Monthly Prayer Focus

“At least half of the world’s population cannot obtain essential health services,” reports the World Bank and World Health Organization.¹ This problem is particularly acute among the poor in developing regions, such as the areas where GFA missionaries serve. With meager incomes, impoverished people often can’t afford proper medical care. Others live in areas too remote to access health care. Some experience both these dilemmas. As a result, these individuals suffer needlessly from preventable and treatable ailments. Some 2.9 million people die every year from lack of access to health care.²

GFA World’s medical ministry provides free health care to people in need. This care is given mainly through medical camps, where GFA’s medical team brings skilled doctors, medical staff and medication to remote and impoverished areas which lack health care. These camps typically serve 200 to 1,000 individuals. GFA missionaries also conduct health training and various awareness programs to help people keep themselves and their families healthy. These missionaries bring help and healing in Christ’s name, demonstrating His love by meeting practical, sometimes urgent, needs.

Please join us in praying this month for GFA World’s medical ministry.

1 “World Bank and WHO: Half the World Lacks Access to Essential Health Services, 100 million Still Pushed into Extreme Poverty Because of Health Expenses.” The World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2017/12/13/world-bank-who-half-world-lacks-access-to-essential-health-services-100-million-still-pushed-into-extreme-poverty-because-of-health-expenses. December 13, 2017.

2 “Every Year Nearly 6 Million People Die in Developing Countries from Low Quality Healthcare - This Is How We Help Them.” World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/11/effects-and-costs-of-poor-quality-healthcare/. November 25, 2019.

Many people in the areas GFA missionaries serve are daily wage laborers, who typically can’t afford health care. If parents are sick, they are unable to work and provide for their families. If children are sick, they are unable to attend school and obtain a proper education. They need health, and the tools to keep it, to break the cycle of poverty.

Please pray for the health of the impoverished individuals in communities GFA missionaries serve. Pray GFA’s health awareness efforts will be effective so families can protect their health and thrive.

GFA medical camps have helped thousands of people in need with free medical treatment and medication, but many people remain in need of this life-giving aid. These camps are possible in part through the generous support of compassionate ministry partners.

Please pray God will provide the funds needed to offer medical care to people and communities in need. Pray God will raise up ministry partners with a heart for those suffering without medical care.

For each medical camp, GFA missionaries partner with local medical professionals to bring health care to areas that rarely have access to it. Along with these local partners, GFA’s medical ministry team traverses to remote areas, slums and other locations with various dangers and diseases. Each camp needs sufficient personnel, and they need protection from disease.

Please pray that there will be enough medical professionals willing to lend their services for each medical camp. Pray for their protection and health. Also, pray Christ’s love will show through the GFA missionaries, both to the medical professionals and to care recipients.

Everything GFA’s medical ministry does is in the name and love of Christ. They serve and care for the sick as if ministering to Christ Himself (see Matthew 25:36). This care can impact lives for eternity as people experience His love through these believers. In addition to physical aid, GFA missionaries often offer prayer and spiritual support.

Please pray that medical camp participants will experience Christ’s love through the care they receive. Pray God will also meet their spiritual needs.

There are many people and communities who could benefit from a free medical camp. Impoverished families frequently need medical attention but can’t afford it. In remote areas, some 4.13 billion people have to walk 60 minutes or more just to reach a health-care facility, and even then, they may not have the funds to pay for the treatment they need.³ Ministry leaders need discernment and guidance in knowing where to hold the next medical camp.

Please pray God will supernaturally guide GFA missionaries as they determine when and where to hold medical camps.

3 Weiss, D.J. et al. “Global maps of travel time to healthcare facilities.” Nature Medicine. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-1059-1. September 28, 2020.