Weekly Prayer Update
Friday, May 8, 2026
Dangerous Rainy Season in Kenya
Heavy flooding is affecting people in Kenya, with high, dangerous water levels causing at least 18 deaths in the past week. The recent heavy rains, mudslides, and flooding reached 54,000 households and inundated dozens of schools and hospitals. Roads are cut off, and essential infrastructure is damaged. Local officials expect additional rainfall throughout the first two weeks of May, extending the suffering of impacted families and individuals. The current situation is a continuation of a rainy season that began in March. In that month, at least 100 people lost their lives due to floods.
This disaster is impacting Nazarene churches in Kenya. According to the District Superintendent of the Kenya Coastal District, 10 churches are located in areas prone to flooding. The disaster has affected at least 500 church members along with their wider communities.
Lord, we pray for those who are suffering in Kenya this spring, facing displacement and the task of cleanup when the waters finally recede. We lift up those who are grieving the loss of their loved ones and dealing with the trauma of those losses. We know that for many people, affording the supplies needed to rebuild is not possible, and they may remain displaced for an extended period. Provide protection, comfort, and help for each family and individual as they seek to recover. Lord, hear our prayers.
New Global Hunger Report
A new United Nations report shows that hunger remains a reality for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. In 2025, about 266 million people in 47 countries experienced high levels of food insecurity, with famine (the most severe level) confirmed in parts of the Gaza Strip and Sudan. Conflict remains the primary driver of hunger, limiting access to food and disrupting livelihoods, while economic hardship and displacement deepen the crisis. During the year, approximately 85 million people were displaced in food-insecure regions, often facing even greater challenges than the communities around them. At the same time, extreme weather reduced people’s ability to grow and access food, further compounding the problem.
Children are among the most vulnerable, with 35.5 million recorded as acutely malnourished, including nearly 10 million in the most severe condition of malnourishment. Women are also at high risk, and about 9.2 million pregnant women and new mothers experienced acute malnutrition in 2025. At the same time, the systems that help track and respond to hunger are under strain, and global funding to meet these needs has declined. All of these points to a hunger crisis that remains urgent and deeply complex.
The Nazarene church takes the call seriously to feed the hungry as Christ did. Food security projects around the world provide struggling people with the skills to grow their own crops and livestock, find ways to bring those crops and animals to market, and open the door to improved health and greater peace of mind. You can make a difference for people who are hungry. Learn more and give: ncm.org/foodsecurity.
Our God, we remember that you fed the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness. We recall that Jesus fed more than 5,000 people with just one small lunch. Through these stories, we are reminded that you see and are moved by our needs, including our need for nourishment. We pray for the millions of people who are living without easy or affordable access to food. Comfort hungry children and adults. Increase the capacity of food security projects and organizations so that more will be blessed and helped. If we live in a part of the world where food is often wasted or discarded, keep us from ignoring this great challenge. Help us look for those who are hungry in our own neighborhoods and move us to take steps to assist them. Lord, hear our prayers.
Praising God for Clean Water (WASH) Ministries
More than two billion people around the world do not have access to clean and safe water at home. As a result, one of the leading causes of death in low-income communities are illnesses caused by waterborne disease, lack of sanitation, and poor hygiene practices. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries partners with local churches to help people live healthier lives through the implementation of a comprehensive WASH program addressing water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
Lord, we pray for people who do not live near clean water sources or who struggle with waterborne diseases. Through church-led WASH projects, may they experience the relief of good health and wellness, a basic human right. We praise you for WASH ministries that are improving the health of entire communities. Lord, hear our prayers.