The Baptist World Alliance issued an urgent call for Baptists globally to give, pray and “Stand in the Gap” in solidarity with suffering people at a time when humanitarian aid is being cut.
“Over the last 100 days, there has been a rapid deceleration of government-supported humanitarian assistance around the world,” BWA General Secretary Elijah Brown said in a video posted on the BWA website.
“Now, whether you think those decisions were right or wrong, what is undeniable is the impact on people on the ground as suddenly there are these massive gaps of care in communities just like yours.”
BWA has heard from Baptists in refugee camps along the Myanmar/Thailand border, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in other places where political unrest and violence are creating a humanitarian crisis, he said.
While no Christian group can replace the millions of dollars of aid that have been cut, Baptists “cannot sit on the sidelines” when people are suffering, Brown said.
Stand in the Gap Solidarity Sunday set
So, BWA declared March 30 as Stand in the Gap Solidarity Sunday.
Churches are encouraged to set aside time that day—or another dedicated day of worship—to pray for suffering people around the world and give financially to enable BWA to provide food, water, health care, shelter and other basic needs.
BWA has produced a prayer guide that can be downloaded, duplicated and distributed for individual or congregational use.
The guide offers specific suggestions for intercession such as praying for peace with justice in areas of conflict, restored health care infrastructure, clean water and “strength and resilience for church leaders and humanitarian workers as they mobilize to support the displaced and impoverished.”
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BWA also has slides, videos and social media resources that can be downloaded to increase awareness about the Stand in the Gap initiative.
“Together, we must hear the voice of Jesus calling us to stand in solidarity with the suffering,” BWA stated on its website. “The needs are overwhelming and the situations complex, but we must do everything we can to help.”
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