National Director of Anglican Missions Rev Michael Hartfield has announced a new “Pray the News’ initiative this week that encourages Anglicans to join with the team at Anglican Missions as they pray for the world they serve.

"Our work exposes us to the human cost of geopolitical, social and cultural issues. Sometimes, these issues dominate headlines, and sometimes they get forgotten entirely."

"Hopelessness in the news can feel overwhelming," said Michael Hartfield at the launch, "But prayer allows us to put our faith into action."

As Anglican Missions works in international aid, development and mission their prayer and action is guided by the Anglican Consultative Council’s Five Marks of Mission, including the call to "transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation."

First up in the opening week of ‘Pray the News’ are a focus on humanitarian crises in Gaza and Sudan, both places where millions of displaced people are suffering grave risks from catastrophic violence and resulting starvation.

Earlier this year Anglican Missions and Christian World Service joined with a coalition of Aotearoa-based aid and development agencies to call for ceasefire in the Holy Land and access for humanitarian aid into Israel and Gaza, echoing the earlier call from this Church’s house of bishops.

This week ‘Pray the News’ sets out the conditions in Gaza and highlights the work of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East as it delivers aid in Gaza and the West Bank, and outlines the urgency of turning attention to the rising humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

To sign up for Pray the News go to: https://news.anglicanmissions.org.nz/pray