Written by: INcontext
Article source: www.incontextinternational.org
On Monday 23 March, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa took the unprecedented step of announcing a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). South Africa joins a growing number of countries implementing strict containment measures. UK’s prime minister Boris Johnson also announced on Monday the imposition of the most stringent restrictions seen in Britain since the end of World War II. Four European Union member states – Italy, Spain, France and Belgium – have alo imposed lockdowns. In India – the second most populous nation – Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a “complete” lockdown for the country’s 1.3 billion people on Tuesday 25 March. In the US, more states moved on Monday to impose their own sweeping stay-at-home orders, which will soon cover more than 158 million Americans in 16 states. While in Wuhan – the Chinese city where the global coronavirus outbreak began – officials have announced that the lockdown (which was implemented mid-January) will be partially lifted on 8 April.
From a Christian perspective, believers around the world have been putting a variety of actions into motion to ensure connectivity in a time of severe restrictions. Online church services and resources have grown exponentially. Many believers are already seizing the opportunity this current crisis is presenting to share words of encouragement and hope within their circles of influence. It is essential that Christians be instruments of peace during this time of heightened fear and uncertainty. Psalm 91 is a beautiful reminder that the Lord is our “refuge and our fortress”, the One in whom we “put our trust”.
Pray with us for the following:
- For world leaders as they bear a tremendous weight of responsibility for their citizens
- For people to work constructively with their leaders
- For believers to lead by example in tackling this crisis in a God-honouring manner
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Date published: 30/03/2020
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