We pray for those forced into or at risk of homelessness from the cost of living crisis. Data shows the number of households at threat of homelessness in private tenancies has increased nearly threefold in the last two years. God, we pray for all who are struggling to keep up with rent and bill payments. We ask for greater support that would prevent them from being evicted.
We give thanks for the upskilling of workers to meet the needs of climate adaptation. Construction workers are being trained to perform a full property retrofit, using skills from multiple trades. God, help us to see the opportunities presented by the green transition. We pray that workers would not be left behind, and that good jobs would be created as a result.
We give thanks for progress in efforts to eliminate cervical cancer. Rwanda, Australia, the Gambia and Malawi are among the countries closest to eliminating the disease, through a combination of screening and vaccination. God, we give thanks for scientific progress that tackles disease, suffering and death. We pray that resources are shared around the world.
We pray for Afghanistan, as security deteriorates and violence is on the rise. Large attacks on civilians have taken place in recent months, including a deadly explosion in a Kabul mosque last week. A year on from the Taliban takeover, we continue to hold Afghanistan in our prayers. We pray for peace, freedom and justice for the country and all its citizens.
On this International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, today we pray for an end to all human exploitation. God, we lament the sin of slavery wherever it is found. We remember the victims and freedom fighters of the past, and pray that they would inspire us to build more just societies in the present.
We pray for Zaporizhzhia, as fears grow of an incident at the nuclear power plant. Russian forces have occupied the site since March, and the area has been shelled through August. God, we pray that safety and sense would prevail. Help those attempting to divert disaster, and those making preparations for a worst-case scenario
We pray for those facing fuel poverty this winter. A new study estimates that 45m Britons may be pushed into fuel poverty by January as energy bills rocket. God, we pray that this would be averted. We think of those who will struggle to survive without heating, and pray for their protection.