
from: ReFrame: Egypt
ReFrame’s Arabic ministry team is partnering with churches in Egypt to offer Christian media content and free wifi at several church locations. Pray that this new initiative will open doors to conversations and questions about Jesus in the Arabic-speaking world.
Saturday March 16
from: Resonate: Chicago
Agape and Ecclesia, a Resonate partner campus ministry at Loyola University in Chicago, started Explore Groups as a way to provide safe spaces for students to explore faith and deeper questions in life. Ask God to work through these groups to reveal the love and hope of the gospel to people searching for meaning and purpose.
Sunday March 17
from: Thrive: Middle East
Prayer for lasting peace in the Middle East: God of peace, God who loves us and who loves the people of Israel and Palestine, God who loves the powerless and the powerful alike, we cry out to you. Bring your salvation near to us, O Lord. We pray for an end to hostage taking and killings. We pray for an end to vengeance, terror, and threats. Amen!
Monday March 18
from: Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee: Synod preparations
Father God, Creator of this great and beautiful world we live in, we come to you with joy anticipating synod and our international guests who will be joining us. Thank you for this opportunity to worship with, to learn from, and to grow with brothers and sisters in Christ in your global church.
Tuesday March 19
from: World Renew: Economic stability
In many of the regions where World Renew serves, economic instability is an increasing challenge due to lasting effects of the global pandemic and various conflicts. At times even the fuel required to visit communities is difficult for staff to find, due to short supply. Ask for God’s provision and stability in tumultuous times.
Wednesday March 20
from: Resonate: Middle East
Resonate missionaries serving in the Middle East give thanks for a new center where refugees can come together, serve one another, and create opportunities to spread the gospel. Ask God with us to work through this center.
Thursday March 21
from: ReFrame: Today devotions
Pray with a woman named Karen as she continues cancer treatment. She shared, “God bless those who minister to people in need of comfort. A kind minister prayed with me before I went in for cancer treatment. She clasped my hands in prayer and gave me much comfort. She shared a copy of the Today devotions with me.”
Friday March 22
from: Resonate: Mexico
David Gifford, a Resonate missionary in Mexico, recently worked with COMPA campus ministry to lead a workshop with 12 university students. “They shared their opinions freely, asked a lot of questions, and took a lot of notes,” said David. Give thanks for these students who are passionate about growing in and sharing their faith!
Saturday March 23
from: ReFrame: Devotional resources
Pray for people who are reading our Today devotions or special Lenten series for the first time. Pray that they’ll continue to read Scripture and apply it to their lives after Easter celebrations.
Sunday March 24
from: Communications: Palm Sunday
Crowds celebrated Jesus’ presence as he rode a donkey into Jerusalem on the day we now call Palm Sunday. But they did not understand his mission, and they called for his death a few days later. As we enter into Holy Week, ask God to help us better understand his mission in this world and to join him in it.
Monday March 25
from: World Renew: Gift catalog
We give thanks for all who gave generously this year through the World Renew Gift Catalog. As the gifts reach the participants in our programs, pray with us that community members receiving goats, chickens, nutrition kits, water filters, soap, bicycles, and so much more may find renewed hope in the kindness of God’s global family.
Tuesday March 26
from: ReFrame: Japan
Pray for a Japanese ministry listener in Japan who shared, “I have anxiety and feel extremely depressed before going to work and after work. Last year I made a notebook with Bible verses written in it, and that helps to calm me down before heading out.”
Wednesday March 27
from: Justice Ministries: Indigenous ministry
The CRCNA supports three urban Indigenous ministries in Canada working in areas of great need in Regina, Winnipeg, and Edmonton. In 2023, Indigenous Christian Fellowship, for example, provided over 3,800 soup and bannock meals, more than 700 of which went to mobility challenged people. Please pray for the staff who run these programs and for the people walking through their doors.
Thursday March 28
from: World Renew: Unity
We praise God that World Renew’s team, spanning over two dozen countries, works together as one as we seek to live justly and love mercy. Pray that as we work in partnership with churches and other organizations around the world that we will be unified in our goals and vision to serve Christ.
Friday March 29
from: Communications: Good Friday
Today we remember Jesus’ suffering and death to atone for all our sin. Ask the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of believers to share the good news of redemption, and in the hearts of all who hear so that they may believe and find life in Christ.
Saturday March 30
from: Communications: Holy Saturday
This day between Good Friday and Easter provides a time to reflect on the story of salvation. We live in “the already, but not yet” state of salvation as we celebrate Christ’s finished work for us and await the fullness of life upon his coming again. Ask God to help us serve faithfully in this time.
Sunday March 31
from: Resonate: Easter Sunday
As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus today, let us give thanks for the good news of God’s amazing plan to redeem all of creation. Please pray with us as we seek to support and equip Christian Reformed churches and members joining God on mission. Ask the Holy Spirit for courage, wisdom, and guidance as our denomination shares the love of Christ.