Lists

Primates attending meeting: David, Paul, Phillip, Mauricio, Bernard, Frederick, Albert, Martin, Dirokpa, Rowan, Paul, Ian, Alan, Nathaniel, Mouneer, Benjamin, Francis, Charles, Carlos, Stephen, Peter, Purely, James, Emmanuel, Idris, John, Thabo, Gregory, Daniel, Valentino, Henry, Catherine, Barry, Justice, and Errol

GAFCON Primates Council: Peter, Gregory, Benjamin, Henry, Emmanuel

Archbishop of West Africa

Most. Rev’d Dr. Justice Ofei Akrofi who was enthroned as Archbishop in 2004. There are 15 Dioceses within the six majority-Muslim countries (Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, and Cameroon). Their chief object is to bring into submission to Jesus Christ themselves and those with whom they come into contact.
Though the sub-region of West Africa is generally rich in natural resources, the absence of judicious utilization, external debt burden, ethnic conflicts , political instability, etc. have contributed to much poverty. Inadequate funding is the major problem. The nation of Ghana recently made a peaceful transition of government following a closely contested election, and the church was a leading voice for humility and cooperation.
All Saints Anglican Church of Charlotte, NC, is under the ecclesiastical authority of Archbishop Akrofi. Akrofi licensed Rt. Rev. John Guernsey, who was consecrated by Ugandan Archbishop Orombi, to be their visiting missionary bishop.
In a statement released in April 2008 following a meeting of the bishops and standing committee of the province, West Africa resolved to “continue to be in communion with the See of Canterbury as we unequivocally and unambiguously remain in the Anglican Communion.” However, the dioceses in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia, Guinea and Cameroon said they “out rightly condemn and reject the unacceptable action” of some Western churches in blessing same-sex unions and ordaining and licensing non-celibate homosexual clergy. While affirming the on-going need that homosexuals should be “treated pastorally,” the province said moves to give gay blessings and clergy “official recognition and acceptance by the Church of God as a standard form of life is quite another stand which we cannot and dare not accept. We further urge all members of the Communion to tread very cautiously in these trying and challenging moments” the province said, urging a halt to “name-calling.” “Reducing the conversation to Liberals versus Conservatives is not helpful; it only adds fuel to an already inflamed situation,” they said. (Hat tip: Conger)

Our Father in heaven,
We pray that Your servant Justice will walk in the meekness and gentleness of Christ, speaking truth and casting down falsehood, speaking honor and casting down dishonor, speaking justice and casting down injustice, speaking purity and casting down impurity. May he speak that which is pleasing, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy and capture every thought to the obedience of Christ, in Whose name we pray. Bless him, Father, and bless this province. Amen.
Philippians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 10:1-5

Psalm 56:3-4,10-11

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you. (Psalm 56:3)
      Jesus, you are my strength and my song and my hope.

In God (I will praise his word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? (Psalm 56:4)
      Jesus, you are my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

In God (I will praise his word), in the LORD (I will praise his word), in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Psalm 56:10-11)
      Father, thank you for opening your word in Scripture to me; thank you for sending your Holy Spirit so that I can understand and receive what I read there.

Monday: 56, 57, [58]; Isaiah 51:17-23; Galatians 4:1-11; Mark 7:24-37
Tuesday: 61, 62; Isaiah 52:1-12; Galatians 4:12-20; Mark 8:1-10

Albany Intercessor

Archbishop of Nigeria

Nigeria is the fastest growing province in the Anglican Communion. Two hundred eighty-seven congregations have been planted in the last twelve months.
The Most Revd Peter Jasper Akinola is a leading voice among the Global South primates. He has resolutely challenged “the reality that a small, economically privileged group of people has sought to subvert the Christian faith and impose their new and false doctrine on the wider community of faithful believers.”
The communique of the Nigerian bishops from their January 2009 meeting:

Following the Primate’ report on the meeting of the GAFCON Primates Council with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the House of Bishops, while expressing support for this effort to build bridges, stressed that in any effort to bring restoration to the Communion there can be no compromise on the need for genuine repentance by those who have walked away from the ‘faith once delivered to the saints’. We are, however, delighted by the continuing fruit of GAFCON, the developing Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans around the world, the work of the GAFCON Primates Council and the emerging Anglican Church in North America.

Eternal Godhead,
We thank You that the province of Nigeria is being soaked through and through with Your presence. We thank You for its roots of Holy Scripture; its trunk of prayer, fasting, healing, deliverance, and witnessing; and its fruit of crusades, revivals, church planting, prayer teams, night vigils, ministerial training, church programs, and the recognition of all the gifts You have given Your holy people. Holy is Your name.
They stand in the midst of a Communion in schism and a nation in tension. Turn their hearts to the freedom of Christ. Drive out sin and disobedience. Strengthen them to stand firm and cast aside the yoke of slavery.
Pour Your Spirit upon Peter, give him the hope of righteouness, and quicken his love. May he lead the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in showing forth the genuine love of Christ. Amen.
Galatians 4:21-5:6

Psalm 37:1-6 (ESV)
Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.

The Presentation

Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

May it be so with the primates of the Anglican Communion, meeting in Alexandria, dear Lord. Amen.

The Lord’s Resistance Army

God bless George Conger. I had been tracking the LRA through secular media, primarily the Kampala newspaper The Monitor. I was grateful for any information, but George has provided a wonderfully comprehensive report of details compiled by clergy on-the-ground. The Bishop of Salisbury David Stancliffe has appealed for prayers for the whole of Sudan and its people, but most especially at this time for our friends Bishops Bismark Avokaya of Mundri, John Zawo of Ezo, Justin Arama of Maridi, Wilson Kamani of Ibba and Bullen Dolli of Lui – and for the clergy and people in their care.

The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
He parted the heavens and came down. Psalm 18:7-9a

O Lord! Five hundred dead! A hundred thousand driven from their homes! Your precious children abducted! Come down. Come down in Your anger and defeat the Lord’s Resistance Army. We are helpless, but You are strong. Make haste and come. Rescue Bishops Bismark Avokaya, John Zawo, Justin Arama, Wilson Kamani and Bullen Dolli – and the people in their care. We plead this in the holy and awesome name of Your Son. Amen.

Primates

The primates of the Anglican Communion are meeting in Alexandria.

Lord, we ask you to stand with the Primates of the Anglican Communion. Hold back their feet from every evil way. Amen.