Since 1887, on or near the first Friday in March every year, millions of Christians have gathered worldwide to pray for the issues of family violence, child abuse, human trafficking and other forms of injustice.
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In 2018, that prayerful support will be directed at the 540,000 inhabitants of Suriname, on the north-east coast of South America.
Despite a history steeped in slavery and political coups, this tiny nation has achieved remarkable progress since its independence in 1975. Suriname enjoys multi-ethnicity and biodiversity, freedom of religion, free primary and secondary education and free medical care for children and seniors.
But behind closed doors, family violence, abuse and neglect are ongoing issues. Children are particularly vulnerable, many growing up in orphanages or one-parent families. While education is free, there is no compulsory school attendance. Child labour in the form of street selling is common; but of far more serious concern is the fact that many children are labouring in gold mines.
People are invited to join in prayer for the needs of Suriname and its people at a World Day of Prayer service.
Services in Ballarat:
Ballarat South, 10am: Skipton Street Uniting Church, 525 Skipton Street, Ballarat
Ballarat North, 2pm: Neil Street Uniting Church, Macarthur Street, Soldiers Hill
Buninyong, 7pm: Buninyong Uniting Church, Learmonth Street, Buninyong
Creswick, 7pm: St. John’s Anglican Church, 103 Napier Street, Creswick
Seniors services will be held on three successive Thursday mornings as follows:
Thursday, February 22: Rosebank Retirement Village, 10am
Thursday, March 1: Pineview Residential Care, 11am
Thursday, March 8: Nazareth House, 10am
Other services will be held in Ararat, Ballan, Daylesford, Maryborough, Meredith and Skipton.
