Weekly Prayer Update
Friday, May 29, 2026
Fast-Spreading Ebola Outbreak Intensifies
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, an outbreak of Ebola continues to cause suffering as aid organizations sound the alarm about future spread. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has no treatment or approved vaccines. As of May 29, 125 cases have been confirmed in DRC, and 906 cases are suspected. In Uganda, seven cases have been confirmed. So far, 18 people have died, and 238 additional deaths are suspected to have been caused by the virus. According to the aid organization Save the Children, at least 25% of the confirmed deaths in DRC are children.
Conflict in impacted regions and reduced international aid are hampering the response to this outbreak. The Church of the Nazarene’s Africa Region has called on the global church to pray.
Lord, we again lift up this outbreak to you and all who are impacted by the spread. We pray earnestly for containment to become possible, for those who are sick to recover, and for the safety and protection of healthcare workers. Comfort all who have lost loved ones, especially the parents of children who have lost their lives. Send aid to the most vulnerable, and move the hearts of global decision-makers to act decisively and generously to fund all available measures. Lord, hear our prayers.
Giving Praise for Emergency Relief in Peru
This past February, severe flooding and mudslides caused by coastal “El Niño” rains impacted the Arequipa region of southern Peru, damaging homes, disrupting transportation, and leaving vulnerable residents without income or basic necessities. Roads became impassable after mud and debris flooded streets, local markets closed, and floodwaters inundated thousands of homes across the region. In just January and February in Peru, at least 52 lives were lost due to flooding.
In response to this disaster, Nazarene churches in Arequipa partnered with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) to provide emergency food assistance to 310 affected families. Local pastors and church volunteers worked together to identify vulnerable households, package food supplies, and distribute aid directly within impacted communities.
The response also became an opportunity for the local church to walk alongside families experiencing crisis and loss. One woman shared how the flooding impacted her family:
“My name is Rosa. I have four children and am a single mother because my husband abandoned us. I live in a rented home. When the rains came to the city, my house flooded, and we lost clothing and blankets,” she shared. “What was most difficult was that the house where I worked also flooded, and we could not work for several days.”
Rosa explained that she earns a living making tamales to sell in the market, but the flooding blocked access to the area where she worked.
“I normally receive my wages every weekend, but that week we were not paid because the products could not be sold,” she said. “Thanks to the church, we received food supplies, clothing, and blankets to replace what we lost.”
Church leaders later shared that Rosa and her oldest son have now begun attending church, reflecting the lasting spiritual impact of the church’s compassionate response in Arequipa.
Lord, we praise you for this outpouring of support in Peru to uplift families struggling in the wake of recent floods. What an encouraging example of living out compassion and your love. Give us equal capacity to serve when disasters come to our own neighborhoods, that we may be avenues of your loving kindness. Continue encouraging those rebuilding after these floods. Lord, hear our prayers.
Giving Praise for Food Security in Rwanda
A church-led food security project in Rwanda is helping 700 vulnerable families improve nutrition, strengthen food security, and build sustainable sources of income. Through local Nazarene churches, families are receiving training in nutrition, agriculture, and animal husbandry, along with seeds, fertilizers, and other resources needed to grow fruits and vegetables. The project focuses on communities where poverty and food insecurity are common, equipping families with practical skills and knowledge that can create lasting change.
Mukashyaka, a mother of four, joined the project after struggling to provide enough food for her children. Limited space, poor soil conditions, and a lack of agricultural knowledge left her family facing malnutrition and uncertainty. Through training sessions led by project staff and a local pastor who also serves as an agronomist, she learned improved farming techniques, including irrigation, crop rotation, and soil management. She also received agricultural supplies and participated in a livestock initiative that provides families with pigs, creating new opportunities for food production and income generation. Read more about her story on our blog: ncm.org/blog/lastingchange
Thanks to the partnership of local churches, community members, and generous supporters, families across Rwanda are gaining the tools they need to move from vulnerability toward long-term resilience.
God, we praise you for the way families are finding their way back to health and well-being thanks to this food security project in Rwanda. Bless Mukashyaka and her children. Help her and other parents continue to access meaningful training and support so their efforts can expand and multiply. Thank you for compassionate efforts like these that meet needs by relieving hunger. Lord, hear our prayers.