Pray with Morocco, July 11, 2021
Lectionary Selection: Mark 6:14-29
Prayers for Morocco
Loving and oh so caring God, we are grateful for your divine purpose in our lives.
Although we know you have the utmost benevolent plan for us all, we also realize that we as human beings, we can fall short of what you expect of us.
Where there is hate and resentment, we ask for your love and acceptance.
Where jealousy may rise among us or against us, may your steadfast love be the string that unites us.
We are praying for our siblings in Morocco who are like John the Baptist, fighters for truth and justice in a world filled with hate and selfishness.
We pray for their safety not only against evil in people, but also safety against COVID19 that is still raging in the world and this country.
We are praying for those who are still working hard to help vulnerable siblings, especially those who are traveling in the hopes of finding a better tomorrow… elsewhere.
We are praying for the national Evangelical Protestant Church in Morocco’s leaders who are facing challenges to support their full-time pastors – who doing a tremendous work of critical presence and support towards their local parishioners.
Even though the church’s needs are surpassing its means, we know that as you have provided before, you will again! And for this, we are forever thankful.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen
Mission Stewardship Moment from Morocco
Name and some details were modified for privacy concerns.
This is the story of Josh, a student who came to Morocco to further his studies at the university in Oujda, the city where I am blessed to live. Putting myself in his shoes, I can only imagine how hopeful he was when he learned that he was selected to have a grant to study here.
His country in central Africa has been politically, economically and socially unstable for so long – jobs are not available unless you have contacts, slots at the universities are limited, the cost of living is beyond people’s needs, and locals are looking elsewhere to build their futures and their families’.
Coming to Morocco is a dream for many students all over Africa, because this country has one of the best education systems that is recognized in this continent and beyond. Many students also see it as a gateway to Europe or America when they finish their cursus.
Let’s fast forward a little in time. Josh completed his diploma, and his family discouraged him of coming back home because things weren’t getting better at all. So here he was, a young student in his early 20s, trying to figure out life on his own and making decisions that will change his future.
He has then decided to find a job in Morocco. Mind you, it is quite difficult to be documented in this country if you don’t have a permanent job or an official student status. Also, many jobs aren’t offering official working status which is creating a ripple effect of consequences of foreigners’ lives here. For Josh, it resulted in him becoming undocumented in the country. He tried to find a solution by talking with his boss and ask his embassy to help him, but nothing could be done.
Sadly, he felt like he had no other choice but to forge papers so that he could function as a documented foreigner on Moroccan soil. A few months after deciding to move to Rabat (from Oujda), he got arrested for forging illegal documents.
As a member of our parish, his roommate contacted us to tell us that he was missing, and we were trying to look out for him with our contacts. Pastors and friends living in Rabat were helping us search for him until we learned that he got arrested and couldn’t have access to a phone to contact anyone.
We contacted his community, the embassy, the police stations, everyone we knew so that we could at least know what could be done in his case. Thanks be to God, and a private attorney, Josh was able to get out of prison and a few Sundays ago, he came back to Oujda and thanked the church for praying and assisting him while he was in jail!
This story is not only Josh’s. Many foreigners (students, undocumented, professional workers, etc.) here in Morocco are confronted to many constraints that sometimes lead them into precarious situations. And we know that desperate times call for desperate measures.
The Evangelical Protestant Church in Morocco assists, defends, rescue, prays for, leads, and speaks up for all people with no discrimination. We are the voice of the voiceless, we are the eyes, feet and hands for those who are disabled. This church’s attention and focus is not only towards what happens between the four walls of its buildings but goes where people are.
Many ministries are here to help social needs like the CEI (Comité d’Entraide Internationale = International Aid Committee) who is serving undocumented people, students and parishioners in 9 cities in Morocco. These ministries are doing the work of justice in this country just like John the Baptist and they are doing it boldly, with courage and love so that God’s love can shine all over the kingdom of Morocco.
Thanks to your thoughts, prayers and gifts, my husband and I have the privilege to be part of this great work.
The Lord God has told us what is right and what he demands: “See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.” Micah 6:8 (CEV)
Prayer and Mission Moment by Emmanuela Loccident
Mission Partners in Morocco
Global Ministries Mission Co-worker in Morocco:
Emmanuela Loccident serves with the Evangelical Church of Morocco. Her appointment is made possible by your gifts to Disciples Mission Fund, Our Church’s Wider Mission, and your special gifts.